As Principal Investigator of a University of Michigan School of Public Health Cancer Epidemiology Education in Special Populations fellowship project, I led a research study examining factors associated with breast cancer screening among Asian Indian women in metro Detroit. At the time, relatively little research focused on breast cancer screening among Asian Indian women in the Midwest.

The project brought together community organizations, faith institutions, healthcare providers, translators, interviewers, and participants. I managed the study from design through publication, including questionnaire development, IRB approval, participant recruitment, interviewer training, multilingual data collection, analysis, and dissemination.

The research identified education, years lived in the United States, and healthcare provider recommendations as significant predictors of screening adherence. Findings were published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health and shared through presentations, posters, brochures, and community outreach.

The study highlighted how healthcare access, health beliefs, immigration experiences, and provider relationships influence preventive health behaviors while demonstrating the value of culturally responsive, multilingual research.