معرفی
Megan Bennett Irby is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Wake Forest University. She teaches Epidemiology and focuses on public health policy, chronic health conditions, and community engagement. Her work integrates biopsychosocial factors to improve health outcomes and reduce barriers to care.
**Education**:
- BS in Health & Exercise Science, Wake Forest University
- MS in Exercise Physiology, UNC-Greensboro
- MS in Clinical Population & Translational Science, Wake Forest University
- PhD in Human Development & Family Studies, UNC-Greensboro
- Postdoctoral Training in Community-Engaged Research, Wake Forest School of Medicine
**Research Interests**: Dr. Irby specializes in chronic pain management, substance use disorder, brain health, aging, and cancer survivorship. She emphasizes culturally tailored interventions and partnerships with marginalized communities, including American Indian Tribal groups and veterans.
**Grants & Projects**:
- PI of Native Pathways to Health (funded by Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust/Blue Cross Blue Shield)
- Co-PI of Alzheimer’s Disease Research Core initiative
- Co-PI of Healthy Living Partnerships for Veterans with Migraine (HELP VM)
- IMPACTS Study (NIH/NCI/HEAL Initiative)
- Spanish-language pain coping program (NIH/HEAL)
- Lumbee Tribe partnership addressing substance use and pain (NIH/HEAL)
**Awards**: Recipient of the NIH HEAL Initiative Training Award in pain neuroscience.
**Community Engagement**: Leads community-driven projects to enhance health equity, including exercise-based pain education for veterans and culturally sensitive programs for tribal communities.
