Sakinah Carter Suttiratana

Dr. Sakinah Carter Suttiratana is an Associate Research Scientist in General Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine, where she serves as Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships in the Office of Health Equity Research and Director of Education and Training at the Equity Research and Innovation Center. She is also Community Outreach and Engagement faculty for the Yale Cancer Center, contributing to the Cancer Prevention and Control program.

Dr. Suttiratana holds a PhD in Sociology (Health & Illness) from the University of California, San Francisco (2017), an MBA from Yale School of Management (2004), and an MPH in International Health from Emory University (1998). Her multidisciplinary background uniquely positions her to address complex health equity issues.

As a Sociologist of Health and Illness, Dr. Suttiratana's research focuses on sociocultural influences on health, with particular emphasis on health equity, cancer disparities, and community-based participatory research. Her work examines how socioeconomic factors, race, and ethnicity impact health outcomes and healthcare access. Current projects explore peer mentoring interventions to reduce racial disparities in technology use for Type 1 diabetes management, communications around cancer prevention, tobacco regulation, and institutional practices to advance representative clinical trials.

Dr. Suttiratana's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on health equity across multiple domains. Her work on clinical trial diversity, healthcare access for marginalized populations, and community perspectives on healthcare systems reflects her commitment to addressing systemic inequities. Notable research includes studies on representation of women and racial/ethnic minorities in oncology trials and 'Living Flat: Stories from Women of Color After Mastectomy.'

• Active researcher with numerous publications in 2024-2025
• Sub Investigator for PROgram to address psychosocial Support for Patients with Early onset cancers
• Community-engaged research approach that incorporates lived experiences
• Extensive experience in mixed methods and qualitative research

As Director of Education and Training at the Equity Research and Innovation Center, Dr. Suttiratana mentors postdoctoral fellows and mid-career health professionals in mixed methods research. Her mentorship emphasizes community-partnered approaches that include perspectives of people with lived experience. She has contributed to translational and community-based research projects across U.S. and international populations, including work with the CDC, WHO, and The California Endowment.

Dr. Suttiratana leads the Equity Research and Innovation Center, which focuses on developing and implementing research approaches that address health disparities through community engagement. Her work bridges academic research with community needs, ensuring that research questions and methods are informed by those most affected by health inequities.