Research

John Billimek, PhD, directs the HELIOS lab, a mentored research program focused on community-engaged health services and health equity research. Our lab examines perspectives and practices to advance equitable and trustworthy healthcare delivery, with a particular focus on self-management and treatment adherence for chronic health conditions in medically underserved minority communities. HELIOS also studies and supports the development of a robust workforce of future underrepresented-in-medicine and first-generation health professionals through mentored research opportunities in clinical and community settings. The lab supports this mission for our 27 undergraduate student members through a year-round curriculum focused on leadership, health equity, professional development, research methods and research communication. These student members, in turn, work as skilled researchers and ambassadors for our projects. Learn more at theHELIOSlab.org.

Billimek also participates in the UCI VoiCES lab, led by Alana Lebron, PhD. VoiCES is a collaboration between the UCI Program in Public Health, School of Medicine and School of Social Sciences to conduct community-partnered research and evaluation in the health equity space, with strengths in qualitative research methods and campus-community partnership-building. In its research, VoiCES engages a diverse set of nonprofit organizations, ranging from small/emerging to large/established organizations, to study community health, advocacy, community-informed interventions and community health worker (promotor/a) models. 

Juliet McMullin, PhD, is a professor of family medicine, director for the School of Medicine’s Medical Humanities and Arts Program, and the Johanna Shapiro Endowed Chair for Medical Humanities and Arts. As a cultural and medical anthropologist, her research focuses on health equity, particularly as it is achieved through institutions and community-level interventions and motivated through community-engaged research. Her humanities and arts research examines the role of textual and visual narratives as diverse experiences in medicine, health equity, and increasing our capacity for empathy and care. Please visit the Medical Humanities and Arts Program website, particularly the Research and Creative Projects and Publications and Presentations pages, to learn more about the program and McMullin’s research and teaching.

Baotran Vo’s, MD, research focuses on humanism in medicine, and medical care for homeless and marginalized individuals. Her recent work includes the use of photography — including photo narrative and portrait taking — to cultivate connection and kindness between medical professionals, learners and community members.