Tell us a little bit about yourself.
“I grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. It’s not surprising that I focus on the research that I do, because I grew up around the epicenter of policy and politics. I’m also the child of two journalists, which influenced my choice of studies. I was a biology major at Wesleyan University, and I worked at the National Institutes of Health in the summers when I returned home. I got my PhD in Health Services Organization and Policy from the University of Michigan.”
What is your current research focused on?
“I study the intersection of communication and health policy, specifically how different types of news media cover health policy issues to understand dominant frames and how they shape public understanding. My research moves across three areas: public opinion, media, and policymaking. I’m interested in how the media shapes the public, how politics and power influence how an issue is framed, and how that affects public beliefs.”
How has the current sociopolitical climate impacted your work?
“It illuminates why this work is so important. I’ve studied how people with different partisan identities respond differently to health messaging, and I see those themes playing out in real time. I think of the balance between community health and individual liberty as a pendulum – we’re on an extreme swing, but resistance to public health authority has existed for a long time.
Our research also finds points of common ground. There are shared understandings of health and well-being across political aisles that don’t get much attention because the media often focuses on divisiveness. The discourse makes perceptions about public health seem more polarized than they may be.”
Why is SPH the right place for you to do this work?
“I was initially drawn to the SPH because of the strength of the school and the interdisciplinary environment of the University. I collaborate with colleagues in journalism, psychology, and political science, and have affiliate appointments in the Center for the Study of Political Psychology, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, the Minnesota Population Center, the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Cancer Center, and the Center for Bioethics. These different positions help me grow as a researcher, collaborate with brilliant people, and reflect the benefits that are unique to being at a large, world-class university.
In addition to teaching and research, SPH has helped position me for other leadership roles. I currently serve as the Director of the doctoral program in Health Services Research, Policy & Administration and the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law.”
What courses do you teach? What do you enjoy about working with students?
“I have taught PubH 6741: Ethics in Public Health since 2011. I also teach a doctoral-level course, PubH 8802: Health Services Policy Analysis, and other doctoral seminars in health policy and health services research. I’m the director of graduate studies in Health Policy and Management, so a lot of my job is working with students and advising. I love letting students lead research projects and really enjoy feeling invigorated by their ideas.”
Tell me one thing about yourself that most people don’t know.
“I’ve gotten into running! Specifically, I’ve finished the Twin Cities Marathon 5K with friends for three years in a row. I actually hate running, but I love the feeling I get after a run.”
What do you like to do when you are not working?
“I spend most of my time hanging out with my two sons, who are 14 and 11. Parenting takes more time and energy than ever. We enjoy supporting their activities, which include theater and mountain biking. As a family, we love being outdoors, going to parks, traveling, and going up north to Lake Superior.”
