Our Team

Trina Colburn, PhD

Clinical Research Manager

Trina Colburn received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Seattle Pacific University and has been involved in Health Promotion Research at Seattle Children’s since 2007. She is a native of the Pacific Northwest and an avid gardener and naturist.

Ines Del Giudice, MPH

Co-Leader, Clinical Research Coordinator

Inés Del Giudice is a clinical research coordinator with the Mendoza Lab working primarily on the Fit 5 Kids study and on the On Therapy study. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Inés holds a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Universidad del Salvador and a Master of Public Health degree from NYU. Her interest in research centers around informing and designing policies and programs to improve non-communicable diseases and help reduce disparities, especially in access to nutritious and culturally appropriate food. In her free time, she enjoys going for walks and cooking new recipes with friends.

Kathy Figueroa, BA

Clinical Research Assistant

Kathy Figueroa (she/her/ella) is one of the research assistants in the Mendoza lab. Kathy received her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at Northwest University. Throughout her undergraduate degree, Kathy worked in behavioral health and specifically, community mental health working with underserved and marginalized communities. Her research interests center on prioritizing mental health needs for the Latino/a/x population, academic achievement and outcomes, and ethnic and racial identity development. Further, Kathy is currently pursuing a PsyD in Counseling Psychology at Northwest University’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. In her spare time, Kathy enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, cooking new recipes, going to the movies, and exploring new places.

Mackenzie Hild

Clinical Research Assistant

Mackenzie is a clinical research assistant with the Mendoza Lab, which is especially meaningful work for her due to the focus on pediatric health for underserved populations. Mackenzie holds a bachelor’s degree in Medical Anthropology from Harvard and is currently on a leave of absence from her studies in medicine at the University of Washington. Mackenzie’s research interests center around pediatric health interventions in underserved populations, especially where there is a history of cultural and structural violence. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, being outdoors and reading. 

Margaret Olsen, BA

Co-Leader, Clinical Research Coordinator

Margaret Olsen has been with Mendoza Lab since 2019. The things that she holds dear are her family, health equity, art and community. Her BA is in Social Work from The Evergreen State College and she has been working in the community since graduation, first in direct service and then in public health research and the University of Washington and Fred Hutch. Margaret began with Mendoza Lab designing the on-the-ground protocols for Step by Step and then implementing, and refining the intervention with AYA survivors of childhood cancer. She has since transitioned into a shared Mendoza Lab leadership role. While she continues to support with Step by Step study progress she is focusing on upcoming studies within Mendoza Lab. She most enjoys seeing a study from grant submission into study implementation and appreciates the complexity and joy involved in achieving study milestones. 

Caroline Sandbo

Clinical Research Assistant

Caroline is a recent graduate of the University of Washington’s undergraduate Public Health program. She started in the Mendoza lab as an intern and now works as a Research Assistant. Caroline’s interests in health equity, data science, and pediatric health drew her to the Mendoza lab. In her free time, Caroline likes to hike, cook, and orienteer!