Faculty Profile

Carrie Karvonen-Gutierrez

Carrie A Karvonen-Gutierrez, PhD, MPH

  • Associate Professor, Epidemiology
  • Associate Chair for Faculty Affairs, Epidemiology

Dr. Karvonen-Gutierrez's research focuses on critical periods of risk for adverse health outcomes in women. Specifically, she evaluates the impact of chronological aging, reproductive aging and obesity and their intersections, on the development and progression of chronic disease and musculoskeletal outcomes through the creation of a metabolically-dysfunctional and pro-inflammatory environment. To address her research agenda, Dr. Karvonen-Gutierrez uses both epidemiologic and clinical research designs leveraging her leadership in ongoing cohort studies as well as new data collection efforts.

Dr. Karvonen-Gutierrez received her PhD in Epidemiologic Science and MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan. She is a National Institute of Aging Butler Williams Scholar and is on the Editorial Board at the Midlife Women's Health journal. She has a K01 Mentored Research Scientist award from the National Institute of Aging to examine metabolomics and osteoarthritis. She is the Principal Investigator on the Michigan Bone Health and Metabolism Study and the PROTECT-Moms Study and a co-Investigator on the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

  • PhD, Epidemiologic Science, University of Michigan, 2012
  • MPH, Epidemiology, University of Michigan, 2005
  • BA , Biology, University of Northern Iowa, 2002

Dr. Karvonen-Gutierrez is a faculty member of the Center for Midlife Science where she seeks to understand the impact of critical life stages and transitions on metabolic and musculoskeletal health outcomes. Her research program includes four aimes: 1) identifying inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers related to osteoarthritis incidence, progression and severity; 2) describing the epidemiology of and risk factors for physical function limitations, disability and falls during midlife; 3) characterizing changes in bone health and skeletal fragility across the menopausal transition; and 4) identifying environmental exposures associated with metabolic dysfunction in women during critical risk periods. She oversees scientific activities for the Michigan Bone Health and Metabolism Study and the Michigan site of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, two prospective epidemiologic studies of women with more than 25 years of data collection. Further, she is PI on the PROTECT-Moms study, evaluating the relationship between pre-pregnancy environmental exposures and post-partum endocrine and metabolic health among women in Puerto Rico.

Ylitalo KR, Karvonen-Gutierrez CA, Sternfeld B, Pettee Gabriel K. Association of physical activity and physical functioning phenotypes with fall risk among women. J Aging Health 2021;[Epub ahead of print]: doi: 10.1177/0898264320988405. PMID: 33517822.

Wang X, Karvonen-Gutierrez CA, Mukherjee B, Herman WH, Park SK. Urinary metals and adipokines in midlife women: The Study of Women's Health Across the nation (SWAN). Environ Res. 2020;[Epub ahead of print]: doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110426. PMID: 33157106.

Carson TL, Tournat T, Sonneville K, Zernicke RF, Karvonen-Gutierrez C. Cultural and environmental associations with body image, diet and well-being in NCAA DI female distance runners: a qualitative analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2020;[Epub ahead of print]: doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102559. PMID: 33139255.

Karvonen-Gutierrez CA, Strotmeyer ES. The urgent need for disability studies among midlife adults. Womens Midlife Health. 2020 Aug 28;6:8. PMCID: PMC7453534

Karvonen-Gutierrez CA, Ylitalo KR, Peng MQ. Midlife falls are associated with increased risk of mortality in women: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2020;Jul 25;91:104206. PMCID: PMC7854835.

Ylitalo KR, Strotmeyer ES, Pettee Gabriel K, Lange-Maia BS, Avis NE, Karvonen-Gutierrez CA. Peripheral nerve impairment and recurrent falls among women: results from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. J Gerontol Med Sci. 2020; 75(10):2020-2027. PMCID: PMC7518556.

Sternfeld B, Colvin A, Stewart A, Appelhans BM, Cauley JA, Dugan SA, El Khoudary SR, Greendale GA, Strotmeyer E, Karvonen-Gutierrez C. Understanding racial/ethnic disparities in physical performance in midlife women: Findings from SWAN (Study of Women's Health Across the Nation). J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2020;75(9):1961-1971. PMCID: PMC7566973

Thurston RC, Karvonen-Gutierrez CA, Derby CA, El Khoudary SR, Kravitz HM, Manson JE. Menopause versus chronologic aging: their roles in women's health. Menopause 2018;25(8):849-854. PMID: 30045364

Karvonen-Gutierrez CA, Peng Q, Peterson M, Duchowny K, Nan B, Harlow S. Low grip strength predicts incident diabetes among mid-life women: the Michigan Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Age Ageing 2018;47:685-691. PMCID: PMC6108393.

Email: ckarvone@umich.edu

Office: 734-763-0571

Fax: 734-764-6250

Address: 6618 SPH I
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

For media inquiries: sph.media@umich.edu

Areas of Expertise: Aging,  Chronic Disease,  COVID-19,  Diabetes,  Environmental Health,  Health Equity,  Reproductive Health,  Sleep,  Women’s Health