Larissa Benjamin is a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) candidate at UC Berkeley in the School of Public Health. Her research examines the structural and historical factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease risk in Southeastern rural communities, employing rigorous quantitative and qualitative research methods. Using geospatial and statistical methods, she maps patterns of neighborhood-level disinvestment and segregation by rurality across 14 states in the Southeastern US and investigates associations between disinvestment and cardiovascular disease risk factors and outcomes. Based on 30 qualitative interviews and social science theories, Larissa examines how rural community leaders and activists in Alabama understand and respond to historical disinvestment through community-led efforts and local knowledge to support well-being in their neighborhoods. Larissa earned a BS from the University of Michigan and an MPH from UC Berkeley and previously worked on health equity-centered research at Berkeley Public Health.
Department and Institution:
Public Health, UC Berkeley
Bio/CV:
