Biography

John R. Blosnich is an assistant professor of at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California. His primary area of expertise is disparities in suicide risk and prevention among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals, with a specific emphasis on social determinants of health. He has conducted numerous studies to capitalize on secondary analyses of existing survey data, helping to fill gaps in knowledge about LGBT health.

Prior to joining the faculty at USC, Dr. Blosnich spent nine years working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); first with the VISN2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention in Canandaigua, NY and more recently with the Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion in Pittsburgh, PA. At the VA, he led foundational research about transgender veterans’ health and health care utilization, with a specific focus in suicide risk, mortality, and social determinants of health. He garnered the VA’s first research award focused on transgender veterans, and served on several national VA committees charged with developing guidance and clinical education and training about LGBT veterans receiving health care through the VA.

In addition to VA-supported research, he has conducted LGBT-focused research supported by competitive awards from foundations and the National Institutes of Health. Over the last five years, he has worked on efforts to improve LGBT health equity research in the US by addressing the lack of sexual orientation and gender identity data in mortality surveillance.

Education (3)

West Virginia University: PhD 2011

West Virginia University: MPH

West Virginia University: BA

Areas of Expertise (5)

Survey Design and Data Analysis

Health Services Research

Suicide

LGBTQ

Social Determinants of Health

Industry Expertise (1)

Research

Accomplishments (4)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs I CARE Award for Outstanding LGBT Veteran Service 2018 (professional)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs I CARE Award for Outstanding LGBT Veteran Service 2018

Federal Executive Board Silver Award for Outstanding Contribution to Science (Medical) 2017

Federal Executive Board Silver Award for Outstanding Contribution to Science (Medical) 2017

Invited Alumni Address, 2014 Commencement Ceremony of the West Virginia University School of Public Health 2014

Invited Alumni Address, 2014 Commencement Ceremony of the West Virginia University School of Public Health 2014

Commemorative Health Advocacy Award, State Health Education Council of West Virginia 2006

Commemorative Health Advocacy Award, State Health Education Council of West Virginia 2006

Affiliations (2)

• Member, American Association of Suicidology
• Member, American Public Health Association

Research Grants (5)

Understanding hormone therapy care received by transgender veterans in VHA, Co-Investigator (PI: Jasuja, 2019-2021)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Services Research & Development Service 

Understanding hormone therapy care received by transgender veterans in VHA, Co-Investigator (PI: Jasuja, 2019-2021).

Understanding Suicide Risks among LGBT Veterans in VA Care, Co-Investigator (PI: Goulet, 2019-2021)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Services Research & Development Service 

Understanding Suicide Risks among LGBT Veterans in VA Care, Co-Investigator (PI: Goulet, 2019-2021).

Patterns of alcohol use and alcohol-related care among transgender persons, Principal Investigator (PI: Williams 2018-2020)

NIH, NIAAA 

Patterns of alcohol use and alcohol-related care among transgender persons, Principal Investigator (PI: Williams 2018-2020).

Health outcomes and health care use among transgender veterans, Principal Investigator (2016-2020)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Services Research & Development Service 

Health outcomes and health care use among transgender veterans, Principal Investigator (2016-2020)

Primary care quality and homeless service tailoring, Co-Investigator (PI: Kertesz; 2016-2020)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Services Research & Development Service 

Primary care quality and homeless service tailoring, Co-Investigator (PI: Kertesz; 2016-2020).

Research Articles & Publications (4)

“Get people out of bad situations sooner”: Exploring transgender and cisgender veterans’ experiences using permanent supportive housing

Housing and Society (2020)

Blosnich, J.R., Rodriguez, K.L, Hruska, K.L., Klima, G.J., Vazzano, J.K., Shipherd, J.C., Kauth, M.R., Montgomery, A.E.

Exploring transgender and cisgender veterans’ experiences using permanent supportive housing.

Collecting sexual orientation and gender identity information at death

American Journal of Public Health, 109(2), 255-259. (2019)

Haas, A.P., Lane, A.D., Blosnich, J.R., Butcher, B.A., Mortali, M.G.

Collecting sexual orientation and gender identity information at death.

Characterizing housing instability among transgender veterans utilizing health care in the Veterans Health Administration, 2013-2016

American Journal of Public Health, 109(10), 1413-8. (2019)

Carter, S.P., Henderson, E.R., Ketterer, B., Dichter, M.E., Gordon, A.J., Shipherd, J.C., Kauth, M.R., Montgomery, A.E., Blosnich, J.R.

Characterizing housing instability among transgender veterans utilizing health care in the Veterans Health Administration, 2013-2016.

Religious freedom restoration acts and sexual minority population health

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 89(6), 675-681. (2019)

Blosnich, J.R., Cassese, E.C., Friedman, M.R., Coulter, R.W.S., Sang, J.M., Matthews, D.D., Mair, C.

Religious freedom restoration acts and sexual minority population health.