About
Christopher R. Friese serves as the Elizabeth Tone Hosmer Professor of Nursing at the University of Michigan School of Nursing, with dual appointments as Professor in the School of Public Health's Department of Health Management and Policy. He concurrently holds leadership roles as Associate Director for Cancer Control and Population Sciences at the UM Rogel Cancer Center and Director of the Center for Improving Patient and Population Health (CIPPH).
His academic foundation includes a BSN (1997) and Ph.D. (2005) from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard University (2008). Additional training encompasses a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellowship in the U.S. Senate (2016-2017).
Dr. Friese's research establishes critical connections between nursing practice environments and patient outcomes, particularly in cancer care. His expertise spans health services research, workforce sustainability, and policy development, with recent focus on pandemic impacts and health equity. Over 120 publications inform clinical guidelines and federal policy, including testimony before Congress on nursing workforce crises.
Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals three dominant themes: (1) systemic analysis of nursing workforce attrition through statewide surveys; (2) spatial determinants of safety in ambulatory oncology; and (3) pandemic-related disruptions to cancer care delivery. His mixed-methods approach consistently bridges clinical practice with policy solutions.
Major recognitions include:
- Election to the National Academy of Medicine (2020)
- International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame (2022)
- Distinguished Researcher Award from Oncology Nursing Society (2021)
- Henry Russel Award for scholarly excellence (2016)
As Program Director for the Cancer Care Delivery Research Training program, he mentors emerging scientists while leading NCI-funded initiatives including the Interdisciplinary Research Training Center (2020-2025). Current grants address Medicare plan selection (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society), cancer center support (National Cancer Institute), and hazardous drug exposure protocols. His 2016-2017 Senate fellowship directly informed his approach to translating research into actionable policy.
The Center for Improving Patient and Population Health (CIPPH) operates as his primary research hub, conducting multicenter studies on care delivery systems. His leadership extends to national committees including the National Cancer Advisory Board (2021-2026 appointment) and the National Cancer Policy Forum, where he shapes federal cancer research priorities through evidence-based recommendations.
