Research

Broadly, my program of research examines the impact of cumulative stress across the life course, including racial and sex-specific stressors, on cardiovascular health. In my dissertation, I conducted a secondary data analysis of a prospective, population representative sample of Black women to: 1). examine childhood and young adult social contributors to cardiovascular health and 2). determine if positive supports in adolescence and young adulthood may mitigate the negative effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on cardiovascular health.

I have presented findings from my research at regional conferences such as the Southern Nursing Research Society, and National Scientific Sessions of the American Academy of Health Behavior, American Heart Association Epidemiology & Lifestyle Conference, and American Public Health Association. In 2019, my research was highlighted on the AHA blog, and I was awarded the 2020 Trudy Bush Fellowship for Cardiovascular Disease Research in Women's Health for my conference paper titled "Social Networks are Associated with Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Young Black Females: A Latent Class Analysis".

My research is informed by over a decade of experience as a primary care nurse practitioner, including working in federally qualified health centers (FQHC) in inner city Chicago and rural North Carolina. Daily I cared for patients with low socioeconomic status, vulnerable insurance status (e.g., uninsured, Medicaid), and, consistent with the literature, high rates of CV and related diseases, like hypertension and diabetes. The volume of patients I saw and the common stories of adversity my patients shared made me wonder how the chronic stressors and buried stress of daily life contributed to the high rates of CVD among my patients, and why some people who are exposed to adversity nonetheless thrive in good health. Thus, the ultimate aim of my research is to develop tailored, multi-level interventions, and policies that will promote cardiovascular health and overall resilience among women of color. My research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Duke University School of Nursing, and the Duke Graduate School.

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