Carrie Henning-Smith

Carrie Henning-Smith is an Associate Professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She serves as Co-Director of the Rural Health Research Center, Director of Graduate Studies for the Health Equity Minor, and Co-Director of the Rural Health Program.

• PhD in Health Services Research, Policy and Administration (University of Minnesota)
• MSW with specialization in Aging (University of Minnesota)
• MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education (University of Michigan)
• BA in International Relations (Claremont McKenna College)

Her research focuses on advancing health equity through two primary themes: (1) analyzing health disparities in rural and aging populations, and (2) examining environmental determinants of health. Key areas include rural health policy, population health, health equity, and LGBTQ+ health research.

Recent publications highlight geospatial health disparities, gender differences in rural healthcare practice, and policy impacts on LGBTQ+ youth mental health. She leads NIH-funded projects on rural population aging and spatiotemporal research infrastructure.

• 2022-2025: University of Minnesota McKnight Presidential Fellow
• 2022: National Rural Health Association Volunteer of the Year
• 2021-2022: Fesler-Lampert Chair in Aging Studies
• 2017-2018: National Rural Health Association Fellow

Henning-Smith has received HRSA and NIH grants for rural health research, including the Interdisciplinary Network on Rural Population Health and Aging (2024-2028) and Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Evaluation (2023-2028). Her work has been cited in major news outlets and featured in expert commentaries during the pandemic.