Melissa S. Creary, PhD, MPH

My research and teaching interests lie at the intersection of public health, science and technology studies, and medical anthropology.  I study the social, cultural, ethical, political and historic tensions of sickle cell disease (SCD) in both the United States and Brazil.   In my most recent project, I analyze how frameworks of biology, social determinants, and policy respond to Brazilian cultural and historical ideas about race, health, identity, and legitimacy.

As Senior Director, Office of Public Health Initiatives, Melissa is responsible for supporting ATHN’s efforts to consolidate federal programs and strengthen partnerships, establish a Health Equity Program, and leverage ATHN’s capabilities to support medically underserved populations. With a distinguished background in public health, Melissa spent nine years at the CDC Division of Blood Disorders where she helped create and co-lead the first national program and data collection system for sickle cell disease and thalassemia. In addition to her work at ATHN, she is also an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan. She received her PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies and her MPH in Public Health from Emory University.

• HMP 626: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture in Health Policy
• PUBHLTH 381: Public Health Systems: Achievements and Challenges

• Laney Graduate School, Emory University | May 2016
  Doctor of Philosophy, The Graduate Institute of Liberal Arts

• Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University | May 2004
  Master of Public Health, Behavioral Sciences & Health Education

• Emory College, Emory University | May 2000
  Bachelor of Science, Biology

• Global health (Brazil), social movements, race, culture, and citizenship, sickle cell disease

• McDonald, M. A., M. S. Creary, J. Powell, L. A. Daley, C. Baker, and C. D. Royal.  2017. "Perspectives and Practices of Athletic Trainers and Team Physicians Implementing the 2010 NCAA Sickle Cell Trait Screening Policy." Journal of Genetic Counseling.
• Creary, Melissa S.  2017.  "Biocultural citizenship and embodying exceptionalism: Biopolitics for sickle cell disease in Brazil." Social Science & Medicine.
• Hulihan M, Feuchtbaum L, Jordan L, Kirby R, Snyder A, Young W, et al. 2014. "State-based surveillance for selected hemoglobinopathies." Genetics in Medicine.
• Soucie, J. M., Miller, C. H., Kelly, F. M., Payne, A. B., Creary, M., Bockenstedt, P. L., ... & Neff, A. T. (2014). A study of prospective surveillance for inhibitors among persons with haemophilia in the United States. Haemophilia, 20(2), 230-237.
• Creary, M., & Eisen, A. (2013). Acknowledging Levels of Racism in the Definition of “Difficult”. The American Journal of Bioethics, 13(4), 16-18.
• Yusuf, H. R., Lloyd-Puryear, M. A., Grant, A. M., Parker, C. S., Creary, M. S., & Atrash, H. K. (2011). Sickle cell disease: the need for a public health agenda. American journal of preventive medicine, 41(6), S376-S383.
• Tanabe, P., Porter, J., Creary, M., Kirkwood, E., Miller, S., Ahmed-Williams, E., & Hassell, K. (2010). A qualitative analysis of best self-management practices: sickle cell disease. Journal of the National Medical Association, 102(11), 1033-1041.
• Boulet, S. L., Yanni, E. A., Creary, M. S., & Olney, R. S. (2010). Health status and healthcare use in a national sample of children with sickle cell disease. American journal of preventive medicine, 38(4), S528-S535.
• Creary, M., Williamson, D., & Kulkarni, R. (2007). Sickle cell disease: current activities, public health implications, and future directions. Journal of women's health, 16(5), 575-582.
• Creary, M. S., Soucie, J. M., Miller, C. H., Hooper, W. C., Abshire, T. C., Brettler, D. B., ... & Shapiro, A. D. (2007). US Inhibitor Pilot Project: Participant Characteristics and Infusion Log Adherence. Blood, 110(11), 1162-1162.
• Soucie, J. M., Miller, C. H., Creary, M., Hooper, W. C., Abshire, T. C., Brettler, D. B., ... & Shapiro, A. (2007). US Inhibitor Pilot Project: Study Design And Methods Validation.
• Hibbert, J. M., Creary, M. S., Gee, B. E., Buchanan, I. D., Quarshie, A., & Hsu, L. L. (2006). Erythropoiesis and myocardial energy requirements contribute to the hypermetabolism of childhood sickle cell anemia. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, 43(5), 680.
• Sayavongsa, S., Creary, M. S., Newman, G., Archer, D. R., Jackson, E., & Hibbert, J. M. (2006). A high protein diet decreases inflammation in a transgenic mouse model of sickle cell disease. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 26(5), e-101.
• Hibbert, J. M., Hsu, L. L., Bhathena, S. J., Irune, I., Sarfo, B., Creary, M. S., ... & Stiles, J. K. (2005). Proinflammatory cytokines and the hypermetabolism of children with sickle cell disease. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 230(1), 68-74.
• Hsu, L. L., Creary, M., Jackson, E., Gee, B. E., Buchanan, I. D., & Hibbert, J. M. (2003, November). Increased cardiac output, protein and energy metabolism in children with sickle cell anemia (HbSS).  Blood, 102(11), 120A-121A. 

• American Anthropological Association
• American Public Health Association
• Latin American Studies Association
• Science and Democracy Network
• Society for Social Studies of Science