Institute for
Health Equity and Social Justice Research

research applied

Video: Learn about Health Equity and Social Justice Research in Action

Tackling complex social and health issues through real-world research.

Disparities in health and mental health arise and persist as the result of complex individual, societal, and global factors. We bring together faculty and students from across Northeastern University, along with external research partners, to tackle these complex challenges. Our teams draw upon a wide range of research methods and interventions, but share a common commitment to promoting health equity and social justice through high-impact, community engaged research.

Research clusters

REAL-WORLD

Young people of Vellore stock photo

research CLUSTER

Refugee, immigrant, and global health

For more than a decade, the institute has organized interdisciplinary research teams to improve the lives of refugee and immigrant populations. We work with partners such as Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital to explore discrimination and health issues among Somali refugees. Another current project involves the impact that sanctuary cities have on health and well-being have on its communities.

world class

Confident african young woman showing stop signal

research CLUSTER

Violence prevention and trauma

The institute conducts research on the cause and prevention of violence, including child abuse, youth violence, sexual assault, community violence, and intimate partner/teen dating violence. We evaluate the effectiveness of proposed interventions and develop new interventions based on an ecological approach to environmental, social, and individual determinants of violence.

thought leaders

Caring therapist listens to patient during group therapy session

research CLUSTER

Public mental health and substance misuse

The institute is home to national thought leaders in behavioral health research, with a special emphasis on mental health and substance misuse. We explore how stigma, discrimination, and socioeconomic factors affect access to education, employment, and medical health. The institute also promotes public involvement in our research through community-based participatory research methods.

community

For women of different ages keeping fit together

research CLUSTER

Health promotion and disease prevention

Institute faculty research how social and economic factors influence health and disease prevention. Currently, we are focused on HIV/AIDS, obesity, and Hepatitis C, as well as how racial and ethnic disparities affect pregnancy outcomes across generations.

equity

Cheerful business team having morning briefing in office

research CLUSTER

Training and workforce development

Student Opportunities

Student Conference Funding Requests

Students who are affiliated with the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research and who are presenting at a conference can request funds to cover conference expenses through our Student Conference Funding Request Form. Before filling out this form, you must first request funding from all other Northeastern University resources available to you (see below in the form for what those resources are).

After submitting the form, the IHESJR team will get back to you within two weeks of form completion. If you need the funds before that review time frame, please email Suzanne at [email protected] to discuss your timeline.

ACCESS THE STUDENT CONFERENCE FUNDING REQUEST FORM!


Health Equity Internships

Health Equity Interns are Northeastern University undergraduate students who commit to working four hours a week during one academic semester at the Institute on Health Equity and Social Justice Research in its mission of conducting research towards advancing health equity and social inclusion and reducing health disparities.  Opportunities are available for interns to continue an affiliation with the Institute once the semester internship is completed.

SPRING 2025 APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN UNTIL SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD! APPLY TODAY!

Please note that first-semester Health Equity Interns may not be on co-op.

The health equity internship includes the following:

  • Experience in public health research focused on health equity and social inclusion and reducing health disparities.
  •  Research skills trainings. Trainings will include but are not limited to literature reviews, reference software, focus groups, and Institutional Review Boards and human subject’s protections.
  •  Opportunities to meet, learn from, and collaborate with the Institute’s faculty and staff.
  •  Opportunities to work on projects collaboratively and independently.
  •  The possibility of presenting at RISE and other dissemination activities.
  •  Opportunities to convene with other Health Equity Interns.
  •  Continued supervision throughout the intern program.

Your responsibilities would be as follows:

  • Meeting with the Program Assistant Director to discuss current research opportunities and to determine the focus of the intern’s work during the semester.
  •  Meet with the Program Assistant Director and supervisor if different, determine individual intern goals for the semester.
  •  Conduct research activities related to the determined focus of work. Such tasks can include, but is not limited to conducting literature reviews, data entry, transcription of interviews and/or focus groups, attending project meetings and taking notes.
  •  Participate in research training activities, Works in Progress Series, and twice a semester internship gatherings.
  •  Complete an assessment at the end of the semester and meet with the Program Assistant Director to discuss the assessment which includes the goals set in the beginning of the internship.

The Fall 2024 Health Equity Internship application is now closed. The Spring 2025 application will open on September 30th, 2024.

Please reach out to Suzanne Garverich at [email protected] with any questions regarding the application process.

*Please note that first semester Health Equity Interns must be enrolled in classes and cannot be on co-op.*

Starting in the spring of 2022 we will have an opportunity for a dual internship experience with the Women’s Research and Engagement Network (WREN).  WREN, is a student-led program dedicated to promoting and celebrating the success of female-aligned individuals at Northeastern. 

As a dual program member, you will receive all the benefits of the Health Equity Internship program and more. You will be considered a WREN Scholar, meaning that you will have access to career panels, skills-based trainings, and social networking nights with an interdisciplinary cohort of undergraduate women in research.

During fall semesters, Scholars also will be eligible to present their research at the WREN Summit, the nation’s first undergraduate interdisciplinary women’s research conference.

To support your participation in both the WREN Scholar Program and the Health Equity Internship, attendance requirements for each will be adjusted accordingly. There will be an additional 2-3 hours of events/trainings a month for the dual internship.

If you are a female-aligned individual and would like to apply to the dual internship please indicate that on the Health Equity Intern application.

Research awards


Health Equity Pilot Awards

With the support the Bouvé College of Health Sciences, the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research has been able to provide funding to support Faculty Scholars as they develop their research portfolios in advancing the goals of health equity for diverse populations made vulnerable through marginalization and exclusion through the Advancing Health Equity Pilot Awards.

PEAK Experiences Awards

The PEAK Experiences Awards are funded by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, a progressively structured sequence of opportunities designed to support students as they continue climbing to new heights of achievement in undergraduate research and creative endeavor throughout their Northeastern journeys.IHESJR Faculty Scholars and Research Advisors provide mentorship to students as they apply for the award as well as when they are conducting the awarded research. 

2024-2025 Awards

Analia Albuja
Assistant Professor
College of Science

Title: The Effect of Changing United States Demographics on White/Black, White/Asian, and White/Latine Biracial People’s Identity and Well-Being


AC Goldberg
Visiting Snell Assistant Clinical Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: Proposal for Startup Grant to Study the Impact of Financially Accessible Gender-Affirming Voice Services


Lorna Hayward

Lorna Hayward
Associate Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: Increasing Equitable Opportunities for Power Wheelchair Adaptive Team Sport Involvement by Adults with Disabilities: An Evidence-Based Approach to Understanding Sport Impact on Cardiovascular Fitness and Well-Being


Amy Helburn
Associate Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: The Effect of Variation in U.S. State-Level Perinatal Benefits on Rates of Pregnancy, Birth, and Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights (2017-2024)


Miki Hong
Assistant Adjunct Professor
Mills College at Northeastern University

Title: California Tobacco Control Policies in the Comprehensive Plan: Connecting Public Health to Urbanism


Rachel Rodgers

Rachel Rodgers
Associate Professor Professor
College of Social Sciences and Humanitites, Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: Developing an Intervention to Increase Food Industry Literacy


2023-2024 Awards

Behrakis Health Science Center at Northeastern's Boston Campus

Laura Dudley
Assistant Clinical Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: Prevalence of Mindfulness-Based Practices Among Diverse Populations


Lorna Hayward
Associate Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: Exploring the Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Access to Equitable Adaptive Power Wheelchair Sports for Adults, Young Adults with Physical Disabilities


Miki Hong
Assistant Adjunct Professor
Mills College at Northeastern University

Title: Marrying Urban Planning and Public Health: Built Environments, Comprehensive Plans, and Tobacco Control


Rachel Rodgers

Rachel Rodgers
Associate Professor
College of Social Sciences and Humanitites, Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: Real2RealSSI: A Single-Session Social Justice Informed Body Image Intervention


Katherine Simmonds
Clinical Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences, The Roux Institute

Title: Investigating Innovative Models of Community-Based Health Centers to Inform the Expansion of an Existing Free Clinic in Knox County, Maine


Moka Yoo-Jeong
Assistant Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: Evaluation of a Clinically-Integrated Community Health Worker Program to Support Adults with Cardiovascular Conditions Guided by the PRISM Framework


2022-2023 Awards

A phot of Professor Leanne Chukoskie smiling.

Leanne Chukoskie
Associate Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences & College of Arts, Media and Design

Title: An Intergenerational Game Jam


Danielle Crookes

Danielle Crookes
Assistant Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences & College of Social Science and Humanities

Title: Sanctuary Policies and Receipt of Preventive Cardiovascular Care Among Immigrants in the US


Lorna Hayward
Associate Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: Increasing Access to Equitable Adaptive Sports Opportunities to Promote Physical and Mental Health for College Students with Disabilities


Rebekah Moore

Rebekah Moore
Assistant Professor
College of Arts, Media and Design

Title: Advancing Racial and Health Equity through the Arts: A community-engaged research study in the city of Boston


John Olawepo

John Olawepo
Assistant Teaching Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: An Exploration of Barriers to and Facilitators of Sickle Cell Disease Newborn Screening in Nigeria:  A Qualitative Study


Rachel Rodgers

Rachel Rodgers
Associate Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: Towards Parent-led Interventions for Body Inclusiveness


Dani Snyder-Young

Dani Snyder-Young
Assistant Professor
College of Arts, Media and Design

Title: Studying Social Stigma and Affect in Diverse Audiences of “This is Treatment”


2021-2022 Awards

Jordan Bosse

Jordan Bosse
Assistant Professor
University of Rhode Island – College of Nursing

Project: Moral Reckoning with Nurses’ Actions, Inactions, and Silence that May Perpetuate Health Inequity Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) People

Jessica Hoffman

Jessica Hoffman
Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: Intergenerational Tutoring: Older Adults Supporting Children’s Academic Needs via Video Conferencing

Tiffany Joseph
Associate Professor
College of Social Sciences and Humanitites

Project: (Not) All In: Race, Immigration, and Health Care Exclusion in America’s City on a Hill 

Miso Kim

Miso Kim
Assistant Professor
College of Arts, Media, and Design

Project: Learning from deaths during COVID-19 – Exploring the principle of dignity for end-of-life care services

Jeanne Madden

Jeanne Madden
Associate Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: Access to Mental Health Care among Medicare Beneficiaries

John Olawepo
Assistant Clinical Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: Impact of Community-and Incentive-based Approaches on the Demand for Sickle Cell DiseaseNewborn Screening in Nigeria.

Rachel Rodgers

Rachel Rodgers
Associate Professor
College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: Food Industry Literacy Intervention

Carmel Salhi
Associate Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: How do Parents of Children Admitted to the Emergency Department for a Mental Health Crisis View the Role of Clinicians Around Firearm Safety? 

Claudia Santelices

Claudia Santelices
Associate Research Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: Impact of Drug Checking Technologies on Drug Using Behaviors


2020-2021 Awards

Linda Blum

Linda Blum
Professor of Sociology
College of Social Sciences and Humanities

Title: BRCA Communities In the Pandemic: Exploring the Role of Online Peer Support


Tiffany Joseph

Tiffany Joseph
Associate Professor
College of Social Science and Humanities

Title: (Not) All In: Race, Ethnicity, Immigration, Exclusion, and Health Care in America’s City on a Hill


Miso Kim
Assistant Professor
College of Arts, Media and Design

Title: Designing services to assist isolated older adults in senior living centers during COVID-19


Dami Ko

Dami Ko
Assistant Professor
School of Nursing

Title: Socioeconomic Inequities in Health among Urban Liver Transplant Recipients


Danielle Levac

Danielle Levac
Assistant Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title:  Immersive virtual reality as a training modality for the development of a growth mindset in economically-disadvantaged children and youth


Margo Lindauer

Margo Lindauer
Associate Professor
School of Law and Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: Domestic Violence Clinic


Amy Lu

Amy Lu
Associate Professor
College of Arts, Media and Design aBouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: How effective are active video games? A meta-analysis across the lifespan in clinical and nonclinical populations


Collette Ncube

Collette Ncube
Research Associate of Epidemiology
Boston University School of Public Health

Title:  Un-Masking the Origins of Maternal Mortality/Morbidity Inequities (UMOMMI)


Kara Pavone

Kara Pavone
Assistant Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title:  Pain-Related Disparities Among Patients with Substance Use Disorder 


Hermine

Hermine Poghosyan
Assistant Professor
Faculty, School of Nursing

Title: Racial/ethnic disparities in lung cancer screening potentially due to current screening guidelines


Rachel Rodgers

Rachel Rodgers
Associate Professor
College of Social Sciences and Humanities and Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: Beyond White Bread: A Delphi Study for an Equitable Healthy Eating Scale


2019-2020 Awards

Tiffany Joseph

Tiffany Joseph
Associate Professor
College of Social Sciences and Humanities

Project: (Not) All In: Race, Ethnicity, Immigration, Exclusion, and Health Care in America’s City on a Hill


Miso Kim
Assistant Professor
College of Arts, Media, and Design

Project: Designing a Service to Improve Older Adults’ Technology Literacy for Health Autonomy


Collette Ncube

Collette Ncube
Research Associate of Epidemiology
Boston University School of Public Health

Project: Development of a preconception health risk score


Rachel Rodgers

Rachel Rodgers
Associate Professor
College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: Reel2Real, A Pilot Study: Increasing Social Media Literacy for Health Equity


Carmel Salhi
Associate Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: Disparities in Adolescent Access to Firearms, Mental Health and Parenting Behavior: A Nationally Representative Survey Using Parent and Adolescent Report


Laura Senier

Laura Senier
Assistant Professor
College of Social Sciences and Humanitites, Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: Blue and Green Spaces and Emotional Well Being among Urban Teens


Dani Snyder-Young

Dani Snyder-Young
Assistant Professor
College of Social Sciences and Humanities, College of Arts, Media, and Design

Project: Artist in Recovery: The role of theatre participation and arts-integrated peer leadership in substance addiction recovery processes


Lichuan Ye

Lichuan Ye
Associate Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: Sleep Deficiencies in Urban Black/African American Adults


2018-2019 Awards

Meryl Alper

Meryl Alper
Associate Professor
College of Arts, Media, and Design

Project: Communication Studies, College of Arts, Media, and Design, Advancing Digital and Health Equity for Autistic Children Ages 9-13


Jeanne Madden

Jeanne Madden
Associate Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: Food Insecurity among Medicare Beneficiaries


Andrea Parker

Andrea Parker
Associate Professor
Georgia Institute of Technology

Project: Expressive Design: Personal Health Informatics Innovations to Support Coping and Resilience


Rachel Rodgers

Rachel Rodgers
Associate Professor
College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: Tools for Health Equity across the Weight Spectrum: Development and validation of a paradigm to elicit fear of fat and desire for thinness


Carmel Salhi

Carmel Salhi
Associate Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: Conflict and Decentralization in Syria’s Healthcare System: The impact of emerging service providers on community member’s healthcare access and participation


Laura Senier
Assistant Professor
College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: The Mental Health Effects of Access to Green and Blue Spaces in Urban Environments


Liza Weinstein

Liza Weinstein
Associate Professor
College of Social Sciences and Humanities

Project: Embodied Exclusion:  The social production of marginality in a Mumbai slum settlement.


2023-2024 PEAK Awards

Fall 2024 Recipients

Noah Brenman

Noah Brenman Bouvé ‘27

Title: Alzheimer’s Disease and Disparity: A Rural Undercounting
Mentor: Nasim Ferdows, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award

Rohan Chopra

Rohan Chopra Khoury ’26

Title: Building an LLM-Driven Chatbot to Support and Empower Transgender Individuals Facing IPV
Mentor: Winston Kennedy, Bouvé, Physical Therapy, Human Movement, and Rehabilitation Sciences

Summit Award

Laila Harruna

Laila Harruna

Title: An Examination of Multi-Level Predictors of Youth Social Competence
Mentor:

Shout it Out Award

Vivian Lin

Vivian Lin Bouvé ‘27

Title: Covid-19’s Impact on Stroke Mortality Rates in Rural vs Urban Areas
Mentor: Nasim Ferdows, Bouvé, Public Policy and Urban Affairs

Ascent Award

Ria Mukhopadhyay

Ria Mukhopadhyay Bouvé ’25

Title: Salus Populi Evaluation
Mentor: Katherine Hazen, CSSH, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Ascent Award

Joud Rai

Joud Rai COS ‘27

Title: Judicial Training Program Survey Development and Management
Mentor: Katherine Hazen, CSSH, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Ascent Award

John Signorile

John Signorile Bouvé ‘26

Title: Early Childhood Mental Health Families Independence, Resilience, and Training (ECMH FIRST)
Mentor: Beth Molnar, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award

Chloe Strawn

Chloe Strawn Bouvé ‘26

Title: Adaptive Sport Involvement by Adults with Disabilities: Experiences, Fitness, and Health Outcomes
Mentor: Lorna Hayward, Bouvé, Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Science

Ascent Award

Anthony Trinidad

Anthony Trinidad

Title: An Examination of Multi-Level Predictors of Youth Social Competence
Mentor:

Shout it Out Award

Samadhi Wjethunga

Samadhi Wijethunga COS ‘25

Title: Synuclein-Based Isolation of Pathological Human Neurons for Single Cell Analysis
Mentor: Dami Ko, Bouvé, Nursing

Ascent Award

Emily Wu Bouvé ‘25

Title: Fostering Community-Engagement in Operationalizing Climate Gentrification
Mentor: Patrice Williams, CSSH, Public Policy and Urban Affairs

Summit Award

Summer 2024 Recipients

Rohan Chopra

Rohan Chopra Khoury ’26

Title: Assessing the Impact of Transgender Violence on Health Outcomes Utilizing Electronic Health Records
Mentor: Winston Kennedy, Bouvé, Physical Therapy, Human Movement, and Rehabilitation Sciences

Summit Award

Mitchell Goldberg

Mitchell Goldberg Bouvé ’25

Title: Spring 2024 HaRT Data Analysis
Mentor: Emily Mann, CSSH, Human Services 

Ascent Award

Rachel Halvorsen

Rachel Halvorsen Bouvé ’26

Title: The Trauma Informed Classroom Design (TICD) Project
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award

Romi Manela

Romi Manela Bouvé ’24

Title: Navigating Intentional Communities: Perspectives of Young Adults in Post-Pandemic America
Mentor: Laura Senier, CSSH, Sociology and Anthropology

Ascent Award

Srinithya Panamgipalli

Srinithya Panamgipalli Bouvé ’25

Title: How Social Determinants of Health Impact Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests
Mentor: Nasim Ferdows, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award

Samadhi Wjethunga

Samadhi Wijethunga COS ’25

Title: Assessing Cognitive Behavior among Liver Cirrhosis Population Based on Social Determinants
Mentor: Dami Ko, Bouvé, Nursing 

Base Camp Award

Spring 2024 Recipients

Ariana Bhimani

Ariana Bhimani Bouvé ’26

Title: Power Wheelchair Adaptive Team Sport Involvement by Adults with Disabilities: Experiences and Impact
Mentor: Lorna Hayward, Bouvé, Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Science

Ascent Award

Noah Brenman

Noah Brenman Bouvé ’27

Title: Dementia Rural Disparity
Mentor: Nasim Ferdows, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award

Anna Gorham

Anna Gorham COS ’24

Title: Immigration Policy in the US: An Investigation of 287(g) Policies
Mentor: Danielle Crookes, CSSH, Sociology and Anthropology

Base Camp Award

Rosa Hahn

Rosa Hahn Bouvé ’24

Title: Early Childhood Mental Health Families Independence, Resilience, and Training
Mentor: Beth Molnar, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award

Helen Ji

Helen Ji COS ’24

Title: Early Childhood Mental Health Families Independence, Resilience, and Training
Mentor: Beth Molnar, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award

Timothy Martin Quinn

Timothy Martin Quinn Bouvé ’26

Title: Tobacco Control: Marrying Public Health and Urban Planning
Mentor: Miki Hong, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award

Avery Melam

Avery Melam Bouvé ’26

Title: Power Wheelchair Adaptive Team Sport Involvement by Adults with Disabilities: Experiences and Impact
Mentor: Lorna Hayward, Bouvé, Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabiliation Science

Ascent Award

Nicole Messih

Nicole Messih Bouvé ’25

Title: The Intersection of Climate Change and Public Safety in Criminal Justice Through Research Guides
Mentor: Leo Beletsky, Bouvé, Law and Public Policy

Base Camp Award

Behrakis Health Science Center at Northeastern's Boston Campus

Sophia Mohomedally Bouvé ’26

Title: Psychiatric Multimorbidity in Older Adults with Atrial Fibrillations
Mentor: Benita Bamgbade, Bouvé, Pharmacy & Health Systems Sciences

Base Camp Award

Katherine O'Brien

Katherine O’Brien Bouvé ’24

Title: The Link Between HIV, Climate Change, and Sexual and Gender Minority Populations: A Scoping Review”
Mentor: John Olawepo, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award

Julia Papasodoro

Julia Papasadoro Bouvé ’24

Title: The Link Between HIV, Climate Change, and Sexual and Gender Minority Populations: A Scoping Review
Mentor: John Olawepo, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award

Joud Rai

Joud Rai  COS ’27

Title: Salus Populi Evaluation
Mentors: Katherine Hazen and Elaine Marshall

Base Camp Award

Allison Tarbotton

Allison Tarbotton Bouvé ’26

Title: The Climate and Public Safety (CAPS) Project
Mentor: Leo Beletsky, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award

Vivian Zhao

Vivian Zhao COS ’26

Title: Historic Epidemics in American Cities
Mentor: Sara Carr, CAMD, Architecture

Base Camp Award

Fall 2023 Recipients

Advika Chaudhari

Advika Chaudhari Bouvé ’25

Title: Reproductive Justice Research Collaborative
Mentor: Suzanna Walters, CSSH, Communication Studies

Base Camp Award

Rohan Chopra

Rohan Chopra Khoury ’26

Title: The Biology of Trauma and Resilience Initiative at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, CSSH, Sociology and Anthropology

Ascent Award

Vivian Lin

Vivian Lin COS ’26

Title: Stroke Mortality Rates After COVID-19
Mentor: Nasim Ferdows, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award

Chloe Mak

Chloe Mak COS ’26

Title: A Placed-Based Initiative: The Sacramento ACEs Project
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, CSSH, Sociology and Anthropology

Ascent Award

Janaki Mehta

Janaki Mehta CSSH ’25

Title: Exploring the Intersection of Climate and Public Safety in the Criminal Justice System through Research Guides
Mentor: Leo Beletsky, CSSH, Law and Public Policy

Base Camp Award

Katherine O'Brien

Katherine O’Brien Bouvé ’24

Title: The Link Between HIV, Climate Change, and Sexual Minority Populations: A Scoping Review
Mentor: John Olawepo, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award

Julia Papasodoro

Julia Papasadoro Bouvé ’24

Title: The Link Between HIV, Climate Change, and Sexual Minority Populations: A Scoping Review
Mentor: John Olawepo, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award

Priya Palaniappan

Priya Palaniappan Bouvé ’24

Title: Impact of Community- and Incentive-Based Approaches on the Demand for Sickle Cell Disease Newborn Screening in Nigeria: A Pilot Study
Mentor: John Olawepo, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award

Eleanor Sanders

Eleanor Sanders Bouvé ’25

Title: Attitudes and Access of Black Individuals Towards Mindfulness Practices
Mentor: Laura Dudley, Bouvé, Applied Psychology

Base Camp Award

Jasminder Sarkaria

Jasminder Sarkaria Bouvé ’25

Title: Sacramento ACEs Project: A Place Based Initiative
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, CSSH, Health Sciences

Ascent Award

2022-2023 PEAK Awards

Summer 2023 Recipients

Rohan Chopra

Rohan Chopra Khoury ’26

Title: The Biology of Trauma and Resilience Initiative at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, CSSH, Sociology and Anthropology

Base Camp Award

Jasper Duval

Jasper Duval CSSH ’23

Title: Access to Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender and Gender Expansive Sex Workers in Bangkok, Thailand
Mentor: Liza Weinstein, CSSH, Sociology and Anthropology

Trail-Blazer Award

Emma Harden

Emma Harden COS ’24

Title: Labels of Exclusion: A Scoping Review of How Categorization of Migrants Affects Health and Well-Being
Mentor: Carmel Salhi, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award

Chloe Mak

Chloe Mak COS ’26

Title: A Placed-Based Initiative: The Sacramento ACEs Project
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, CSSH, Sociology and Anthropology

Base Camp Award

Avery Melam

Avery Melam Bouvé ’26

Title: The Impact of Power-Wheelchair Adaptive Sports Opportunities on the Fitness and Sense of Belonging in Individuals with Disabilities
Mentor: Lorna Hayward, Bouvé, Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Science

Base Camp Award

Sophia Nguyen

Sophia Nguyen COE ’26

Title: Post-Acute Care Discharge Pattern of Stroke Patients: Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Mentor: Nasim Ferdows, CSSH, Public Policy and Urban Affairs

Ascent Award

Priya Palaniappan

Priya Palaniappan Bouvé ’24

Title: Impact of Community- and Incentive-Based Approaches on the Demand for Sickle Cell Disease Newborn Screening in Nigeria: A Pilot Study
Mentor: John Olawepo, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award

Jasminder Sarkaria

Jasminder Sarkaria Bouvé ’25

Title: Sacramento ACEs Project: A Place-Based Initiative Educating on Adverse Childhood Experiences
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, CSSH, Sociology and Anthropology

Base Camp Award

Sofia Valentin

Sofia Valentin Bouvé ’25

Title: Impact of Drug Checking Technologies on Drug Using Behaviors: A Qualitative Approach
Mentor: Claudia Santelices, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award

Annie Zhang

Annie Zhang Bouvé ’25

Title: The Carceral Resource Index: The Impact of Carceral and Public Health Expenditures on Overdose Mortality in U.S. Cities
Mentor: Leo Beletsky, CSSH, Law and Public Policy

Ascent Award

Spring 2023 Recipients

Behrakis Health Science Center at Northeastern's Boston Campus

Kaela Herzog Bouvé ’25

Title: Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality: Representation in Autism Research
Mentor: Leanne Chukoskie, Bouvé, Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Science

Base Camp Award

Victoria Rivera

Victoria Rivera COE ’24

Title: Development of an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Device with Eye-Tracking Technology to Aid in Social Communication for Minimally Verbal Autistic Children
Mentor: Leanne Chukoskie, Bouvé, Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Science

Base Camp Award

Annie Zhang

Annie Zhang Bouvé ’25

Title: The Carceral Resource Index: The Impact of Carceral and Public Health Expenditures on overdose Mortality in U.S. Cities
Mentor: Leo Beletsky, CSSH, Law and Public Policy

Ascent Award

Fall 2022 Recipients

Sabrina Krista

Sabrina Krista Bouvé ’24

Title: Public Health and the Right to Affordable Water
Mentor: Laura Senier, Bouvé, Public Health and Health Sciences

Base Camp Award

Romi Manela

Romi Manela Bouvé ’24

Title: NSF Water Interviews
Mentor: Laura Senier, Bouvé, Public Health and Health Sciences

Base Camp Award

Katherine O'Brien

Katherine O’Brien Bouvé ’24

Title: Retention in Care of People Living with HIV in Nigeria: A Systematic Review
Mentor: John Olawepo, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award

Julia Papasodoro

Julia Papasodoro Bouvé ’24

Title: Retention in Care of People Living with HIV in Nigeria: A Systematic Review
Mentor: John Olawepo, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award

Ashley Phan

Ashley Phan COS ’22

Title: Telehealth Services to Solid Organ Transplant Recipients in Response to COVID-19
Mentor: Dami Ko, Bouvé, Nursing

Base Camp Award

Jordan Rhyner

Jordan Rhyner Bouvé ’23

Title: Enriching Communities: A Partnership Between Artists and Community Health Centers
Mentor: Rebekah Moore, CAMD, Music

Summit Award

Morgan Wong

Morgan Wong Bouvé ’24

Title: Un-Masking the Origins of Maternal Morbidity/Mortality (UMOMMI)
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award

Julia Zalvino

Julia Zalvino COS ’24

Title: How Does Journaling About Body Functionality Affect Body Image in Young Women?
Mentor: Rachel Rodgers, Bouvé, Applied Psychology

Summit Award

2021-2022 PEAK Awards

Summer 2022 Recipients

A photo of Olivia Durant smiling.

Olivia Durant Bouvé ’23

Title: The Lived Experience of Calciphylaxis: Living with a Disease of Clinically Uncertain Etiology
Mentor: Carmel Salhi, Bouvé, Health Sciences 

Trail-Blazer Award


A photo of Sara Lowell smiling.

Sara Lowell COS ’24

Title: Identification of Areas for Improved Alignment in the Human Services Sector with State Government Entities
Mentor: Amy Helburn, Bouvé, Health Sciences 

Ascent Award


Spring 2022 Recipients

Julia Denglinger

Julia Denlinger Bouvé ’22

Title: Firearm Suicide Prevention Project 
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, Bouvé, Health Sciences 

Ascent Award


A photo of Rayna Haque smiling.

Rayna Haque Bouvé ’22

Title: Somali Parent Perspectives on Barriers to Diagnosis in Children with Developmental Disabilities
Mentor: Carmel Salhi, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Summit Award


A photo of Summer Kelly smiling.

Summer Kelly Bouvé ’24

Title: Un-Masking the Origins of Maternal Mortality/Morbidity Inequities: Measurement and Determinants of Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Severe Maternal Morbidity
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award


A photo of Dorian Stump smiling.

Dorian Stump Bouvé ’22

Title: Firearm Suicide Prevention Project
Mentors: Suzanne Garverich, IHESJR and Alisa Lincoln, Bouvé, Health Sciences 

Ascent Award


Fall 2021 Recipients

A photo of Julia Denlinger smiling.

Julia Denlinger Bouvé ’22

Title: Firearm Suicide Prevention Strategies for Firearm Owners and the Preventability of Firearm Suicide
Mentor: Suzanne Garverich, IHESJR

Base Camp Award


A photo of Julia Dierker smiling.

Julia Dierker Bouvé ’24

Title: Mixed-Method Telehealth Research
Mentor: Dami Ko, Bouvé, Nursing

Base Camp Award


A photo of Jasper Duval smiling.

Jasper Duval CSSH ’23

Title: ‘Pray to the Mumbai Government’: Government Officials and Legal Exclusion in a Non-notified Settlement in India
Mentor: Liza Weinstein, CSSH, Sociology and Anthropology

Summit Award


A photo of Owen Graham-O’Regan smiling.

Owen Graham-O’Regan CSSH ’23

Title: Changing Laws or Changing Norms? The Impact of Female Leadership on Intimate Partner Violence in India
Mentor: Bilge Erten, CSSH, Economics

Ascent Award


A photo of Meghna Iyer smiling.

Meghna Iyer Bouvé ’22

Title: Improving Guardrail Damage Reporting to Promote Injury Prevention in Motor Vehicle Crashes
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Summit Award


A photo of Haley Moriarty smiling.

Haley Moriarty Bouvé ’23

Title: Parenting in the Time of Social Media: A Qualitative Study of Parental Involvement in Teens’ Social Media Use
Mentor: Rachel Rodgers, Bouvé, Applied Psychology

Base Camp Award


A photo of Dorian Stump smiling.

Dorian Stump Bouvé ’22

Title: American Firearm Suicide Prevention Project
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award


A photo of Julia Zalvino smiling.

Julia Zalvino COS ’24

Title: Which Types of Social Media Are Helpful for Body Image: Hearing from Diverse Youth
Mentor: Rachel Rodgers, Bouvé, Applied Psychology

Base Camp Award


2020-2021 PEAK Awards

Summer 2021 Recipients

A photo of Kevin Dunne smiling.

Kevin Dunne CSSH ’22

Title: COVID-19 and Mental Health
Mentor: Bilge Erten, CSSH, Economics

Ascent Award


A photo of Jasper Duval smiling.

Jasper Duval CSSH ’23

Title: ‘We Live in Garbage’: Legal Exclusion in a Non-Notified Settlement in Mumbai
Mentor: Liza Weinstein, CSSH, Sociology and Anthropology

Summit Award


A photo of Nikita Murli smiling.

Nikita Murli COS ’23

Title: Tracking Drug-Induced Homicide (DIH) Charges in the United States
Mentor: Leo Beletsky, Bouvé, Law and Public Policy

Base Camp Award

A photo of Thao-Mi Nguyen smiling.

Thao-Mi Nguyen Bouvé ’25

Title: Un-Masking the Origins of Maternal Mortality/Morbidity Inequities (UMOMMI)
Mentor: Collette Ncube, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award




A photo of Ciara Sosnowski smiling.

Ciara Sosnowski CAMD ’23

Title: Arts, Health, and Wellbeing: A Literature Review
Mentor: Rebekah Moore, CAMD, Music

Summit Award


A photo of Morgan Wong smiling.

Morgan Wong Bouvé ’24

Title: Un-Masking the Origins of Maternal Mortality/Morbidity Inequities (UMOMMI)
Mentor: Collette Ncube, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award


A photo of Yechan Yang smiling.

Yechan Yang COS ’22

Title: LGBTQ Health Care Disparities in Telemedicine
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award

Spring 2021 Recipients


A photo of Lujane Barakat smiling.

Lujane Barakat Bouvé ’21

Title: Oral Health Behaviors and Self-Image
Mentor: Rachel Rodgers, Bouvé, Applied Psychology

Ascent Award


A photo of Jasper Duval smiling.

Jasper Duval CSSH ’23

Title: The Shame of the Slum: An Exploratory Study of Territorial Stigma and Mental Well-Being in a Non-Notified Settlement in Mumbai
Mentor: Liza Weinstein, CSSH, Sociology and Anthropology

Ascent Award


A photo of Connor Holmes smiling.

Connor Holmes Bouvé ’21

Title: Exploring Transgender, Non-binary, and Genderqueer Dating App Use
Mentor: Laura Senier, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Summit Award

Fall 2020 Recipients

Anisa Amiji Bouvé ’22

Title: Examining Information-Seeking During COVID-19
Mentor: Miso Kim, CAMD, Art + Design

Base Camp Award


A photo of Cullen Bober smiling.

Cullen Bober Bouvé ’21

Title: Exploring DIH Charges and Carceral Budgets
Mentor: Leo Beletsky, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award


A photo of Valeria Do Vale smiling.

Valeria Do Vale CSSH ’21

Title: Immigrants’ Healthcare Access Under Shifting Public Policies
Mentor: Tiffany Joseph, CSSH, Sociology and Anthropology

Ascent Award


A photo of Kevin Dunne smiling.

Kevin Dunne CSSH ’21

Title: COVID-19 and Domestic Violence
Mentor: Bilge Erten, CSSH, Economics

Base Camp Award


A photo of Jasper Duval smiling.

Jasper Duval CSSH ’23

Title: The Shame of the Slum: An Exploratory Study of Territorial Stigma and Mental Wellbeing in a Non-Notified Settlement in Mumbai
Mentor: Liza Weinstein, CSSH, Sociology and Anthropology

Ascent Award


A photo of Angelica Fuiza smiling.

Angelica Fuiza Bouvé ’22

Title: Twenty Seconds a Day: The Impact of Tiktok Diet Culture Content on Young Women
Mentor: Rachel Rodgers, Bouvé, Applied Psychology

Summit Award


A photo of Rayna Haque smiling.

Rayna Haque Bouvé ’22

Title: A Qualitative Review of Mental Health and Exposure to Violence in Resettled Refugees
Mentor: Carmel Salhi, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award


A photo of Cate Henning smiling.

Cate Henning Bouvé ’23

Title: Drug-Induced Homicides: The Solution or the Problem?
Mentor: Leo Beletsky, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award


A photo of Kenadi Kaewmanaprasert smiling.

Kenadi Kaewmanaprasert Bouvé ’24

Title: Influence of Documentation Status and Race on Immigrant Healthcare Access
Mentor: Tiffany Joseph, CSSH, Sociology and Anthropology

Ascent Award


A photo of Meghna Iyer smiling.

Meghna Iyer Bouvé ’22

Title: Improving Guardrail Damage Reporting to Promote Injury Prevention in Motor Vehicle Accidents
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Summit Award


A photo of Winnie Li smiling.

Winnie Li Bouvé ’21

Title: Digital Media Use and Mental Health in College Students
Mentor: Lichuan Ye, Bouvé, Nursing

Ascent Award


A photo of Shurobhi Nandi smiling.

Shurobhi Nandi COS ’22

Title: Improving Access to Early Childhood Mental Health Services in Child Welfare
Mentor: Beth Molnar, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award


A photo of Gal Nissan smiling.

Gal Nissan Bouvé ’22

Title: The Longitudinal Effects of Body Image Concerns on  Health Outcomes
Mentor: Rachel Rodgers, Bouvé, Applied Psychology

Base Camp Award


A photo of Maya Rabow smiling.

Maya Rabow COS ’23

Title: Crisis Responses in Early Childhood Mental Health during COVID-19: The Importance of Systems-Building
Mentor: Beth Molnar, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award


Institute Newsletter

View past and present installments of the IHESJR Monthly Newsletter below.

Annual reports

This has been an exciting and productive year for us at the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research. As you will see in the reports our teams of faculty, students, and community partners have been busy with new and exciting programmatic and research efforts.

About us

Mission

The mission of this institute is to generate scientific knowledge needed to promote health equity and social justice, and reduce disparities in health, mental health, and well-being.

History

The Institute on Urban Health Research was first funded in 2001 as part of Provost’s initiative and was led by its Founding Director, Dr. Hortensia Amaro. The IUHR was formed as a university-wide research center that would engage faculty and students from diverse disciplines. It later was moved into Bouvé College of Health Sciences, which remains our home college.

Later the Institute name was amended to The Institute on Urban Health Research and Practice under the leadership of John Auerbach. In 2018, with the appointment of Dr. Alisa K. Lincoln as the Institute Director, we have changed our name and are now the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research.

The Institute remains committed to the core mission first established in 2001 to improve the health and well-being of the residents of Boston and other urban communities. The Institute is focused on the social determinants of health in urban settings, the promotion of health equity and the elimination of health disparities. However, with the growth of the Institute, our ongoing work with diverse groups of students, faculty and community partners, and the current scientific and social needs, we have rearticulated our mission to include greater attention to health equity and social justice and to reflect our partnerships with the growing number of communities impacted by inequity and social marginalization.

Message from the Director

Despite tremendous advances in health care, the benefits of these advances have not been equally shared across communities. Many communities experience disparities in health, mental health, and well-being and at the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research our teams of interdisciplinary researchers, students and community partners are engaged in a wide-range of efforts to prevent and reduce these health disparities associated with race, gender, neighborhood, immigration status, sexual orientation, and other stigmatized or marginalized statuses.

We focus attention on the social and economic determinants of health and mental health and increasing understanding of the factors that challenge health and well-being and those that promote community strength and resilience. Our teams are engaged in the development of strategies to reduce disparities through intervention and policy aimed at promoting health equity and social justice.  

Disparities in health and mental health arise and persist as the result of complex individual, community, societal and global factors. At the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research we bring together faculty and students from across Northeastern University’s many departments and colleges, along with our research partners, to tackle these complex challenges. Our teams draw upon a wide range of research methods and intervention strategies but share common commitments to promoting health equity and social justice through high-impact, community engaged research.

Contact Us

To learn more about what we do, or for more information on how to work with the Institute of Health Equity and Social Justice Research (IHESJR), contact us.

Phone: 617-373-5813

Email: [email protected]

Hours: 9:00AM – 5:00PM (ET)

Postal Address:
Northeastern University
360 Huntington Ave, 314 INV
Boston, MA 02115

For questions related to the Vicarious Trauma Toolkit, please email Vicarious Trauma Toolkit Information.


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