Dr. López is a public health researcher who uses her clinical practice skills to further advance the field of sexual health using public health and social work theories and frameworks. To date, she has worked to integrate her clinical expertise as a licensed social worker in community mental health settings and substance use treatment with the research design and methodology for analyzing, interpreting, and disseminating data across a myriad of settings and populations. Dr. López is focused on addressing gaps in research and clinical practices in the areas of sexual and gender minority (SGM) health, racial disparities, HIV care, and women’s health. Her goal is to engage and provide a platform for these populations through practice, research, and community collaboration. Her focus is to reduce health disparities affecting SGM populations by understanding the mechanisms through which different types of trauma/minority stress impact mental health and substance use. She is committed to public health interventions and clinical care by way of behavioral and social science research, with a priority to maximize translation into community.
- 2018-Present Faculty Scholar, Institute for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis
- 2021-Present Faculty Affiliate, Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity, Washington University in St. Louis
Graduate Courses
- 2016-Present Adjunct Professor, Approaches to Trauma Care, Saint Louis University
- 2018-Present Adjunct Professor, Community Health Promotion, Washington University School of Medicine
- 2019-Present Adjunct Professor, Dismantling Oppression: Exploring Equity and Inclusion
- Honors BS in Social Work and Honors BA in Spanish & International Studies: Saint Louis University, St. Louis MO (2009)
- MSW and Certificate in Community Mental Health: Saint Louis University, St. Louis MO (2010)
- MPH in Behavioral Science and Health Education: Saint Louis University, St. Louis MO (2013)
- PhD in Public Health Sciences: Saint Louis University, St. Louis MO (2017)
- 2007-Present Sigma Delta Pi, Spanish Honor Society
- 2014-Present Alpha Epsilon Lambda, Graduate Honor Society
- 2016 Mary Gumble Levy Award, PhD Nominee
- 2018-Present Peer Reviewer, AIDS and Behavior
- 2020-Present Peer Reviewer, Journal of Public Health
- 2020-Present Peer Reviewer, Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
- 2011-Present Member and Abstract Reviewer, American Public Health Association
- López JD, Duncan A, Shacham E, McKay V. Disparities in health behaviors and outcomes at the intersection of race and sexual identity among women: Results from the 2011–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Preventive medicine. 2021;142:106379. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106379.
- López JD, Shacham E, Brown T. The Impact of Clinic Policy Attendance and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Medical Case Management Program on HIV Clinical Outcomes: A Retrospective Longitudinal Study. AIDS and behavior. 2019. Epub 2019/11/27. doi: 10.1007/s10461-019-02738-8. PubMed PMID: 31768689.
- Shacham E, Lew D, Xiao T, López JD, Trull T, Schootman M, et al. Testing the Feasibility of Using Ecological Momentary Assessment to Collect Real-Time Behavior and Mood to Predict Technology-Measured HIV Medication Adherence. AIDS and behavior. 2019;23(8):2176-84. Epub 2019/01/03. doi: 10.1007/s10461-018-2378-9. PubMed PMID: 30600455.