About

Dr. Madina Agénor, ScD, MPH is Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Center for Health Promotion and Health Equity at the Brown University School of Public Health. She is also Adjunct Faculty at The Fenway Institute and leads the Sexual Health and Reproductive Experiences (SHARE) Lab. As a social epidemiologist, Dr. Agénor investigates health inequities in relation to multiple social identities and inequities—especially sexual orientation and heterosexism, race/ethnicity and racism, and gender, sexism, and cisgenderism—using an intersectional lens and a mixed-methods research approach. Specifically, she uses quantitative and qualitative research methods to investigate the structural and social determinants of sexual and reproductive health among multiply marginalized groups at diverse intersections of race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Using national surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus groups, Dr. Agénor examines how multilevel social factors shape sexual and reproductive health inequities across and within social groups at diverse intersections of sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, and gender. Her current research investigates how multiple, intersecting forms of structural, institutional, and interpersonal discrimination, including but not limited to racism, heterosexism, cisgenderism, and sexism, differentially and simultaneously influence sexual and reproductive health outcomes and health services use among multiply marginalized U.S. populations—including Black and Latina women, lesbian, bisexual, and queer women, transgender and nonbinary young adults of color, and Black LGBTQ+ populations. The goal of her research is to help inform research-based policies, programs, and practices that promote equity in sexual and reproductive health and cancer outcomes.

As the Principal Investigator of a K01 career development award from the National Cancer Institute, she is examining how provider- and policy-level factors influence sexual orientation and racial/ethnic disparities in human papillomavirus vaccination, cervical cancer screening, and sexually transmitted infection testing among U.S. women. Dr. Agénor’s research has also been supported by the American Cancer Society, Society of Family Planning, and National Institute of Mental Health. Her research has been published in leading public health and medical peer-reviewed journals, including American Journal of Public Health, Social Science & Medicine, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, and Annals of Internal Medicine. Additionally, she has presented her research findings at conferences across the U.S., including the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting, and Society of Family Planning Annual Meeting. Dr. Agénor has been invited to lecture on intersectionality and population health, LGBTQ+ health, and sexual and reproductive health equity at various academic institutions, including Harvard University, Brandeis University, Barnard College, Haverford College, San Diego State University, University of Michigan, and Columbia University.

At Brown University School of Public Health, Dr. Agénor teaches graduate level courses on qualitative data analysis and intersectionality and health inequities. Additionally, she has developed and taught undergraduate courses on gender, sexuality, and health and reproductive health, rights, and justice at Harvard University and Tufts University. She has also taught graduate courses pertaining to sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice and qualitative research methods at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Additionally, she mentors undergraduate, masters, medical, and doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows in the areas of study design, quantitative and qualitative research methods, structural and social determinants of population health, health inequities, cancer screening and prevention, LGBTQ+ health, sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice, and career development.

Dr. Agénor completed postdoctoral research training in cancer prevention equity as part of the Harvard Educational Program in Cancer Prevention (2013-2015) and was Visiting Research Faculty at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS at Yale University (2017-2019). Prior to joining the Brown University faculty, she was Gerald R. Gill Assistant Professor of Race, Culture, and Society at Tufts University and Assistant Professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She holds a Doctor of Science (ScD, 2013) in Social and Behavioral Sciences with a concentration in Women, Gender, and Health from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a Master of Public Health (MPH, 2008) in Sociomedical Sciences with a concentration in Social Science Research in Public Health from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and a bachelor’s degree (AB, magna cum laude with Honors, 2005) in Community Health and Gender Studies from Brown University. Originally from Martinique and Haiti, she grew up in England, Haiti, Washington, DC, and Maryland.

Areas of Expertise

  • Intersectionality and population health
  • Structural and social determinants of health inequities
  • Sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice
  • Cancer screening and prevention among marginalized groups
  • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) health

Education

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard Educational Program in Cancer Prevention, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 2013-2015
  • Doctor of Science (ScD) in Social and Behavioral Sciences with concentration in Women, Gender, and Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2013
  • Master of Public Health (MPH) in Sociomedical Sciences with concentration in Social Science Research in Public Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 2008
  • Bachelor of Arts (AB), magna cum laude with Honors in Community Health and Gender Studies, Brown University, 2005
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) Candidate, Wellesley College, 2001-2003