Sheilla L. Rodríguez Madera

Bio

I am a social scientist who researches how structural oppression negatively affects health and shortens the lives of Latino populations that have historically been marginalized. For more than 20 years, I conducted research on the social determinants that affect the health of trans people and communities. Currently, my line of research primarily focuses on contexts marked by economic and natural disasters, as is the case of Puerto Rico. My research interests address how structural factors are related to health outcomes (e.g., chronic health conditions). I address specific topics, including migration, access to health care, and the role of communities in developing health-related resistance strategies (e.g., community acupuncture, access to independent energy sources).

I am the Associate Director of the Research Network for Health and Society (REACH), linked to FIU’s Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA). I have received numerous research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NICHD, NIDA, NIMH, NIA, NCI, and NIMHD). I also have multiple peer-reviewed journal publications and edited volumes; published six books; and participated extensively in academic forums in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe, while disseminating my work.