Hadija Steen Mills MPH

About Me

My interest has always been in the area of disparities. Human sexuality is a connection point, it is a gateway for everyone. Sexuality is a topic full of values so being able to educate and connect with folks in a trauma-informed and non-judgemental way has always been of interest. Approaching such a complex subject with caring can open the door further to talk about inequities, injustices, and paths to liberation.

During the pandemic, I've worked on COVID-19 disparity mitigation strategies. My work is related to healthcare reparations, which is a larger approach. This means creating a trauma-informed and culturally humble implementation strategy that can attempt to create trust with communities who are being impacted by negative health outcome ‘X’ which right now is COVID-19. I also aim to create change in the bureaucratic systems that create barriers and perpetuate these disparities. These strategies build a feedback loop through uplifting the issue, re-investing in communities, and dismantling barriers. The goal is always to not further hurt communities that are already hurting.

At CARHE, I am the Graduate Research Assistant for the CDC/ACOG funded project titled Using MMRIA to Document Discrimination and Racism (UMDDR), which is a natural extension of my prior experiences and work. This project is the creation of an innovative tool to name racism and discrimination as a contributing factor in maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity. I also engage in narrative change, with highlights including Responding to disparities: A look at a post-2020 United States and Queer women of color ask, Who cares and who gets care?" on TPT. 

I earned my BS in a self-designed Human Sexuality degree with a focus on Reproductive Justice from the University of Minnesota.

Email: [email protected]