Breana Castonguay elected as the 2024-2025 student representative to the George Washington Milken Institute School of Public Health's PhD Directors Committee.
Breana Castonguay presents poster at IAS 2024!
On Thursday, July 25 TASHI Trainee Breana Castonguay presents on "Factors Influencing HIV Treatment Preferences for Pills, Injectables, and Future 6-Month Modalities in People with HIV in the United States” at the 25th International AIDS Conference in Munich, Germany.
TASHI soars! Myla Lyons and Dr. Lisa Bowleg Deliver Inspiring Keynote at the University of Michigan's SOAR Symposium
On Friday, April 19th, TASHI Trainee and PhD-ASP Student Myla Lyons, along with TASHI Co-Program Director Dr. Lisa Bowleg, delivered a powerful keynote at the Dr. John Lamont Peterson Annual Research Symposium, hosted by the Student Opportunities for AIDS/HIV Research (SOAR) Program at the University of Michigan. Lyons, a proud alumna of the SOAR program, joined Dr. Bowleg in a compelling talk titled "Want to Be A Future HIV Prevention and Treatment Researcher? You're Going to Need to be Critical (and Intersectional)."
During the keynote, Dr. Bowleg interviewed Lyons, exploring her experiences as a first-year doctoral student utilizing critical theoretical perspectives and nontraditional research methods, such as qualitative analysis. The session emphasized the importance of intersectional approaches in HIV research to address complex social determinants and improve outcomes.
The event concluded on a celebratory note as Dr. Gary Harper, SOAR Joint Principal Investigator and Lyons' former mentor, surprised the presenters with beautiful glass prism plaques in recognition of their contributions. The full-day event symposium also featured poster presentations of HIV-related research by junior SOAR members and dynamic 7-minute lightning-round presentations by senior members, many of whom are advancing to MPH programs.
Congratulations to Myla Lyons and Dr. Lisa Bowleg for their inspiring presentation and continued dedication to advancing HIV research through critical and intersectional methodologies!
TASHI and HeartSmiles Spark Inspiration: Sharing Insights on Photovoice Method in Community Research
In a recent Community-Based Participatory Research class taught by TASHI faculty member Dr. Tamara Taggart, TASHI Trainee and PhD-SBS Candidate Simone Sawyer co-led an engaging lecture on the application of Photovoice as an arts-based participatory action research method. Collaborating with her mentee, Breyanna Dabney, a multifaceted college student and program coordinator for the non-profit HeartSmiles, Sawyer shared the impact of their Photovoice projects, including those facilitated by Dabney as a research assistant in partnership with faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The focal point of their session delved into a study assessing the impact of gentrification and displacement on Baltimore’s youth living in affordable housing units. Sawyer and Dabney connected theory with practice, offering practical examples from their work and leading a mini photo session on the benefits and challenges of being a public health graduate student at GW.
Taggart and Sawyer write on Strengths-Based Perspectives for Community-Level Interventions and Policies with Black Men
Dr. Tamara Taggart (TASHI IEC and Program Faculty member) and Simone Sawyer (PhD-SBS Candidate and 2022 TASHI Trainee) discuss gaps in the research on the social-structural and community resources that enhance the resiliency of young Black men in the United States. They also call for a shift in focus to emphasize the strengths and environmental attributes that facilitate the positive development and health of young Black men. This write-up is based on their publication in the American Journal of Community Psychology.
2023-24 Nashman Center Faculty Fellow: Dr. Tamara Taggart
GW's Nashman Center announces Dr. Tamara Taggart as its 2023-2024 Nashman Center Faculty Fellow. During this academic year, Dr. Taggart will conduct community-engaged formative research (surveys, interviews, focus groups, and environmental scans) to develop an Activist in Residence (AiR) program. Dr. Taggart is a member of TASHI's Internal Executive Committee and program faculty. Congratulations, Dr. Taggart!
Recent Publications by TASHI Program Faculty and Trainees
Dr. Tamara Taggart (TASHI IEC and Program Faculty member), Simone Sawyer (PhD-SBS Candidate and 2022 TASHI Trainee), and colleagues published ""But I Live Here Too": Social-structural stressors, racial discrimination, and resiliency among urban dwelling black emerging adult men"" in the American Journal of Community Psychology.
Dr. Deanna Kerrigan (TASHI Program Director), Wendy Davis (TASHI Senior Adviser), and colleagues published "Individual and Collective Forms of Stigma Resistance: Pathways Between HIV and Sex Work Stigma and Viral Suppression Among Female Sex Workers in the Dominican Republic" in the AIDS and Behavior Journal.
Dr. Lisa Bowleg (TASHI Program Director) published "The white racial frame of public health discourses about racialized health differences and “disparities”: what it reveals about power and how it thwarts health equity" in the Frontiers in Public Health Journal.
Breana Castonguay (PhD-SBS Student and 2023 TASHI Trainee) and colleagues published "Retention strategies among those on community supervision in the South: Lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic" in the PLOS ONE Journal.
Dr. Lisa Bowleg named James S. Jackson Memorial Award Winner!
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has named applied social psychologist Lisa Bowleg, Ph.D., M.A., the 2023 James S. Jackson Memorial Award winner. Established in 2021, the NIMH James S. Jackson Memorial Award honors outstanding researchers who have demonstrated exceptional achievement and leadership in mental health disparities research and excellence in mentorship, influence, and support of trainees. See the full NIMH here. Congratulations, Dr. Bowleg!
TASHI trainees and program directors release a guide for academic-community partnerships in the DC CFAR!
Simone Sawyer and Arianne Malekzadeh join TASHI program directors Lisa Bowleg and Deanna Kerrigan and colleagues from the DC CFAR's Community Partnership Council and Social and Behavioral Sciences Core in the release of "Advancing Equity and Fostering Change: A Guide for Academic-Community Partnerships in the DC Center for AIDS Research" on June 30.
The guide, available here, is organized around key components of an equitable academic-community partnership in the DC CFAR and offers historical context, concise and focused guidance, “real world” examples, and practical tools. In addition to the guide, Malekzadeh and Sawyer, and their colleagues have assembled an appendix of helpful guidance and resources, which are all available here.
The guide is a living document and one that the authors aim to strengthen and improve over time. Colleagues are welcome to share any comments, suggestions, or feedback on how the guide can be enhanced here.
TASHI at the 2023 SPSP Annual Convention in Atlanta, GA!
Arianne Malekzadeh (PhD-ASP Student) presented on "Religiosity & Resilience: Buffering the Adverse Health Impacts of Racial Discrimination among U.S. Black Men" at the 2023 Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Convention in Atlanta, GA.
TASHI during National Public Health Week at GWSPH!
Simone Sawyer (PhD-SBS Candidate) presented on "Key Stakeholder Perspectives on Mental Health" during National Public Health Week.
Simone Sawyer nominated to the Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society!
Simone Sawyer (PhD-SBS Candidate) is one of six nominees for induction in The George Washington University chapter of the Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. Named for the first African American doctoral recipient in the United States, the Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate. This year's nominees to GW's chapter were recognized at a University-wide ceremony on March 7th and will be inducted during the Annual Bouchet Conference on Diversity and Graduate Education. Learn more about the Bouchet Society on GW's chapter website. Congratulations, Simone!
Simone Sawyer announced as a CDEIPI Graduate Student Lead!
Simone Sawyer (PhD-SBS Candidate) was selected as CFAR Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Pipeline Initiative (CDEIPI) as a Graduate Student Lead (GSL). The CDEIPI aims to increase the number of Underrepresented Minority trainees engaged in HIV science. The GSLs will act as near-peer mentors by being the point-of-contact for the CFAR Scholars, leading peer mentoring activities, participating in weekly meetings, and aiding in the evaluation process. The GSLs will also benefit from the pre-professional, networking, and outreach activities of the program. Congratulations, Simone!
Dr. Lisa Bowleg receives Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Prize in Scholarship!
On October 18, 2022, George Washington University honored three years of remarkable faculty achievement in teaching, research, and service to the university at its 12th annual Faculty Honors Ceremony, held in person for the first time since 2019. Dr. Lisa Bowleg received the 2021 Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Prize in Scholarship. This signature award is for faculty research that has been recognized as of the highest quality and of great relevance to our society. Congratulations, Dr. Bowleg!
TASHI is featured in GW Today!
Published on August 31, 2022, the GW Today article highlighted TASHI's official launch and the cross-disciplinary partnership between faculty from the Milken Institute SPH Department of Prevention and Community Health and the CCAS Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.
