Meredith A. Dixon

Dr. Meredith A. Dixon serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences within the School of Public Health at Georgia State University, where she teaches Research Methods and Epidemiology courses for undergraduate and graduate students. Her academic foundation includes advanced degrees in Epidemiology from Emory University and a Biology background from Texas A&M University.

Her educational credentials are:

• PhD in Epidemiology, Emory University (2024)
• MPH in Epidemiology, Emory University (2020)
• BA in Biology, Texas A&M University (2003)

Dr. Dixon's research program investigates how social environments—including neighborhood characteristics, systemic barriers, and support networks—influence physical, mental, and psychosocial health trajectories during pregnancy and postpartum periods. Her work specifically examines pathways to improve perinatal outcomes, reduce health inequities, and strengthen maternal mental health interventions. This focus originated from her doctoral dissertation analyzing social support as a protective buffer against adverse outcomes in contexts of neighborhood deprivation and discrimination.

Her scientific contributions have been recognized through prestigious awards:

• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship
• Maternal and Child Health Center of Excellence Fellowship at Emory University

Dr. Dixon maintains an active mentorship role for students while continuing her research on social determinants of health. Her NRSA fellowship provided critical support for dissertation work that now informs ongoing efforts to advance health equity in maternal-child populations. Current investigations extend her examination of environmental and psychosocial factors affecting perinatal health outcomes.

Prior collaborative work includes significant contributions to Emory University's Center for Spina Bifida Prevention and Health Services Research Center, with project involvement spanning sickle cell disease epidemiology, reproductive health interventions, maternal microbiome studies during pregnancy, and longitudinal analyses of postpartum blood pressure patterns.