Health Equity Scholars for Action
Partners for Advancing Health Equity supports Health Equity Scholars for Action (HES4A), providing programming on research enterprise strategy, communication, and leadership.
Our Scholars
Damian Chase-Begay, PhD, MS
Development of a Culturally Centered Intervention to Prevent Polysubstance Abuse among Urban Indigenous Young Adults in Montana
This two-phase, sequential mixed-methods study will inform the cultural adaptation of evidence-based polysubstance abuse prevention intervention targeting Indigenous young adults (18-29) in urban, multi-tribal settings in Montana to incorporate traditional cultural and ceremonial practices (TCPs).
Rebekah Israel Cross, PhD
Using a novel dataset to address gaps in evaluating the impact of a federal housing initiative on maternal and child health in Chicago's Woodlawn community
In 2010, a non-profit developer received $30 million from HUD to redevelop a block in Woodlawn, a Black neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. This study will use a critical race framework to evaluate the impact of the redevelopment on neighborhood displacement and maternal and child health outcomes.
Rochelle R. Davidson, MA, PhD
Mixed Methods Pilot of a Digital Intervention for Black Parents Sexual Health Communication
Utilizing tenets of a community-based participatory approach, this project aims to develop a digital intervention to enhance health literacy and communication efficacy among Black parents in discussing sexual health topics, specifically sexual trauma.
Patricia Rodriguez Espinosa, PhD, MPH
Partnering with Community Health Workers to Advance Health Equity in Latinx communities: Evaluating the Implementation of a Medi-Cal Benefit Expansion
This cross-sectoral participatory mixed-method project will evaluate the implementation of a recent Community Health Worker Medi-Cal benefit expansion with the potential to strengthen social service delivery models and advance health equity solutions for Latinx and other communities.
Yanica Faustin, PhD, MPH
Black Nativity and Maternal Health: Severe Maternal Morbidity Inequities for Black Birthing Persons across the Diaspora
This qualitative community-based research study aims to gain an increased understanding of the complex and nuanced relationship between nativity and racism, across the Black diaspora, in the U.S. as it relates to maternal health, and explore the role of community and systems-level factors.
Tiffany N. Ford, MPH, PhD
Exploring subjective well-being, power, and policy for people racialized as Black in Cook County, Illinois
This mixed methods community-based participatory action study uses spatial and ethnographic research techniques to explore how structural racism distributes the things it takes to be well and elucidate policy and practice pathways to advance well-being for Black people in Cook County.
Jenny S. Guadamuz, MSPH, PhD
Impact of Immigrant-Inclusive Health Policies on Equitable Cancer Screening
Lack of immigration data in health surveys hinders policy research. Here, I will validate machine learning approaches to impute immigration status and assess the impact of immigrant-inclusive health policies on cancer screening receipt among Latinx adults, especially undocumented immigrants.
Kaleea Lewis, PhD
An Intersectional Examination of Obstructed Use of Mental Health Services, Racism, and Suicidal Ideation
Using a qualitative phenomenological research design, guided by an intersectional and socio-ecological framework, the proposed study investigates how structural racism and Black emerging adults (18-29) obstructed use of mental health services influence experiences of suicidal ideation (SI).
Lolita Moss PhD, MSW
The Impact of LGBTQ-Related Policies on African American Youth Intimate Partner Violence
This mixed-methods project examines the association between LGBTQ-related policies, intimate partner violence exposure, and related psychosocial factors among LGBTQ African American youth. This work aims to investigate state policy as a mechanism of psychosocial outcomes.
Helen Russette, PhD, MPH
Piloting a Nature-Based Culturally Grounded (NBCG) Program for Young Indigenous Families
This project will apply an Indigenous theoretical framework to identify place-based determinants (e.g., local tribal policies) and measure biodiversity presence and efficacy of the NBCG program. This program will be designed to address parental substance misuse and promote overall family wellbeing.
Natalicio Serrano, PhD, MPH
A Complex Systems Approach to Understand the Impacts of Neighborhood Development on Physical Activity in Black and Latine Communities
Utilizing spatial analysis and community-based system dynamics, the present study aims to explore the implementation process and impacts of neighborhood development for active living in Black and Latine communities in the Triangle Area of North Carolina.
Gayle Shipp, PhD, RD
Increasing Evidence around Maternity Care Model in Flint, Michigan
Shipp will formally evaluate and assess the impact of the Revive program on maternal and infant health outcomes and capture the experiences of Black women, families, and community partners to understand their trust/acceptance of initiatives aiming to provide prenatal/antenatal support to families.
Laura Stamm, PhD
Studying Clinicians Response to State Laws and Institutional Policies That Restrict Pediatric Gender-Affirming Care
Through interviews with clinicians, this project seeks to better understand how providers practices have changed over the last two years, how providers across the country understand gender-affirming care, and the impact of policy/legislation limiting or restricting gender-affirming care.
Henry Willis, PhD
Health for Treating Psychological Distress among Black Youth
This project will leverage community-based participatory research approaches to engage Black youth in focus groups to explore how online experiences of racism impact their psychological functioning, and they will also co-design a free mobile-health app for Black teen mental health.
Laura Wolford, PhD, S CCC-SLP, CSE
Improving Minoritized Students' Belonging in Healthcare by Addressing the Hidden Curriculum
When students enter healthcare programs, they face unspoken social rules and expectations: the Hidden Curriculum. This study examines (a) the nature of the hidden curriculum from the viewpoints of minoritized students, (b) its effects on belonging, and (c) what changes might improve belonging.
Health Equity Scholars for Action supports the career development and academic advancement of researchers from historically underrepresented backgrounds who conduct health equity research. Click here to learn more about Health Equity Scholars for Action.
The 2023 funding opportunity is now closed, but please check back for more information.