Rahma S Mkuu

Rahma S Mkuu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics at the University of Florida's College of Medicine. As a chronic disease and health outcomes researcher, she focuses on disentangling determinants of health disparities and identifying evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes for underserved populations.

• PhD in Health Education (2018), Texas A&M University
• MPH (2014), Columbia University
• BS in Health Education and Behavior (2012), University of Florida

Dr. Mkuu's research spans cancer disparities, global health, HIV prevention, and chronic disease management. Her work examines socioeconomic and behavioral factors influencing hypertension, obesity, and cervical cancer screening, particularly among African American and rural populations. She emphasizes program evaluation and quality improvement frameworks to assess healthcare interventions.

Recent publications (2024-2022) highlight her focus on maternal/infant health quality measures, diabetes management in marginalized communities, cervical cancer screening accommodations, telemedicine privacy challenges, and social determinants of health disparities during the pandemic. These studies often employ qualitative and mixed-methods approaches to uncover systemic barriers and opportunities for policy reform.

Scientific Awards

• Distinguished Honor Graduate 2018, Texas A&M University
• Honor Graduate 2018, Texas A&M University
• Highest Scoring Student Abstract 2017, American Public Health Association
• Diversity Fellow 2015-2018, Texas A&M University
• Health Promotion Policy Fellow 2014-2015, Arkansas Department of Health
• Student of the Year Nominee 2012, University of Florida

Grants

• Principal Investigator, Preventing Cervical Cancer through HPV Self-collection (2024-present, NIH NCI)
• Co-Investigator, Phone Enabled Implementation of Cessation Support (2022-present, NIH NCI)
• Project Manager, Transforming and Translating Discovery to Improve Health (2021-2024, NIH NCATS)