Julia D. Lopez, PhD, MPH, LCSW

Julia López is a public health researcher who uses her clinical practice skills to further advance the field of sexual health using public health and social work theories and frameworks. To date, she has worked to integrate her clinical expertise as a licensed social worker in community mental health settings and substance use treatment with the research design and methodology for analyzing, interpreting, and disseminating data across a myriad of settings and populations. Professor López is focused on addressing gaps in research and clinical practices in the areas of sexual and gender minority (SGM) health, racial disparities, HIV care, and women’s health. Her goal is to engage and provide a platform for these populations through practice, research and community collaboration.  Her focus is to reduce health disparities affecting SGM populations by understanding the mechanisms through which different types of trauma/minority stress impact mental health and substance use. She is committed to public health interventions and clinical care by way of behavioral and social science research, with a priority to maximize translation into community.