Publications

Student and alumna team up to examine the role social support plays in breast cancer screening

Earlier this year, Dr. Shanna Burke co-authored “Examining the family support role of older Hispanics, African Americans, and Non-Hispanic Whites and their breast cancer screening behaviors” in the Journal of Social Work in Public Health. A current doctoral student, Adrienne Grudzien, as well as alumna Dr. Mitra Naseh, were among the co-authors of this publication. This study examined the critical role that social support may play in participation in breast screening among older, female adults, particularly those populations with higher mortality rates. Findings from the study indicate that, among older Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women, certain aspects of social support impact breast cancer screening participation. However, older Black women’s cancer screening participation did not appear to be influenced by these aspects of social support. This study’s findings can assist in developing social work and public health interventions that address improving positive social support to increase breast cancer screening among older adults.

Professor’s work on refugee resettlement helps inform Biden administration

Dr. Miriam Potocky, professor at FIU’s School of Social Work, work on U.S. refugee resettlement was recently cited in a report by the National Conference on Citizenship and the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, A Roadmap to Rebuilding the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, to inform the Biden administration’s decisions.

Researcher co-authors study on the impact of COVID-19 on African American communities

Dr. Eric Wagner co-authored “The impact of COVID-19 on African American communities in the United States” in Health Equity. The study examined the impact of the density of African American communities on COVID-19 prevalence and death rate in three of the most populous counties in each state and territory in the United States. The findings indicate that communities with a high African American population density have been disproportionately burdened with COVID-19. Therefore, interventions and programs are needed to address and understand the social determinants of this health disparity.