Denise A. Dillard is of Inupiaq Eskimo descent, born in
Fairbanks, Alaska and raised in Anchorage. She is a licensed psychologist and director of
research for Southcentral Foundation. Denise has spent more than 18 years
conducting quantitative and qualitative research. She oversees the direction of a variety of
research projects in behavioral health, cancer, pharmacogenetics, health
disparities, patient-centered outcomes, and other areas. She is essential in coordinating
SCF research efforts and bridging communication with academic institutions and
other research partners as well as developing relationships with the NIH, CDC, and
other funding agencies as well as academic institutions. She works directly with the SCF Board of
Directors as they review and consider approval of research involving Alaska
Native people in and around Anchorage and serves on the Alaska Area Institutional
Review Board (IRB). Denise lives in
Anchorage with her son Reid and close to her immediate and extended
family.