scholar
Jhia Louise Jackson, MS, PhD(c)
As a current student of University of California San Francisco’s doctoral program in medical sociology and research fellow at the Osher Center for Integrative Health, Jhia has been diving into questions on medicine, mortality, and morality. Her research project investigates decision-making in pediatric palliative and hospice care when the patient is an adolescent or young adult living with non-cancer serious illness. In addition to her scholarly work, she is involved in student advocacy efforts that include reforming mentorship practices, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of diversity-related issues, and promoting interdisciplinary efforts between degree programs and administration.
Related areas of interest include: chronic illness, body politics, afrofuturism, youth and aging, bioethics, interdisciplinary/multi-origin knowledge production, classical versus contemporary social philosophies, and memorialization. Through work, advocacy, and leadership experiences, she actively seeks out learning opportunities that engage with diverse knowledge practices.
Check out her interview with fellow UCSF PhD student Stella Belonwu for the Carry The One podcast, where she discusses everything from her research to being Black in predominantly white institutions to the importance of mashed potatoes and cats.
This work is inspired by the story of Mary Francis Hill Coley and an interview with Dr. Vicki Alexander — both are Black women that were pioneers in maternal health and advocacy. Debuted at the XYZ theater in New York City and later performed in the Kalmanovitz library at UCSF.