Dr. Denise Dillard is addressing health disparities in minority groups, particularly among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations, through her research and community engagement. As a co-director of the Institute of Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH) at Washington State University, she focuses on using community-based participatory research methods to understand and address health issues.
Dr. Dillard’s work includes projects on chronic diseases such as hypertension and Alzheimer’s, as well as behavioral health issues like substance misuse and PTSD. She emphasizes the importance of culturally relevant research to build trust and improve health outcomes in Indigenous communities. Dr. Dillard also advocates for training scientists to conduct research with Indigenous populations, highlighting the need for awareness of research gaps and the sources of distrust that impact participation. Her efforts aim to create more inclusive and effective healthcare interventions for minority groups.
See: “WSU Researcher Highlighted Research Gaps for AI/AN Populations” (December 2, 2024)
