Rachel Widome

Rachel Widome is a Professor in the Division of Epidemiology & Community Health at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She holds additional appointments as a Member of the Healthy Weight Research Center, Masonic Cancer Center (MCC), and Minnesota Population Center.

Dr. Widome's research program focuses on how environmental and contextual factors influence chronic disease-related behaviors, particularly tobacco use and eating patterns. Her primary research areas include: the role of sleep in obesity development and relevant policy interventions; tobacco control strategies for disadvantaged populations; commercial cigarette marketing in American Indian communities; and military veteran health issues including food access, tobacco cessation, and sleep patterns. Her expertise spans epidemiology, prevention policy, health equity, tobacco research, obesity, adolescent health, sleep research, and social determinants of health.

Recent publications demonstrate her commitment to translating epidemiological findings into practical policy applications, with significant contributions in tobacco control, health disparities research, sleep epidemiology, and veterans' health. Her work on racial and ethnic disparities, vaccine decision-making among Black women, and the intersection of smoking cessation with food security highlights her focus on health equity.

Dr. Widome holds a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Minnesota, an MHS in International Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a BA in Medical Anthropology from Brown University. Her methodological approach combines quantitative epidemiological techniques with qualitative insights to address complex public health challenges.

Her scholarly contributions include numerous high-impact publications spanning cardiovascular health markers related to smoking, e-cigarette effects, cancer pain management, and adolescent sleep patterns. As an active researcher with publications extending into 2025, she continues to influence public health discourse and policy development.