High Risk, Underserved, and Vulnerable Populations
Much of the research conducted by Columbia University School of Nursing is focused on understanding the biological and psychosocial risk factors that underlie the adverse health outcomes disproportionately experienced by high risk, underserved, and vulnerable populations. These include individuals who experience greater risk factors for poor health outcomes due to their racial or ethnic status or sexual preferences . Also vulnerable are children, the elderly, the socioeconomically disadvantaged, underinsured individuals, or those with certain medical conditions. In many societies, females also experienced poorer or more tardy care for the same diseases as men. High-risk, underserved, and vulnerable populations also often experience chronic and co-occurring conditions and health care issues exacerbated by social factors. They frequently have worse access to care and experience and increased morbidity and mortality compared with the general population. Not only are our researchers dedicated to improving the quality of life of such high risk, underserved, and vulnerable populations, but Columbia Nursing is geographically positioned to maximize the impact of its research on local populations such as the Latino residents of the Washington Heights and Inwood neighborhoods of northern Manhattan.
Researchers
Adriana Arcia, PhD, RN
Assistant Professor of Nursing at CUIMC
Research Approaches: Informatics, Interdisciplinary, Precision Health
Research Interests: Information Visualization, Tailored Infographics, Patient Education, Health Literacy, Consumer Health Informatics, Participatory Design, Asthma, Dementia
Suzanne Bakken, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, FIAHSI
Alumni Professor of Nursing and Professor of Biomedical Informatics
Research Approaches: Informatics, Interdisciplinary, Precision Health
Research Interests: Latino, Symptom Science, Self-Management, Informatics, Information Visualization, Precision Health
Laura Elizabeth Britton, PhD, RN
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research Approaches: Dissemination and Implementation, Informatics, Precision Health
Research Interests: Racial/Ethnic Inequities and Disparities, Chronic Illness, Diabetes, Hypertension, Family Planning, Contraception, Preconception Care, Sexual/Reproductive Health
Walter O. Bockting, PhD
Professor of Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry and Nursing) and Co-Director, Program for the Study of LBGT Health
Research Approaches: Health Services and Policy, Interdisciplinary, Precision Health
Research Interests: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Sexual and Gender Minority Populations, Gender Identity Development, Sexuality
Jean-Marie Bruzzese, PhD
Professor of Applied Developmental Psychology (in Nursing) at CUIMC
Research Approaches: Clinical, Dissemination and Implementation, Interdisciplinary
Research Interests: Asthma, School-Based, Adolescents, Behavioral Medicine, Intervention, Self-Care
Billy A. Caceres, PhD, RN, AGPCNP-BC
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Research Approaches: Comparative Effectiveness, Interdisciplinary, Precision Health
Research Interests: Cardiovascular Health, Interventions, Adverse Life Experiences, Intersectionality![]()
Kenrick Cato, BA, BSN, PhD
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Research Approaches: Clinical, Dissemination and Implementation, Informatics
Research Interests: Sexual and Gender Minority Populations, Infection Control, Social Determinants of Health
Elizabeth J. Corwin, PhD, BSN, MSN
Vice Dean for Strategy and Innovation in Research
Research Approaches: Interdisciplinary, Precision Health, Symptom Science, Omics
Research Interests: Maternal-Child Health, Health Disparities, Multiple Chronic Conditions, Intersectionality, Preterm Birth, Microbiome, Metabolomics, Symptoms
Jennifer Dohrn, DNP, CNM, FAAN
Associate Professor of Nursing and Assistant Dean, Office of Global Initiatives
Research Approaches: Dissemination and Implementation, Health Services and Policy, Interdisciplinary
Research Interests: Migrant Health, Pandemic Response, Global Health Equity
Maureen George, PhD, RN, AE-C, FAAN
Associate Professor of Nursing
Research Approaches: Dissemination and Implementation, Interdisciplinary, Translational
Research Interests: Adherence, Chronic Disease, Shared Decision-Making, Motivational Interviewing, Community-Based Participatory Research, Qualitative, Behavioral Interventions, Pragmatic Trials
Tonda L. Hughes, PhD, MSN, BSN
Henrik H. Bendixen Professor of International Nursing and Associate Dean for Global Health
Research Approaches: Survey, Quantitative, Mixed Methods, Methodological, Couple-level
Research Interests: Health Disparities, Social Determinants of Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Use, Sexual Minority Women's Health, Sexual and Gender Minority Health, Intersectionality, Intimate Partner Aggression, Epidemiology
Haomiao Jia, PhD
Professor of Biostatistics (in Nursing) at CUIMC
Research Approaches: Comparative Effectiveness, Economic Analysis, Health Services and Policy
Research Interests: Elderly, Suicide, Disability, Mental Health, Social Determinants of Health, Cost-Utility Analysis, Quality-Adjusted Survival Time, Survival Analysis
Ana Maria Kelly, PhD, BSN
Assistant Professor of Nursing at CUIMC
Research Approaches: Clinical, Interdisciplinary
Research Interests: HIV, Tuberculosis, Prison, Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC), Education
Rebecca Schnall, PhD, MPH, RN-BC, FAAN
Mary Dickey Lindsay Associate Professor of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and Assistant Dean for Research Strategy and Faculty Development
Research Approaches: Dissemination and Implementation, Informatics, Interdisciplinary
Research Interests: HIV Prevention, Point of Care Testing, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, mHealth, Mobile Technology, Medication Adherence
Arlene Smaldone, PhD, CPNP, CDE
Professor of Nursing and Dental Behavioral Sciences; Assistant Dean of Scholarship and Research
Research Approaches: Clinical, Interdisciplinary, Precision Health
Research Interests: Chronic Illness, Medication Adherence, Adolescents, Health-Related Quality of Life, Barriers to Adherence, Youth-Parent Dyads, Community Health Workers![]()
Patricia W. Stone, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN
Centennial Professor of Health Policy
Research Approaches: Comparative Effectiveness, Health Services and Policy, Interdisciplinary
Research Interests: Infection Control, Palliative Care, Geriatrics, Nursing Homes, Infection Management, End-of-Life, Community Settings
Maxim (Max) Topaz, PhD, RN, MA
Elizabeth Standish Gill Associate Professor of Nursing
Research Approaches: Clinical, Informatics, Precision Health
Research Interests: Information Technology, Home Care, Patient Prioritization
Cindy Veldhuis, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research Approaches: Interdisciplinary
Research Interests: Sexual Minority Women, Relationships, Hazardous Drinking, Intersectionality, Mixed-Methods, Psychological Mechanisms, LGBTQ+ Health, Trauma, Violence![]()
