Lori Ward

Lori Ward, PhD, MS, is an Associate Professor of Teaching and Undergraduate Program Coordinator at the University of Memphis School of Public Health. She holds academic appointments in Pharmacy Administration and Population Health Science, with prior roles at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Purdue University School of Pharmacy. Her research focuses on health disparities, aging, caregiving, and public health education, particularly among vulnerable populations.

Education includes a dual-title PhD in Pharmacy Administration (Health Outcomes Research) and Gerontology from Purdue University, an MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Florida A&M University, and a BS in Chemistry from Tennessee State University.

Her research emphasizes healthcare access, resource utilization, and medication adherence, with a focus on marginalized groups. Recent work addresses HIV prevention strategies, PrEP uptake barriers among Black men who have sex with men, and opioid prescribing patterns in cancer care. She has published extensively in journals like Digital Health, Archives of Sexual Behavior, and Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.

Dr. Ward’s contributions include developing patient navigation interventions to improve PrEP access and evaluating HIV self-testing programs. Her work often employs mixed-methods approaches to address structural and social determinants of health.