Felicia Hodge

Felicia Schanche Hodge, DrPH, is a Professor at UCLA holding joint appointments in the School of Nursing and School of Public Health. She focuses on American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) health disparities, cultural competencies, and environmental justice. Her research addresses chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, and tobacco use, emphasizing culturally tailored interventions.

Education: BA in Sociology (Sonoma State College, 1974), MPH (UC Berkeley, 1976), DrPH in Public Health (UC Berkeley, 1987), and a postdoctoral fellowship in Alcohol Research (UC Berkeley, 1989).

Research Interests: Dr. Hodge’s work prioritizes improving healthcare access for AI/AN communities through projects like dioxin contamination studies, veteran smoking cessation, and HPV vaccination awareness. Her research integrates environmental justice and Indigenous knowledge systems, with over 100 publications.

Awards:

• Frank C. Dukepoo Award (2020) for ethical Indigenous research
• UCLA Faculty Mentoring Honor Society (2022)
• Everyday Hero Award (1998) for cancer advocacy
• Member of National Institute of Nursing Research Advisory Council (2005-2010)

Grants & Leadership: PI of NIH-funded projects since 1990, including the NINR T32 Fellowship program (11 years). Director of the Center for American Indian/Indigenous Research and Education (CAIIRE). Served on national committees like NCI Cancer Advisory Council and AHRQ’s Women’s Health Group.

Labs/Teams: Leads CAIIRE, fostering Indigenous research integrity and education. Collaborates with tribal communities on environmental health and healthcare equity initiatives.