Danielle C. Rhubart

Danielle C. Rhubart is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Health at The Pennsylvania State University, affiliated with the Rural Health Disparities Lab and the College of Health and Human Development. She holds a dual Ph.D. in Rural Sociology and Demography from Penn State.

• Education: Dual Ph.D. in Rural Sociology and Demography, Penn State
• Affiliations: Faculty Affiliate, Rural Sociology Cluster, Penn State; Research Associate, Population Research Institute, Penn State; Faculty Affiliate, Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion, Syracuse University

Dr. Rhubart’s research focuses on social determinants of health, rural health disparities, and women’s health. She employs community-engaged methods to explore how social infrastructure, built environments, and structural inequities impact health outcomes in rural populations.

Her recent publications (2022-2024) highlight trends in rural health disparities, including studies on opioid epidemic interventions, social infrastructure's role in mental health, and regional/racial variations in mortality. Her work spans journals in sociology, demography, rural studies, and preventive medicine.

Labs & Teams: She contributes to the Rural Health Disparities Lab, focusing on population health, and collaborates with the Population Research Institute and Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion.