Research
Understanding Health, Aging, and Social Inequality
My research examines how social inequalities influence health, aging, medicine, and public life, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ populations, transgender health, life course processes, and the institutional conditions that shape access to healthcare.
The goal of this work is to generate evidence that informs public understanding, healthcare practice, and policy development while advancing health equity across diverse communities.
Core Focus
Research Areas
LGBTQ+ Aging & Life Course
This research explores how LGBTQ+ people experience aging across the life course, with attention to minority stress, social relationships, cognitive health, subjective aging, and the social conditions that shape health in later life.
Research Topics
- Minority Stress & Aging
- Social Networks
- Health Equity
- Cognitive Health
- Subjective Aging
Transgender Health & Gender-Affirming Care
This work investigates how healthcare systems, public policies, and institutions influence the well-being of transgender and gender-diverse populations, particularly regarding access to gender-affirming care.
Research Topics
- Gender-Affirming Care
- Health Policy
- Public Health Ethics
- Structural Barriers
- Healthcare Access
Medical Sociology & Health Care Access
This area examines how healthcare institutions, providers, and policy environments shape access to equitable and affirming care for LGBTQ+ communities.
Research Topics
- Healthcare Access
- Institutional Practice
- Health Inequities
- Preventive Care
- Public Health Systems
Public Sociology & Research Translation
This work translates sociological and public health research into accessible resources for policymakers, journalists, community organizations, and public audiences.
Research Topics
- Policy Translation
- Public Scholarship
- Community Engagement
- Evidence-Based Policy
- Public Communication
Key Publications
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Minority Stress, Community Involvement, and Cognitive Decline in Rural SGM Older Adults
Social Science & Medicine
Examines how stigma influences cognitive health among older LGBTQ+ adults in the rural U.S. South
Do Supportive Work Environments Matter For Minority Aging?
Psychological
Explores how workplace stress and LGBTQ+-supportive coworkers influence cognitive health among middle-aged and older LGBTQ+ adults.
Effects of Unequal Treatment, Verbal Harassment, and Physical Violence on Cognitive Health
Annals of LGBTQ Public and Population Health
Investigates how experiences of discrimination and victimization contribute to cognitive difficulties among LGBTQ+ adults.
Harnessing Progress: Gender, Sexuality, and Positive Self-Perceptions of Aging in Midlife
Journal of Aging Studies
Introduces the concept of "harnessing progress" to understand how gender and sexuality shape positive views of aging.
Collaborative Research & Mentorship
STUDENT & COLLABORATOR INVOLVEMENT
My research is collaborative by design. I work alongside students, trainees, clinicians, community partners, public health researchers, sociologists, legal scholars, and policy experts to develop research that is rigorous, practical, and community-informed.
Students and collaborators may contribute to:
- Literature Reviews
- Qualitative & Quantitative Data Analysis
- Manuscript Development
- Policy Translation
- Public Reports
- Community-Based Research
Let’s collaborate
WORK WITH ME
Interested in collaborating on research, policy projects, public scholarship, or student mentorship opportunities?
50+
Publications & Reports
1000+
Citations
NIH
Funded Research
LGBTQ+
Health & Aging Research Focus