Athena D. Ford PhD, RN

Biography

As a queer woman and survivor of violence herself, Athena D. Ford seeks to create a platform for LGBTQ+ survivors of violence to be heard and build a foundation of research to aid in improving care delivery and health outcomes for LGBTQ+ communities. Moreover, Ford’s program of research focuses on improving our understanding of how complex systems of racism, cisgenderism, and heterosexism influence health and health equity for racial/ethnic, sexual, and gender minority populations, with a focused lens on the impacts of trauma/violence and substance use disorder on health. She is completing a certificate in LGBTQ+ Public Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Ford splits her time between Baltimore and the San Francisco Bay Area, where she practices clinically in end-of-life care.

Major Achievements

• Diversity Award, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (2018)
• American Journal of Nursing Thelma Schorr Scholarship (2018)
• Ronald E. McNair Scholar
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholar
• Nurse Faculty for the Future Fellow