Priscilla Dass-Brailsford, EdD, MPH, studies the effects of trauma and violence and other stressful events, especially whether individuals from historically oppressed or stigmatized groups experience unique stressors or exhibit culturally specific coping processes. Dr. Dass-Brailsford has several ongoing research projects on HIV/AIDS: understanding maternal disclosure of HIV, developing an intervention for women living with HIV/AIDS who have histories of trauma and addictions and investigating the life histories of women living with HIV/AIDS. In the past she has worked with at-risk families in urban communities exposed to violence in the home and community. She has submitted grant proposals that sought to develop interventions to support parents in the aftermath of disasters and community violence. Besides numerous peer-reviewed publications, she is the author of two books: A Practical Approach to Trauma: Empowering Interventions (2007) and Disaster and Crisis Response: Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina (2009). Dr. Dass-Brailsford is an APA Fellow and has a trauma focused clinical practice.
Areas of Research: Psychological effects of trauma and violence on ethnic minority women and children, Understanding and developing interventions for Maternal HIV disclosure, Co-morbidity of HIV, PTSD and Substance Abuse among Women living with HIV, Mental health consequences of natural disasters