2024 Scholars
Natalie L. Wilson, PhD, DNP, MPH APRN-BC School of Nursing, Department of Community Health Systems
Proposal Title: Mapping Culturally Tailored Practices for Health Outcomes for People Everywhere (HOPE) Mobile Services
Abstract: Mobile Health Clinics (MHC) improve access to care by removing traditional barriers (e.g. transportation, safety, stigma), and providing direct tailored services that have flexibility to adapt based on the target population. African American people experiencing homelessness (AA-PEH) face multiple intersectional vulnerabilities and are amongst the most heavily impacted by HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STI), and hepatitis C (HCV). Ending the HIV Epidemic goals will be unattainable if we do not tailor intervention strategies to reach marginalized populations. There is a gap in developing and tailoring culturally relevant clinical operating protocols to deliver a structural “test and treat” intervention of outreach, and HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. The overall objective of this Population Health and Health Equity is to collaborate with other US and global mobile clinics focused on providing population-based culturally relevant care to identify and adapt sustainable strategies for care delivery tailored to marginalized populations for HIV testing and care continuum.
About Dr. Wilson: Dr. Wilson’s research is informed by almost 30 years of clinical expertise in primary care, HIV, and sexual health. As part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic National Strategy, Dr. Wilson's research is focused on developing innovative solutions to address the constraints marginalized populations and those from disadvantaged socioeconomic environments have in accessing the HIV Status Neutral Care Continuum. She uses community engagement and mixed-methods implementation science methods to transform healthcare by building in health equity at the individual, system, and community levels.
Jessica de Leon, MD, School of Medicine, Department of Neurology
Proposal Title: Longitudinal analysis of the Cognitive Assessment for Tagalog Speakers (CATS) batter
Abstract: Filipino Americans comprise the 2nd largest Asian American population in California, and a previous study found that they have the highest dementia incidence rate among Asian American subgroups. We recently designed the Cognitive Assessment for Tagalog Speakers (CATS) to detect cognitive deficits in Filipino Americans with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. The proposed study will analyze longitudinal data to better understand how scores are related to cultural and linguistic factors and/or early signs of neurodegenerative disease. Results will provide preliminary data for future studies that validate and norm the CATS battery in larger cohorts.
About Dr. de Leon: Dr. de Leon is an assistant professor of neurology at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center (MAC), where she focuses on the care of patients with neurodegenerative disease. She leads MAC outreach efforts to the Filipino American community, with the goal of providing culturally and linguistically tailored education on brain health. Her current research focuses on the role of bilingualism in cognitive and brain reserve, the development of socioculturally tailored cognitive measures for Tagalog and Spanish speakers, and cross-linguistic studies in neurodegenerative disease.