Care Givers & Community Support

My work specifically examines how race, culture and racism stress influence how the world responds to Black Americans and how this influences health and social disparities. I develop culturally cognizant measures, specifically in the areas of racial/ethnic socialization, racial cohesion and dissonance and same-race violence. As an interdisciplinary researcher, I examine the racial and societal contexts that influence health, coping and well-being in schools, communities and within families.

I take care of patients with neurodegenerative disorders that impair memory and thinking, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. My goal is to find interventions that work best for maintaining quality of life for patients and caregivers.

I am funded on a K23 from the NIA and the Alzheimer’s Association to examine the impact of music-based interventions on sleep in persons living with dementia and their caregivers.

Family nurse practitioner specializing in aging well, dementia prevention and care, and dementia caregiver support.