Biography
The primary focus of Rachael’s work is the prevention of child maltreatment and corporal punishment to reduce childhood trauma and associated poor health outcomes. Currently, Rachael is the lead research associate on an evaluation study designed to test the efficacy of a No Hit Zone (NHZ) initiative in a children’s hospital on the incidence of and attitudes and beliefs towards corporal punishment.
Rachael completed her undergraduate studies at Tulane University, and she holds a MPH with a focus in Maternal and Child Health and Epidemiology from the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Rachael is currently a doctoral student in the Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, and she also holds a staff position as a Senior Program Coordinator in the Office of the Associate Dean for Public Health and Medical Education. Rachael has seven years of experience in the management of federally-funded clinical research trials, physician-scientist training initiatives and community-based prevention and intervention programs.
- Research skills: quantitative and qualitative methodologies and analyses, monitoring and evaluation, social and behavioral epidemiology, SAS, STATA, SPSS
- Publications (italicized names represent VPI faculty collaborators):
- Ruiz, RL, Shah, MK, Lewis, ML, & Theall, KP (2014). Perceived access to health services and provider information and adverse birth outcomes: findings from LaPRAMS, 2007-2008. Southern Medical Journal, 107(3), 137-143.