Research Associate Professor
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Health Services Research; Implementation Science; Medical Anthropology; Military & Veterans Health/Healthcare; Program Evaluation; Qualitative Methods; Substance Use
I am a medical anthropologist, with expertise in qualitative and mixed methods approaches and in applying qualitative and implementation science methods in health services research, serving in this role on several translational implementation projects in healthcare and community settings.
Specifically, I have extensive experience conducting qualitative and mixed-methods research with military populations across multiple projects, primarily focusing on mental health, substance use, identity, and healthcare preferences. Examples include: examining how identity negotiations impact National Guard soldiers’ experiences in the post-9/11 era; how substance use risk and motivations change over the course of military service; how identity relates to student veterans’ health and engagement; and how primary care providers outside the VA system address the needs of their veteran patients.
I have also been engaged in multiple mixed-methods and qualitative primary care and public health-based projects with a broad range of populations, including low-income minority and underserved patients, those living with chronic disease, individuals who use substances, and healthcare providers.
The common thread throughout my work is a focus on understanding the complexity and context that impact health-related behaviors and healthcare to incorporate insights based on individuals' lived experiences (both patients and providers) into recommendations to improve health and healthcare.