Dominique Como, PhD, EdM, OTR/L is a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Occupational Therapy. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Religious Studies from Arizona State University; her Master of Education in Policy, Planning and Administration from Boston University; and her Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy and Doctor of Philosophy in Occupational Science from the University of Southern California. Her dissertation project, grounded in occupational justice, addressed the oral health disparities in Black American children with and without autism by exploring the factors that impact oral health in this population. Her project was one of the first to examine the intersection of oral health, autism, and Black American culture. Under the mentorship of Dr. Leland, Dominique hopes to expand her training in specific research methodologies, such as stakeholder engagement and her understanding of the impact of health disparities across the lifespan. Her overall career goal is to reduce disparities by improving the overall health care experiences of underserved populations, who experience social injustices based on policies implemented at the systemic level and manifest on the societal, community, interpersonal, and individual levels. Her specific research interests include autism and oral health, health disparity across the lifespan, and patient-provider relationships.
Departments
Department of Occupational Therapy