Jamie Mitchell

Jamie Mitchell is an Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Michigan's School of Social Work and serves as Assistant Director of Clinical Research Participation at Michigan Medicine's Rogel Cancer Center. Her academic journey includes a PhD in Social Work from Ohio State University (2010), an MSW from the University of Tennessee (2007), and a BA in Psychology from Ohio State University (2005).

Her research focuses on health disparities among older African American men, with emphasis on preventive health behaviors, cancer and chronic disease communication, co-morbid mental and physical health, and psychosocial well-being. As Principal Investigator of an NIH (NIA) R24 grant titled "Recruiting and Retaining Older African Americans into Research (ROAR)," she works with academic and community stakeholders to improve minority recruitment in aging research. She also serves as co-investigator in the NIH NIA-funded Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research (MCUAAAR) project, where she co-directs the Community Liaison and Recruitment Core and manages a Participant Research Registry of 1,200 older African American research participants in Detroit.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent focus on health equity across multiple domains. Her work spans cancer communication, diabetes management for Black men, hypertension control among Black women, and innovative virtual reality approaches to vocational training for returning citizens. These publications demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration across social work, medicine, public health, and technology fields.

• 2018 Influencer in Aging
• Inaugural Curtis Center Signature Program Awardee

Dr. Mitchell actively contributes to community engagement through a thriving community advisory board of African American older adults. Her teaching portfolio includes courses on Contemporary Cultures in the United States and Engaging Social Justice, Diversity, and Oppression in Social Work, with instruction continuing through Fall 2025. Her research bridges academic scholarship with practical community applications, particularly focused on addressing systemic barriers to healthcare access and research participation for marginalized populations.