As Senior Officer of Community Investment for Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder at Dogwood Health Trust, Dr. April Bragg conducts grantmaking focused on addressing behavioral health and substance misuse challenges across the Western North Carolina region. Dr. Bragg received her Bachelor of Science in biology from Emory and Henry College, earned a Ph.D. in cell biology from Vanderbilt University, and completed postdoctoral training in physiology and biophysics at the University of Washington in Seattle.  She transitioned from neuroscience research to pursue work in strategic program development, operational business growth, and public and private sector fundraising in nonprofit healthcare. During this time she successfully secured over $21 million in federal, state and private funding for various local, regional and national nonprofit healthcare programs bringing evidence-based care to vulnerable and historically marginalized populations. In her time at Dogwood Health Trust she has overseen the administration of over $15 million in grant awards to various organizations involved in behavioral health and substance misuse prevention and treatment services, including harm reduction programs and innovative prevention programs for youth.  In her free time, April enjoys reading, writing and entertaining her two cats, as well as running and hiking in the beautiful mountains around Asheville.