Eric Ford

Eric Ford is a Professor of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), holding joint appointments in the School of Public Health and Collat School of Business. He also serves as a Senior Scientist in multiple UAB medical centers and previously held roles at Johns Hopkins University and the University of North Carolina Greensboro. His research focuses on health information technologies, strategic management, and their impact on healthcare performance. Ford currently edits the Journal of Healthcare Management and has led professional organizations like the Academy of Management’s Healthcare Division.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham (2000)
• MPH in Health Administration, University of South Carolina (1997)
• Bachelor’s in Hotel Administration, Cornell University (1987)

Research Interests: Ford’s work bridges strategic healthcare management and technology, emphasizing care coordination through Personal Health Records (PHRs), value-based programs, and health system integration. He has published widely on cybersecurity, telemedicine, and policy implications of EHR metadata utilization.

Awards:

• 2014 Health Care Management Teaching Award (Academy of Management)
• Multiple Best Theory-to-Practice Paper awards

Grants & Collaborations: Ford leads projects funded by NIH, CDC, and state health departments, including studies on vaccine uptake, price transparency, and pandemic response. His work often involves interdisciplinary teams addressing public health emergencies and healthcare policy.

Labs & Teams: Active in UAB’s Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education (COERE), focusing on clinical and translational science through collaborations across medicine, public health, and business schools.