Faculty Research Spotlight

What brought you to the UAB School of Public Health?

I was drawn to the school's applied focus – particularly as a large public university – on improving the health and well-being of rural and under-resourced communities. There is a lot of opportunity to connect with communities and to generate action-oriented research that improves health outcomes.

What is the broad focus of your research?

My research broadly focuses on using policy to improve access to high quality sexual and reproductive health care in rural communities. This includes improving Medicaid coverage and services, supporting rural hospital capacity to manage obstetric emergencies, improving the safety and quality of maternity care, and ensuring that people can access mental health care and substance use treatment in safe and respectful settings during their pregnancies.

Where did you receive your training and degrees? 

I did my BA at Montana State University, MPH and MPA at the University of Montana, PhD at Tulane, and Fogarty postdoc at UNC Chapel Hill.

What is the most exciting project you are currently working on?

I am very excited about my UAB Dissemination & Implementation Science pilot project related to improving rural emergency department readiness to manage obstetric emergencies. This project connects my prior work with Montana hospitals over the last five years with similar challenges faced here by Alabama hospitals. Rural healthcare can be very hard for providers due to the remoteness and isolation-- but these providers are so scrappy and inspiring in how they meet these challenges head on.

What is your favorite self-authored manuscript?

"Obstetric care in rural critical access hospitals: A domestic application of the World Health Organization Emergency Obstetric Care framework in rural communities"

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of so far in your career?

I'm proud of becoming a good mentor to students and staff who I have supported. I benefited from amazing mentorship from my dissertation chair and committee (who I still call upon!), and it is so gratifying to witness my own mentees grow in their skills and confidence into public health leaders.

What is the coolest training or program you've been a part of, or your favorite conference you've attended?

The International Conference on Family Planning. I have attended convening in Rwanda, Thailand, and most recently this last fall in Colombia, and it is always an inspiring and grounding experience to be with this international community of scholars and practitioners-- especially as this work gets more challenging.

What kind of research would you like to be doing that you haven't yet had the opportunity to do?

Patient-centered outcomes research, HIV care and pregnancy, legal epidemiology.

If you had the funding to answer any one research question, what would that question be?

Which policies and interventions reduce maternal mortality and improve family well-being, ensuring safety and dignity in pregnancy and parenthood?

If you weren't in academia, what would your career be? 

Back to pre-PhD career in politics and campaigns.