At the University of Michigan School of Public Health, more than 200 professors and research scientists teach tomorrow’s public health leaders and perform cutting-edge research that helps advance the field of public health. Many faculty members are leading experts in their fields who consult with governments, communities, and nongovernmental organizations.

Meet Our Faculty


Faculty who have expertise in Chronic Disease

Sara Adar Sara Dubowsky Adar, ScD, MHS
  • Professor, Epidemiology
  • Professor, Global Public Health

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Air Quality, Brain Disorders, Cardiovascular Health, Chronic Disease, Environmental Health, Environmental Justice, Global Public Health, Urban Health

Kelly Bakulski Kelly M. Bakulski, PhD
  • Associate Professor, Epidemiology
  • Data Management and Statistical Core Leader, Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Brain Disorders, Chronic Disease, Environmental Health, Epigenetics, Genetics, Genomics, Health Equity, Mental Health, Precision Health, Reproductive Health, Toxicology

Ana Baylin Ana Baylin, MD, DrPH
  • Associate Professor, Nutritional Sciences
  • Associate Professor, Global Public Health

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, Global Public Health, Nutrition

Melissa Beck Melissa Beck, MD, MPH
  • Clinical Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
  • Associate Program Director of the Preventive Medicine Residency Program

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, Health Care, Nutrition, Public Health Practice

Michael Boehnke Michael Boehnke, PhD
  • Richard G. Cornell Distinguished University Professor of Biostatistics

Areas of Expertise
Biostatistics, Chronic Disease, Diabetes, Genetics, Genomics, Global Public Health, Precision Health

Dave Bridges Dave Bridges, PhD
  • Associate Professor, Nutritional Sciences

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Air Quality, Chronic Disease, Diabetes, Genetics, Maternal Health, Nutrition, Precision Health, Reproductive Health

James Buszkiewicz James H Buszkiewicz, PhD, MPH
  • Research Assistant Professor, Epidemiology

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, COVID-19, Health Equity, Health Policy, Mental Health, Nutrition, Social Epidemiology, Substance Use, Tobacco

Cathleen Connell Cathleen M Connell, PhD, MS
  • Professor, Health Behavior and Health Equity

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Chronic Disease, Mental Health

EPID logo Steven Cook, PhD
  • Assistant Research Scientist, Epidemiology

Areas of Expertise
Biostatistics, Chronic Disease, Health Equity, Mental Health, Social Epidemiology, Tobacco

Melissa Creary Melissa Creary, PhD, MPH
  • Associate Professor, Health Management and Policy
  • Associate Professor of Global Public Health

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, Global Public Health, Health Equity, Health Policy, Racism

Nancy Fleischer Nancy L Fleischer, PhD, MPH
  • Associate Professor, Epidemiology
  • Co-Director, Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health
  • Co-Director, Certificate in Social Epidemiology

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, COVID-19, Health Equity, LGBT Health, Occupational Health, Racism, Social Epidemiology, Substance Use

Arline Geronimus Arline T Geronimus, ScD
  • Professor, Health Behavior and Health Equity

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, Health Equity, Maternal Health, Racism, Reproductive Health, Urban Health

Wei Hao Wei Hao, PhD
  • Research Assistant Professor, Biostatistics 

Areas of Expertise
Biostatistics, Cancer, Chronic Disease, Child Health, Environmental Health

Kevin He Kevin He, PhD
  • Associate Professor, Biostatistics

Areas of Expertise
Biostatistics, Cancer, Chronic Disease, COVID-19, Genetics, Global Public Health, Health Care, Health Equity, Precision Health

Mary Janevic Mary Janevic, PhD, MPH
  • Research Associate Professor, Health Behavior and Health Equity

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Chronic Disease, Health Equity

Jihyoun Jeon Jihyoun Jeon, PhD, MS
  • Associate Research Scientist, Epidemiology

Areas of Expertise
Biostatistics, Cancer, Chronic Disease, Modeling, Substance Use, Tobacco

Sharon Kardia Sharon L.R. Kardia, PhD
  • Associate Dean for Education
  • Millicent W. Higgins Collegiate Professor of Epidemiology

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease

Carrie Karvonen-Gutierrez Carrie A Karvonen-Gutierrez, PhD, MPH
  • Associate Professor, Epidemiology
  • Associate Chair for Faculty Affairs, Epidemiology

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Cardiovascular Health, Chronic Disease, Community-Based Participatory Research, COVID-19, Diabetes, Environmental Health, Health Equity, Occupational Health, Reproductive Health, Social Epidemiology, Sleep, Women’s Health

Lindsay Kobayashi Lindsay C Kobayashi, PhD, MSc
  • Associate Professor of Epidemiology
  • Faculty Affiliate, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research
  • Associate Professor of Global Public Health
  • Co-Director, Certificate in Social Epidemiology

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Brain Disorders, Cancer, Chronic Disease, Global Public Health, Health Equity, Social Epidemiology

Aleda (Allie) Leis Aleda (Allie) M. Leis, PhD, MS
  • Research Assistant Professor, Epidemiology

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Biostatistics, Cardiovascular Health, Chronic Disease, COVID-19, Diabetes, Health Informatics, Precision Health, Respiratory Viruses, Social Epidemiology, Vaccines, Women’s Health

Yi Li Yi Li, PhD
  • M. Anthony Schork Collegiate Professor of Biostatistics
  • Professor, Global Public Health

Areas of Expertise
Biostatistics, Cancer, Chronic Disease, COVID-19, Firearm Injury Prevention, Genetics, Global Public Health, Health Care, Health Equity, Health Policy, Infectious Disease, Substance Use

Lynda Lisabeth Lynda Lisabeth, PhD, MPH
  • Professor, Epidemiology
  • Research Professor, Neurology

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, Health Equity, Women’s Health

Peter Mancuso Peter Mancuso, PhD, MS
  • Associate Professor, Nutritional Sciences
  • Faculty member, Graduate Program in Immunology

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, COVID-19, Diabetes, Infectious Disease, Nutrition

Briana Mezuk Briana Mezuk, PhD
  • Professor, Epidemiology
  • Director of Masters Studies, Epidemiology
  • Co-Director, Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Chronic Disease, Diabetes, Health Equity, Mental Health, Social Epidemiology

Alison Mondul Alison M Mondul, PhD, MSPH
  • Associate Professor, Epidemiology

Areas of Expertise
Cancer, Chronic Disease, Environmental Health, Precision Health

Sung Kyun Park Sung Kyun Park, ScD, MPH
  • Professor, Epidemiology
  • Professor, Environmental Health Sciences
  • Affiliated Faculty, Kresge Hearing Research Institute, University of Michigan, Medical School

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Chronic Disease, Environmental Health, Occupational Health, Women’s Health

Minal Patel Minal R Patel, PhD, MPH (she/her)
  • Professor, Health Behavior and Health Equity

Areas of Expertise
Cancer, Chronic Disease, Health Care, Health Communication, Health Equity

John Piette John Piette, PhD, MPH
  • Professor, Health Behavior and Health Equity
  • Professor, Global Public Health
  • Director, UM Center for Managing Chronic Disease
  • VA Senior Career Scientist

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Chronic Disease, Global Public Health, Health Care, Health Communication, Health Informatics, Mental Health, Opioids, Precision Health

Michael Rubyan Michael A. Rubyan, PhD, MPH
  • Clinical Assistant Professor, Health Management and Policy

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, Health Communication, Health Equity, Health Informatics, Health Policy, Urban Health

Edward Ruiz-Narvaez Edward A Ruiz-Narvaez, ScD, MS
  • Associate Professor, Nutritional Sciences

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Chronic Disease, Genetics, Nutrition

Young Ah Seo Young Ah Seo, PhD
  • Associate Professor, Nutritional Sciences

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Chronic Disease, Child Health, Environmental Health, Genetics, Nutrition, Precision Health

Jennifer Smith Jennifer A Smith, PhD, MPH
  • Associate Professor of Epidemiology
  • Research Associate Professor, Survey Research
  • Director, Certificate in Public Health Genetics

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Cardiovascular Health, Chronic Disease, Epigenetics, Genetics, Genomics, Precision Health, Social Epidemiology, Women’s Health

Peter Song Peter X. K. Song, PhD
  • Professor, Biostatistics

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Biostatistics, Chronic Disease, Child Health, COVID-19, Environmental Health, Infectious Disease, Nutrition

Xin Wang Xin Wang, PhD, MPH
  • Research Assistant Professor, Epidemiology

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Chronic Disease, Diabetes, Environmental Health, Health Equity, Mental Health, Nutrition, Precision Health, Reproductive Health, Women’s Health

Hao Wang Hao Wang, MS, PhD, DABT
  • Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Sciences

Areas of Expertise
Brain Disorders, Chronic Disease, Environmental Health, Toxicology

Menggang Yu Menggang Yu, PhD
  • Professor, Biostatistics

Areas of Expertise
Biostatistics, Cancer, Chronic Disease, Clinical Trials, Modeling, Precision Health

Donglin Zeng Donglin Zeng, PhD
  • Professor, Biostatistics

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Biostatistics, Brain Disorders, Cancer, Chronic Disease, Clinical Trials, COVID-19, Diabetes, Environmental Health, Genetics, Global Public Health, Health Care, Health Equity, Health Informatics, Mental Health, Modeling, Nutrition, Precision Health, Substance Use, Vaccines, Women’s Health

John Ayanian John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP
  • Alice Hamilton Distinguished University Professor of Medicine and Healthcare Policy

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Cancer, Chronic Disease, Health Care, Health Equity, Health Insurance, Health Policy

Mark Bicket Mark C. Bicket, MD, PhD, FASA
  • Associate Professor, Anesthesiology
  • Associate Professor, Health Management and Policy

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Chronic Disease, COVID-19, Health Care, Health Policy, Opioids, Substance Use, Women’s Health

Katrina R Ellis Katrina R Ellis, Ph.D.
  • Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
  • Assistant Professor, Health Behavior and Health Equity

Areas of Expertise
Cancer, Chronic Disease, Racism

Michele Heisler Michele Heisler, MD, MPA
  • Professor, Internal Medicine
  • Professor, Health Behavior and Health Equity
  • Research Scientist, Center for Clinical Management Research
  • Staff Physician

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, Global Public Health, Health Care, Health Equity, Urban Health

Gretchen Piatt Gretchen A Piatt, PhD, MPH
  • Associate Professor, Learning Health Sciences
  • Associate Professor, Health Behavior and Health Equity
  • Co-Director, Michigan Center for Diabetes Translational Research

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, Health Care, Health Equity

Sarah Reeves Sarah L Reeves, PhD, MPH
  • Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
  • Assistant Professor, Pediatrics
  • Director, Child Health Evaluation and Research Fellowship

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, Child Health, Health Care, Health Informatics, Health Policy

Amy Rothberg Amy E Rothberg, MD, DABOM
  • Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes
  • Adjunct Professor, Nutritional Sciences

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, Health Care, Maternal Health, Nutrition, Reproductive Health

Michael Thompson Michael Thompson, PhD, MPH
  • Assistant Professor, Health Management and Policy
  • Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
  • Assistant Professor, Cardiac Surgery
  • Director of Analytic Strategy, Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy
  • Co-Director, Michigan Value Collaborative

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Chronic Disease, Health Care, Health Informatics, Health Policy

Wei Zhao Wei Zhao, PhD
  • Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
  • Research Assistant Professor, Institute for Social Research

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Chronic Disease, Child Health, Epigenetics, Genetics, Health Equity, Mental Health, Precision Health, Reproductive Health, Social Epidemiology, Substance Use

Victoria Convertino Victoria L. Convertino, JD
  • Lecturer, Public Health Law

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, COVID-19, Environmental Health, Health Equity, Health Policy, Infectious Disease, Maternal Health, Public Health Practice, Reproductive Health, Substance Use, Women’s Health

Lawrence Bielak Lawrence F Bielak, DDS, MPH
  • Associate Research Scientist Emeritus, Epidemiology

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Chronic Disease, Genetics, Women’s Health

Millicent Higgins Millicent W. Higgins, MB, BS, MD, DPH, FAACP (hc)
  • Professor Emeritus, Epidemiology
  • Professor Emeritus, Internal Medicine

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease

Hal Morgenstern Hal Morgenstern, BArch, MRP, PhD
  • Professor Emeritus, Epidemiology
  • Professor Emeritus, Environmental Health Sciences
  • Professor Emeritus, Urology, Medical School

Areas of Expertise
Cancer, Chronic Disease, Environmental Health, Health Equity, Racism, Social Epidemiology

Vasantha Padmanabhan Vasantha Padmanabhan, MS, PhD
  • Professor emerita (In service), Pediatrics
  • Professor emerita (In service), Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Professor emerita (In service), Molecular and Integrative physiology

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, Child Health, Environmental Health, Maternal Health, Reproductive Health, Women’s Health