Elma DeSousa joined as a Clinical Research Coordinator I at CARE in October 2022. At the center, she splits her time between the FOREVER Dementia Study and the FIRE-UP Parkinson’s Disease Study, where she conducts both qualitative and quantitative research design and analysis, along with administrative and visual design tasks. Also through CARE, Elma is working on a three-course presentation series on facilitating diverse representation in research for the MGH Division of Clinical Research, and she's also part of a team that is building a decentralized mental health collaborative for underserved young adult populations in Boston. Prior to joining CARE, Elma attended Boston University where she received her bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in Public Relations last May. During her undergraduate career, she held internships at MGH's Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation, as the Social Media and Digital Communications intern, and at Boston University’s Social Development and Learning Lab, as a Research Assistant in charge of conducting cognitive and behavioral experiments with children ages 2 to 12. These experiences and her undergraduate studies come together to represent her passion for understanding individual’s stories and catering to communities across different walks of life, with special interest in underrepresented/under-supported communities, which is what guided her to the CARE Research Center.