Our Faculty

Dr. Ana Abraido-Lanza's research focuses on cultural, psychosocial, and socioeconomic processes that affect psychological well-being, adjustment to chronic illness, and mortality among Latinos, as well as health disparities between Latinos and non-Latino whites. Her current research projects include the study of acculturation and cancer-related behaviors among Latinos, as well as coping and psychosocial adjustment and socioeconomic status and disability among Latinos with arthritis. Her work on cancer screening among Latina women examines the extent to which socioeconomic factors and quality of health care predict breast and cervical cancer screening among Latinas vs. non-Latina whites. Dr. Abraido-Lanza serves as the director of the Initiative for Minority Student Development (IMSD) at the Mailman School, an education project aimed at increasing the number of under-represented students who enter research careers in public health.

PhD, City University of New York, 1994

MA, City University of New York, 1991

BA, New York University, 1987

University Affiliations:

• Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (IMSD) at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health
• Columbia Population Research Center

Additional Affiliations:

• Member, American Psychological Association
• Member, Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals
• Member, Society of Behavioral Medicine
• Member, American Public Health Association
• Board Member, APA Division 38; Chair, Committee on Ethnic and Cultural Diversity, 1999-2001
• Board member, Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools, Inc., Washington, DC, 2003-Present

• Member, Task Force on Community Preventive Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006-2011
• Minority Fellowship Program of the American Psychological Association (APA) Dalmas A. Taylor Distinguished Contributions Award, 2008
• Teaching Excellence Award, Mailman School of Public Health, 2009
• Member, National Institutes of Health/National Institute of General Medical Sciences Minority Programs Review Subcommittee, 2010-present

Selected Editorial Boards

• Associate Editor, Health Education and Behavior
• Editorial Board, Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Latina women and breast cancer screening: Sociocultural factors
Compared with non-Latina white women, Latinas are diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage of disease and experience a lower survival rate. Because early detection of breast cancer is one of the most effective means of assuring timely treatment and survival, many studies focus on the differences between Latinas and non-Latinas in receipt of breast cancer screening tests. There is some controversy, however, concerning the most important determinants of screening for Latinas. The main goals of this study, which focuses on Latina women living in upper Manhattan and the Bronx, are to address questions concerning Latinas? beliefs about breast cancer, and to examine the relationship between these beliefs, socioeconomic status, acculturation, access to health care, and cancer screening. The specific aims are: (1) to understand Latina?s values and beliefs about breast cancer, (2) to explore neighborhood-level factors associated with screening and cancer risk factors, and (3) to use this information to test a comprehensive theory on factors that affect screening.

The Dominican Air Bridge: A Research Agenda
This project, funded by Columbia University's Institute of Latin American Studies, supports activities with researchers from Columbia University and La Universidad Aut?noma de Santo Domingo to establish and solidify collaborations on health and circular migration between New York City and the Dominican Republic.

Countries: Dominican Republic