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HYBRID (via Zoom / Rm. 225 @ SJSU King Library)

Presented by Dr. Marcelle Dougan, Department of Public Health and Recreation

The coronavirus pandemic has changed all of us in ways that may not be obvious until years from now. Marginalized populations, specifically communities of color and those economically disadvantaged, felt the brunt of this pandemic. Early on, it became clear that many Black and brown communities were more likely to contract and die from the coronavirus compared to other groups. Food shortages led to increased food insecurity especially among people of color and those economically disadvantaged. Anti-Asian sentiment reached crisis levels, with many in this community reporting physical attacks, largely due to the public rhetoric at that time. Dr. Dougan discusses her research on the experience of marginalized populations as a result of the pandemic, and highlights some bright spots on the horizon with respect to reducing health disparities.

Dr. Dougan’s approach to research and teaching has been interdisciplinary, aimed at providing practical solutions to improve health outcomes in the population. Her research focuses on breast cancer survivorship, health technology, and coronavirus impacts among marginalized populations in the United States. Dr. Dougan received postdoctoral training at Stanford University, where she examined circadian variation in relation to breast cancer progression. She holds a doctoral degree in epidemiology from Harvard University, a master’s in public health from Columbia University, a master’s in chemical engineering from University of London, and a graduate certificate in technology management from Stevens Institute of Technology.