Research 🔎

My research explores marginalization, critical public health, and LGBTQ+ health disparities with a focus on sexual and gender diverse people in digital spaces and HIV/STI prevention. Using a multidisciplinary approach, I investigate sexualized drug use and counterpublics to inform culturally-relevant health practices and promote community-led interventions. My dissertation challenged normative public health views on drug use in sexual contexts, shedding light on alternative harm reduction strategies and health discourse using qualitative methods.

Key dissertation findings from my interview research reveal how individuals employ intentional harm reduction in sexualized drug use, critiquing mainstream frameworks and informing public health praxis. In tandem, my narrative review on the "counterpublic health" literature (see Kane Race) encourages acknowledging the unique experiences and knowledge of marginalized/subaltern groups as well as challenging and reframing dominant health narratives and structures to be more inclusive and equitable. Future work will expand to include other queer communities beyond gay/bisexual men and employ mixed methods to uplift intersectional identities and experiences.  

My work has been supported by Berkeley Public Health, Institute for the Study of Societal Issues, and The Graduate Assembly.