Klaira Lerma

Klaira Lerma (she/her) is the Associate Director of the Reproductive Equity Action Lab (REAL) based at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Klaira is a mixed methods researcher with over 12 years of experience in reproductive health, rights, and justice. She has experience in direct clinical services and quality improvement, community-based programs, policy analysis and advocacy, and clinical and social science research. Klaira has worked in diverse settings, both high-resource and low-resource, domestically and internationally. Her strength is building and sustaining interdisciplinary research programs focused on dismantling inequities in and expanding access to reproductive healthcare. Klaira’s research focuses on reproductive health, particularly abortion and contraception. She investigates barriers to accessing preferred contraception, the impact of legislation on abortion access, and innovative service delivery methods. Her work also explores clients’ perceptions of and experiences with reproductive health services, emphasizing person-centered care. Her work is rooted in building and sustaining meaningful partnerships and her personal commitment to addressing systemic racism, embracing diversity, and creating inclusion.

What is your favorite hobby or pastime?
In my spare time, you’ll find me at the pottery studio–covered in mud listening to an audiobook or podcast. 

What do you collect?
As a Wisconsin native, raised on a dairy farm, I collect ceramic cows! 

What is your special talent?
Improvisational cooking.