Current HIV/AIDS-Related Research Activities:

I am a Research Scientist at the Whitman-Walker Institute. My research is focused on understanding how intersectional experiences of discrimination faced by marginalized groups impact health overall, particularly for those belonging to more than one marginalized group as is the case of transgender people of color, who are disproportionately impacted by HIV. I have focused my research on examining health disparities—with an emphasis on HIV—using epidemiologic quantitative methods and principles of Participatory Action Research. I draw from systems approaches that apply modified social-ecological models, intersectionality, and syndemics frameworks.

I am the PI of the following grants:

K01 grant funded by NIMH (K01MH134764) “Intersectional discrimination and linkage to HIV prevention and care in transgender women in Ecuador”
NIH CFAR supplement award “Developing a community-driven HIV research agenda to guide DC CFAR’s expansion in DC’s highest-burden neighborhoods: Needs assessment with four high priority populations”
HU CFAR developmental award "Optimizing biobehavioral HIV prevention for Latina transgender women in the eastern and southern US: An intersectional mixed-methods study”