Cristina Barkowski, MSW, is a Chicagoan, second-year DrPH student, and maternal health researcher. In her education, she focuses on advancing reproductive and health justice through systems-level change. Cristina is passionate about applying strategic and systems thinking to transform patient experience and engagement within healthcare systems – particularly by supporting healthcare leaders in addressing the structural and social determinants that shape outcomes for birthing people and their families. Her work bridges public health, social work, and implementation science to design sustainable, equity-centered interventions. Her interests include health systems transformation, health services research, and intervention adaptation.
In Cristina’s role as the Research Program Manager of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Rush University Medical Center, she supports faculty in their research initiatives aimed at i proving access to sexual and reproductive health care by addressing barriers to care. She has managed several federally funded implementation science studies, contributed to graduate-level curricula, and developed training programs to elevate voices from the frontline in research.
Outside of work + school, Cristina is a traveler, avid concert goer, and above all - a proud aunt to five nieces and nephews who inspire her commitment to building a healthier, more just future.