The Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology have three new hires to bolster efforts in the community. Postdoc research fellows Paula A. Sepulveda-Beltran, MD, and Valeria Villabona-Martinez, MD, are the Community Service and Remote Access Research Coordinators. Zeila Hobson will serve as the Remote Access Initiatives Manager, working with both Departments.
As Community Service and Remote Access Research Coordinators, Drs. Sepulveda-Beltran and Villabona-Martinez will oversee key initiatives like the Guerrilla Eye Service and the eyeVan mobile eye clinic, ensuring effective delivery of eye care services. Their responsibilities include managing logistics, coordinating schedules, supplies, and facilitating collaborations with organizations like Mission of Mercy and assisted-living facilities, among others. They will also apply implementation science principles to bridge evidence-to-practice gaps, develop interventions to enhance care quality, and promote research through scholarly publications.
“What drew me to this job was the unique opportunity to make a real difference in underserved communities by improving access to eye care,” Dr. Sepulveda-Beltran said. “I love the idea of collaborating with diverse teams, using evidence-based strategies to close care gaps, and contributing to impactful research. It’s the perfect blend of my passion for service and my drive to create positive change, while also providing a meaningful opportunity for personal and professional growth.”
Dr. Sepulveda-Beltran said she is truly honored to have the opportunity to advocate for the needs of both local communities in Western Pennsylvania and the Hispanic and Latin communities who may face challenges accessing care due to language barriers. “As a Colombian woman, I am eager to bring my warmth and energy to these efforts, striving to ensure that everyone receives the care they need and deserve,” Dr. Sepulveda-Beltran added. “My goal is to make a meaningful, positive impact on their lives and bridge gaps that can truly make a difference.”
The opportunity also aligns perfectly with Dr. Villabona-Martinez’ passions and beliefs. Also from Columbia, she moved to the United States two years ago with the goal of becoming an ophthalmologist and physician-scientist. Her initial motivation for studying medicine was to create meaningful and tangible change in people’s lives. “I soon realized that achieving this required understanding each patient’s unique needs and context and addressing them accordingly,” she said.
She felt a strong connection when reading the position’s description, as it integrates everything she is passionate about and offers an opportunity to conduct implementation research and develop solutions for challenges in eye care. “My deep commitment to public health complements my interest in ophthalmology, making this position a perfect blend of both fields,” she added. “Even after just one week in this role, I can already feel the powerful drive towards positive change that permeates UPMC and all the collaborators. I firmly believe that teamwork turns dreams into reality, and I am confident that through our collective efforts, we will make a significant difference in many lives, including our own.”
Hobson’s role is to oversee and support Drs. Sepulveda-Beltran and Villabona-Martinez’ efforts with the Guerrilla Eye Service and eyeVan. She will also help secure grant funding for community initiatives and will coordinate similar efforts to improve community care and expand telemedicine capabilities with the audiology team in the Department of Otolaryngology. The Eye & Ear Foundation is currently working with Brother’s Brother Foundation to raise funds for a mobile hearing clinic to complement the eyeVan.
Hobson’s background is in tech research and behavioral studies, more specifically User Experience Research conducted on virtual reality headsets, social media platforms and countless other digital products. She contracted for large tech companies and small firms alike that all had the same goal: get users hooked on the product and improve ROI by retaining users. Finding this work unfulfilling, she decided to pivot into the nonprofit space to make use of her transferable skills while improving the world in some way. She said she hit the lottery when she applied to this job.
“My expertise in improving technical hardware and digital solutions via remote testing and behavioral studies lends itself well to the eyeVan initiative – our goal is to make exams as quick and easy as humanly possible by optimizing the workflows our doctors will have to adhere to in the mobile clinics,” she said. “The opportunity to serve communities that need it, study social determinants of care and implement a sustainable model for such an impactful program (all alongside a diverse and passionate team) is a dream come true.”
Hobson also has a personal connection to the work, as she comes from a low-income background and witnessed her mother’s struggle to secure continued care for her eyes. Her mother has anterior macular degeneration and has become legally blind over the past decade. “A mobile clinic and free follow-up in the early stages would likely have changed her life,” Hobson said. “As a black woman who has lived and worked in predominantly white spaces, I’ve always been passionate about uplifting underserved community voices and championing social justice initiatives; this role feels like the intersection of that passion and my professional abilities. I am so excited to work with the eyeVan team to execute our shared vision and see the results – puns fully intended.”