Meet Maya
Q&A with M. Maya McDoom, PhD, MPH from Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS.
I knew that I wanted to focus on how people age with chronic illness and thus, integrated both my public health and aging interests into my PhD dissertation research.”
Q: Tell us a little about what you are doing right now?
A: I am the Delta Public Health Fellow which is a two-year joint postdoctoral appointment at both Mississippi State (MSU) and Harvard University. The fellowship presents a unique opportunity to leverage the resources of two great institutions to examine health and health disparities in the rural Mississippi Delta Region and the rural South.
Q: Tell us about your most recent activities and accomplishments?
A: I recently had three papers published in the past six months in AIDS Patient Care and STDS, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Obstetrics & Gynecology. I’ve also been privileged to be the principal investigator of two grants since I started my postdoctoral fellowship and have presented at three conferences (including GSA). I also am the co-convener of the Health Equity Cross-Campus Interest Group at MSU, which aims to increase collaboration in research, teaching, and Extension activities.
Q: Have you had an important mentor(s) in your career? If so, how did it make a difference?
A: I have been very lucky to have several mentors that have been critical to my growth as a scholar. My current mentor at MSU, Dr. Arthur Cosby has exposed me to many opportunities to write grants, publish papers and to become more entrepreneurial with my research agenda. My previous mentors Drs. Mari-Lynn Drainoni and Jim Burgess have provided guidance for avoiding career mistakes and advice on how to navigate academia.
Q: What are your motivations for studying aging?
A: In my Master’s program I did an internship at a hospice and saw how palliative care provided comfort as aging patients transitioned from life into death. I coupled this area with my longstanding interest in health outcomes and how people navigate the health systems in which illness occurs. I knew that I wanted to focus on how people age with chronic illness and thus, integrated both my public health and aging interests into my PhD dissertation research.
Q: What has been your most memorable experience in gerontology and aging research?
A: My most memorable experience in aging research was when I conducted qualitative interviews with women who were aging with HIV. Their narratives showed their strength and resiliency in overcoming multiple barriers and stigma. I was particularly struck when they shared experience of adapting to living with HIV and not letting their illness prevent them from living life.
Q: Tell us about your involvement in GSA.
A: I belong to the Social Research Policy & Practice Section. I have been a GSA member since 2011 and had the opportunity to present as a new member. I also joined ESPO and found that the networking and scholar exchange was valuable.
Q: How do you feel GSA serves the field of gerontology and aging research?
A: GSA provides a multidisciplinary home for practitioners and researchers who advance the field of aging. I appreciate that GSA is a vehicle for cross-pollination on all things aging between various disciplines ranging from social sciences to biological/medical sciences.
Q: Is there anything unique about yourself and experiences that you would like to share?
A: One unique aspect about my career is that I love both research and evaluation and have taken a non-traditional path to the field of gerontology through public health.
Q: Do you have any tips for emerging gerontologists?
A: Be open to collaborating with individuals (both academic and non-academic) outside of your discipline of training—you never know what opportunities may arise from the collaboration.