FOCUS
Cancer health disparities among Black same-gender-loving (SGL) people persist due to pervasive intersectional stigma, unmet psychosocial support needs, and systemic barriers that hinder access to quality cancer care. Using equity- and community-driven approaches, John seeks to develop culturally sustainable research and policy interventions to dismantle structural inequities, strengthen psychosocial support resources, and improve mental health outcomes for Black SGL people. Due to marginalization, Black SGL people remain underrepresented in cancer research. By focusing on the contributions of social stigma and psychosocial support and how these factors influence cancer prevention behaviors (e.g., anal cancer screening) among SGL people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), John’s research centers the intersectional experiences of Black SGL people across the cancer care continuum. John aims to foster radically inclusive healthcare environments for marginalized communities.
MORE ABOUT JOHN
John, a health equity scholar-activist from Akron, Ohio, brings lived experience and a deep commitment to addressing cancer disparities in marginalized communities. His multidisciplinary professional experiences and mixed methods research training are informed by powerful health solutions such as transformational justice and community mobilization.
