Michael Kramer

Michael Kramer, PhD, is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Mercer University School of Medicine and Director of the Center for Rural Health and Health Disparities. He holds a BA from Earlham College and advanced degrees (MMSc, PhD) from Emory University. His research focuses on social epidemiology, maternal and child health, spatial analysis, and health disparities. Dr. Kramer’s work integrates spatial methodologies to study macrosocial determinants of health disparities in pregnancy and early childhood outcomes, including racial/ethnic inequities in preterm birth and maternal morbidity. Collaborations with organizations like the March of Dimes and CDC emphasize data visualization tools for health surveillance. He has also explored geographic patterns of healthcare access, stroke mortality linked to segregation, and the impact of urban policy on health outcomes.

Education: BA, Earlham College; MMSc and PhD, Emory University.

Research Interests: Kramer’s work spans three core areas: (1) Social determinants of health (e.g., residential segregation, policy impacts), (2) Maternal and child health (e.g., prematurity, breastfeeding equity), and (3) Spatial analysis (e.g., GIS applications in health disparities). Recent projects include examining racial disparities in severe maternal morbidity and analyzing neighborhood deprivation’s effect on IVF outcomes.

Advising & Grants: While formal student advisement details are unlisted, his roles as director and collaborator reflect extensive mentorship in interdisciplinary public health research. His funded work includes NIH-backed studies on spatial segregation and early childhood development opportunities.

Labs/Teams: Leads Mercer’s Center for Rural Health and Health Disparities, focusing on rural public health interventions and policy solutions.