Working with Malecare, a cancer patient advocacy and support nonprofit, I conducted qualitative ethnographic research on barriers to healthcare access. I was tasked with collecting field data by engaging in video and audio recorded interviews in the Hampton Roads area — home to the largest community-based healthcare system in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

I identified and interviewed individuals with rich healthcare experiences from historically underserved populations, including people of color and low-income, uninsured, and Medicaid-dependent individuals. Interviews were semi-structured and centered around common access barriers, then transcribed and analyzed using iterative coding and thematic analysis to extract recurring themes and direct quotes illustrating participants' lived experiences.