Rupa Valdez
Rupa S. Valdez, PhD, assistant professor of Public Health Sciences and Engineering Systems and Environment received a research grant from the UVA Global Infectious Diseases Institute for a study that will examine the social, economic, and health-related impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals living with a wide range of chronic health conditions. Dr. Valdez and her team will also explore the changes implemented at the level of the individual, relationship, community, and society that may mitigate negative impacts and sustain positive ones over time.
An early and in-depth understanding of the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with chronic health conditions will inform the design of interventions at multiple system levels to mitigate both the short- and long-term unintended consequences of current policy and societal changes. Moreover, learning about adaptations and interventions that have early evidence of improving quality of life for those with chronic health conditions during the pandemic will further help inform system level changes that need to be adopted more widely both during the pandemic and afterwards.