Hi, I'm Sarah Gioia.
pronouns: she/her/hers
ABOUT MEIn May 2022, I graduated with my PhD in Biobehavioral Health (BBH) from Penn State University, where I studied under the guidance of Dr. Joshua Rosenberger.
In my academic training, I studied perceived discrimination in healthcare among LGBTQ patients to better understand how these discriminatory experiences impacted their physical and mental health. During my grad school experience, I loved presenting my research and translating complex health phenomena to students - leading me to a career in science communication. Now, I spend my days promoting interdisciplinary, equity-centered research to providers, policymakers, and research partners as a Research Dissemination Specialist for OCHIN, a nonprofit health care innovation center designed to provide knowledge solutions that promote quality, affordable health care for all. |
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
I received my PhD in Biobehavioral Health from Penn State University. I also hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Biobehavioral Health from Penn State University.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Graduate Researcher
Penn State University
August 2017 - May 2022
Duties included: Timeline planning, project management, and managing competing deadlines for health equity projects, such as writing manuscripts and data analysis for health equity projects. Also designing, analyzing, executing, reporting, and disseminating the results of a national online survey characterizing the healthcare experiences of sexual minority patients and subsequent healthcare utilization, physical health, and mental health outcomes.
Duties included: Timeline planning, project management, and managing competing deadlines for health equity projects, such as writing manuscripts and data analysis for health equity projects. Also designing, analyzing, executing, reporting, and disseminating the results of a national online survey characterizing the healthcare experiences of sexual minority patients and subsequent healthcare utilization, physical health, and mental health outcomes.
Teaching Instructor and Teaching Assistant
Penn State University
August 2017 - May 2022
Duties included: Designing and teaching four 30-50 student class sections in Health Psychology and Introduction to Human Sexuality
Duties included: Designing and teaching four 30-50 student class sections in Health Psychology and Introduction to Human Sexuality
Legislative Assistant, Public Interest Government Relations
American Psychological Association
June 2016 - July 2017
Duties included: Coordinating congressional briefings, writing and reviewing all internal and public-facing deliverables, team budgeting
Duties included: Coordinating congressional briefings, writing and reviewing all internal and public-facing deliverables, team budgeting
Research Assistant, Office of Program Consultation & Accreditation
American Psychological Association
July 2015 - June 2016
Duties included: Creating annual and five-year reports to summarize trends in student outcomes, provide 400+ accredited programs with the programs' successes and areas for improvement with regard to program standards
Duties included: Creating annual and five-year reports to summarize trends in student outcomes, provide 400+ accredited programs with the programs' successes and areas for improvement with regard to program standards
Senior Coordinator, Research & Insights
Advisory Board Company
August 2014 – July 2015
Duties included: projecting annual budget, creating a spending tracking system, providing recommendations for contract renewal and management
Duties included: projecting annual budget, creating a spending tracking system, providing recommendations for contract renewal and management