Dr. Gabarda is the Senior Director of Clinical Training & Development at UPMC Health Plan where she is responsible for designing, scaling, and evaluating evidence-based health coach training, quality assurance, and health coaching interventions for digital, telephonic, and in-person coaching. Dr. Gabarda’s work focuses on setting a standard of excellence to positively impact health and increase patient/member engagement and activation through coaching and use of Motivational Interviewing. She is passionate about combining coaching and behavior change science to empower individuals to live their best and healthiest lives. Her team provides training for coaches, clinicians and leadership through the Health Coach Academy by UPMC. The Academy is one of few health plans in the country with an internal coach training program approved by The National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching. Dr. Gabarda also has interests in addressing health equity believes we can achieve the attainment of the highest level of health for all people. She enjoys working in the community alongside organizations that serve socially disadvantaged populations to address the preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, and violence to achieve optimal health. Her current research focuses on an experiential training “The Poverty Simulation” and improvements in understanding of and attitudes towards poverty in healthcare providers. She is also a National Board Certified Health Coach and volunteers her time in the community leading the Diabetes Prevention Program and provides individual lifestyle health coaching. An avid volunteer, Dr. Gabarda is working to impact the health of women and girls in the Philippines and across the globe through the nonprofit Days for Girls. In her personal time she is an endurance sports enthusiast and has completed the 140.6 mile Ironman Triathlon 6 times.
