CHANDRA l. fORD, Ph.D., M.P.H, M.L.I.S.

Pilot Investigator

Pilot Study
"HIV Conspiracy Beliefs and Perceived Racism among Racial/Ethnic Minority Older Adults." (2009-2010)

Address
Department of Community Health Sciences
UCLA School of Public Health
650 Charles E. Young Dr., S.
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772

Phone
(310) 825-6063

Fax
(310) 794-1805

Email
clford@ucla.edu

Biography
Chandra L. Ford, Ph. D., M. P. H., M. L. I. S. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the UCLA School of Public Health. Dr. Ford earned her doctorate in Public Health at the University of North Carolina. Prior to joining UCLA she completed postdoctoral fellowships in Social Medicine (University of North Carolina) and Epidemiology (Columbia University). Dr. Ford’s expertise is in social epidemiologic approaches to the study of health disparities among racial and ethnic minority as well as sexual minority populations. The overarching aim of her research is to explain mechanisms by which social inequities contribute to disparities in human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and other health outcomes. Her work is characterized by its: 1) multilevel conceptualization and measurement of racism; 2) emphasis on intersectionality; 3) development of a theoretical framework to guide the study of race and racism, and; 4) critical examination of the tools used to produce scientific knowledge about socially marginalized populations.

Ford’s prior research examined racism-related factors (e.g., perceived everyday racism, residential segregation), care-seeking and clinic-based testing for HIV or sexually transmitted disease (STD) infection among African Americans.

Dr. Ford has received several competitive awards. She was a W. K. Kellogg Foundation Kellogg Health Scholar and received a 2005 North Carolina Impact Award for distinguished research benefitting residents of North Carolina. Dr. Ford is a 2009-2010 RCMAR/CHIME Pilot Study Investigator.