Lateasha
Grant-Lennon, LCSW
Doctoral student at the University of North Carolina Greensboro & North Carolina A&T State University and Case Manager for Piedmont Health Services & Sickle Cell Agency.
An advocate, social worker, and researcher.
I am a second-year doctoral student in the UNCG & NCA&T Joint Ph.D. Program in Social Work at UNC Greensboro and North Carolina A&T State University. As a social worker, sickle cell disease advocate, and healthcare professional living with sickle cell disease, my research seeks to improve healthcare experiences and outcomes for individuals with sickle cell disease through culturally responsive, community-engaged research.
Accomplishments
Valerie Fund Scholar
2026–2027 Recipient
Vertex Foundation Scholar
2026–2027 Recipient
Dr. Charles F. Whiten Health Care Professional Award
Sickle Cell Association of New Jersey — 2022 Recipient
4.0 GPA
First-year doctoral coursework
Qualifying Portfolio Submission
How does healthcare-related stigma influence pain management and healthcare experiences among adults living with Sickle Cell Disease?
My full qualifying portfolio includes my research statement, literature gap, learning outcomes, theoretical framework, and references. Download the complete document here.
Where my work lives.
My research integrates qualitative, quantitative, participatory, and community-engaged research methods to understand and improve healthcare experiences for individuals living with sickle cell disease.
Current Research
My developing research agenda focuses on how healthcare related stigma influences pain management, healthcare decision making, and quality of life among adults living with sickle cell disease. Emerging directions include intimate relationships, social support, and interpersonal violence among adults with chronic illness.
Plans for Scholarly Activities.
Conference Presentations & Posters
Presenting emerging work on stigma, pain management, and lived experience in sickle cell care.
Manuscripts in Progress
Qualitative analyses of patient–provider communication and healthcare navigation.
Research Assistantships
Contributing to community-engaged studies centered on health equity for Black adults.
Research Methods Training
Advanced coursework in qualitative inquiry, thematic analysis, and mixed methods.
Training and practice.
Education
Joint Ph.D. in Social Work
UNC Greensboro & NC A&T State University
In progress
Master of Social Work
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Completed
Bachelor of Social Work
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Completed
Professional Experience
Sickle Cell Case Manager & Transition Coordinator
Pediatric Sickle Cell Social Worker
Community Health Advocate
Program Development & Outreach
Coursework
A collection of representative coursework from my doctoral program. Click any title to download the paper.
Interview Guide and Implementation
SOWK/SWK 854 — Qualitative Methods in a Multicultural Context
Literature Review
SOWK/SWK 853-01 — Quantitative Methods in Social Work
Sickle Cell Healthcare Racial Stigma Scale (SCHRSS)
SOWK/SWK 853-01 — Quantitative Methods in Social Work
Where my work is headed.
My long-term goal is to develop community-informed interventions that reduce healthcare stigma, improve patient–provider relationships, and promote equitable healthcare for individuals living with sickle cell disease. Through interdisciplinary research, I hope to influence clinical practice, health policy, and social work interventions that address structural barriers affecting historically underserved populations.