Vivian L. Towe, PhD, MSc, MA, is a senior program officer at PCORI and is trained as a social epidemiologist. She has a background in program evaluation, community-partnered research, social determinants of health and health equity. At PCORI, she oversees a portfolio with a range of studies in topical areas representing Achieve Health Equity, one of PCORI's National Priorities for Health. She is currently leading a health equity-focused funding announcement seeking comparative effectiveness research addressing health systems factors and social determinants of maternal health and conducted through shared leadership between communities and researchers.