Angela Wangari Walter

Expertise

Research Interests

Angela Wangari Walter, Ph.D. is a health services researcher and an implementation scientist whose work focuses on: 1) the prevention and treatment of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use disorders and co-occurring diagnoses; and 2) addressing racial and ethnic inequities in the access to and quality of health care. She has conducted federally (NIH, SAMHSA, HRSA, AHRQ), state and foundation funded research using qualitative and quantitative methods.  Walter’s research on alcohol and other drug use disorders (AUDs) has examined the association between alcohol use and HIV transmission among women; and the effects of culturally relevant and integrated care for adults with co-occurring AUDs and mental illness. Walter has also conducted research on access to and quality of care for underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and other socially/economically disadvantaged populations. Her research has contributed to knowledge about the utilization of mental health services among children and barriers faced by parents/caregivers in accessing care for children. Other research has examined disparities in access to care and health services utilization patterns among children with medical complexity.

Walter has research and practice experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating systems of care for diverse populations. She is currently conducting AHRQ and HRSA funded research to improve health outcomes for Black and African American women receiving care in community-based settings. She is actively engaged in community efforts addressing racial and social injustices serving as an advocate, educator, volunteer, board and advisory member.

Education

• Postdoc: Health Policy and Management, (2014), Boston University School of Public Health - Boston, MA
• Ph D, (2013), Brandeis University, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management - Waltham, MA
• MPH: Social and Behavioral Sciences, (2008), Boston University School of Public Health - Boston, MA
• MSW: Macro Social Work Practice, (2007), Boston University School of Social Work - Boston, MA
• BS: Health Policy and Management, (2003), Providence College - Providence, RI

Selected Awards and Honors

• 30 Inspiring & Impactful Alumni (2020) - Health Career Connection
• Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching (2018), Teaching - Department of Public Health, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Community Research Innovative Scholar (2017), Scholarship/Research - University of Massachusetts Center for Clinical and Translational Science Institute
• Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching (2016), Teaching - Boston University School of Public Health
• NIH Predoctoral Individual Fellowship (2012), Scholarship/Research - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
• Dissertation Award (2011), Scholarship/Research - The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University
• NIH Predoctoral Institutional Training Fellowship (2008), Scholarship/Research - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
• Sarah Lange Award for Social Change (2007) - Boston University School of Social Work
• Dean's Scholar (2005) - Boston University School of Social Work
• Thomas D. Mackey Scholar (2005) - Boston University School of Social Work
• Fortunato Tomassi Scholar (1999) - Providence College
• Martin Luther King Scholar (1999) - Providence College

Selected Publications

• Walter, A.W., Morocho, C. HIV related knowledge, HIV testing decision-making, and perceptions of alcohol use as a risk factor for HIV among Black and African American women. (2021). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. (18), 4535.
• Yinusa-Nyahkoon, L., Woodall, K., Pluviose-Philip, M.J., Williams, A., Sidduri, N., Julce, C., Walter, A.W., Jack, BW. A little bird Tweeted me: Using social media to promote evidence-based health initiatives. (2020) OT Practice® Magazine. December.
• Walter, A.W., Julce, C., Sidduri, N., Yinusa-Nyahkoon, L., Howard, J., Reichert, M., Bickmore, T., Jack, B.W. (2020). Study protocol for the implementation of the Gabby Preconception Care System - an evidence-based, health information technology intervention for Black and African American women. BMC health services research,20(1) 889.
• Walter, A.W., Morocho, C., Chassler, D., Sousa, J., De Jesús, D., Longworth-Reed, L., Stewart, E., Guzman, M., Sostre, J., Linsenmeyer, A., Lundgren, L. (2019). Evaluating culturally and linguistically integrated care for Latinx adults with mental and substance use disorders. Ethnicity & health, 1-13.
• Sprague-Martinez, L., Lundgren, L., Walter, A.W., Sousa, J., Tahoun, N., Steketee, G., Hahm, H., Mueser, K.T., Krull, I., Do, D.L., Saitz, R. (2019). Behavioral Health, Primary Care Integration, and Social Work’s Role in Improving Health Outcomes in Communities of Color: A Systematic Review. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research,10(3).
• Walter, A.W., Ellis, R.P., Yuan, Y. (2019). Health care utilization and spending among privately insured children with medical complexity. Journal of Child Health Care,23(2) 213-231.
• Hirschi, M., Walter, A.W., Wilson, K., Jankovsky, K., Dworetzky, B., Comeau, M., Bachman, S.S. (2019). Access to care among children with disabilities enrolled in the MassHealth CommonHealth Buy-In program. Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and community,23(1) 6-19.
• Walter, A.W., Yuan, Y., Cesar, M., Thekkedath, R. (2018). Facilitators and barriers to family engagement and retention of young children in mental health care: A qualitative study of caregivers’ perspectives. Social Work in Mental Health,17(2).
• Walter, A.W., Morocho, C., King, L., Bartlett, J., Kelsey, D., DeSousa, M., Biesecker, G., Punnett, L. (2018). Preventing Opioid Use Disorders among Fishing Industry Workers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,15(4).
• Sprague Martinez, L., Walter, A.W., Acevedo, A., Marilis Lopez, L., Lundgren, L., (2018). Context matters: Health disparities in substance use disorders and treatment. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions,18(1) 84-98.
• Walter, A.W., Sprague Martinez, L., Lopez, L.M. (2018). Mental health care in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) era: Harnessing the power of communities (3 pp. 314-327). Routledge
• Walter, A.W., Yuan, Y., Cabral, H. (2017). Mental health services utilization and expenditures among children enrolled in employer sponsored health plans. Pediatrics,139(Supplement 2) S127-S135.
• Walter, A.W., Cheng, D.M., Lloyd-Travaglini, C.A., Samet, J.H., Bernstein, J., Saitz, R. (2016). Are decreases in drug use risk associated with reductions in HIV sex risk behaviors among adults in an urban hospital primary care setting? Preventive Medicine Reports,4 410-416.
• Walter, A.W., Yvonne, R., Robbie, T., Kress, H., Morningstar, B., MacArthur, B., Daniels, A. (2016). Leadership matters: How hidden biases perpetuate institutional racism in organizations. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance,4(3) 213-221.
• Walter, A.W., Lundgren, L., Umez-Eronini, A., Ritter, G.A. (2016). Alcohol use and HIV testing in a national sample of women. AIDS and Behavior,20(1) 84-96.
• Bachman, S.S., Walter, A.W., Umez-Eronini, A. (2012). Access to oral health care and self-reported health status among low-income adults living with HIV/AIDS. Public Health Reports,127(Suppl 2) 55.
• Walter, A.W., Bachman, S.S., Reznik, D.A., Cabral, H., Umez-Eronini, A., Nath, A., Flournoy, M.W., Young, N.S. (2012). Methamphetamine use and dental problems among adults enrolled in a program to increase access to oral health services for people living with HIV/AIDS. Public Health Reports,127(Suppl 2) 25.
• Tobias, C.R., Fox, J.E., Walter, A.W., Lemay, C.A., Abel, S.N. (2012). Retention of people living with HIV/AIDS in oral health care. Public Health Reports, 45-54.
• Bachman, S.S., Walter, A.W., Kuilan, N., Lundgren, L.M. (2008). Implications of Medicaid coverage in a program for Latino substance users. Evaluation and program planning,31(1) 74-82.
• Betancourt, J.R., Maina, A.W. (2007). Barriers to eliminating disparities in clinical practice: Lessons from the IOM Report ’Unequal Treatment’ (pp. 83 - 97). Humana Press
• Lundgren, L.M., Sullivan, L.M., Maina, A.W., Schilling, R.F. (2007). Client Factors Associated With Length of Stay in Methadone Treatment among Heroin Users who Inject Drugs: Quantitative Analysis of State-level Substance Abuse Treatment Utilization Data. Journal of Addiction Medicine,1(1) 26.
• Lee, K.C., Winickoff, J.P., Kim, M.K., Campbell, E.G., Betancourt, J.R., Park, E.R., Maina, A.W., Weissman, J.S. (2006). Resident physicians’ use of professional and nonprofessional interpreters: a national survey. The Journal of the American Medical Association ,296(9) 1049-1054.
• Park, E.R., Betancourt, J.R., Kim, M.K., Maina, A.W., Blumenthal, D., Weissman, J.S. (2005). Mixed messages: residents’ experiences learning cross-cultural care. Academic Medicine,80(9) 874-880.
• Weissman, J.S., Betancourt, J., Campbell, E.G., Park, E.R., Kim, M., Clarridge, B., Blumenthal, D., Lee, K.C., Maina, A.W. (2005). Resident Physicians’ Preparedness to Provide Cross-Cultural Care. The Journal of the American Medical Association ,294(9) 1058 - 1067.
• Betancourt, J.R., Maina, A.W., Soni, M. (2005). The IOM report unequal treatment: lessons for clinical practice. Delaware medical journal,77(9) 339.
• Betancourt, J.R., Carrillo, J.E., Green, A.R., Maina, A.W. (2004). Barriers to health promotion and disease prevention in the Latino population. Clinical cornerstone,6(3) 16-29.
• Betancourt, J.R., Maina, A.W. (2004). The Institute of Medicine report" Unequal Treatment": implications for academic health centers. The Mount Sinai journal of medicine, New York,71(5) 314-321.

Selected Presentations

• Leadership: Moving organizations from unconscious bias to conscious ant-racism - Workshop presentation at the National Association of Social Workers, Research and Practice Symposium, April 2021 - Virtual Meeting
• Impact of a Pre-Arraignment Adult Diversion Alternatives Program (ADAP) on behavioral health outcomes - Academic and Health Policy on Conference on Correctional Health, April 2021 - Virtual Meeting
• Implementing a health information technology system to deliver preconception care to Black and African American women in community-based settings in the U.S.: A hybrid type II implementation-effectiveness cohort study - Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health, December 2020 - Virtual Meeting
• Implementing preconception care in Healthy Start programs using technology: What can we learn? - CityMatCH and MCH Epidemiology Conference, September 2020 - Virtual Meeting
• Can a web-based health information program facilitate engagement in preconception care? - Annual CityMatCH Maternal and Child Health Leadership Conference, September 2019 - Providence, RI
• The Gabby System: Moving Towards Improved Preconception Health through a Web-Based Health Promotion System - Annual CityMatCH Maternal and Child Health Leadership Conference, September 2019 - Providence, RI
• Evaluation of an adult diversion alternatives program - 22nd Annual Student Research and Community Engagement Symposium, May 2019 - Lowell, MA
• Implementation of a health information technology system for young black and African American women in a community-based clinical site - Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health, December 2018 - Washington, D.C.
• Increasing access to primary and specialty care for homeless and transient Latinx: Results from Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Program - Annual Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse (AMERSA) Conference, November 2018 - San Francisco, CA
• Rumbo a Casa: Outcomes of an integrated behavioral health treatment program for Latinx re-entering citizens post incarceration - Annual Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse (AMERSA) Conference, November 2018 - San Francisco, CA
• Increasing access to primary and specialty care for hard-to-reach Latinos with co-occurring mental illness and addiction disorders: Results of the primary and behavioral health care integration program (PBHCI) - Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association , November 2018 - San Diego, CA
• A community-based approach to prevent opioid use disorders among commercial fishing industry workers in New Bedford - Sturbridge Symposium, May 2018 - Sturbridge, MA
• Leadership matters: How hidden biases perpetuate institutional racism in organizations - The National Association of Social Workers, Research and Practice Symposium, April 2018 - Framingham, Massachusetts
• Preventing opioid use disorders among fishing industry workers: A qualitative study - 7th Annual UMCCTS Community Engagement and Research Symposium, March 2018 - University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
• Engagement and Retention of Children and Youth in Mental Health Care - Golda Edinburg Lecture, March 2018 - Belmont, Massachusetts
• Reduced recidivism and relapse among justice-involved Latino adults: The role of a bilingual, culturally relevant, integrated trauma-informed, substance abuse and mental health treatment program - American Public Health Association (APHA), November 2017 - Atlanta, GA
• Community based prevention to reduce opioid and other drug use disorders among commercial fishing industry workers - Projects in Process Seminar Series (PiPSS), October 2017 - Worcester, MA
• Trends in substance use treatment and community based approaches to address substance use disorders - Greater Lowell Opioid Task Force, July 2017 - Lowell, MA
• Implementation of SAMHSA-funded offender re-entry programs addressing substance use and co-occurring disorders among justice involved Latino adults - Academic and Health Policy Conference on Correctional Health, March 2017 - Atlanta, GA
• Voices from the field: Factors that influence patient and family engagement and retention in mental health care among Black/African American, Latino, and White families - American Public Health Association (APHA), October 2016 - Denver, CO.
• Mental health services utilization and costs among children enrolled in employer sponsored health plans: Implications for integrated care in the ACA era. - American Public Health Association (APHA)., October 2016 - Denver, CO.

Selected Contracts, Fellowships, Grants and Sponsored Research

• Improving Care and Treatment Coordination for Black Women with HIV – The Evaluation and Technical Assistance Provider (2020), Sponsored Research - Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau
  Rajabiun, S., Walter, A.W., Tucker, K.L.
• Implementation of a Health Information Technology System for Young African American Women into Community-Based Clinical Sites (2017), Sponsored Research - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
  Jack, B.W., Bickmore, T.W., Walter, A.W., Yinusa-Nyahkoon, L.
• Medical Marijuana and Labor Injuries (2019), Grant - Manning School of Business and University of Massachusetts Lowell
  Phan, H.V., Zhang, C., Walter, A.W.
• Impact of the First Pre-Arraignment Adult Diversion Alternatives Program (ADAP) in the Wake of the Opioid Epidemic (2018), Grant - University of Massachusetts Lowell, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Sustainability Engagement & Enrichment Development (S.E.E.D.) Fund
  Walter, A.W., Rydberg, J., Morocho, C.
• Dissemination of the primary and behavioral health care integration project (2017), Sponsored Research - Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)
  Lundgren, L., Stewart, E., Walter, A.W.
• Community based prevention to reduce opioid and other drug abuse among industry workers. (2017), Grant - National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health. University of Massachusetts Center for Clinical and Translational Science.
  Walter, A.W., Bartlett, J.J., King, L., Punnett, L.
• Rumbo a Casa: The Way Home (2016), Sponsored Research - Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)
  Lundgren, L., Stewart, E., Walter, A.W.

Research Currently in Progress

• Implementation of a Health Information Technology System for Young African American Women into Community-Based Clinical Sites

  This hybrid type II implementation-effectiveness cohort study aims to evaluate appropriateness, acceptability and feasibility implementation outcomes, while also systematically examining the clinical effectiveness of a preconception care (PCC) intervention, the Gabby System, for Black and African American women receiving health services in community-based sites. The intervention will be implemented in six Community Health Centers and six Healthy Start programs across the U.S. We will examine implementation processes and prepare an implementation toolkit that can be used to facilitate broader dissemination. This project is funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
  Jack, B.W., Bickmore, T.W., Walter, A.W., Yinusa-Nyahkoon, L.

• Improving Care and Treatment Coordination for Black Women with HIV – The Evaluation and Technical Assistance Provider

  This project will support 12 demonstration sites across the U.S. by developing, evaluating, and disseminating interventions that engage and retain Black Women with HIV in care and treatment. We will examine implementation processes and outcomes of bundled interventions and disseminate findings to inform the replication of interventions to Ending the Epidemic (EtHE). This project is funded by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau.
  Rajabiun, S., Walter, A.W., Tucker, K.L.