Staff

Martha Dina Argüello
Executive Director | Extension 101

For the past 32 years, Martha has served in the non-profit sector as an advocate, community organizer, and coalition builder. She joined PSR-LA in 1998 to launch the environmental health programs, and became Executive Director in November 2007. She is committed to making the credible voice of physicians a powerful instrument for transforming California and our planet into a more peaceful and healthy place.

Martha grew up in the Pico-Union area of Los Angeles. At the young age of 14, she made a lifelong commitment to effect social change after seeing her friend killed by a school security guard. While working as a health educator in the 1990s, Martha had an epiphany -- she realized that although early detection can prevent death from breast cancer, it does not prevent breast cancer, which has been increasingly linked to the exposure of environmental toxicants. Since that realization, Martha has dedicated her career to the environmental justice movement, and has lectured nationwide on the use of precautionary principle policies.

As a coalition builder, Martha has emphasized the need for local grassroots advocacy working in partnership with statewide policy actions. She is an active board member of numerous organizations, including Californians for Pesticide Reform, the California Environmental Rights Alliance, and Californians for a Healthy and Green Economy. She also co-founded the Los Angeles County Asthma Coalition and the Coalition for Environmental Health and Justice, and was appointed to Cal/EPA’s Environmental Justice Committee and the California Air Resources Board’s Global Warming Environmental Justice Advisory Committee.

Denise Duffield
Associate Director | Extension 102

In December 2007, PSR-LA appointed Denise Anne Duffield as Associate Director. Denise has served as PSR-LA's director of development since 2004, and has over 15 years of non-profit administrative and program experience. She is also editorial collaborator for EnviroReporter.com. Denise and her partner Michael Collins were recently named LA Press Club Online Journalists of the Year for EnviroReporter.com's in-depth investigation of a nuclear and chemical dump in Brentwood, CA.

Denise is committed to improving U.S. nuclear policy and looks forward to helping build upon PSR-LA’s successful Global Security program. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Michigan and a master's degree in theatre arts from Cal State Los Angeles.

Kathy Attar
Health and Environment Coordinator | Extension 108

Katherine Attar comes to PSR-LA from The California Endowment, a statewide health foundation, where she developed knowledge in a wide range of health issues including the impact toxins in the air, water and soil have on communities’ health and welfare. While at The Endowment she worked with Los Angeles-based environmental justice groups to support the development of projects and policies aimed at reducing multiple environmental health hazards in low-income, communities of color in Los Angeles. She also worked with environmental groups in supporting policy advocacy efforts to decrease the concentration of highly polluting, energy-generating facilities in the greater Los Angeles region.

Katherine has also worked in Washington D.C. as a health policy intern for Senator Edward Kennedy where her focus was on promoting diversity within the health professions and equity within the insurance system for individuals diagnosed with mental health issues. She also has significant experience working with Medicare and Medicaid populations to improve their access to quality health services as a counselor at The Center for Health Care Rights. Her first work in the Los Angeles area was with homeless individuals and families in Venice, CA. She received a Masters in Public Health from the University of California, Los Angeles with a focus in health services policy and a BA from The College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts.

Ana Mascareñas
Membership Coordinator | Extension 107

Ana Mascareñas joined PSR-LA as Membership Coordinator in 2008. Her previous work in the district office of Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-31) allowed her to proudly serve as an advocate for constituents in their claims and applications with federal agencies. Before arriving in LA, Ana was in Washington DC as a NALEO (National Association of Latino Elected Officials) Fellow in Representative Becerra's Capitol office, researching a range of legislative issues. She returned to her hometown, Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2004 and worked for the City Council, helping to pass a set of development impact fee ordinances that promote responsible and sustainable growth.

Ana graduated from Brown University with a BA in Human Biology and a BA in Sociology. While there, she worked in Brown's Master of Public Health Program, assisting in course development; researched at the Population Studies Training Center; and was a peer educator for the Office of Health Education. As a volunteer in Providence, she spent time with Brown Emergency Medical Services as an Emergency Medical Technician, and as a guitarist with Musicians in Hospitals. Ana lives in East LA and is an active member and volunteer with the East Los Angeles Residents Association.

See staff information for our partner organization, the Healthy Homes Collaborative.