FOCUS
Marcela’s research explores how health policy and the social determinants of health are shaped by their broader socioeconomic and political framework. She is interested in connecting historical and institutional legacies to the current local, state, and national context of political actors, social service organizations, and health care systems. Her research explores decision-making processes among leaders in these different sectors to better understand how and why they may hinder or support efforts to improve healthcare access and population health outcomes, particularly for immigrants and underserved communities. She seeks to apply her research to inform local solutions and strengthen institutional effectiveness in ways that improve public health outcomes.
MORE ABOUT MARCELA
Growing up in an immigrant family, Marcela developed an early awareness of how public institutions and economic systems shape opportunity and access. As a Health Policy Research Scholar, she draws on her familiarity with immigrant communities alongside her professional experience in social work and public health to inform her research and teaching. Her work reflects a commitment to rigorous, interdisciplinary scholarship that examines how policy and institutional structures influence health outcomes across communities.
DISSERTATION GRANT AWARDEE — MAY 2019
The Political Economy of Immigrant Health: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of Social Capital and the Immigrant Paradox
This interdisciplinary dissertation examines immigrant health through multilevel and multisectoral approaches. It clarifies the public policy environment, advances a conceptual framework, and analyzes measures of social capital and other determinants of health. The project also highlights opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of political economy perspectives within population health research.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HPRS DISSERTATION AWARDS, CLICK HERE.
