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About

Dr. Vanessa R. Schick is an accomplished Associate Professor in the Department of Management, Policy, and Community Health at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. With a robust academic background, she earned her PhD in Applied Social Psychology from The George Washington University and completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Applied Health Science at Indiana University. Her academic journey reflects a dedication to public health, particularly within the realms of sexual health promotion, gender studies, and the health needs of underserved and marginalized populations. Dr. Schick’s research expertise is rooted in addressing complex health disparities experienced by sexual and gender minorities, individuals experiencing homelessness, and those involved in sex work. Her work has significantly contributed to public health through a diverse array of projects funded by prestigious institutions such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas. Her role as Principal Investigator in various large-scale projects underscores her leadership and ability to drive impactful research. Throughout her career, Dr. Schick has focused on community-based participatory research and intervention strategies aimed at promoting health equity. She has spearheaded initiatives integrating homelessness diversion services into emergency department discharge systems and expanding liver cancer prevention efforts among populations experiencing homelessness in South Texas. Additionally, her projects addressing health disparities related to COVID-19 testing among vulnerable populations have provided valuable insights into improving health services delivery for marginalized communities. Dr. Schick is also a respected voice in sexual health research. Her affiliation with the Kinsey Institute and the Center for Sexual Health Promotion highlights her contributions to understanding sexual behavior, health risk factors, and the intersection of sexual identity with overall health outcomes. Her numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and invited presentations have established her as a thought leader in her field. Beyond her research, Dr. Schick is a dedicated educator and mentor, consistently engaging with students and fostering their growth through direct mentoring roles. Her teaching excellence has been recognized with various awards, including the Award for Excellence in Community Service from the University of Texas Health Science Center. As an advocate for health equity, Dr. Schick’s work emphasizes the importance of inclusive research practices that consider the unique experiences of sexual and gender minorities, individuals with intersectional identities, and communities facing structural barriers to health access. Her interdisciplinary approach, combining psychology, epidemiology, and public health, has led to innovative strategies that address complex social and health issues. Dr. Schick’s expertise, dedication, and impact are evident through her extensive portfolio of funded research projects, scholarly publications, and collaborative efforts to improve public health outcomes for vulnerable and underserved populations. Her ongoing contributions continue to influence public health research, policy, and practice, making her a distinguished leader in her field.

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Skills

Experience

Affiliated Faculty

Indiana University (IU)

Apr-2013 to Apr-2025
Assistant Research Scientist

Indiana University (IU)

Apr-2011 to Apr-2013

Education

Indiana University (IU)

Post-Doctoral Fellow in Applied Health Science

Passout Year: 2011
The George Washington University (GWU)

Ph.D. in Applied Social Psychology

Passout Year: 2010

Publication

  • dott image January, 2022

“They Didn’t Ask.” Rural Women With Disabilities and Experiences of Violence Describe Interactions With the Healthcare System

Women with disabilities are at risk of experiencing multiple forms of severe and prolonged violence, yet guidelines for screening this population are unclear, screening rates are historicall...

  • dott image September, 2021

Sexual Violence and Chemsex among Substance-Using Sexual and Gender Minorities in Texas

Introduction Chemsex is the use of methamphetamine or other substances to enhance sexual experiences, and is most often associated with sexual minority men. Within the chemsex literature, q...

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Depression, Resilience, & Spirituality in African-American Adolescents

Research shows that exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is common among adolescents and that exposure to ACEs is associated with an increased risk of depression in adolescents. ...

  • dott image November, 2020

Is homelessness a traumatic event? Results from the 2019–2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study

Methods Data from a nationally representative sample of 4,069 U.S. veterans in 2019–2020 were used to examine the prevalence of full and subthreshold PTSD in veterans with a history of ho...

  • dott image October, 2019

Condom Use Completeness, Perceptions, and Sexual Quality at Most Recent Sexual Event: Results from a U.S. Nationally Representative Probability Sample

Objectives: To explore perceptions of condoms associated with complete use and evaluate relationships between condom perceptions, condom use, and sexual quality. Methods: Using data from ...

Exploring Differences in the Lives and Well-Being of Sexual and Gender Minority Adults Experiencing Homelessness Relative to Their Cisgender Heterosex...

Purpose: To better understand the lives and experiences of sexual and gender minority (SGM) adults experiencing homelessness relative to their cisgender heterosexual (non-SGM) counterparts. ...

  • dott image November, 2018

Meta-Perceptions of Others’ Attitudes Toward Bisexual Men and Women Among a Nationally Representative Probability Sample

Researchers posit that negative attitudes, prejudice, and discrimination (i.e., binegativity) from heterosexual and gay/lesbian individuals may contribute to health disparities among bisexua...

  • dott image June, 2017

Sexual Minority Women's Satisfaction with Health Care Providers and State-level Structural Support: Investigating the Impact of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual...

Purpose Structural discrimination is associated with negative health outcomes among sexual minority populations. Recent changes to state-level and national legislation provide both the oppo...

Minority stress, sexual identity uncertainty, and partner gender decision making among nonmonosexual individuals.

Despite decades of research on sexual identity development and minority stress, sexual identity uncertainty has received relatively little attention. Sexual identity uncertainty refers to th...

  • dott image March, 2017

Health and identity-related interactions between lesbian, bisexual, queer and pansexual women and their healthcare providers

Disclosure of sexual identity among sexual minority women is related to better outcomes and improved quality of care. The existing literature on sexual minority women’s experiences of iden...

Role in Research Journals

Projects

Jun-2022 to Present

Pragmatic Randomized Trial Integrating Homelessness Diversion Services into an Emergency Department ...

$1,551,766

Funded by NIH/National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Pragmatic Randomized Trial Integrating Homelessness Diversion Services into an Emergency Department Discharge System (R01) NIH/National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Total Costs $1,551,766 Role: Principal Investigator (Co-PI: Jack Tsai, PhD)
...see more
Jun-2022 to Jun-2023

An Extension of Project TRUST: Understanding Barriers to Health and System Engagement among Sexual a...

$30,000

Funded by National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Award (CTSA)- Pilot Funding

An Extension of Project TRUST: Understanding Barriers to Health and System Engagement among Sexual and Gender Minoritized Communities with Experiences of Homelessness National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Award (CTSA)- Pilot Funding Total Costs $30,000 Role: Principal Investigator (UL1 TR003167- PI: David McPherson, MD)
...see more

Conference/Seminar/STTP/FDP/Symposium/Workshop

Conference
  • dott image Apr 2010

Let’s Talk about Sex

Hosted By:

Second Annual Leadership Education and Diversity (LEAD) Conferenc ,

Bloomington, Indiana, United States
Conference
  • dott image Apr 2018

Factors Associated with Contraceptive Use in Women Who Have Sex with Women and Men

Hosted By:

American Public Health Association, San Diego ,

San Diego, California, United States

Membership

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Research Conflicts of Interest Committee

University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston (UTHealth Houston)

From year 2022 to Present
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Chair of Community Health Practice Faculty Search Committee (Houston)

University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston (UTHealth Houston)

From year 2022 to Present

Invited Position

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Community Based Participatory Research with Underserved and Vulnerable Populations: Working towards System-Levels Change that is Wanted and Needed by the Communities we Serve

The George Washington University (GWU)

From year 2018 to 2018

Honours & Awards

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Award for Excellence in Community Service
Awarded by:

University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health

Year: 2018
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The Emerging Activist Award
Awarded by:

National Women’s Health Network

Year: 2016
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The Outstanding Young Professional Award
Awarded by:

American Public Health Association

Year: 2013