Sameera Shukanta Nayak
Assistant Professor
Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health
Public Policy 219
Education
Ph D Northeastern University 2022
MA Columbia University 2017
BA University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) 2014
About
Dr. Sameera Nayak is a mixed methods public health researcher who investigates the association between social conditions and health inequities to better understand the health and experiences of marginalized and oppressed populations worldwide. Her research is cross-cutting, and her work has spanned immigrant health, legal status, social, political, and structural determinants of health, and mental health systems. Her current projects focus on the health of undocumented immigrants from Asian countries who reside in the U.S., political partisan polarization and illness, abortion attitudes, and intersections between immigration status & other facets of discrimination.
Research Interests
Immigrant health; Legal status; Political and political determinants of health; Social epidemiology; Mental health; Reproductive health; Undocumented Asian immigrants
Teaching Interests
Epidemiology; Social determinants of health; Migration and health; Health and human rights
Selected Classes
- Fall 2022 PBHL 354 – Soc Bases:Publ/Comm Hlth
Contracts, Fellowships, Grants, and Sponsored Research
Nayak, Sameera (Principal). “Associations between the U.S. Immigration Policy Climate and Domestic Violence Survivors and Systems: A Mixed–Methods Study,” Grant (Funded). Sponsored By: Boston Area Research Initiative. (Jan 1, 2021 – Dec 31, 2022).
Gupta, Jhumka (Principal), Kanselaar, Samantha (Co-Principal), Nayak, Sameera S (Supporting). “Structural Racism and Intimate Partner Violence in Immigrant communities: A Conceptual Model,” Grant (Funded). Sponsored By: George Mason University. (Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2024).
Nayak, Sameera (Principal). “Beyond the Binary: Immigrant Health and Well-Being Across the Status Continuum,” Fellowship (Funded). Sponsored By: Summer Research Faculty Fellowship. (May 1, 2023 – Aug 31, 2023).
Intellectual Contributions
Nayak, Sameera S., Efimov, Xenia, Ncube, Collette N., Griffith, John, Molnar, Beth E. (2024). "No safe spaces”: The retraumatization and dehumanization of immigrant survivors of domestic violence in the United States. Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies.
Scoglio, Arielle, Nayak, Sameera. (2023). Alignment of state-level policies and public attitudes towards abortion legality and government restrictions on abortion in the United States. 320 115724 Social Science and Medicine.
Nayak, Sameera, Scoglio, Arielle, Nandi, Shurobhi, Anderson, Kayla, Mirand, Daphney, Roper, Kate, Mendez-Peñate, Larisa, Moulin, Christy, Arty, Malika, Molnar, Beth. (2023). Implementing integrated early childhood mental health services in primary care: Relationships, vision, and sustainability. Administration and Policy in Mental Health.
Nayak, Sameera, Carpenito, Thomas, Zamechek, Lynn, Roper, Kate, Méndez-Peñate, Larisa, Arty, Malika, Moulin, Christy, Mirand, Daphney, Molnar, Beth E. (2022). Predictors of Service Utilization of Young Children and Families Enrolled in a Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Program. 6. 58 1191-1206 Community Mental Health Journal.
Nayak, Sameera, Tobias, Carol, Wolfe, Jessica, Roper, Kate, Méndez-Peñate, Larisa, Moulin, Christy, Arty, Malika, Scoglio, Arielle A., Kelleher, Amy, Rue, Jacqueline, Brigham, Molly, Bradshaw, Tarsha, Byars, Natasha, Camacho, Angelina, Douglas, Sade, Molnar, Beth E. (2022). Engaging and Supporting Young Children and their Families in Early Childhood Mental Health Services: The Role of the Family Partner. 1. 58 87-98 Community Mental Health Journal.
Nayak, Sameera, Scoglio, Arielle A.J., Mirand, Daphney, Oates, Andie, Rabow, Maya, Molnar, Beth E. (2021). Movement and Solidarity: Community Mobilization to Mitigate the Adverse Impact of COVID-19 on Families with Young Children Receiving Care from Early Childhood Systems. 1-14 Child Care in Practice.
Nayak, Sameera, Fraser, Timothy, Panagopoulos, Costas, Aldrich, Daniel P., Kim, Daniel. (2021). Is divisive politics making Americans sick? Associations of perceived partisan polarization with physical and mental health outcomes among adults in the United States. 284 113976 Social Science & Medicine.
Sabnis, A, Fojo, S, Nayak, Sameera, Lopez, E, Tarn, D M., Zeltzer, L. (2019). Reducing parental trauma and stress in neonatal intensive care: systematic review and meta-analysis of hospital interventions.. 3. 39 375-386 Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association.
Nayak, Sameera, Neugebauer, Richard, Kshtriya, Sowmya. (2019). Trauma Alleviation Treatment for unaccompanied children after the Rwandan Genocide: A cautionary tale. 1. 17 23 Intervention.
Mutiso, Victoria N., Musyimi, Christine W., Nayak, Sameera, Musau, Abednego M., Rebello, Tahilia, Nandoya, Erick, Tele, Albert K., Pike, Kathleen, Ndetei, David M. (2017). Stigma-related mental health knowledge and attitudes among primary health workers and community health volunteers in rural Kenya. 6. 63 508-517 International Journal of Social Psychiatry.
Musyimi, Christine W., Mutiso, Victoria N., Nayak, Sameera, Ndetei, David M., Henderson, David C., Bunders, Joske. (2017). Quality of life of depressed and suicidal patients seeking services from traditional and faith healers in rural Kenya. 1. 15 Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.