Shawna Hudson is an American medical sociologist and primary care researcher who is a professor at the Rutgers University. She is the Henry Rutgers Chair of Family Medicine and Community Health and Vice Chancellor for the Dissemination and Implementation Science. She was elected member of the National Academy of Medicine in 2024.
Early life and education
Hudson grew up in a society of health inequality. Her mother suffered from lung cancer, her father prostate cancer, and several other family members endured hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.[1] She was an undergraduate student at Rutgers University, where she majored in sociology.[1] She remained there for her graduate studies, where she became interested in medicine through a sociological lens. Her early research looked to understand the character of television portrayals of sexuality.[2]
Research and career
Hudson's career has focused on improving the United States healthcare system. She is particularly interested in helping those in vulnerable and underserved populations.[3]
Hudson leads the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Learning Health System Embedded Scientist Training and Research (LHS E-STaR) Center, which helps future generations of scientists deliver patient-centered care.[4] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hudson developed a rapid diagnostics initiative (Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics, RADx) to improve access to COVID-19 testing for underserved populations.[5]
In 2024, Hudson was elected to the National Academy of Medicine.[4]
Selected publications
References
