As an applied medical anthropologist, her research orientation draws from participatory action research, anthropological holism, and the ecological model of health behavior. Her research interests are in the areas of medical anthropology and community-based participatory research, community-engaged research, ethics, translational science, chronic disease prevention and health promotion (cancer, diabetes), ethnographic research, qualitative methods, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Latinos, and African Americans. She received her PhD in anthropology from the University of Kentucky. In 2012, she received the Graduate Student Association's Mentor of the Year Award for her exemplary work mentoring students in the PhD in Public and Community Health program.