Dr. Alice Ma
Assistant Professor
ama@siue.edu
Education:
PhD, 2017, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
MPH, 2013, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
BA, 2009, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Specialization:
Sexual and reproductive health, vulnerability and vulnerable populations, health equity, mixed methodologies.
Phone:
618-650-3312
Office:
Vadalabene Center, Rm. 2630
About Dr. Ma
Dr. Ma received her PhD in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). She received her MPH from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and her BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Psychology major and Sexuality Studies minor). She teaches core (e.g., Foundations of Community Health, Grant Writing in Public Health) and elective (e.g., Sexual Health) courses in the undergraduate Public Health Program, as well as core (e.g., Principles in Public Health & Public Health Leadership, Grantwriting) courses in the graduate Master of Public Health Program.
Research Profile
Dr. Ma is a mixed methodologist whose program of research examines factors that contribute to vulnerable and multi-marginalized populations' sexual and reproductive health behaviors and outcomes. Her work utilizes theoretical frameworks (e.g., social-ecological model, General Model of Vulnerability) that consider how individual and structural factors contribute to health behaviors and outcomes. Her research has been presented at international and national conferences, including the American Public Health Association, Society for Public Health Education, Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, and Lilly International Conference on Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning.
Two primary lines of inquiry form her research program: (1) identifying behavioral and contextual facilitators and barriers to health among vulnerable and multi-marginalized populations; and (2) improving measurement tools to strengthen understanding of vulnerable and multi-marginalized populations. Dr. Ma's future work will further the conceptual and analytical utility of her specific model of vulnerability by adapting and testing it with other vulnerable populations in different locales. Her future research will continue to harness collaborative partnerships to explore multi-level factors contributing to sexual and gender minority health, as well as with other vulnerable and marginalized identities, grounded in theoretical frameworks.
Representative Publications
* Denotes student co-authors
Ma, A., Tanner, A. E., Erausquin, J. T., Strack, R. W., & Rhodes, S. D. (under review). Health vulnerability model for Latino/a sexual and gender minorities: Typologies with socioeconomic stability, health care access, and social characteristics indicators. Society, Health & Vulnerability.
Ma, A., Chambers, B. D., Tanner, A. E., Kugler, K. C., Milroy, J. J., & Wyrick, D. L. (under review). Use of lower risk behaviors with alcohol use and hookups among transgender college students: A descriptive study. Journal of American College Health.
Poirier, T., Carruthers, H., Ma, A., Nieto, M., Perez, A., Popkess, A., Stonecypher, T., Wilhelm, M., & Zuercher, J. (revisions requested). Evaluation of high impact community engagement practice using co-curricular interprofessional experiential learning. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice.
Ma, A., Merçon-Vargas, E. A., Chambers, B. D., *Nyambe, M., & *Williams, T. A. (2018). Context of breastfeeding among Hispanic mothers using a social-ecological approach: An exploratory study. Journal of Public Health Issues & Practices, 2(124), 1–5.
Tanner, A., E., Ma, A., Philbin, M. M., Chambers, B. D., and the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (2017). Adolescent to adult HIV healthcare transition from the perspective of adult providers in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health, 61(4), 434–439.
Sun, C. J., Ma, A., Tanner, A. E., Mann, L. Reboussin, B. A., Garcia, M., Alonzo, J., & Rhodes, S. D. (2016). Depressive symptoms among Latino sexual minority men and Latina transgender women in a new settlement state: The role of perceived discrimination. Depression Research and Treatment. doi:10.1155/2016/4972854
Tanner, A. E., Ma, A., Roof, K. A., Rodgers, C. R. R., Brooks, D. N., & Paluzzi, P. (2015). The 'kaleidoscope' of factors influencing urban adolescent pregnancy in Baltimore, Maryland. Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies. doi:10.1080/17450128.2015.1046534.
Ma, A., Chambers, B. D., Jenkins Hall, W., & Tanner, A. E. (2015). Individual and structural factors influencing HIV care linkage and engagement: Perceived barriers and solutions among HIV-positive persons. Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Services, 16(1), 34-42.
Tanner, A. E., Reboussin, B. A., Mann, L., Ma, A., Song, E., Alonzo, J., & Rhodes, S. D. (2014). Factors influencing healthcare access perceptions and care-seeking behaviors of immigrant Latino sexual minority men and transgender individuals: Baseline findings from the HOLA intervention study. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 25(4), 1679-1697.
Tanner, A. E., Jelenewicz, S. M., Ma, A., Houston, A. M., Rodgers, C. R. R., & Paluzzi, P. (2013). Ambivalent messages: Adolescents' perspectives on pregnancy and birth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 53(1), 105-111.
