Home // Equitas Health Institute // Research

Research

Research with the community, not merely in and about the community

We envision a world in which community-engaged research can promote health equity for LGBTQ+, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) folks and those living with HIV or affected by HIV.

About Equitas Health

Equitas Health is a statewide community healthcare system in Ohio.

Equitas Health Research

Marginalized communities often receive less attention in traditional research.
Marginalized communities have historically experienced harm at the hands of research. We can build trust and community through engagement.
With a solid research foundation, we learn more about the patients and populations we serve – and how we can serve them better!
Research done will be put right back into supporting clinical care and prevention efforts.
Few research programs outside of traditional academia are in LGBTQ+/ HIV/ BIPOC population focused clinical organizations.

HIV/AIDS, Prep, Breast/Chest Health, Aging, Transgender Health, Tobacco Use in The LGBTQ+ Community, Systems Thinking and Systems Science in Public Health, Health Disparities, Bioethics, COVID-19

NEST Study with The Ohio State University College of Public Health (syphilis elimination study);
National Couples Health Assessment Test (NCHAT), University of Minnesota
Virtual Reality as an Education Tool for Elimination of Health Disparities in the Transgender Community, Ohio University Heritage College of Medicine
VARIAT Simulation, Nationwide Children’s Hospital (SOGI Training for Ohio Medicaid Providers)
Project RESIST (Tobacco Cessation Study with Sexual Minority Women), Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania,
The PRIDE Study (Stanford University)
The Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital/ College of Nursing, breast/chest cancer and support persons experiences
The Ohio State University College of Public Health, tobacco messaging and Ohio Quit Line knowledge

Equitas Health

Research Reports

HIV and Young Adults Report

HIV in young adults is a pressing public health concern in the United States.

Click Here about HIV and Young Adults Report

Lesbian Health Needs Assessment

Lesbian-identified individuals* face unique challenges that have direct effects on their health.

Click Here about Lesbian Health Needs Assessment

Transgender, Gender Non-conforming, and Non-binary Research

Research is done to counter social erasure and negative legislation targeting TGNCNB people.

Click Here about Transgender, Gender Non-conforming, and Non-binary Research

Successful Aging in the LGBTQIA+ Community

Barriers to care, such as discrimination and homophobia, significantly impact stressors attributed to normal aging.

Click Here about Successful Aging in the LGBTQIA+ Community

Available Publications

Arthur, E., Gandy, M., Sette, E., Fuller, J., Flora, L., Applegate, J., Sushland, J., Klakos, K., Battle-Fisher, M. & Lee, C. N. (2025). “Pink is my least favorite color”: experiences of sexual minority women and partners navigating breast cancer. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 1–18.
Arthur, E., Ridgway-Limle, E., Krok- Schoen, J., Battle-Fisher, M., & Lee. C. (2024) Scoping Review of Experiences of Sexual Minority Women Treated for Breast Cancer. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology.
Battle-Fisher, M. (2021) Health inequality as a socially created social system. The Journal of Health Ethics. 17(1).
Haider, M., Kingori, C., Brown, M., Battle-Fisher, M. & Chertok, I. (2020) Illicit drug use and sexually transmitted infections among young adults in the US: Evidence from a nationally representative survey. International Journal of STD and AIDS.
Project/Report with Stanford University PRIDEnet- Community Listening Sessions with LGBTQIA+ Adults 50 Years and Older: Summary Report
Feeling, B. & Sheke, S., (2023) “PrEP Access as HIV Prevention for LGBTQ+ College Students: An Exploration of Current Barriers to Access”, Building Healthy Academic Communities 7(1), 17-22.

Additional Publications

Battle-Fisher, M. (2026). Complexity-Laden Health Experienced by Under-Resourced Communities- Systemic Forces and Unequal Effects. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. 32, 1-4.
Battle-Fisher, M. (2024) Combating COVID-19 Health Disparities among Black, Indigenous and People of Colour- a call for Critical Systems Thinking. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. 30(6), 1132-1142.
Battle-Fisher, M. (2024) The ‘Next Normal’ of Health Equity: Toward a disparity-free Future during COVID-19. The Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.30(4), 523-24.
Feeling, B. & Battle-Fisher, M. (2020). Commentary on Cooley’s “LGBTQI+ bioethics: a pre-queer theory bioethicist reflects. Ethics, Medicine and Public Health. 15.