On Monday, March 23, Social Media manager, Melody Cadet sat down with Vanessa Garate to discuss her research to improve prenatal healthcare and communication.
Garate, a graduate student and Lab Manager for the Communication Research Center, described how the essential yet underemphasized intersection between technology and communication in healthcare for women inspired her research. She gave a shoutout to her mentor, Dr. Estelle Mi, as well as her female colleagues for the work they do for the department.
Q: What inspired you to pursue research in women’s prenatal health?
A: Honestly, it started when I became a Graduate Research Assistant and Lab Manager at the Communication Research Center here at Kean. As a first-generation Latina student who completed my bachelor’s at Kean and is now pursuing my master’s here as well, this opportunity has been incredibly meaningful to me. Through our research, I became really interested in women’s prenatal health and how technology like wearable devices can support women during pregnancy and improve communication with their healthcare providers.
Q: Was there a discovery or challenge that shaped the direction of your research?
A: One thing that really stood out to me was realizing that technology alone isn’t always enough. Even when women have access to health apps or wearable devices, understanding the data and using it to communicate with their providers can still be challenging. That helped shape our research to focus more on patient-provider communication and how technology can truly support women during pregnancy.
Q: Are there any women who inspired or influenced your career focus?
A: My research mentor, Dr. Estelle Mi, has been a huge inspiration to me. I’ve really enjoyed collaborating with her and learning from her leadership in research. I also feel inspired working alongside other women in the department and seeing the impact we can make together.
Q: What does it mean to you to be part of a generation of women contributing to research and innovation?
A: For me, it feels empowering. As a first-generation Latina student, being part of research that focuses on women’s health is something I’m really proud of. I also love being able to collaborate with students from different backgrounds, including students from the Kean China campus, because it brings diverse perspectives into the research we’re doing.
Q: What advice would you give to young women interested in research?
A: My advice would be to stay curious and not be afraid to get involved. Research can feel intimidating at first, but finding mentors and opportunities to collaborate can make a huge difference. Your perspective and your voice matter, and they can contribute to meaningful change.
As we wrap up Women’s History Month, the SLMT is honored to highlight female leadership and empowerment in Vanessa Garate, a proud Kean University and first-gen student. Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel.
