Goleen Samari

Goleen Samari is an Associate Professor in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the University of Southern California. Her research focuses on social inequities and health, particularly examining how racism, gender inequities, and migration-based disparities affect population and reproductive health. She specializes in immigrant and Middle Eastern/North African communities, addressing issues like structural racism, Islamophobia, and reproductive justice. Dr. Samari has developed influential metrics such as the Immigrant Policy Climate Index to assess structural xenophobia's health impacts. Her work emphasizes mixed-methods approaches and health equity advocacy. She has been recognized for contributions to health equity research, though specific award names are unspecified.

Her research spans maternal health disparities, the intersectional impacts of discrimination, and policy analysis. Key themes include the health consequences of anti-Muslim racism, gendered structural inequities, and immigrant resilience during crises like the pandemic. She has published in high-impact journals like Am J Public Health and Social Science & Medicine. Her work bridges sociological constructs with public health practice, aiming to inform equitable policies and healthcare practices.

• Key areas: Structural racism, immigrant health, reproductive justice, Middle Eastern/North African communities
• Notable contributions: Immigrant Policy Climate Index, conceptualizing Islamophobia as a public health issue
• Pandemic focus: Immigrant women’s health during COVID-19