Ann Coker

Dr. Ann Coker is the Verizon Wireless Endowed Chair at the University of Kentucky's Center for Research on Violence Against Women, holding joint professorships in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (College of Medicine) and Department of Epidemiology (College of Public Health). She earned her MPH in Population Studies from the University of Texas Health Science Center and PhD in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina.

Her research specializes in violence against women, health disparities, and public health interventions. Key areas include intimate partner violence prevention, sexual violence bystander programs (e.g., Green Dot), and the impact of violence on women's cancer outcomes. She developed universal screening protocols for UK's Obstetrics Clinics and leads statewide interventions in schools.

Dr. Coker's publications focus on violence prevention efficacy, health equity, and clinical interventions. Recent work evaluates bystander programs for child sex trafficking prevention (BiSiSi) and maternal violence reduction (VIP Corps).

Awards:

• Visionary Voice Award (National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 2014)
• Wade Hampton Frost Lectureship (American Public Health Association, 2012)

She directs multiple federal grants (CDC, OASH, NIH) including the KY BIRCWH Program training women's health scholars. Her lab focuses on interdisciplinary violence prevention research and community partnerships.