Celebrating Women’s History Month: SBS Spotlights
This Women’s History Month we’re featuring outstanding SBS alumnae, women in leadership roles, and students and faculty conducting research focused on improving women’s health in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Dr. Brown graduated from the Social and Behavioral Sciences Ph.D. program in 2020. She is currently Assistant Professor at Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions. She is a transdisciplinary health equity scholar whose work bridges the areas of stress, obesity, and disordered eating. She is interested in how racism and racial identity are related to cardiovascular and cardiometabolic health, and in adapting interventions to serve health equity.
Dr. Brown has received numerous honors, including the Society of Behavioral Medicine Health Equity SIG’s Early Career Award and selection as one of VCU Alumni’s 10 Under 10 for 2023.
Dr. Williams graduated from the Social and Behavioral Sciences Ph.D. Program in 2020. She is currently Assistant Professor at Drexel University’s Dornslife School of Public Health in the Department of Community Health and Prevention. She is a social and behavioral scientist and digital mental health disparities researcher, whose program of research focuses on the design, implementation, and evaluation of mental health interventions for Black men.
Dr. Williams received a Health Disparities Research Loan Repayment Award from the National Institute of Mental Health in 2022, and was a 2021 scholar of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities’ Health Disparities Research Institute.
Dr. Carlyle is Professor in SBS and Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the VCU School of Population Health. She serves as the scientific lead of the Sexual and Domestic Violence Research Development Group at VCU’s Institute for Women’s Health. She focuses her research on issues related to interpersonal violence, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health.
Dr. Tossas is Assistant Professor in SBS. She has several ongoing studies focused on improving women’s health, including:
Project COALESCE, funded by Pfizer, Inc. and the American Cancer Society, focuses on addressing systemic barriers to cervical cancer screenings by developing and executing quality improvement initiatives.
SACRED WOMB, funded by the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, the V Foundation, and the Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancer, is a series of research initiatives investigating the relationship between the vaginal microbiome and precancerous cervical lesions.
Dr. Tossas recently received a Cancer Health Equity Award at Stand Up To Cancer’s Scientific Summit.
Dr. Sheppard is Professor in SBS and the Interim Founding Dean of the School of Population Health. Her ongoing trial, “Sisters Informing Sisters,” funded by the American Cancer Society, seeks to address high mortality outcomes in Black breast cancer patients. Newly diagnosed patients pair with survivors who have undergone similar treatments and together work through a guidebook and materials designed to facilitate engagement between patients and providers. Sheppard’s goal is to increase understanding and commitment to treatment regimens among this patient population, ultimately helping to reduce Black women’s breast cancer death rates.
She was named American Cancer Society’s Researcher of the Year in 2022.
Dr. LaRose is Professor and Interim Chair of SBS. Among her recent projects are two studies focused on improving emerging adult women’s health:
“Ready, Set, Health” is a trial examining how external stressors, psychological stress, and inconsistent sleep contribute to weight variability.
“Body, Mind, Inflammation Project” tests the effects of an integrated lifestyle intervention on adiposity and signs of cardiometabolic disease.
Julie Russo is a PhD candidate in SBS. Her dissertation project, entitled “Men’s Perceptions of Autonomous Reproductive Choices” seeks to understand how social norms, attitudes, and beliefs are associated with men’s perceptions of reproductive coercion. She hopes that her work will inform future programs designed to engage men and boys as allies in intimate partner violence prevention efforts or sexual health education curricula.
Fariha Tariq is a PhD candidate in SBS. Her dissertation project is an in-depth examination of psychological distress in Black and White breast cancer survivors. Black women often experience worse breast cancer outcomes compared to other racial groups. Fariha hopes that understanding the psychological distress experienced by Black and White breast cancer survivors can help shed light on existing health disparities, and inform future interventions to improve outcomes for breast cancer patients.
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