Tekeda Ferguson

Dr. Tekeda Ferguson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology & Population Health at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Public Health in New Orleans. She holds tenure and is a Full-Time faculty member. Her research focuses on chronic disease epidemiology, particularly the interplay between social determinants, alcohol use, and comorbidities in populations living with HIV. She leads the Comprehensive Alcohol Research Center Data Management and Analysis Unit and has active NIH funding for studies on alcohol’s role in chronic conditions.

Education:

• PhD, Public Health (Epidemiology), University of Alabama Birmingham, 2007
• MSPH, Public Health (Epidemiology), University of Alabama Birmingham, 1998
• MPH, Public Health (Health Communications/Education), Tulane University, 1997
• BS, Chemistry, Tulane University, 1996
• NIH/NHLBI Cardiovascular Genetics and Epidemiology Fellowship, Washington University, 2016–2017
• American Heart Association Tahoe Fellow in Epidemiology and Prevention, 2009

Research Interests: Multilevel analysis of social and environmental factors influencing chronic diseases, with emphasis on alcohol’s impact on cardiovascular health, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cancer in HIV populations. She also examines disparities in healthcare access and outcomes.

Articles Trends: Her recent work highlights alcohol’s role in cardiometabolic dysfunction, neurocognitive impairment, and frailty among HIV patients. She explores geographic disparities in healthcare, such as distance to radiation therapy affecting breast cancer treatment choices. Her studies often integrate biomarkers (e.g., adipokines, microRNA) and population-level data to inform interventions.

Awards/Fellowships:

• Cardiovascular Genetics and Epidemiology Fellow, NIH/NHLBI
• American Heart Association Tahoe Fellow
• Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)

Advising & Grants: Dr. Ferguson has secured NIH/NIAAA funding and leads studies on alcohol use interventions. She collaborates on projects like the ALIVE-Ex exercise trial and the WELL Program to reduce alcohol use among HIV patients. Her work spans academic and public health sectors, including roles with Louisiana’s Department of Health.

Labs/Teams: Director of LSUHSC’s Comprehensive Alcohol Research Center Data Unit, contributing to interventional and observational studies on alcohol-related health outcomes.