Dr. Constanza Svidler serves as the Program Officer for the Psychosocial Research (PSR) and SCI Medical Fellowships (SCIMF) portfolios.

Constanza oversees the PSR portfolio which supports research that addresses the interrelation of behavioral, social and psychological factors that influence participation, health practice, lifestyle, and support systems in community and clinical settings to benefit people living with spinal cord injury. She also manages the SCIMF portfolio which supports specialty clinical training to attract physicians to the field and ensure that the needs of patients with spinal cord injury are met.

Constanza brings more than 20 years’ experience in the academic, nonprofit, philanthropy, and healthcare sectors, leading, designing, and implementing wide-ranging programs and projects. Prior to joining the Foundation, Constanza held positions at Kaiser Permanente, The California Endowment, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and various nonprofit organizations where she developed expertise in strategic planning, program management and evaluation, content development, and curriculum design. Constanza received a BA in Fine Arts and Spanish and Portuguese from UCLA and a PhD in Romance Languages and Literatures from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Constanza enjoys spending time with her large extended family and dear friends, typically sharing food, watching movies, playing games, or getting lost in conversation.  In 2021, she started a book club with friends, and she is stunned it’s still going strong.