معرفی
Laura Swan, PhD, LCSW is a Senior Research Scientist at the Reproductive Equity Action Lab within the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She also teaches social work graduate courses at Virginia Commonwealth University, demonstrating her dual commitment to research and education in the field of reproductive health.
Dr. Swan's research is fundamentally focused on improving reproductive health equity and increasing access to contraception and abortion, with a specific emphasis on eliminating discrimination and coercion from reproductive healthcare. Her work spans several key areas:
- Provider beliefs and biases that impact contraceptive and abortion care
- Structural barriers to reproductive autonomy, particularly for marginalized communities
- Partner-perpetrated reproductive coercion and its health impacts
- Racial and ethnic disparities in reproductive healthcare access
Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on understanding the systemic factors that create disparities in reproductive healthcare. Dr. Swan employs both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to examine how policy, provider attitudes, and social structures intersect to shape reproductive outcomes. Her work particularly emphasizes the experiences of Black communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and residents of rural regions like Appalachia.
As an educator, Dr. Swan teaches across multiple courses in the Virginia Commonwealth University MSW curriculum, including Social Work Practice & Health Care, Human Behavior in the Social Environment, and Foundations of Social Work Research. She is committed to creating a welcoming and successful learning environment that models social work values through her teaching approach.
Dr. Swan has been involved in significant research projects including "What Factors Shape Black People's Revealed Abortion Method Preferences?" and studies examining racial/ethnic disparities in access to contraception during the COVID-19 era. Her instrumental role in these projects demonstrates her commitment to addressing critical gaps in reproductive healthcare access and quality.
