Research Team
Patricia Drew, Ph. D. is the Primary Investigator of Social and Personal Outcomes of Long Term Weight Loss Surgery Patients. She is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Women’s Studies at California State University, East Bay.
Dr. Drew’s research examines the intersection of health and identity; in particular, she is interested in exploring how individuals’ embodied experiences shape their social interactions and personal self-concepts. Her other research projects include: studies of identity transformation in weight loss surgery patients; mothers who undergo post-partum breast reduction surgery; and gender messages in sexuality education films. Dr. Drew is also a faculty collaborator on the L.A.N.D. Project, which examines the experiences of university students with disabilities and/or learning differences.
Dr. Drew's previous research on weight loss surgery patients includes the following publications:
- Forthcoming. “Weight Loss Surgery Patients’ Gender Differentiated Experiences of Vanity Stigma.” in Research in the Sociology of Health Care, Volume 36, edited by J.J. Kronenfeld. Emerald Group Publishing.
- 2011. “’But Then I Learned…”: Weight Loss Surgery Patients Negotiate Surgery Discourses.” Social Science and Medicine. 73:1230-1237.
- 2009. “Weight Loss Surgery Patients’ Negotiations of Medicine’s Institutional Logic.” Pp. 65-92 in Research in the Sociology of Health Care, Volume 26, edited by J.J. Kronenfeld. Emerald Group Publishing.
She received her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2008.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Rocio Hernandez is an undergraduate student majoring in Human Development with a concentration in Early Childhood Development. She is interested in examining how children's overall development is affected by divorced or separated parents. Rocio hopes to gain knowledge about this topic, and help children that have been affected by this situation.
Amna Saleem is a current undergraduate who intends to major in Human Development. Amna is interested in learning about how researchers can advocate for women's health in disadvantaged communities. She is also interested in further studying and implementing community-based global health interventions centered on mothers, prenatal care, and childbirth. She advocates for quality education and healthier wholesome eating for children and adults alike.
Emily Youngblood is currently an undergraduate who is majoring in Human Development. Emily is interested in learning how research can impact children and adults who suffer from trauma.
Monica Pfanner is a Human Development major, dual concentrating in Adult Development/Gerontology and Women's Development. She holds two Associates degrees, one in Natural Sciences, and one in Social & Behavioral Sciences. She also holds certification through the state as a Certified Nurse Assistant. Monica is in the process of applying to nursing programs to pursue her career in nursing. Once she finishes her RN, Monica's ultimate goal is to pursue her Masters in order to be an Advanced Practice Nurse. Her interest in research and her future career is discovering how we as humans can take accountability for our own choices and health, in order to reduce and prevent disease. Monica hopes to be able to inspire and provide the type of advance nursing care to assist people in empowering themselves to live longer, healthier lives.