Meet the Research Team

The Essential Access Health Research Center team consists of well-known experts in contraceptive research, gynecology, family planning, epidemiology, data management and analysis, computerized subject tracking, and management of multi-media recruitment campaigns. The Research Center team has published pioneering research that has advanced new contraceptive products, promoted innovative strategies for reproductive health care delivery and shaped public policy. Our Research Center is staffed by experienced and dedicated interviewers, project monitors, data managers, and analysts.

Dr. Anita Nelson, Medical Director

Dr. Anita Nelson, Medical Director of Essential Access Health’s Research Center, has published over 200 articles in professional journals, and authored over a dozen books, including Contraceptive Technology and Managing Contraception. She has conducted extensive research for the National Institutes of Health and commercial companies in the areas of contraception, menopause, and gynecologic infection. Dr. Nelson is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine, the University of California, Los Angeles; Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California; and Professor and Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific.

Terri Walsh, Vice President of Research + Evaluation

Terri Walsh has over 30 years of experience in study design, protocol development, data management, analysis and report writing for contraceptive efficacy trials. She has extensive expertise in supervising data management and analysis for numerous trials, evaluating family planning service delivery and assessing contraceptive acceptability and contraceptive risk-taking behaviors. Terri has authored numerous scientific articles published in Contraception, Family Planning Perspectives and The Lancet. She has also served as a consultant to support international family planning programs, smoking cessation programs, market survey designs, sexually transmitted disease surveillance and health care delivery evaluations.

Karen Peacock, Associate Vice President of Research + Evaluation

Karen Peacock has over 25 years of experience in study implementation and data management for contraceptive clinical trials. She has extensive expertise supervising the daily operations of more than 30 clinical studies involving as many as 1800 subjects. She has created study manuals, designed data collection materials, built and tested project databases, and participated in data analysis and report writing activities. Karen has also overseen the collection of statewide Title X data from over 90 healthcare organizations and designed a data dashboard and performance improvement application to help agencies better utilize their data. Recognized as a national expert, Karen has been asked to serve on numerous national committees to advance data collection and performance measurement across the country.