Elyssa Wood, PhD, MPH, BSN, FAEN is a Nursing Research Scientist for the Inova Health System, Office of Nursing Research. Her research is focused on how hospital-based nurses can address health disparities and the social drivers of health, as well as improving health outcomes for children and families seeking care in the Emergency Department. Dr. Wood serves as a member of the Pediatric Committee for the Emergency Nurses Association, is a fellow with the Academy of Emergency Nurses, and is a member of the Integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia. In her capacity as a Nursing Research Scientist at Inova, she leverages her experience in nursing research to provide guidance and support to facilitate the conduct, translation, and dissemination of research and evidence-based nursing practices. Dr. Wood is the nurse champion and Inova representative on several health equity community-based committees and has established ties with community organizations who act as a safety net for the children and families served by our hospital system. She sees this engagement with the community as a critical step in creating the social scaffolding families need to access resources and improve health outcomes. This perspective, grounded in community collaboration and a proven track record of excellence in research and evidence-based practice, is what drives Dr. Wood’s current program of research.