Dr. Ford, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Dr. Ford teaches courses in the innovative Shared Discovery Curriculum specializing in the Social Context of Clinical Decision Making and Patient Vulnerabilities and Health Systems. She is a mentor and advisor for medical students particularly in Women’s Health Disparities Research. Dr. Ford’s research focus includes HPV prevention and vaccination; cervical cancer screening and treatment; women’s health risk behavior; health disparities and equity for vulnerable populations. Her work involves design, implementation, and evaluation of prevention education and health promotion programs for women across the lifespan–from pre-adolescence to post-menopause. Her experience as a licensed psychologist informs her work in health behavior change. She has been a leader on several large public health projects and grants that address health disparities in Black populations and health equity. Her funding has included Health Resources Services Administration, Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Pew Foundation, Penn Foundation, and Annie E. Casey Foundation. Dr. Ford earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in Counseling and Human Development from the University of Iowa. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Cognitive Neuroscience and Positive Psychology at The University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Hirko, PhD is an Epidemiologist, and community-based researcher at the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Human Medicine’s Traverse City campus. Her research focuses on cancer disparities and the role of lifestyle factors and social determinants in cancer prevention and control. She is particularly interested in using implementation science approaches to effectively incorporate evidence-based interventions, including telemedicine approaches, into underserved rural settings. Dr. Hirko earned her PhD in Epidemiologic Sciences from the University of Michigan School of Public Health and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health before joining MSU in 2016.
Dr. Holtz, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Advertising + Public Relations and the director of the Health and Risk Communication Masters program at Michigan State University. She received her B.A. in Telecommunication from MSU, her MSc in Information Systems from the London School of Economics, and her Ph.D. in Media and Information Studies from MSU. She then completed her postdoctoral training at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System in the Health Services Research and Development Department. She returned to MSU’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences in 2012.
Katharine Mitchell, MA is a doctoral student in the Information and Media program at Michigan State University. She is interested in how media and technology influences interpersonal relationships and health. Mitchell is currently studying mHealth (mobile health) and its impacts on chronic disease and family communication. She received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Department of Communication at Michigan State University.
PARTNERS
Dr. Arjun Krishnan, PhD
https://cmse.msu.edu/directory/faculty/arjun-krishnan/
Dr. Andrea Wendling, MD, FAAFP
https://chmfamilymedicine.msu.edu/people/andrea-wendling/
Connected Nation Michigan
https://connectednation.org/michigan/
Michigan State University Extension