Washington University in St. Louis (WU)
I am interested in public health approaches to diabetes and obesity prevention. My current research focus is on the transition of care for low-income women after a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes. This population is at particularly high risk for the development of type 2 diabetes over their lifetime, and current screening and intervention practices are fragmented. I hope to use mixed methods to better define post-partum screening rates in this population, understand barriers, and identify acceptable alternatives for addressing these barriers. The ultimate goal of this research will be to develop, test, and scale up effective interventions for improving post-partum screening. With improved screening and identification of high-risk women, I then hope to develop and test sustainable, practical programs to support lifestyle change and/or metformin use in this population.