Rachel Carmen Ceasar

Rachel Carmen Ceasar serves as Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the University of Southern California. Her research focuses on substance use disorders, health disparities, and public health interventions with emphasis on opioid and cannabis policy.

Her research interests span substance use disorders, particularly among people who inject drugs, cannabis policy during pregnancy, tobacco control strategies, and health disparities in urban settings. Ceasar employs qualitative and mixed-methods approaches to examine structural vulnerabilities affecting healthcare access, with significant work on opioid withdrawal experiences and harm reduction practices in Los Angeles and Denver.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on marginalized populations (people who inject drugs, pregnant individuals, adolescents), structural determinants of health (housing instability, resource access), and provider-patient dynamics in safety-net settings. Her work bridges clinical practice and public health policy, particularly regarding opioid management and cannabis use during pregnancy.

Professional activities include collaborations with NCI-designated cancer centers and safety-net health systems, with research funded through institutional channels. She maintains active engagement with community-recruited samples in multi-site studies across California and Colorado.