Carla Clements, RN, MSN, under the mentorship of Marilyn (Lynn) S. Sommers, PhD, RN, FAAN, Lillian S. Brunner Professor of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Associate Director, Center for Health Disparities Research, is the recipient of a Diversity Supplement, “Understanding the Roles of Skin Hydration and Skin Color in Females” from the National Institute of Nursing Research under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
The epidemic of sexual assault against females continues unabated. In Dr. Sommers’ previous work, funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research from 2002-2006, evidence was found that health disparities in the standard sexual assault examination may place women with dark skin at a disadvantage. Findings suggest that racial/ethnic differences in injury prevalence are likely explained by variation in injury visibility due to skin color. An alternative explanation is that the mechanical properties of the skin may be associated with either injurious or protective mechanisms across the continuum of skin color.
The parent study for this work is Injury from Sexual Assault: Addressing Health Disparity (2R01NR05352, Sommers) and serves as the primary work related to the Diversity Supplement. The supplement has two primary goals: 1) To provide an opportunity for a post-master’s student (Carla Clements) interested in health-related research to spend two years engaged in a mentored experience in scientific inquiry and to develop research capabilities while considering doctoral study; 2) To foster knowledge development in the area of skin science and health disparities. The minority supplement will allow the Carla an opportunity to answer the question: Can the previous findings that genital injury prevalence varies by skin color be better understood because skin hydration also varies by skin color?