Michael Anastario

Michael Anastario is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at Northern Arizona University (NAU), affiliated with the Center for Health Equity Research (CHER). His research focuses on public health disparities, substance abuse among marginalized populations, and environmental health risks affecting Indigenous communities. He holds a multidisciplinary approach to studying mental health, reproductive health, and the intersection of political factors with health outcomes.

Key research areas include:

• Environmental exposures among Native American methamphetamine users
• Health impacts of political changes on women's mental health
• Cultural factors influencing sexual health communication in American Indian youth
• Ethical frameworks for environmental epidemiological research

Recent work highlights collaborations with Indigenous communities to address health equity issues through peer-reviewed studies published in journals like Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Social Science and Medicine, and Frontiers in Public Health. His research has been recognized by 17 Mendeley readers for the 2024 ethics guidelines paper and received media coverage for mental health studies.

Active in both original research and review articles, Anastario's work spans epidemiological studies, cross-sectional analyses, and guideline development with a focus on vulnerable populations.