Kara Schmidt

Kara Schmidt is an MPH candidate at Boston University School of Public Health studying epidemiology and biostatistics with a concentration in social justice and human rights. She is interested in how health is viewed across different cultures and how these views effect policy and programming implementation. She is most passionate about Indigenous rights, and she hopes to continue to research health inequity within Indigenous populations. Kara unwinds by catching up on her favorite shows on Netflix or spoiling her cat named Shark.
woman in front of window looks down at pregnant belly
Research

The Cost of Eviction

Pregnant people facing eviction had a higher risk of both low birth weight and preterm birth, with Black women experiencing the highest risk.

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graph depicting the probability of food insecurity by race/ethnicity and history of incarceration.
Databyte

Felonies and Food

Formerly incarcerated adults had an 83% increase in food insecurity compared to those who have never been in prison.

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graphs on Indigenous elderly people's physical well-being
Databyte

Supporting Indigenous Elders

Indigenous elders who accessed services through Title VI of the Older Americans Act experienced fewer falls and hospitalizations per year than those who did not receive assistance.

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graph depicting increasing rates of congenital syphilis among US children, from 2011-2021
Databyte

Ancient but Not Obsolete

Syphilis rates have steadily risen since 2001, particularly among reproductive-age women. This has resulted in increasing rates of congenital syphilis, a condition where a fetus contracts the syphilis infection from the mother during pregnancy.

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Databyte

Indigenous Populations and COVID-19 Vaccines

Before vaccine rollouts, Indigenous populations experienced higher rates of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths than White populations. Native-led public health efforts closed this gap.

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