Laura Power

Laura Power serves as Clinical Associate Professor in Epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and Infectious Diseases (Internal Medicine), directing the Office of Public Health Practice. Her work bridges medical practice and public health through experiential learning, workforce development, and infectious disease epidemiology initiatives.

Her educational background includes:

• BA from Albion College (1998)
• MD from Wayne State University School of Medicine (2002)
• MPH from University of Michigan School of Public Health (2015)

Her research centers on public health practice systems, workforce capacity building, and infectious disease prevention. Recent projects include HRSA-funded Region V Public Health Training Center and Preventive Medicine Residency Program, focusing on applied epidemiology and outbreak response training. Her scholarly work demonstrates consistent emphasis on antimicrobial resistance, diagnostic accuracy, and translational public health practice.

Her 15 most recent publications reveal strong focus on infectious disease epidemiology (73%), public health practice systems (60%), and antimicrobial resistance (47%), with growing emphasis on workforce development and outbreak response since 2016. Key trends include methodological innovation in surveillance systems and practical interventions for healthcare-associated infections.

Dr. Power actively mentors students through the Public Health Action Support Team (PHAST) and Public Health in Action courses, connecting academic training with community practice. Her HRSA-funded programs support over 200 public health practitioners annually through the Region V Leadership Institute and residency training.

She leads the Office of Public Health Practice, Region V Public Health Training Center, and Public Health Prepared program—fostering partnerships between academic, governmental, and community health organizations to enhance outbreak response capacity.