Shena has over a decade of experience leading and conducting mixed methods and qualitative health research and program evaluation, including research design and planning, data collection and analysis, synthesizing findings, and conducting environmental scans. She has extensive experience conducting rural and frontier health program evaluations and policy analysis, and she collaborates with partners and stakeholders to develop policy recommendations for federal agencies, state agencies, and foundations. 

Her current projects focus on research and evaluation to advance health equity and support rural providers participating in value-based care arrangements. For example, Shena conducts qualitative data collection and analysis and leads report development for the Evaluation of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model. Shena also supports several studies for the East Tennessee State University/NORC Rural Health Equity Research Center, including studies focused on Health Professional Shortage Area designations, Medicare Advantage utilization, and pilot programs implemented in rural communities. 

Popat was previously the improvement director for a critical access hospital and rural health clinic located in a frontier county, where she led the organization’s implementation of an accountable care organization.