Judith Barker, PhD
I conduct a variety of studies, primarily qualitative in approach, examining the experience and meaning of health and illness to various communities or patient groups. Understanding how non-health professionals conceptualize, recognize and respond to risks to health or well-being and act (or not act) to prevent or minimize risks has been an interest threaded throughout many of my projects which are focused on understanding health disparities and vulnerable populations. A particular focus has been on chronic illnesses, including those affecting children’s oral health and multiple chronic illnesses that affect older adults. All of my research is community-based and much has been interdisciplinary or translational in intent. I have been involved in team research with wide range of faculty and researchers from all four clinical schools on the UCSF campus, the school of Public Health at UC Berkeley, as well as private research institutes in the San Francisco Bay Area.