FOCUS
Committed to social advocacy and health equity, Jamilah’s research largely focuses on mental health disparities and the impact of sociocultural factors on the mental health of marginalized individuals. Specifically, she researches the etiology and treatment of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, PTSD/racial trauma, and the neurological underpinnings of these disorders. Jamilah is currently part of a clinical drug trial examining the efficacy of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress among BIPOC. Her passion for social justice and equity issues fuels her work as she advocates for the mental and holistic well-being of socially disenfranchised groups, including women, people of color, impoverished domestic and international communities, and the intersections thereof. Jamilah aims to conduct research that yields intentionally inclusive mental health policies and practices, which will then translate to measurable systemic change.
MORE ABOUT JAMILAH
Jamilah is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Yale University. As a proud native of Detroit, Michigan, a city that epitomizes perseverance, determination, and optimism, Jamilah has been equipped to fight for a world that recognizes the value of quality health care, not just for some, but for all. Jamilah believes that the lack of health equity is not only a public health crisis, but a human rights emergency to which she feels called to serve.
DISSERTATION GRANT AWARDEE — FALL 2023
Psychedelic Just(US): The Role of Racial Trauma, Pain Interference, Stigma, and the Justice System on Psychedelic Acceptability among Black Americans
The United States is undergoing a resurgent interest in psychedelic therapy and research to assist in treating various physical and mental health disorders, yet Black populations have been extremely underrepresented in ongoing research. The current three-study dissertation examines the relationships between racial trauma and acceptability of psychedelic-assisted treatment among Black Americans experiencing pain. It also evaluates the potential moderating roles of pain interference, anticipated family and medical stigma, and justice system views. Finally, an exploratory structural equation model will be used to evaluate whether specific subdomains of racial trauma (i.e., lack of safety, negative cognitions, and difficulty coping) predict aspects of pain interference on several health outcomes such as mood and sleep impairment in this population.
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