About the November 18 forum
This forum is designed increase awareness of mental health outcomes in American Indian and Alaskan Natives (AIAN). The speaker, Dr. Karina Walters, has over 25 years of experience in social epidemiological research on the historical, social, and cultural determinants of health among AIAN populations as well as chronic disease prevention research (e.g., HIV, AOD, obesity). Much of this social epidemiological work has targeted urban AIANs and LGBT-Two Spirit AIAN populations across the United States. In recent years, Dr. Walters has since expanded her research foci to include tribally based intervention research in the areas of substance abuse, obesity, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS prevention, particularly among American Indian women. Dr. Walters will discuss her research and answer questions from the audience during a moderated Q & A session with attendees.
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Speaker bio
Karina Walters, PhD, an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is the Katherine Hall Chambers Scholar, and the director and principal investigator of the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute at the University of Washington. IWRI was one of 16 National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities Comprehensive Centers of Excellence and one of two devoted to American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) research in the country.
Dr. Walters has over 25 years of experience in social epidemiological research on the historical, social, and cultural determinants of health among AIAN populations as well as chronic disease prevention research (e.g., HIV, AOD, obesity). Much of this social epidemiological work has targeted urban AIANs and LGBT-Two Spirit AIAN populations across the United States. In recent years, Dr. Walters has since expanded her research foci to include tribally based intervention research in the areas of substance abuse, obesity, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS prevention, particularly among American Indian women.
Dr. Walters has presented at more than 360+ national and international conferences; was an invited speaker for Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series (WALS) at the NIH; and was a Fulbright scholar at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She has served as Principal Investigator or Co-I on over 46 National Institute of Health grants from diverse NIH institutes. Additionally, she has mentored over 110 scholars from historically underrepresented populations. Currently, she is active in NIDA’s American Indian Scientific Committee and is Chair of the NIH’s Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health Committee. Dr. Walters received her B.A. in Sociology, and a PhD in Social Welfare from the University of California, Los Angeles.
