Faculty Profile

Laurie Lachance is an Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education. She is the Director of Evaluation for the Center for Managing Chronic Disease, a worldwide collaboration of researchers and interventionists who focus their work on building the capacity of individuals, families, communities, and health care systems to effectively prevent and manage chronic disease.

• Ph.D., Epidemiologic Science, University of Michigan, 1999

• M.P.H., Health Behavior & Health Education, University of Michigan, 1994

• M.A., Rehabilitation Counseling, University of Michigan, 1981

• B.A., Psychology, University of Michigan, 1979

• Post-Doc, Health and Aging Research, University of Michigan, 1999-2000

• Post-Doc, Complementary Medicine Research, University of Southhampton, UK, 2000-2001

• Dr. Lachance's interests are in the prevention and management of chronic disease, focusing on evaluation research related to community-based interventions. Her research is centered on community-based evaluation in neighborhoods and environments where inequities exist related to opportunity for health and well-being. Projects include: Food & Community, a multi-site project funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, aimed at creating systems and policy changes in 9 communities across the nation to provide access to good food and opportunities for physical activity; Childhood Asthma Linkages in Missouri (CALM), a multi-site, community-based project funded by the Missouri Foundation for Health to improve treatment and health outcomes for school-age children with asthma in 14 communities. Previously she directed the evaluation for the Allies Against Asthma project, an initiative that provided support to 7 community-based coalitions across the nation to develop, implement and sustain comprehensive asthma management programs.

• Clark NM, Lachance L, Benedict MB, Little R, Leo H, Awad DF, Wilkin MK. (2015). The extent and patterns of multiple chronic conditions in low-income children. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2015; 54(4):353-8. PMID: 25802420.
• Lachance L., Carpenter L., Quinn M., Wilkin MK, Green E., Tsuchiya K., Nelson B., Caldwell C., Doctor LJ., Clark NM (2014). Food & Community: the cross site evaluation of the W.K. Kellogg Food & Fitness community partnerships. Community Development: Journal of the Community Development Society 45(3) 227-239. DOI:10.1080/15575330.2014.887131.
• Lachance L., Carpenter L, Quinn M, Wilkin MK, Clark NM (2014). Moving toward and beyond equity: the Food & Fitness approach to increasing opportunities for health in communities. Community Development: Journal of the Community Development Society 45(3) 293-297.
• Lachance L; Benedict MB; Doctor LJ; Gilmore LA; Kelly C; Krieger J; Lara M; Meurer J; Friedman Milanovich A; Nicholas E; Rosenthal M; Song PX; Stoll SC; Awad DF; Wilkin MK; Clark NM (2014). Asthma coalition effects on vulnerable sub groups of children: the most frequent users of health care and the youngest. Journal of Asthma. 51(5):474-9. PMID: 24552195.
• Clark NM, Lachance L, Doctor LJ, Gilmore L, Kelly C, Krieger J, Lara M, Meurer J, Milanovich AF, Nicholas E, Rosenthal M, Stoll SC, Wilkin M. Policy and system change and community coalitions: outcomes from allies against asthma. Health Educ Behav. 2014 Oct;41(5):528-38. doi: 10.1177/1090198114547507 PMID: 25270178.
• Clark NM, Lachance L, Benedict MB, Doctor LJ, Gilmore L, Kelly C, Krieger J, Lara M, Meurer J, Nicholas E, Song PXK, Rosenthal M, Stoll SC, Wilkin M. (2013). Improvements in Health Care Use Associated with Community Coalitions: Long Term Results of the Allies Against Asthma Initiative.American Journal of Public Health 103 (6): 1124-1127.
• Schulz A.J., Mentz G., Lachance L., Johnson J., Gaines C., Israel BA (2012). Associations between socioeconomic status and allostatic load: Effects of neighborhood poverty. American Journal of Public Health 102(9): 147-156.
• Brien S., Lachance L., Prescott P., McDermott C., Lewith G. (November, 2010). Evaluating the effects of homeopathy in Rheumatoid Arthritis; are they attributable to the consultation process or the homeopathic remedy? An exploratory double blind randomised placebo controlled multi centre trial. Rheumatology (2011) 50 (6): 1070-1082.
• Clark, N.M., Lachance, L. Doctor, L.J., Gilmore, L., Kelly, C., Krieger, J., Lara, M., Meurer, J., Friedman-Milanovich, A., Nicholas, E., Rosenthal, M., Stoll, S.C., Wilkin, M.K (2010). Policy and System Change and Community Coalitions: Outcomes from Allies Against Asthma. Am J Public Health 100:904-912.
• Clark, N.M., Lachance, L., Milanovich, A.F., Stoll, S., Awad, D. (2009). Characteristics of Success of Asthma Programs Public Health Reports 124(6): 3-17.
• Lachance, L., Hawthorne, V., Brien, S., Hyland, M.E., Lewith, G., Verhoef, M., Warber, S. Zick, S. (2009). Delphi-Derived Development of a Common Core for Measuring Complementary and Alternative Medicine Prevalence Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 15(5): 489-94.
• Zenk SN, Lachance LL, Schulz AJ, Mentz G, Kannan S, Ridella W. (2009). Neighborhood retail food environment and fruit and vegetable intake in a multiethnic urban population. Amer J Health Promotion 23(9): 255-64.
• Lachance LL, Houle CR, Cassidy EF, Bourcier E, Cohn JH, Orians CE, Coughey K, Geng X, Joseph CLM, Lyde MD, Doctor LJ, Clark NM (2006). Collaborative design and implementation of a multi site community coalition evaluation. Health Promotion Practice 7(2): 44S-55S.

• 1995-present: Member, American Public Health Association
• 1997-present: Member, Society for Epidemiologic Research
• 2012-present: Associate Editor, BMC, CAM