Julia López, PhD, MPH, LCSW

Dr. López is a public health researcher who combines her clinical expertise in trauma, stigma, mental health, and substance use disorders with public health theories to further advance health equity among underserved populations. Specifically, she has developed collaborative research designs and methodologies for analyzing, interpreting, and disseminating data across a myriad of settings and populations. Dr. López focuses on understanding and addressing the barriers to accessing fundamental healthcare needs among marginalized groups by implementing community-engaged research. She has formal public health training in behavioral science and epidemiology, and experience in quantitative and qualitative study design and analysis. A fundamental purpose of her work is to uncover the platform for these underserved populations to share their lived experiences by engaging in a crucial combination of destigmatizing clinical practice through behavioral therapy, research, and community collaboration. Moreover, Dr. López’s recent efforts include the intersection of people living with HIV and the importance of the reduction of health disparities affecting sexual and gender minority individuals; specifically, facilitating appropriate interventions that are dedicated to diminishing the mechanisms through which stigma and varying forms of trauma/minority stress impact health outcomes.