Hannah Mercier, PhD, OTR/L
Assistant Professor
Stony Brook University
Hannah Mercier, PhD OTR/L, is an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at Stony Brook University whose research interests focus on enhancing health and participation outcomes for adults with neurological conditions. She designs and studies empowering self-management approaches to mitigate psychosocial distress and promote health, specifically in the form of mobile health interventions. Dr. Mercier has led interprofessional collaborative efforts in this area with extramural funding from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research and the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation. Her personal interests include increasing outdoor accessibility, creating edible landscapes, and playing in the sea.

Presenting at the Nexus Summit:

Marginalized groups frequently do not have the same healthcare experience as other groups due to several factors including ineffective communication which creates a negative experience. More than 1 in 2 LGBTQAI+ individuals have experienced discrimination, and the transgender community is marginalized when accessing health care (Roberts & Fantz, 2014; Warner & Mehta, 2021). Social, structural, and attitudinal barriers to health care (such as pervasive stigma and discrimination) often lead LGVTQAI+ individuals to fear or avoid interactions with healthcare professionals. Their feelings…