Craig Garfield

Craig Garfield is Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University and an associate of the Institute for Policy Research (IPR). His work bridges clinical pediatrics and family health innovation through the Family and Child Health Innovations Program (FCHIP) at Lurie Children's Hospital.

Garfield's research centers on fatherhood as a catalyst for men's health transformation, demonstrating how paternal roles reduce risky behaviors and affect BMI/depression. He pioneered tools like PRAMS for Dads (CDC's first national father health survey) and the FIH-PS measure for assessing paternal involvement in preschoolers' health. His SMART NICU2HOME app provides emotional support and medical updates for NICU families, reflecting his philosophy that "children thrive when families thrive".

Leading interdisciplinary collaborations with IPR scholars like Greg Duncan and Lindsay Chase-Lansdale, Garfield focuses on hard-to-reach populations including unmarried and low-income fathers. His work extends beyond traditional maternal-child health frameworks to engage entire family ecosystems through Lurie Children's Hospital initiatives.