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 Health Communication

Minal Patel Minal R Patel, PhD, MPH
  • Associate Professor, Health Behavior and Health Education
  • Associate Chair, Health Behavior and Health Education

Areas of Expertise
Cancer, Chronic Disease, Health Care, Health Communication, Health Equity

K Rivet Amico K Rivet Amico, PhD
  • Associate Professor, Health Behavior and Health Education

Areas of Expertise
Child Health, Global Public Health, Health Communication, Infectious Disease, LGBT Health, Maternal Health, Mental Health, Reproductive Health, Women’s Health

Ella August Ella T. August, PhD, MA, MS
  • Clinical Associate Professor, Epidemiology
  • Editor-in-Chief, PREPSS (Pre-Publication Support Service)

Areas of Expertise
Global Public Health, Health Communication

William Lopez William D Lopez, PhD, MPH
  • Clinical Assistant Professor, Health Behavior and Health Education
  • Senior Advisor, Poverty Solutions
  • Faculty Associate, Latina/o Studies Program

Areas of Expertise
Health Communication, Health Equity, Racism

John Piette John Piette, PhD, MPH
  • Professor, Health Behavior Health Education
  • Professor, Global Public Health
  • Director, UM Center for Managing Chronic Disease
  • VA Senior Career Scientist

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Chronic Disease, Global Public Health, Health Care, Health Communication, Health Informatics, Mental Health, Precision Health

Scott Roberts Scott Roberts, PhD
  • Professor, Health Behavior and Health Education
  • Director, ELSI Research Training Program
  • Co-Director, Dual Degree Program in Public Health and Genetic Counseling

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Genetics, Health Communication, Mental Health, Precision Health

Michael Rubyan Michael A. Rubyan, PhD, MPH
  • Clinical Assistant Professor, Health Management and Policy

Areas of Expertise
Chronic Disease, Health Communication, Health Equity, Health Informatics, Health Policy, Urban Health

Kendrin Sonneville Kendrin Sonneville, ScD, RD
  • Associate Professor, Nutritional Sciences

Areas of Expertise
Child Health, Health Communication, Mental Health, Nutrition

Abram Wagner Abram L. Wagner, PhD, MPH
  • Research Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
  • Research Assistant Professor of Global Public Health

Areas of Expertise
Child Health, COVID-19, Global Public Health, Health Care, Health Communication, Infectious Disease

Brian ZikmundFisher Brian J. Zikmund-Fisher, PhD
  • Professor, Health Behavior and Health Education
  • Research Professor, Internal Medicine
  • Interim Co-Director, Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine

Areas of Expertise
Health Care, Health Communication

Lauren Wallner Lauren Wallner, PhD, MPH
  • Associate Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine and Epidemiology
  • Co-lead, Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program, Rogel Cancer Center

Areas of Expertise
Aging, Cancer, Health Care, Health Communication, Health Equity

Patti Ramos Patti Ramos, MPH, RD
  • Lecturer, Nutritional Sciences
  • Project Manager, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center 

Areas of Expertise
COVID-19, Health Care, Health Communication, Nutrition

Natalie Sampson Natalie R. Sampson, PhD, MPH
  • Associate Professor, College of Education, Health and Human Services, University of Michigan Dearborn
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, Health Behavior and Health Education

Areas of Expertise
Environmental Health, Health Communication, Health Equity, Health Policy, Public Health Practice

Kirsten Herold Kirsten Herold, PhD
  • Lecturer IV

Areas of Expertise
Health Communication