Professor and Director of the Healthy Kids Lab

Dr. Ventura holds degrees in Psychology, Nutrition, and Human Development and Family Studies. She has been promoting healthy development for children and families for over 20 years.

Need to meet? View my office hours and meeting scheduling options here.

Project Manager

Casey Heaney is a project manager with the Healthy Kids Lab and Center for Health Research. She has a Master's degree in Public Policy from Cal Poly. She has worked in project management in the non-profit and public sector for over 15 years. She has most enjoyed her work in public health with young families.

Research Assistant

Rubi Solano Bahena is a research assistant with the Healthy Kids Lab and Center for Health Research.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Yaneli is a Biological Sciences major. She hopes to attend graduate school and get a Master's degree in Nursing to eventually work in pediatrics. She is also a research assistant for the PECO lab at Cal Poly and a member of AMSA club. Some things she loves to do outside of school include reading, painting, and spending time with friends and family.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Elyse is a Public Health student who wants to pursue a Master's in Nursing after graduating from Cal Poly. She's always been passionate about helping others and would love to work in a NICU or women's health eventually. She loves to travel, spend time outdoors in nature, and enjoy quality time with friends and family.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Hana is a fourth-year Public Health major with a concentration in Community and Public Health, and is also pursuing a minor in Biology. After graduating, she plans to gain clinical and shadowing experience within the medical field before applying to Physician Assistant school, with an interest in pediatrics or dermatology. In her free time, she loves to play soccer, piano, line dance, roller skate, and spend quality time with family and friends!

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Alcina is a third-year Public Health major with a concentration in Culture and Society in Health at Cal Poly. She is passionate about working with kids and is excited to contribute to research that supports healthier futures for children and families. Alcina is active in student organizations focused on health, and in her free time, she enjoys playing board games, crafting, and exploring new cuisines.

Undergraduate Research Assistant & 2025 Frost Research Fellow

Grace is a research assistant with the Healthy Kids Lab and Center for Health Research. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health with a double minor in Biology and Child Development. She is deeply passionate about anatomy, pediatrics, cats, and more. After graduating, she hopes to travel the world as a flight attendant before returning to achieve a career in the health field.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Kelly is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Culture and Society in Health. After graduating, she hopes to attend medical school with the goal of becoming a pediatric surgeon.

Undergraduate Research Assistant & Beacon Research Scholar

Meghana is a research assistant with the Healthy Kids Lab and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in public health. She aspires to work for the United Nations in the future, supporting programs that provide humanitarian aid. Meghana is particularly interested in nutrition, microbiology, and anatomy, and plans to integrate these fields into her public health career.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Maria is a fourth-year Child Development major with a minor in Biology. After completing her degree at Cal Poly, she plans to pursue a doctorate in Occupational Therapy and become a pediatric Occupational Therapist. With a passion for working with children, she hopes to further her knowledge and skills by working with the Healthy Kids Lab and how to best support children in her future career. Aside from her career aspirations, she also enjoys singing in the Cal Poly choirs and the Arabic Music Ensemble, Greek folk dancing, reading, and traveling the world with family and friends.

Undergraduate Research Assistant & 2025 Frost Research Fellow

Ervina is a Biological Sciences major with a concentration in Anatomy and Physiology and a minor in Child Development. She plans to attend medical school and hopefully have a career in pediatrics. She loves working with children and hopes to gain experience while researching. In her free time, she loves to travel, explore, go to the beach, and volunteer.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Zahra graduated in Spring 2022 with a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences and minor in Spanish. After graduating, she will work in the Bay Area in hopes to gain more clinical experience before applying to a physician assistant program!

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Kristen was a public health major with a biology minor who graduated in Fall of 2022 from Cal Poly. After graduating, she is planning on either working in a clinical setting and/or attending a post baccalaureate program in Colorado with the hopes of entering the medical field one day as a pediatric endocrinologist.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Ellie was a Kinesiology major with a concentration in Exercise Science. She is hoping to gain more experience in research and clinical settings before applying for a Physician Assistant program. She loves to cook, hike, and camp.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Layla was a Psychology major and Child Development minor. She is hoping to pursue a career in healthcare and is passionate about children's and women's health.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Moriah graduated in Spring 2022 with a bachelor's degree in public health, a concentration in Culture and Society in Health, and a minor in Child Development. After graduating, she plans to gain clinical experience before applying to nursing school and pursuing a career as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Research Assistant

Karla Cejas Almontes was an undergraduate research assistant, then graduated to be a staff research assistant with the Healthy Kids Lab and Center for Health Research. She moved on to nursing school.

Research Assistant

Cynthia was a student research assistant then staff research assistant with our lab. She is interested in pediatric and women's health. She hopes to gain experience to pursue a healthcare career where she helps others in a clinical setting. She enjoys volunteering, spending time with her pets, and anything outdoors!

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Camille graduated in Spring 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a double minor in Statistics and Child Development. She is interested in research on Developmental Psychology and is off to graduate school in an Experimental Psychology program.

Graduate Research Assistant

Vivian was a Nutrition graduate student at Cal Poly with a particular interest in maternal and child health and public health. After graduation, she hopes to become a registered dietitian and work with mothers and children in clinical, community, or research settings.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Sammy was a Public Health major with a dual minor in Exercise and Sports Studies and Military Science with career goals to work in the Army Medical Services and the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. His interests include watching MLB baseball games, playing basketball, hiking, and spending time in the sun.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Kayla graduated in Spring 2022 with a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in anatomy and physiology and minor in Spanish. After graduating, she hopes to attend a physician assistant program.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Emily was a 4th year Public Health major with a concentration in Culture and Society in Health. After graduating, she is planning on taking time to gain clinical experience before applying for PA school. She hopes to eventually work in dermatology or pediatrics.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Raji was a public health major with a concentration in community and public health who is planning on going into health administration and public policy after graduating. During her free time, she enjoys surfing and trying new restaurants.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

America double majored in Public Health and Spanish. After graduating, she will be completing her Masters in Nursing with a specialty as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She is especially passionate about child health and has greatly enjoyed her time working in both the iBaby Study and Healthy Mamas Study! She enjoys being active, spending time with friends and family, and trying new coffee spots!

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Kailey graduated in Spring 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Public Health with a concentration in Community and Public Health. After completing her undergraduate studies, she hopes to attend a physician's assistant master's program and specialize in women's health.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Emma earned a degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science. After graduation, she plans on taking time off to gain clinical experience and explore career options before applying to a physician assistant program. Eventually, she wants to practice pediatric medicine!

Undergraduate Research Assistant & Frost research scholar

Bhagya majored in Biology. Upon completing her bachelor's degree, she hopes to attend medical school to become a physician specializing in women's and pediatric health, and eventually work on public health reforms for maternal health.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Sophie earned a bachelors degree in public health with a concentration in physical activity in public health. After graduating she hopes to persue a career in Nursing as either a Labor and Delivery or Postpartum Nurse.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Tyne was a Public Health major concentrating in Culture and Society. She is passionate about women’s health as well as multicultural health. After graduation, she plans on pursuing a career in healthcare, either getting her masters in Public Health or working in a clinical setting.

Undergraduate Research Assistant & 2023 Frost Research Fellow

Molly earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Worksite and University Health Promotion. After graduating, she hopes to pursue a career within the health field, specifically relating to children’s health, and travel the world to help those in need.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Skylar is a 2023 graduate from Cal Poly, having earned a B.S. in Public Health with a concentration in Community and Public Health. Building on her undergraduate studies, Skylar will take the next step in her academic journey by pursuing a master's degree in public health at UNC Chapel Hill with a specific focus on maternal, child, and family health!

Undergraduate Research Assistant & 2024 Frost Research Fellow

Gabriella was a Public Health major with a concentration in Community and Public Health and a minor in Spanish. She is off to graduate school to obtain her MSN (Master's Degree in Nursing) and eventually work as a Nurse Practitioner. She would love to work with mothers and babies and is passionate about broadening her knowledge in the fields of women's health and labor and delivery. She enjoys being outdoors, watching sports games, going out to restaurants, and spending time with her family and friends.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Amalia was a Public Health major with a concentration in Culture and Society in Health. After graduating, she is planning on taking time to gain clinical experience before applying for PA school. She hopes to eventually work in obstetrics and gynecology or pediatrics.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Iliana Treyger was a Public Health student with a concentration in Culture and Society in Health. She is very passionate about working with children and hopes to gain research experience as she aspires to work in pediatrics in the future. In her free time, she loves going to the beach, hiking, and playing soccer.

Undergraduate Research assistant

Ananya graduated in Spring 2023 with a bachelor's in Public Health and minor in Statistics. Her career goal is to become a Physician's Assistant. Her interests include surfing, thrift shopping, listening to music, and yoga. 

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Sarah was a Public Health major with a concentration in Community and Public Health and a minor in Biology. She hopes to gain clinical experience as a medical assistant before applying to Physician Assistant School. She would love to work as a physician Assistant in dermatology or surgery. She loves to bake, read, hike, and spend time with her family and friends.