Research Interests
Complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine, Implementation science
Program Overview
I am currently completing the dissertation defense phase of my PhD. My research utilizes data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to investigate the factors associated with the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Additionally, my research examines whether the utilization of complementary medicine is associated with improved mental health outcomes. This work aims to contribute to a broader understanding of the potential role of complementary approaches in mental health and the factors that influence their use across US adult populations.
Dissertation Title
Three Essays on Complementary Health Approaches
Dissertation Chair and Committee Members
- Chair: Dr. Clare Brown, PhD, MPH
- Dr. Jure Baloh, PhD, MHA
- Dr. Adrienne Nevola, PhD, MPH
- Dr. John Mick Tilford, PhD
- Dr. Jon Wilkerson, PhD
Biography
I was born and raised in Southwest Louisiana, where I developed an early interest in health and its impact on communities. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion from McNeese State University before relocating to Little Rock, Arkansas, to pursue a Master of Public Health with an emphasis in Biostatistics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). I completed my Master’s degree in 2020 and continued at UAMS to pursue a PhD in Health Systems and Services Research.
My doctoral training has provided me with extensive experience in health services research, data analysis, and applied biostatistical methods. I am currently focused primarily on my dissertation research, which examines factors associated with the use of complementary and alternative medicine and the potential relationship between complementary medicine use and mental health outcomes using National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data.
In addition to my dissertation research, I have contributed to several research projects addressing a range of public health and health services topics. I served as second author on a review examining maternal health dashboards across the United States. I also contributed to research investigating burnout among medical students, as well as projects focused on child nutrition and data quality within electronic health records. These experiences have allowed me to develop a broad understanding of applied health research while strengthening my skills in study design, data management, statistical analysis, and interpretation of research findings.
Throughout my graduate training, I have primarily utilized SAS and R for statistical programming and data analysis. Collectively, my academic and research experiences have strengthened my interest in using rigorous quantitative methods to address complex public health and health systems questions and to generate evidence that can inform health care practice, policy, and population health.
Professional Websites
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paige-newman-chargois-858165a1/