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About Ariana
Thompson-Lastad's research focuses on health care delivery, health equity, and integrative medicine. As a medical sociologist, she uses mixed-methods and qualitative approaches to understand how integrative medicine and other health care interventions can help advance health equity. Overarching themes in Thompson-Lastad's writing include the implementation of multi-modal health care interventions for vulnerable patients, and understanding how social and structural conditions shape health care practice. Thompson-Lastad serves as a trainer with the Bay Area Structural Competency Working Group, a member of the national steering committee for Hand in Hand, which collaborates with the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and co-chair of Integrative Medicine for the Underserved's equity, diversity and inclusion committee.
Contributions
Publications
Conducts a scoping survey of clinicians around the US who combine group medical visit and integrative medicine approaches in their work. Finds that these programs have been implemented in safety-net settings in at least 11 states.
Examines group medical visits, a clinic-based intervention that aims to improve patient health by combining clinical care, health education and peer support. Suggests, using qualitative data, that group visits can restructure patient-provider encounters to interrupt healthcare inequalities.
Draws on longitudinal data from two complex care management programs that serve "high-utilizer" patients at safety-net hospitals. Discusses how interprofessional provider teams understand and respond to patients' trauma.