FOCUS
The general mistrust and anticipation of stigmatization that Black Americans feel in general, concerning the medical context and larger American systems, can have a significant negative impact on the utilization of health care services. TyKera is dedicated to engaging in research promoting health equity to increase physical and mental health outcomes for Black Americans, women, and members of the LGBTQ community. She is especially interested in women’s health and researching Black maternal mortality and mental health throughout the gestational period and post-partum. TyKera’s research focuses on gaining a better understanding of health disparities in ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities, and how to implement better training to reduce medical mistrust and racism that disproportionately affect these groups.
MORE ABOUT TYKERA
TyKera, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, was exposed to two different worlds. Growing up in a split-home, she observed the dynamics of female-led single households maternally and the structure of two-parent homes paternally. Directly witnessing the damaging effects of medical neglect and institutional disenfranchisement, she offers an analytical evaluation of the necessity for cultural awareness in medical communities. Her passion and drive for health equity research and implementation make her a welcomed member of the Health Policy Research Scholars Team.
DISSERTATION GRANT AWARDEE — FALL 2021
Just Be A Man About It: A Sequential Explanatory Examination of Men’s Health and Healthcare Utilization
Given the systemic nature of health inequities, particularly in marginalized communities, it is essential to identify multidimensional factors related to healthcare utilization and health outcomes. This research will examine the interplay between medical mistrust, racial identity/salience, perceived discrimination, social support, and healthcare utilization in male-identifying individuals using the Theory of Intersectionality and Critical Race Theory as frameworks. Thus, the overall goal is to influence policy-level changes at the institutional, governmental, or community levels to increase healthcare utilization and decrease adverse health outcomes.
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