Biostatistics Dept Seminar: Opportunities for Incorporating Intersectionality into Biomedical Informatics with Applications to HIV Outcome Prediction

Biostatistics Department Seminar 

Title: Opportunities for Incorporating Intersectionality into Biomedical Informatics with Applications to HIV Outcome Prediction

Abstract: Many approaches in biomedical informatics (BMI) rely on the ability to define, gather, and manipulate biomedical data to support health through a cyclical research-practice lifecycle. Researchers within this field are often fortunate to work closely with healthcare and public health systems to influence data generation and capture and have access to a vast amount of biomedical data. Many informaticists also have the expertise to engage with stakeholders, develop new methods and applications, and influence policy. However, research and policy that explicitly seeks to address the systemic drivers of health would more effectively support health. Intersectionality is a theoretical framework that can facilitate such research.

Intersectionality holds that individual human experiences reflect larger socio-structural level systems of privilege and oppression, and cannot be truly understood if these systems are examined in isolation. Intersectionality explicitly accounts for the interrelated nature of systems of privilege and oppression, providing a lens through which to examine and challenge inequities. 

In this presentation, I will discuss a recent paper on intersectionality where my co-authors and I propose intersectionality as an intervention into how we conduct BMI research. I will begin by discussing intersectionality’s history and core principles as they apply to BMI. I will then touch on five key considerations for incorporating intersectionality into BMI efforts to improve health: (1) systems of privilege and oppression that shape health; (2) the interrelated nature of upstream health drivers; (3) the nuances of health outcomes within groups; (4) the problematic and power-laden nature of categories that we assign to people in research and in society; and (5) research to inform and support social change. I will present these give considerations using a hypothetical intersectionality-informed BMI research project to predict outcomes for people living with HIV.
 

Speakers

Oliver Bear Don't Walk IV is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education at the University of Washington.

Zoom Registration

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2024-2025 Monday Seminar Series

All seminars are held at 12:05 PM via Zoom and onsite. View all seminar information here.