She is an interdisciplinary health services researcher with training in Sociology/Social Psychology. Her main areas of research are exploring the psychosocial determinants of oral health disparities and issues around access to dental care for vulnerable populations. Her research often integrates quantitative and qualitative methods. Prior to joining SDSU, Tracy was an Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) Postdoctoral Scholar at UC Berkeley and involved in state level mental health policy evaluation. In 2008, she received the Jay S. Drotman Memorial Award from the American Public Health Association (APHA), which recognizes the promising career of a young public health professional.