When Katherine Kitchens was completing her master’s degree in social work at UT Arlington, she participated in an advanced field placement at a community clinic that provided primary health care services to families in need. Her experience working with marginalized populations is one of the reasons Kitchens decided to stay at UTA and pursue her Ph.D. in social work, which she will receive during the University’s commencement ceremonies for the School of Social Work at 9 am on Dec. 13 at Globe Life Field.

“During my field work at the Agape Clinic in Dallas, I spent time helping resettled refugees, primarily community members from Burma who were forcibly displaced,” said Dr. Kitchens. “This experience really inspired me to pursue my doctoral degree to further focus on research strategies that combine public health, cognitive health and social work practice in primary care settings.”

As part of her independent study for her doctoral program, Kitchens worked closely with her faculty mentor, Yeonwoo Kim, assistant professor of kinesiology, who guided her in examining cognitive decline among refugees. Under Dr. Kim’s mentorship, the pair published their findings, showing that refugees ages 50 and older have higher odds of self-reported cognitive impairment compared to other immigrant populations who entered the United States voluntarily.

“Earlier research has shown that trauma is a factor in individuals developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and we know that people who immigrate to the United States as refugees often have endured a great deal of trauma because of their experiences with war, violence, limited resources and forced displacement,” said Kim.

“Our research shows that refugees are at much higher risk of developing MCI compared to other immigrant populations. This is an important data point, as our nation’s population of people over 65 grows and we work to keep them independent and healthy for as long as possible .”

Fortunately, there are interventions that can help refugees offset some of these cognitive declines. Kim said refugees who had higher English-language proficiency and/or higher educational attainment were less likely to suffer impairment.

“This could be in part because people with English skills and education have more access to higher-paying jobs and more resources as they age. People without these skills also lack the language to navigate the complex health care system in the United States and ask for help when they need it,” Kim said. “This study illuminates some of the gaps in care that refugees face as they age in the United States.”

After graduation, Kitchens will start a new faculty position at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas at the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health.

“I’m really excited about the next phase of my career,” said Kitchens. “In my new role, I’ll be mostly focused on research studying the unique intersections of how culture and lived experiences such as forced displacement can impact cognitive health. These collaborations are exciting because they bridge public health, neuroscience and health care, both private and public.”