Scholar Spotlight: Florence Dery
“I study how things like where people live, work, and go to school affect health. My goal is to understand the social conditions or non-medical factors that cause unfair differences in health.”
Florence Dery
Assistant Professor
Department of Africana Studies
There is a growing recognition that health inequities are not just biological or behavioral but deeply rooted in social and structural systems. My research examines how social determinants, such as socioeconomic inequality and access to resources, shape health outcomes in populations globally.
I use community-engaged, interdisciplinary approaches to inform policies and interventions that promote social justice in health, translating research into real-world change.
Why I Do What I Do
I believe that everyone, no matter where they live or who they are, deserves the opportunity to live a healthy life.
My interest in global health began during the pandemic, when I saw how social and economic conditions like poverty, education, and neighborhood environments shaped how people’s health were impacted differently far more than medical care alone. Over time, I became especially focused on the experiences of Black communities worldwide.
Currently Working On
I’m exploring how social determinants, such as food and water insecurity and neighborhood environments, intersect with the use of African traditional medicine for disease management and treatment. The study combines community-based research and an art-based approach to identify strategies that can be adapted globally to reduce health disparities.