Monica Ponder, PhD
Assistant Professor of Health Communications & Culture at Howard University
Monica's Story
Dr. Monica L. Ponder is an Assistant Professor at Howard University', specializing in health communication. She developed The Henrietta Hypothesis, a 16-construct crisis communication model focusing on women’s health. As co-PI of Project REFOCUS (Racial Ethnic Framing of Community Informed and Unifying Surveillance) she works on addressing racism's impact on health disparities. Her activism includes establishing lactation rooms at Atlanta's airport and supporting the 2017 National Women's March. Drawing from her 14+ years at the CDC, she teaches while emphasizing cultural perspectives and student empowerment. Dr. Ponder holds degrees in Chemistry, Epidemiology, and Health Communication from various institutions.
Monica's Research
Expanding the Henrietta Hypothesis: Identification of a Culturally Responsive Public Health Crisis Communication Approach to Improve Women's Health in Washington, DC
In reflection on the 2024 Georgetown-Howard Center for Medical Humanities and Health Justice (MHHJ) theme of lore, this research seeks to better understand the health experiences and needs of historically marginalized and racialized DC residents. While the field of public health often relies on traditional disease surveillance to monitor community health, this project seeks to layer critical and cultural learnings from residents that can also inform institutional decisioning – particularly as it relates to the provision of resources, education campaigns, and promotion of available safety net supports. This research seeks to expand on the maternal health findings from DC Health as it relates to understanding needs that exist in current “post-COVID” realities2 and its impact on residents in Wards 7 and 8. According to DC public health, there is a 15-year life expectancy difference between residents in Ward 8 than any other ward in DC (DC Health, 2018). Moreover, Black residents in Wards 7 and 8 are three times more likely than White residents to be obese, 2.5 times more likely to die from heart disease, seven times more likely to have diabetes, and have higher rates of liver, colon, and breast cancer (King, 2020; Georgetown, 2020; DC Health, 2018). This faculty research aims to explore the health narratives that exist beyond traditional public health surveillance by curating an archive of DC resident and practitioner experiences to inform the development of a culturally responsive approach to improve patient well-being and health outcomes (as it relates to the maternal health journey – especially those strategies that bring joy and safety). Strong maternal health infrastructures set the foundation for resilient community health. Further, this research will inform public health crisis communication strategies that can support public health and health care organizations in their missions to support historically marginalized and racialized communities.