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.
View More >>Skills
Experience
Associate Professor
University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston (UTHealth Houston)
Education
Publication
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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...
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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...
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June, 2021
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. ...
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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...
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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 ...
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March, 2019
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. ...
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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...
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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...
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April, 2017
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...
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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
Pragmatic Randomized Trial Integrating Homelessness Diversion Services into an Emergency Department ...
Funded by NIH/National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
An Extension of Project TRUST: Understanding Barriers to Health and System Engagement among Sexual a...
Funded by National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Award (CTSA)- Pilot Funding
Conference/Seminar/STTP/FDP/Symposium/Workshop
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Apr 2010
Let’s Talk about Sex
Second Annual Leadership Education and Diversity (LEAD) Conferenc ,
Bloomington, Indiana, United States-
Apr 2018
Factors Associated with Contraceptive Use in Women Who Have Sex with Women and Men
American Public Health Association, San Diego ,
San Diego, California, United StatesMembership

Research Conflicts of Interest Committee
University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston (UTHealth Houston)
From year 2022 to Present
Chair of Community Health Practice Faculty Search Committee (Houston)
University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston (UTHealth Houston)
From year 2022 to PresentInvited Position

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 2018Honours & Awards

Award for Excellence in Community Service
University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health
Year: 2018
The Emerging Activist Award
National Women’s Health Network
Year: 2016
The Outstanding Young Professional Award
American Public Health Association
Year: 2013Scholar9 Profile ID
S9-032025-2010505

Publication
(92)

Article Reviewed
(0)

Citations
(1259)

Network
(6)

Conferences/Seminar
(2)