Diana Leal, MPH

Diana Leal, MPH is the Post Overdose Response Team Program Manager for Emily’s Hope. She brings valuable insight to advancing post overdose response efforts across South Dakota. Diana first connected with Emily’s Hope during graduate school while working on substance use disorder and maternal health research grants in addition to her individual studies, where she analyzed active South Dakota policies surrounding substance exposure testing in newborns and the implications involved with punitive action versus evidence-based support. Following both personal loss and her studies, the mission of Emily’s Hope became deeply meaningful to her and shaped her passion for supporting families affected by substance use disorder and improving the stigma landscape. Diana is also actively involved with the South Dakota Rural Substance Use Disorder Advisory Board and the South Dakota Public Health Association Legislative Committee.