FOCUS
Cristina believes in building systems that uplift the dignity, ingenuity, and health of communities. Disadvantaged rural and unincorporated communities are often excluded from policymaking consideration due to their low numbers and limited influence, despite their ability to remain resilient with limited resources. Her research is focused on examining how government systems and participatory processes either enable or restrain small population communities from accessing resources to address their health and well-being needs. This research promotes the development of more socially and politically inclusive systems.
MORE ABOUT CRISTINA
Growing up and working on health and social policy issues in California’s Central Valley, Cristina witnessed the resilience and resourcefulness of residents in rural communities. Inspired by their wisdom and leadership, Cristina plans to bridge the gap between academia and community knowledge through inclusive research models that highlight the value of those most impacted by health inequities.
DISSERTATION GRANT AWARDEE — AUGUST 2020
The Legal Reproduction of Maternal and Infant Health Inequities in Unincorporated Communities
This project will address the gap in the public health literature on unincorporated communities by leveraging a legal epidemiological approach to place which interrogates how health disparities are manufactured through the absence of local government and reliance on the more distal county government structures and policies which may contribute to harmful risk environments in unincorporated communities across California’s San Joaquin Valley.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HPRS DISSERTATION AWARDS, CLICK HERE.
