Meghan Shanahan

Meghan Shanahan, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Maternal and Child Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Global Public Health. She also serves as Associate Chair of Academics in her department and is a Research Scientist at the Injury Prevention Research Center. Her work focuses on improving child health outcomes through research on child maltreatment, prevention strategies, and translating evidence into policy.

Education:

• PhD in Maternal and Child Health, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health (2010)
• MPH in Maternal and Child Health, UNC Gillings (2006)
• BA in Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison (2001)

Research Interests: Dr. Shanahan's research examines adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), child maltreatment prevention, substance abuse impacts on families, and public health policy. She evaluates interventions at both family and systemic levels to address disparities in child well-being.

Key Awards:

• 2021 Edward G. McGavran Award for Excellence in Teaching
• 2019 Provost Award for Engaged Scholarship
• 2018 Teaching Excellence and Innovation Award
• 2015 Delta Omega Honors

Advising & Grants: She leads NIH-funded projects like 'Prescription Drug Overdose: Prevention for States' and collaborates on initiatives such as the Essentials for Childhood framework. Her service includes roles on doctoral exam committees and the Department's Alumni Committee.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Injury Prevention Research Center and the Gillings School's Maternal and Child Health team. Collaborates internationally via the MARIC consortium studying post-incarceration mortality.