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 Social Epidemiology

James Buszkiewicz James H Buszkiewicz, PhD, MPH
  • Research Investigator, Epidemiology

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

Nancy Fleischer Nancy L Fleischer, PhD, MPH
  • Associate Professor, Epidemiology
  • Co-Director, Certificate in Social Epidemiology

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

Kathleen Ford Kathleen Ford, PhD
  • Research Scientist Emeritus, Epidemiology
  • Faculty Associate, Southeast Asian Studies

Areas of Expertise
Global Public Health, Health Equity, Infectious Disease, Mental Health, Reproductive Health, Social Epidemiology

Alexis Handal Alexis J. Handal, PhD, MPH
  • Associate Professor, Epidemiology
  • Professor, Global Public Health

Areas of Expertise
Brain Disorders, Child Health, Environmental Health, Environmental Justice, Global Public Health, Health Equity, Maternal Health, Nutrition, Occupational Health, Racism, Reproductive Health, Social Epidemiology, Women’s Health

Spruha Joshi Spruha Joshi, PhD, MPH
  • Assistant Professor, Epidemiology

Areas of Expertise
Health Equity, Opioids, Social Epidemiology, Substance Use

George Kaplan George A. Kaplan, PhD
  • Thomas Francis Collegiate Professor Emeritus of Public Health
  • Professor Emeritus, Epidemiology
  • Founder, Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health (CSEPH)

Areas of Expertise
Health Equity, Modeling, Social Epidemiology

Lindsay Kobayashi Lindsay C Kobayashi, PhD, MSc
  • John G. Searle Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
  • Faculty Affiliate, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research
  • Assistant 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 Investigator, Epidemiology

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

Briana Mezuk Briana Mezuk, PhD
  • Professor, Epidemiology
  • Director, Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health [on sabbatical 2023-2024]

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Health Equity, Mental Health, Social Epidemiology, Substance Use

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

Lewis Morgenstern Lewis Morgenstern, MD
  • Professor, Epidemiology
  • Professor, Neurology Emergency Medicine and Neurosurgery
  • Director, Stroke Program

Areas of Expertise
Brain Disorders, Health Care, Health Equity, Social Epidemiology

Belinda Needham Belinda L. Needham, PhD, MA
  • Chair, Epidemiology
  • Associate Professor, Epidemiology

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Health Equity, Racism, Social Epidemiology

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, Brain Disorders, Chronic Disease, Diabetes, Epigenetics, Genetics, Genomics, Health Equity, Precision Health, Social Epidemiology

Brady West Brady Thomas West, PhD

Research Professor, Department of BiostatisticsResearch Professor, Survey Methodology Program (Institute for Social Research)

Areas of Expertise
Biostatistics, Modeling, Social Epidemiology

Ashly Westrick Ashly Westrick, PhD, MPH
  • Research Investigator

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Cancer, Health Equity, Social Epidemiology

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

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