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A self-described “pracademic,” I am a social scientist and inclusion strategist in public health with more than 25 years of blended experience in teaching, program management, socio-behavioral research, community-centric health education, policy advocacy, and service, including a widely viewed TEDx talk. At FLC, I teach upper-level Public Health courses advancing the intersecting areas of global health disparities, health systems and policies, community health, public health ethics, social epidemiology, community-based participatory research, and implementation research in public health. I am most famous for introducing Participatory Teaching Co-Learning (PTCL) methodologies and building classroom communities through strategic approaches such as (1) using storytelling as a pedagogic method, (2) leading and initiating academia-non-profit partnerships, (3) integrating student co-led research to curriculum, (4) innovating virtual global health internships.
Before FLC, I was the lead resource in grant development, health education, policy advocacy, and program management to make efficacious biomedical prevention tools (vaccines, Female Condom™ and Nischay Pregnancy Test Card™) effective among populations needing them the most. To this, I’ve spearheaded a state-of-the-art HIV Rural Research Center in India and bilateral exchange programs addressing HIV, cervical cancer, and sexual and reproductive health among Indian, African, and US-based academic, research, and advocacy organizations (IAVI, ICMR, PATH, GHS, HLFPPT, KEMRI, TASO, Aurum Institute).
I have a Ph.D. in Public Health from Indiana University, Bloomington, three Masers' Degrees in Population Studies, Human Resource Management, and Social Work, and certifications in Participatory Research and Health Education. I have received several national and international awards, including the Indian Govt. Ministry of Education and Netherlands Govt. NUFFIC scholarships in 1998 and 2014, respectively, the 2021 Vision Award by the American Public Health Association and the 2023 Featured Scholar Award from Fort Lewis College.
I am keen to build academic-practice partnerships to foster sub-population-based, equity-focused community engagement models for improved health outcomes and empowered relationships between communities and health systems.
Dutta, T., and Keith C., Evolution of Storytelling Pedagogy in Global Health Course at a U.S. Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution from Fall 2019 to Spring 2023. Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy Article section, Frontiers in Public Health (In press)
Dutta, T., Agley, J., Xiao, Y. et al. Students’ COVID-19 vaccine behaviors, intentions, and beliefs at a US Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution (NASNTI). BMC Res Notes 16, 175 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-023-06439-.
Khurshid, K., Dutta, T., Khan, K.S., Haider, S.A., Ahmed, U.A., Jatoi, H., Tahir, M., Sarfraz, R., Pasha, A., Khan, M., & Ali, M. (2022) Addressing Stigma Among Persons Living with HIV Through the Sujaag Project in Pakistan: A Socioecological Analysis. Journal of Social Issues, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12547 .
Dutta T., Agley J., Meyerson BE., Barnes PA., Sherwood-Laughlin C., Nicholson-Crotty J. (2021) Perceived enablers and barriers of community engagement for vaccination in India: Using socioecological analysis. PLoS ONE 16(6): e0253318. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253318. This study has been cited on the Wikipedia page ‘Vaccination in India’ (No. 15). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccination_in_India
Dutta, T., Agley, J., Lin, H. C., & Xiao, Y. (2021). Gender-responsive language in the National Policy Guidelines for Immunization in Kenya and changes in prevalence of tetanus vaccination among women, 2008–09 to 2014: A mixed methods study. Women's Studies International Forum (Vol. 86, p. 102476). Pergamon. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2021.102476 .This study has been cited on the Wikipedia page ‘Gender disparities in health’ (No. 23). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_disparities_in_health
Dutta, T., Meyerson, B. E., Agley, J., Barnes, P. A., Sherwood-Laughlin, C., & Nicholson-Crotty, J. (2020). A qualitative analysis of vaccine decision makers’ conceptualization and fostering of ‘community engagement’ in India. International Journal for Equity in Health, 19(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-020-01290-5 . This study has been cited on the Wikipedia page ‘Vaccination in India’ (No. 14) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccination_in_India
Gassman, R. A., Dutta, T., Agley, J., Jayawardene, W., & Jun, M. (2019). Social media outrage in response to a school-based substance use survey: Qualitative analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(9), e15298. https://www.jmir.org/2019/9/e15298/, Doi: 10.2196/15298
Dutta, T., Haderxhanaj, L., Agley, J.D., Jayawardene, W. and Meyerson, B.E. (2018). The association of individual and intimate-partner level factors with cervical cancer screening among women in Kenya. Preventing Chronic Disease, 15. http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd15.180182. This study has been cited on the Wikipedia page ‘Gender disparities in health’ (No. 56). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_disparities_in_health
Dutta, T., Meyerson, B.E., & Agley, J.D. (2018). African cervical cancer prevention and control plans: A scoping review. Journal of Cancer Policy, Vol 16, pp 73-81 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpo.2018.05.002. This study has been cited on the Wikipedia page ‘Cervical cancer’ (No. 105). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cervical_cancer
Magala, I., Dutta, T., & Nalubega, R. (2018). Factors affecting utilization of HIV care services among men in TASO Masaka, Uganda: An exploratory study. J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 1(1):9-11. https://www.boffinaccess.com/open-access-journals/clinical-hiv-and-aids-journal/chaj-1-102.pdf. DOI: 10.31021/chaj.20181102
Dhaske, G., & Dutta, T. Aesthetic Equity for Anti-Racist Social Work Education: Bridging the Implicit and Explicit Curriculum, Oral presentation #1468629 Council for Social Work Education Conference, Teaching Methods and Learning Styles track, October 26–29, 2023 Atlanta.
Keith C., & Dutta, T. Socio-Culturally Inclusive COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Translation in Navajo (Diné) Language, Braille, and Podcast at a Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institution. 50th Annual Symposium on the American Indian, Indian Symposium CRN 31253, Northeastern State University, April 10-15, 2023, Tahlequah.
Kosovich, J.J., Dutta, T., Boland, S., & Schneider, M. Community Equity Indicator (CEI): A Tool to Scan Determinants of Health Inequities in Colorado. Abstract ID#: 76601, Track/Subtheme: Emerging Issues in Research Translation & Implementation, 73rd Annual Conference Society for Public Health Education, The New Age of Civil Rights, Advocacy & Equity, March 21 - 24, 2023, Atlanta.
Dutta T., Agley J., & Xiao, Y. College Student COVID-19 Vaccination Prevalence and Context: A ‘Pulse’ Survey Conducted Before and After Formal Statewide Rollout, School Health and Wellness area, Session: COVID and School Health, American Public Health Association’s 2022 Conference, Nov 3-6, 2022, Boston (Abstract#: 912109)
Dutta, T., Agley J., “Making Sure Students are At the Center”: Case Study of a Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institution’s Collegiate Leadership During COVID-19, 2022 Scientific Meeting of the American Academy of Health Behavior, March 13-16, 2022, St. Louis.
Dutta, T., Meeker E., Partnerships: An Effective Health Education Method for Diverse Students, 73rd Annual Conference Society for Public Health Education, March 22-25, 2022, St. Louis (Abstract# 65624).
Dutta, T., Magala I., Thomson, A.M., Peg, S., Nalubega, R,. Identifying HIV treatment seeking barriers among HIV+ men in TASO-Masaka, Uganda: Findings from a multi-staged participatory research, for the session ‘HIV/AIDS,’ American Public Health Association’s 2020 Annual Meeting & Expo, San Francisco, USA, October 24 -28, 2020. (Abstract #, 464603)
Dutta, T., Gassman, R., Agley, J.D., Jun, M.C., King, R., Jayawardene, W. Examining public concerns of a school-based health behavior survey: A qualitative analysis of Facebook comments, American Public Health Association’s 2019 Annual Meeting & Expo, Philadelphia, Nov 2 - 6, 2019. (Abstract # 445425).
Dutta, T., Meyerson, B.E., Barnes, P., Agley, J.D., Sherwood-Laughlin, C., Nicholson-Crotty, J. Decision makers’ conceptualization and fostering of community engagement for improved adoption and uptake of existing and emerging vaccines in India. American Public Health Association’s 2019 Annual Meeting & Expo, Philadelphia, Nov 2 - 6, 2019. (Abstract #, 445812).
Dutta, T., Meyerson, B.E. African country-level cervical cancer prevention and control plans: A review analysis. 31st International Papillomavirus Conference. HPV 2017, Cape Town, South Africa, February 28 - March 5, 2017.