Ashli Owen-Smith is a behavioral scientist affiliated with the School of Public Health at Georgia State University , where her research focuses on mental health disparities, suicide prevention, and integrative/complementary approaches for complex mental-physical health conditions. She works with underserved populations including refugees/immigrants, incarcerated individuals, and LGBTQ+ communities through community-based participatory research and mixed-methods frameworks. Her current projects are funded by CDC , DBHDD , and DPH . Education: Ph.D. in Behavioral Sciences (Emory, 2009), S.M. in Public Health (Harvard, 2005), B.A. in Psychology (Smith College, 2001) Her research spans mental health , trauma , suicide prevention , and mindfulness-based interventions . Recent work examines telehealth adaptations for chronic pain and mental health, vaccine hesitancy in refugee communities, and social determinants of suicide . She leads studies on gender-affirming care and health disparities in LGBTQ+ populations. Key article trends include epidemiological analysis of suicide risk factors, COVID-19 impacts on mental health, ICD-10 coding for autism, and complementary medicine in trauma recovery. Subfields span telehealth , health equity , mental-physical comorbidity , and community engagement . Students she has mentored include C.A. Scarlett , T. Griner , and M.M. Sesay . Her work integrates public health policy , clinical research , and health systems analysis .
Jennifer D. Oliva is a Professor of Law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law where she holds the Val Nolan Faculty Fellow position. She maintains significant interdisciplinary affiliations as a Research Scholar at Georgetown University Law Center's O'Neill Institute for National & Global Health Law and as a Senior Scholar with the UCSF/UC Law Consortium on Law, Science & Health Policy. Her academic work bridges legal scholarship with practical health policy development, focusing on the intersection of constitutional protections, public health needs, and modern surveillance technologies. Professor Oliva's research interests center on health law, privacy law, and drug policy with particular expertise in prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), health information privacy, and the legal dimensions of the opioid crisis. Her scholarship critically examines how law enforcement surveillance of prescription data impacts patient privacy rights, particularly for vulnerable populations including those with substance use disorders. She has developed significant expertise in how constitutional privacy protections apply to health data in the digital age, especially following the Supreme Court's decision in Carpenter v. United States. Her recent publications reveal a growing focus on algorithmic regulation in healthcare, examining how risk scoring systems and coverage algorithms can perpetuate health disparities. She has published extensively on the intersection of reproductive rights and health data privacy in the post-Dobbs landscape, analyzing how prescription monitoring systems could be weaponized against individuals seeking reproductive healthcare. Her work consistently connects doctrinal legal analysis with public health realities, advocating for evidence-based policy approaches that prioritize patient privacy and health equity over punitive enforcement. Dosing Discrimination: Regulating PDMP Risk Scores (2022) The "New" Drug War (2024) Prescription Drug Policing: The Right to Health Information Privacy Pre- and Post-Carpenter (2020) Opioid Multidistrict Litigation Secrecy (2019) Surveillance, Privacy, and App Tracking (2020) Professor Oliva actively engages with policymakers and has contributed to amicus briefs in significant cases including Ruan v. United States. Her scholarship has been cited in legal proceedings and she regularly presents at major academic conferences including the Association of American Law Schools Annual Meeting. She has collaborated with scholars across disciplines including public health researchers, medical ethicists, and data scientists to address complex challenges at the intersection of law, technology, and healthcare.
Professor Heather Wardle is a distinguished social scientist at the University of Glasgow's School of Social and Political Sciences, holding dual appointments in Urban Studies & Social Policy and the School of Health & Wellbeing. With nearly twenty years of experience, she specializes in gambling research, policy, and practice, serving as co-director of Gambling Research Glasgow and leading the prestigious Lancet Public Health Commission on Gambling. Her work is supported by major funding bodies including the ESRC, Wellcome Trust, and NIHR. Professor Wardle's research explores the evolving relationship between gambling and gaming behaviors, particularly how technological changes create new risks and opportunities. She investigates how policy evidence is framed and developed, with a strong emphasis on incorporating lived experience into decision-making processes. Her work bridges academic research, public health policy, and practical interventions, focusing on understanding gambling's impact on individuals' lives and developing effective solutions. Her extensive publication record demonstrates significant contributions to understanding gambling consumption patterns, gambling harms, sports betting culture, and the intersection between gaming and gambling. Recent work shows increasing attention to mental health impacts, policy development, and evidence-based interventions, particularly regarding vulnerable populations and specific contexts like football fan culture. Professor Wardle has played leadership roles in major research initiatives including the Health Survey for England and the British Gambling Prevalence Survey. She has developed innovative approaches to measuring gambling harms and has contributed significantly to shaping gambling policy through her evidence-based recommendations. Her work extends to developing practical tools like the 'Words Matter' language guide for respectful reporting on gambling. She leads Gambling Research Glasgow and has established significant collaborations across academic, policy, and practice domains. Her research team has conducted important studies on gambling harms in social care settings, esports betting, and the relationship between gambling marketing and unplanned gambling spend. Current projects include longitudinal studies of gambling careers during the pandemic and interventions targeting at-risk male sports bettors.
Jeff Collin is Professor of Global Health Policy at the University of Edinburgh , affiliated with the School of Social & Political Science and the Social Policy department. His work focuses on the intersection of health policy, global governance, and commercial sector influence, particularly in tobacco, alcohol, and ultra-processed food industries. Key affiliations: WHO expert groups, Tobacco Advisory Group of Cancer Research UK, UK Centre on Tobacco and Alcohol Studies His research explores how unhealthy commodity industries shape public policy, with a structural emphasis on health inequalities, trade liberalization, and corporate strategies in global health governance. Publications highlight tactics such as stakeholder manipulation, policy network dynamics, and regulatory capture across multiple jurisdictions. Recent articles emphasize corporate engagement in health policy, tobacco control in the EU, alcohol industry consolidation, and structural drivers of non-communicable diseases. Collaborations span academic institutions and public health organizations, with a focus on transparency and accountability. Scientific Awards & Roles WHO Expert Group on Tobacco Industry Influence Tobacco Advisory Group of Cancer Research UK Co-investigator, UK Centre on Tobacco and Alcohol Studies Expert Advisor, Institute of Alcohol Studies Jeff supervises PhD students in International Public Health Policy and has contributed extensively to debates on corporate influence in health governance.
Erin Comartin is a Professor at Wayne State University School of Social Work, where she has served on faculty since 2016 after transitioning from Oakland University. Her scholarship critically examines social welfare policies and interventions for vulnerable populations within the criminal legal system, with particular emphasis on behavioral health needs and systemic reform initiatives. Her educational foundation includes: Ph.D. in Social Work from Wayne State University MSW from Wayne State University Post-Graduate Diploma of Arts in Community & Family Studies from University of Otago, New Zealand BA in Sociology from Oakland University Comartin's research program integrates clinical expertise from her prior work with homeless youth and domestic violence survivors to address critical gaps in justice-involved behavioral health services. She specializes in sex offender management policies, jail diversion interventions, and Behavioral Threat Assessment teams designed to prevent mass violence. Her methodological expertise spans qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods program evaluation with strong community engagement components. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals intensified focus on suicide prevention in correctional settings, overdose response systems, and law enforcement behavioral health training efficacy. Her work increasingly employs journey mapping and multi-site trial designs to evaluate systemic interventions across rural-urban divides, reflecting evolving priorities in criminal legal health services research. As principal investigator for Center for Behavioral Health and Justice initiatives, Comartin leads community-engaged projects including veteran reentry evaluations and Sequential Intercept Model implementation assessments. Her teaching portfolio encompasses advanced policy analysis, macro practice theory, and program evaluation within Wayne State's social work curriculum.
Mark Greenwald is a Professor and Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Psychiatry at Wayne State University School of Medicine. His work focuses on substance abuse research, particularly on pharmacological and neurobiological mechanisms of opioid and other substance use disorders. With numerous publications and significant contributions to the field of addiction medicine, Dr. Greenwald leads the Substance Abuse Research Division and collaborates extensively with researchers across multiple disciplines to advance understanding and treatment of addiction. Dr. Greenwald's research spans multiple domains of addiction science, with particular expertise in pharmacological determinants of drug-seeking behavior , neuroimaging of addiction-related neural processes , and development of novel treatment approaches for opioid use disorder . His work employs advanced methodologies including PET imaging of opioid and dopamine systems, fMRI, EEG, and 1H spectroscopy to investigate the biological underpinnings of addiction. A significant portion of his research focuses on optimizing buprenorphine treatment protocols and understanding individual differences in treatment response. Dr. Greenwald's recent publications reveal a strong focus on advancing precision medicine approaches for opioid use disorder, with particular attention to pharmacogenetic factors, neuroimaging biomarkers, and individualized treatment protocols. His work increasingly integrates neurobiological, psychological, and social determinants of addiction to develop comprehensive treatment models. Notably, his research bridges basic science with clinical applications, translating neuropharmacological insights into improved treatment strategies for patients struggling with opioid addiction. National Institutes of Health awarded Wayne State $1.19 million for addiction neuroscience predoctoral training Contributed to $16.6 million drug development project for treatment of opioid use disorder Provost's Social & Behavioral Determinants of Health Steering Committee member Led clinical trial proving neurostimulation device to treat opioid use disorder is effective As Associate Chair for Research, Dr. Greenwald oversees research initiatives within the Department of Psychiatry and mentors junior faculty and research staff. His substantial NIH-funded research program supports multiple clinical trials investigating novel approaches to treating opioid use disorder. Dr. Greenwald has secured significant grant funding for projects including a $1.19 million NIH award for addiction neuroscience predoctoral training and contributions to a $16.6 million drug development project for opioid use disorder treatment. His leadership extends to serving on the Provost's Social & Behavioral Determinants of Health Steering Committee. Dr. Greenwald leads the Substance Abuse Research Division at Wayne State University, which employs a multidisciplinary approach to addiction research. His team collaborates with key researchers including Leslie Lundahl, David Ledgerwood, and Cynthia Arfken (focusing on substance use disorders and HIV/AIDS); Jeffrey Stanley (specializing in 1H spectroscopy); Vaibhav Diwadkar (fMRI, learning/memory); Sylvie Naar-King and Paul Burghardt (stress, physical activity and obesity); Terrance Albrecht, Ann Schwartz and Jennifer Beebe-Dimmer (chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy); Timothy Roehrs (Henry Ford: EEG, sleep, pain); and Margit Burmeister (University of Michigan: pharmacogenetics).
William Hébert is a social-cultural anthropologist and interdisciplinary researcher based at Carleton University's Department of Law and Legal Studies . Holding a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto and postdoctoral experience at Memorial University, he specializes in legal and medical anthropology, critical criminology, and gender/sexuality studies. Education: B.A. & M.A. from Concordia University, Ph.D. from University of Toronto Current Role: Principal Investigator for community-driven legal studies His research focuses on marginalized populations' interactions with criminal justice institutions through two streams: ethnographic fieldwork and community-based research. Recent projects include Prisoners of Paradox , analyzing trans prison reforms, and a Department of Justice Canada-funded study on legal challenges faced by trans, Two-Spirit, and non-binary individuals. He collaborates with organizations like Action Santé Travesti(e)s et Transsexuel(le)s du Québec and the Community-Based Research Centre. Key contributions include critical analyses of: Trans rights implementation in correctional systems Harm reduction strategies in digital communities Queer activist spaces in Montreal and Toronto Intersectional challenges for trans migrant youth Scientific awards include: Trudeau Foundation Scholarship SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship He actively mentors students and emphasizes public engagement through policy consultancy, expert legal reports, and researcher-community collaborations like the On the Margins of Trans Legal Change symposium.
Dr. K.F.J. Salimkhani (Kian) is an Assistant Professor at the Institute for Science in Society, Radboud University. His research focuses on metaphysical and foundational questions in physics, including spacetime philosophy, quantum gravity, and fundamentality. He also explores ethical dimensions of collective harm, such as climate crisis implications. Previously, he held a postdoc at the University of Cologne and was a visiting scholar at the University of Oslo. Salimkhani earned his PhD in Philosophy from the University of Bonn in 2020. Education: PhD in Philosophy, University of Bonn (2020) Studies in Physics and Philosophy, University of Bonn Research Interests: Salimkhani investigates fundamentality in physics and metaphysics, spacetime emergence, and the interplay between physics and metaphysics. His current DFG-funded project examines concepts of fundamentality across disciplines. Key areas include: Philosophy of quantum gravity Emergence and dependency relations Climate crisis ethics Unification in physics Grants & Projects: DFG Project: ‘Fundamentality in Physics and Metaphysics’ (2023–2026, PI) Co-organizer of ‘Quarterly Lectures on Philosophy of Science’ and ‘Weekend Seminars on the Philosophy of Physics’ Teaching: Courses include Philosophy of Mathematics, Physics and Philosophy, and supervision of bachelor/master theses in Mathematics and Physics. Labs/Teams: Active in the Radboud Centre for Natural Philosophy (RCNP) and the DFG-funded ‘Inductive Metaphysics’ research unit.
Fiona Kouyoumdjian is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University, with affiliations to the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact and ICES (formerly Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences). She serves as Research Director in the Department of Family Medicine and leads a research program focused on the population health status of incarcerated individuals. Her work emphasizes health equity, public health systems, and clinical population medicine integration. Education: Bachelor of Arts (Honors), Brown University Doctor of Medicine (MD), Dalhousie University Master of Public Health (MPH), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Toronto Research Interests: Fiona’s research addresses health equity challenges faced by incarcerated populations, including substance-related mortality, HIV care access, reproductive health in prisons, and healthcare continuity post-release. She explores intersections of incarceration with mental health, addiction, and systemic inequities, advocating for policy reforms in correctional healthcare systems. Her work bridges clinical practice and population health, focusing on marginalized groups such as Indigenous communities, racialized populations, and those with intellectual disabilities. Key Contributions: Leading the Mortality After Release from Incarceration Consortium (MARIC), a multinational meta-analysis on post-release mortality Advocating for opioid agonist treatment access in correctional facilities Co-authoring evidence-based guidelines for trauma-informed care in prisons Labs/Teams: Active in ICES’ population health research programs and collaborates with the David Braley Primary Care Research Collaborative. Engaged in community-academic partnerships to improve incarceration health equity.
Maxwell J. Smith is an Assistant Professor at the School of Health Studies within the Faculty of Health Sciences at Western University . He holds multiple appointments across the Department of Philosophy , Schulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health , Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics , and other research centers. As the Western Research Chair in Public Health Ethics , his work bridges bioethics, public health policy, and social justice. Research Domains: Public health ethics, infectious disease ethics, health equity, moral philosophy Collaborations: Social epidemiologists, global health organizations, interdisciplinary ethics institutes Key Focus: Ethical frameworks for pandemic response, health equity in policy-making His recent publications explore the intersection of ethics and epidemiology in health equity modeling, pandemic treaties, workplace vaccination mandates, and resource allocation during crises. He has contributed to high-impact journals like New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet Infectious Diseases . Notable contributions include: Developing empirical ethics studies for public health policy Advocating for intersectoral action on health inequities Addressing systems thinking in ethical frameworks Global governance of pandemics Equity-focused vaccine monitoring strategies Dr. Smith’s work emphasizes translating philosophical ethics into practical public health solutions, with a strong commitment to social justice and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Sidra Goldman-Mellor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of California, Merced, within the School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts. Her research focuses on maternal and child health, mental health disparities, substance abuse, and the social determinants of health. She has conducted extensive studies on postpartum mortality, violence-related injuries among pregnant individuals, and the impacts of environmental factors like air quality and earthquakes on health outcomes. Key areas of research include analyzing disparities in healthcare access, particularly for marginalized populations such as rural Latino immigrants. Her work often employs large-scale data and register-based studies to explore trajectories of mental health, chronic disease, and injury outcomes. Notable projects include the San Joaquin Valley Center for Air Injustice Reduction (SJV-CAIR), which evaluates community-driven solutions to air pollution exposure. Her publications highlight trends in suicide and overdose mortality, the role of socioeconomic factors in health outcomes, and the interplay between environmental disasters and mental health. Dr. Goldman-Mellor’s work emphasizes equity-focused methodologies, including resampling techniques to address predictive model biases in healthcare data.
Donna J. Biederman is a Clinical Professor in the School of Nursing at Duke University, with a joint appointment as Professor in Family Medicine and Community Health since 2024. Her career bridges clinical practice, education, and research in public health nursing. Education: DrPH (2012) from University of North Carolina Greensboro, MN and BSN from University of Washington Tacoma Credentials: RN license (#216747) in North Carolina since 2007 Research focuses on social determinants of health , health disparities , and housing policy , particularly for marginalized populations like people experiencing homelessness. Her work explores: Transitional care models for homeless individuals Tenancy support services funded through Medicaid Stigma reduction in healthcare settings Medical respite programs Substance use treatment integration Health outcomes post-eviction Recent publications (2024-2025) highlight her leadership in: Smoke-free addiction treatment protocols Student-run housing initiatives like WellNest Policy analysis of Medicaid-funded housing support Qualitative studies on effective tenancy practices Major grants include: Nurse LEADS (2024-2029) - National Institute of Nursing Research NEPQR-MHTP (2022-2026) - Health Resources and Services Administration Back@Home Evaluation (2021-2023) - North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Awards & Recognition: Multiple Outstanding Clinical Instructor Awards (Duke School of Nursing: 2013, 2014) "Extraordinary Nurse" nominee (NC Nurses Association, 2016) Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award (University of Washington Tacoma, 2015) She teaches courses addressing social drivers of health in rural and underserved communities (NURSING 540-543B) and oversees DNP projects since 2022.
Alex F. Manini, MD, MS, is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he practices clinically at Elmhurst Hospital Center in New York City. He serves as the Director of the Mount Sinai Center for Research on Emerging Substances, Poisoning, Overdose, and New Discoveries (RESPOND Center), and the Associate Program Director of the T32 Clinician Scientist Training Program focused on emergency care research. Dr. Manini earned his Bachelor of Science from MIT, Doctor of Medicine from UCSF School of Medicine, completed his Emergency Medicine Residency at Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency (Brigham & Women's Hospital / Massachusetts General Hospital), and Medical Toxicology Fellowship at NYU/Bellevue where he also earned a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation. Dr. Manini's research focuses on emergency medicine and medical toxicology, with particular expertise in drug overdose, opioid-related emergencies, cardiovascular complications of drug overdose, and novel substances of abuse. His work aims to develop clinical tools to individualize prevention strategies for curtailing the national rise in drug overdose fatalities through risk prediction instruments, laboratory biomarkers, and genetic analyses. He has published over 110 peer-reviewed articles in the emergency medicine and medical toxicology literature. Analysis of Dr. Manini's recent publications reveals a strong focus on emerging drug threats, particularly novel synthetic opioids like nitazenes and fentanyl analogs, as well as the increasing prevalence of xylazine and other adulterants in the illicit drug supply. His research spans emergency department management protocols, health disparities in overdose treatment, and the intersection of mental health and substance use disorders. Scientific Awards: Fellow of the American College of Medical Toxicology (FACMT) Young Investigator of the Year, Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) NIH Study Section Member, CEBRA (Cutting Edge Basic Research Awards) NIH Early Career Reviewer (ECR), Center for Scientific Review Young Investigator Award WINNER, XXXIII International Congress EAPCCT The Dr. Harold and Golden Lamport Research Award, Mount Sinai School of Medicine Dr. Manini has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 2009, totaling over $10 million as a principal investigator. He has mentored over 40 pre- and post-doctoral students, residents, and junior faculty who have secured millions in federal grant funding. His major grants include an R01 from NIDA studying risk prediction for overdose fatalities, an R56 as Site PI for the NIDA National Early Warning System Network (iN3), and a K23 Career Development Award. As Director of the RESPOND Center (Research on Emerging Substances, Poisoning, Overdose, and New Discoveries), Dr. Manini leads a multidisciplinary team focused on identifying emerging drug threats and developing evidence-based approaches to manage novel substances of abuse. His work bridges emergency medicine, toxicology, cardiology, and public health to address the evolving overdose epidemic.
Mette Kalager is a Professor at the Department of Health Management and Health Economics within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Oslo. Her research focuses on cancer epidemiology, colorectal cancer screening, and health economics, with extensive contributions to understanding overdiagnosis in cancer screening and optimizing colonoscopy practices. She maintains an active research program with numerous high-impact publications in leading medical journals. Her primary research interests center on cancer screening effectiveness, particularly in colorectal cancer prevention. Dr. Kalager's work explores the balance between benefits and harms of screening programs, with special attention to overdiagnosis and the development of risk prediction models. She has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between adenoma detection rates and subsequent cancer risk, as well as the impact of artificial intelligence on colonoscopy quality. Her research portfolio demonstrates a consistent focus on evidence-based approaches to cancer prevention and healthcare decision making. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on methodological approaches to evaluating cancer screening programs, with increasing integration of artificial intelligence applications in endoscopy. Her work spans epidemiological modeling, clinical trials, systematic reviews, and health policy analysis, consistently addressing critical questions about the effectiveness and efficiency of cancer prevention strategies. The research demonstrates a trajectory toward more personalized approaches to cancer screening based on individual risk assessment. Dr. Kalager leads or participates in multiple significant research projects including COLONIZE (focusing on Clostridioides difficile infection treatment), EPoS (European Polyp Surveillance), EndoBRAIN International, I-SCAN (Scandinavian study on IBD and cancer), NordICC (Nordic-European study on colorectal cancer prevention), and several others addressing gastrointestinal diseases, cancer risk, and healthcare interventions. Her collaborative approach is evident through extensive co-authorship with researchers across Europe and beyond.
Melissa Weimer, DO, is an Associate Professor of Medicine (General Medicine) and of Epidemiology (Chronic Diseases) at Yale University School of Medicine. She holds dual appointments in the Department of General Internal Medicine and the Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology. Dr. Weimer serves as the Medical Director of the Addiction Medicine Consult Service (YAMCS), a multidisciplinary hospital-based program she founded in 2018 to address substance use disorder needs of patients admitted to Yale New Haven Hospital. Additionally, she is the Associate Program Director of the Yale Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program and the Medical Director and lead trainer of the Providers Clinical Support System-Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder. Dr. Weimer's research and clinical interests focus on expanding access to substance use disorder treatment, particularly in hospital settings. Her expertise spans clinical care, healthcare innovation, public health, research, and medical education. She has worked to transform the care of individuals with substance use disorders at local, state, and national levels. Her work began at Oregon Health & Science University, where she helped create one of the nation's first hospital-based models to initiate addiction treatment for hospitalized patients with substance use complications. Recent publications highlight Dr. Weimer's focus on hospital-initiated treatments for alcohol and opioid use disorders, pain management in patients with substance use disorders, and innovative approaches to improving care for people who use drugs. Her work demonstrates a strong emphasis on implementation science, health equity, and bridging the gap between evidence-based practices and real-world clinical settings, with particular attention to diverse patient populations and systemic barriers to care. Yale Second Century of Women Emerging Leaders in Internal Medicine Award (2024) Multiple 'Top Addiction Medicine Doc' recognitions from Portland Monthly Magazine (2015-2017) Paper of the Month: A Chronic Opioid Therapy Dose Reduction Policy in Primary Care (2016) As an experienced educator, Dr. Weimer teaches healthcare students and professionals about substance use disorders and their treatment to expand the addiction medicine workforce. She has served on numerous committees including the Opioid Stewardship Committee at Yale New Haven Hospital and the Recognizing and Eliminating disparities in Addiction through Culturally-Informed Healthcare (REACH) initiative. Her work with the American Society of Addiction Medicine has contributed to clinical practice guidelines and methodology development.
