Reproductive Health Outcomes and Disparities (RHOADs) Research Lab

Dr. Stulberg is the Director of RHOADs. Her research explores racial and socioeconomic disparities in reproductive health in the United States. She has a special interest in understanding the effect of religiously-sponsored health care in reproductive health, medical decision-making, and the doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Stulberg is also Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of Family Medicine, The University of Chicago with secondary appointments at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Section of Family Planning & Contraceptive Research, and the Maclean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics.

Dr. White VanGompel is an Associate Director of RHOADs. Her research career is devoted to improving reproductive health by better understanding how to deliver safe, high-quality, patient- and family-centered maternity and newborn care, decrease overuse of potentially harmful or costly practices, and improve mother-baby dyad care.  She has a special interest in understanding the role of labor and delivery unit culture and its effects on maternal health outcomes. Dr. White VanGompel is a Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago. Lab website: https://whitevg-lab.red.uic.edu/

Lee is a RHOADs Director of Policy Research. Her policy-related research covers topics such as access to contraception and abortion, health care reform, religious refusals in health care, and consent and confidentiality for young people. Lee specializes in qualitative research to uncover the practical impact of laws and policies on equitable access to reproductive health care. Lee is a senior policy researcher at The Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Innovation in Sexual and Reproductive Health (Ci3) at The University of Chicago. Lee leads Ci3’s reproductive health policy research, collecting data and translating research to inform policy debates and legislation. She collaborates with health providers, advocates, and UChicago researchers to achieve evidence-based policy reform.

Dr. Harriett is an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and RHOADs investigator. She has a clinical background in full-spectrum community-based primary care. Her research centers patient and community voices to address reproductive health disparities and health care access. She is currently conducting community-based participatory research (CBPR) to co-design a local needs assessment with a community doula, integrating insights from postpartum patients and birth workers to identify critical gaps and opportunities for postpartum return to primary care.  Dr. Harriett joined the University of Chicago Department of Family Medicine in March 2024.

Dr. Bello Kottenstette is a RHOADs Investigator. Her research focuses on understanding and addressing the reproductive health needs of women and men with substance use disorders who have criminal legal involvement. She is currently conducting feasibility testing of an adaptation of a pre-pregnancy behavioral intervention that uses motivational interviewing to help women who are incarcerated lower their chance of experiencing a future substance-exposed pregnancy. Dr. Bello Kottenstette is an Associate Professor at the Department of Family and Community Medicine, board-certified in Addiction Medicine, and core faculty in the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. 

Jaime is a research manager at RHOADs and for the Institute for Population and Precision Health at UChicago. Their work focuses on reproductive and sexual health, health equity, and improving access to evidence-based care through public health research. Jaime has a background in clinical research management and brings experience coordinating complex studies and multidisciplinary teams. They are particularly interested in how research can inform policy and expand equitable healthcare access.

Hannah is a Senior Research Analyst. She leads critical aspects of RHOADS research projects, including qualitative research design and execution, data analysis, and dissemination. Her work focuses on mifepristone provision, interconception care in primary care, and access to gender affirming care in religiously affiliated healthcare institutions. With a Master of Human Rights and a background in legal advocacy, her work is driven by her commitment to using rigorous research to advance reproductive autonomy. Hannah also mentors students, fostering their development in research methodologies and critical analysis.

Artria is a RHOADs Research Coordinator. She assists with all aspects of study activities including study coordination, regulatory compliance, data collection, and manuscript preparation. She also is the Program Coordinator for ExPAND Mifepristone's Learning Collaborative. Artria has a B.A. in Human Development & Learning and is currently working on a MBA in Healthcare Management. Her past work involves coordinating research on the impact of oral health on overall health, aiding in the treatment and compliance for HIV positive patients, and educating elementary school children. She hopes to continue focusing on families and women's reproductive healthcare. ExPAND Website: 

https://expandmifepristone.org/

Claire is a Research Associate II at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she focuses on improving maternal and child health quality care, including enhancing reproductive health access across the United States. With a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Iowa College of Public Health, Claire’s academic and professional journey has been deeply rooted in her passion for fostering the well-being of future generations. Throughout her life, she has cared deeply about the health and development of children, realizing during graduate school that supporting mothers is the foundation of this mission. During her studies, Claire contributed to numerous research projects centered on maternal and child health, gaining valuable experience in addressing critical issues and advancing care for mothers and families.

Valeria is a RHOADs Research Assistant. She assists with all aspects of study activities including regulatory compliance, data collection and analyses, manuscript preparation, and programmatic support. Valeria has a B.S. in Psychology and her past research involved topics such as optimism-pessimism, coping, sex, sexuality, and relationships. She hopes to continue studying societal inequities and has a special interest in developing her skills in data science. Valeria is also a Research Assistant for the Department of Family Medicine, The University of Chicago.

Alexandra Beem is a RHOADs Research Assistant, where she works on data collection, analysis, and manuscript preparation. Alexandra is a medical student at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine and is currently pursuing a master's degree at the Harris School of Public Policy. She received a BA in Biology, and her prior research work includes tobacco control policy, LGBTQ+ health, and the importance of advocacy training in medical school. After completing her studies, she hopes to become an Internal medicine physician, with particular interest in primary care and oncology. She also plans to continue researching how federal and state policy impacts clinical practice.

Tio Agunbiade is a third-year pre-med student studying Biological Sciences on the Global Health track and is an aspiring physician who is deeply passionate about global health and health equity. She has been grateful for the opportunity to engage in field and immersive public health research, which has continued to expand her perspective and strengthen her interest in this work. These experiences have pushed her to continue to grow in knowledge and better understand the importance of global health in shaping care and improving lives.