Justin E Heinze

Justin E. Heinze, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity within the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan, with a secondary appointment in the Combined Program in Education and Psychology. His research investigates how schools influence disparities in violence and other risk outcomes from an ecological perspective that includes individual, interpersonal, and contextual influences on development.

Dr. Heinze's research interests focus on structural features of school context and policy that perpetuate inequity in violence and firearm outcomes, while also exploring how educational institutions can serve as settings for intervention. His work spans developmental transitions, school safety, firearm and community violence, mental health, and substance use.

His research projects include the National Center for School Safety (where he serves as Director), Public Health IDEAS for Preventing Firearm Injury (as faculty lead), the Healthy Minds Study (as principal investigator), and evaluations of programs like the Detroit Community Overdose Response Initiative and Sandy Hook Promise Program.

Dr. Heinze's publication trends reveal a strong focus on firearm violence prevention, school safety interventions, adolescent mental health, and the intersection of public health and educational systems. His recent work increasingly examines cardiovascular health impacts of violence exposure and technological approaches to anonymous reporting systems in schools.

His areas of expertise include Firearm Injury Prevention, Mental Health, and Substance Use, with his work contributing significantly to understanding how school environments influence adolescent risk behaviors and health outcomes.

Dr. Heinze has secured multiple research grants to support his work on school safety and violence prevention, collaborating with community partners and school districts to develop evidence-based interventions. He leads the National Center for School Safety, a comprehensive resource for research and practice in school safety.