Annesa Flentje, PhD
As an Associate Professor in the department of Community Health Systems at UCSF, my career has been devoted to conducting impactful research in the field of LGBTQIA+ health. My work spans various topics, including minority stress, biological underpinnings of stress, epigenetics, gene expression, substance use, trauma, and intersectionality. Through my research publications, I have explored the challenges faced by sexual and gender minority populations in healthcare settings, the impact of minority stress on physical and mental health, and interventions to promote resilience within LGBTQIA+ communities.
In recognition of my contributions to the field, I was honored with the Sexual and Gender Minority Research Investigator Award from the National Institutes of Health. I have served as the Principal Investigator on several projects sponsored by NIH and other prestigious organizations, investigating the intersection of sex, gender, and substance use, and the epigenetic underpinnings of stress among LGBTQIA+ people.
My educational journey includes a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The University of Montana, followed by a Clinical Psychology Fellowship and Postdoctoral Fellowship in Drug Abuse Treatment Services Research at UCSF, where I further honed my expertise in the field of LGBTQIA+ health.