Matthew J. Dellinger

Dr. Matthew J. Dellinger is an Associate Professor in the Institute for Health and Humanity at the Medical College of Wisconsin, with a divisional appointment in Epidemiology. He is also a member of both the Cancer Center and the Institute for Health & Humanity at the institution. His academic background includes a B.S. from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, an M.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Dr. Dellinger's research focuses on environmental health literacy, particularly in Native American communities around the Great Lakes region. His work examines the intersection of traditional knowledge and scientific understanding related to:

• Fish consumption and contaminant exposure
• Culturally adapted health interventions
• Risk-benefit analysis of traditional subsistence diets
• Community-engaged public health research
• Environmental health communication

He has developed the Gigiigoo'inaan App, a culturally adapted mobile technology platform that provides personalized fish consumption advice to Anishinaabe Native Americans. This innovative approach has demonstrated significant improvements in environmental health literacy while respecting cultural traditions and dietary practices.

Dr. Dellinger's publication record shows a consistent focus on environmental health challenges facing Native American communities, with recent work emphasizing long-term contaminant trend analysis, culturally appropriate risk communication, and the integration of traditional knowledge with scientific research. His most cited works address the development and evaluation of the Gigiigoo'inaan App, which has been shown to safely increase traditional fish consumption while maintaining adherence to contaminant exposure guidelines.

His scientific contributions include:

• Over 25 peer-reviewed publications in environmental health and public health journals
• Multiple book chapters on mercury exposure and culturally appropriate health interventions
• Development of culturally adapted environmental health literacy tools
• Long-term contaminant trend analyses spanning three decades
• Models for academic-Native American research partnerships

Dr. Dellinger's research program emphasizes community-based participatory research methods and the importance of traditional knowledge as the foundation for inclusive academic and community partnerships. His work provides practical frameworks for addressing environmental health challenges while respecting cultural practices and indigenous knowledge systems in the Great Lakes region.