Anthropological Research

This page highlights my work in anthropological research conducted during my time at the University of West Florida. My research focused primarily on medical and forensic anthropology. Through the study of human remains, health patterns, and biological markers, I explore how social, cultural, and environmental factors influence health and disease across populations.

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Health of the Homeless: Navigating Health Disparities in Homeless Populations

The research poser examines the health disparities experienced by the U.S. homeless population, focusing on the interplay between homelessness, infectious diseases, high mortality rates, chronic illnesses, mental health conditions, and stigma. It explores how systemic inequalities and disparities exacerbate poor health outcomes for homeless populations. By analyzing existing trends and policies, it is possible to identify the key barriers to health equity and propose potential interventions to improve their overall well-being and access to care.

Social and Structural Determinants of Oral Health in New Mexico

The research poster visually explores social and structural determinants of Oral Health in New Mexico. Our research group has collected CT imagery of 350 anonymized forensic case decedents from the New Mexico Decedent Imagery Database (NMDID). Each decedent's next of kin provided contextual information about their gender, race, and socioeconomic status during childhood and adulthood. This research studied the correlations between these social variables and dental outcomes, hypothesizing that individuals who experienced social marginalization will show more signs of dental disease than those with more social privilege.

Living With Leprosy: Psychological and Social Consequences with Stigma in India

The research poster on leprosy stigma visually explores the historical and contemporary issues of stigmatization surrounding leprosy. It presents findings on the social and psychological impacts of stereotypes and misconceptions, and highlights outdated laws that perpetuate discrimination. Overall, the poster advocates for reducing leprosy stigma and promoting a more inclusive and compassionate societal approach.

Oral Health as Evidence of Embodied Social and Structural Inequality in a New Mexico Forensic Sample

This presentation was presented at the Mountain Swamp and Beach Forensic Anthropology Conference. This presentation discussed data which suggests a link between SES and rates of antemortem tooth loss across most race-and-sex-matched comparisons, excluding high SES Native American males. Our results also support the significance of regional, sociocultural contexts on dental health outcomes, suggesting the need for comprehensive, culturally responsive strategies. This presentation discussed social inequality and privilege, showcasing how dental and skeletally embodied experiences might otherwise be mischaracterized as biologically-determined human variation.