Research Statement

            My long-term research interests involve examining, advocating for, and informing best practices around the healthcare of Black women during their reproductive years. Black women in the United States have disproportionately poorer health outcomes compared to other ethnic groups. Specifically, my research seeks to explore the experiences of loss for Black women - voluntary and involuntary loss of pregnancies and newborns. The experiences and influences of partners will also be investigated to assess and see what protective factors may have an impact on outcomes.  

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            Through my academic training, professional and research experiences I have developed knowledge and expertise in medical social work and healthcare with the aim of addressing health disparities for minority populations. As a counselor at a hospital, I care for patients being seen for prevention, treatment, and survivorship from various cancer diagnoses. In my graduate program, I conducted research exploring perinatal mood disorders in Black immigrant populations.

 

            In my current doctoral program, my research experiences have spanned a broad range of health issues, highlighting disparities that exist in the healthcare system and the impacts for minority populations. I have had the opportunity to do an oral presentation on the quality of life determinants in older Latino and Anglo advanced cancer patients. I have also presented on the topic of disparities in maternal mortality rates among African American women. At an upcoming conference, I will be presenting on the addressing health disparities through medical legal partnerships. I intend to continue my research with this population through my dissertation and into my academic profession as a perinatal researcher.