Project Leads & Researchers
Dr. Kozhimannil is Co-Director of the RHRC and a Professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
Education
- PhD, Health Policy, Harvard University, 2009
- MPA., Public Policy and Administration, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, 2003
- BA, Spanish and International Relations and Spanish (summa cum laude), University of Minnesota, 1999
Experience
Dr. Kozhimannil conducts research to inform the development, implementation, and evaluation of health policy that impacts health care delivery, quality, and outcomes during critical times in the lifecourse, including pregnancy and childbirth. The goal of her scholarly work is to contribute to the evidence base for clinical and policy strategies to advance racial, gender, and geographic equity and to collaborate with stakeholders in making policy change to address social determinants and structural injustice in order to facilitate improved health and well-being.
Dr. Kozhimannil’s research, published in major journals such as Science, the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Health Affairs, American Journal of Public Health, Medical Care, and the American Journal of Managed Care, has been widely cited. Media coverage of her research, including feature stories by the New York Times, Washington Post, National Public Radio, Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, and the Huffington Post, has generated dialogue, interest and policy action at local, state, and national levels. In addition to conducting research, Dr. Kozhimannil teaches courses that build skills for effective engagement in the policy process, and works extensively with community organizations and state and federal policy makers on efforts to improve the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities, starting at birth.
Prior to starting her academic career, Dr. Kozhimannil worked on HIV/AIDS prevention and policy as well as education and youth development both domestically and abroad. She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Mozambique and has worked for Ibis Reproductive Health, the World Bank, Population Services International, the American Red Cross, and the YMCA.
Research Interests
- Health care policy
- Quality of care
- Maternal and child health
- Health equity
- Analysis of administrative/claims data
- Longitudinal analysis
Recent Awards
- Outstanding Service Award, National Indian Health Board (2023)
- Aaka Pande and Sumit Majumdar Memorial Award, Harvard Medical School (2022)
- Outstanding Educator Award, National Rural Health Association (2022)
- Heinz Award for outstanding contributions in public policy, Heinz Family Foundation (2020)
- 2018 Carol Weisman and Gary Chase Gender-Based Research Award, AcademyHealth (2018)
- 2016 Alice S. Hersh New Investigator Award, AcademyHealth (2016)
PubMed link to authored publications.
Dr. Henning-Smith is Co-Director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center and an Associate Professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She has been with the RHRC since 2015.
Education
- PhD, Health Services Research, Policy, and Administration, University of Minnesota, 2015
- MS, Health Services Research, Policy, and Administration, University of Minnesota, 2015
- MPH, Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, 2006
- MSW, Social Work Interpersonal Practice and Mental Health, University of Michigan, 2006
- BA, International Relations, Claremont McKenna College, 2003
Experience
Dr. Henning-Smith applies her interdisciplinary training in health services research, public health, social work, gerontology, and demography to study policy-relevant issues for rural populations. She has led multiple research projects at the Rural Health Research Center, with a wide range of topics including the social determinants of health, access to and quality of care, and aging and long-term care. She was chosen as a 2017 Rural Health Fellow by the National Rural Health Association and serves as the current editorial board chair for the Journal of Rural Health.
Research Interests
- Social determinants of health
- Demography
- Aging and long-term care
- Disability policy
- Housing and transportation issues
- Access to care
Recent Fellowships and Awards
- Rural Health Fellow, National Rural Health Association (2017-2018)
- Heath Equity Leadership & Mentoring Program Fellow, University of Minnesota (2016-2017)
- Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship, University of Minnesota (2014-2015)
- Hearst Fellowship in Public Health and Aging (2013-2014)
- RAND Summer Institute Fellowship (2013)
PubMed link to authored publications.
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Education
- BS, Psychology (Minor, Public Health), University of Minnesota, 2022
Experience
A Minnesota native and university alum, Khadija joined the RHRC team in October 2024. Before this role, she worked as a clinic assistant in a pediatric setting. During her undergraduate years, she served as a research assistant at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development, contributing to transdisciplinary research on acculturation practices among Black immigrant youth. Ms. Abdi has aspirations to continue her education in the field of public health.
Research interests
- Health disparities and interventions within immigrant and refugee populations
- Maternal and child wellness
- Global health
Education
- PhD, Maternal and Child Health, Epidemiology Minor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2024
- MPH, Global Health Epidemiology, University of Michigan, 2019
- BA, Biology, Chemistry Minor, Hope College, 2016
Experience
Research Interests
- Perinatal health and perinatal health services
- Health equity
- Reproductive justice
- Mixed-methods research
- Family planning
PubMed link to authored publications.
Alyssa is a Research & Policy Fellow. She began part-time work at RHRC in January of 2021 and joined the team full-time in August of 2022.
Education
- MPH, Johns Hopkins University, 2018
- BS Nutrition, University of Minnesota, 2012
Experience
As a registered dietitian and lactation counselor by training, Ms. Fritz began her career working with individuals and families in a local WIC agency, which fueled her passion for maternal and child health equity. After earning her MPH, she worked at the Minnesota House of Representatives, where she staffed the Health and Human Services Policy Committee, Education Policy Committee, Early Childhood Committee, and the Select Committee on Racial Justice. She worked with both the University of Minnesota Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity and the Rural Health Research Center before joining RHRC full time in her current role. Ms. Fritz brings experience working in public health at the individual/family-focused level, community-focused level, and state policy level.
Research Interests
- Maternal and child health
- Health equity
- Health care policy
- Social determinants of health
PubMed link to authored publications.
Education
- PhD, Health Services Research, Policy, and Administration, University of Minnesota, 2022
- MPH, Epidemiology, Emory University, 2014
- BA, Studies in Women and Gender, Foreign Affairs, University of Virginia, 2009
Experience
Dr. Interrante is a health services researcher and epidemiologist with expertise in maternal health and health care access. Her research examines the effects of policy on maternal health outcomes and on access to maternity care services with specific focus on geographic and racial equity, and includes topics such as disparities in severe maternal morbidity and mortality, changing access to rural maternity care, and the impact of payment policies on maternal and postpartum care. She has research experience using a wide variety of quantitative methods using data from large complex weighted surveys, administrative and claims databases, national secondary quantitative data, and primary quantitative and qualitative data. Prior to coming to the RHRC, Dr. Interrante worked as an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a variety of areas including birth defect research, maternal medication use, and fertility, as well as domestic and global tuberculosis and HIV surveillance and prevention. While working at the CDC, Dr. Interrante developed data quality assessment protocols and tools, conducted data use training, and provided policy guidance and technical assistance to foreign Ministries of Health and domestic Departments of Health.
Research Interests
- Reproductive health policy/policy analysis
- Maternal health care and health outcomes
- Social epidemiology/epidemiologic methods
- Health equity
- Access to care
PubMed link to authored publications.
Ingrid is a Data Analyst with the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center (RHRC). She joined the RHRC in September 2023 as a Research Fellow and transitioned to her new role in September 2024.
Education
- MPH, Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, 2023
- BA Biology, Concordia College Moorhead, 2020
Experience
Ms. Jacobson is an epidemiologist-by-training with expertise in rural health, infectious diseases, and genetic diseases. She works closely with Dr. Interrante on a variety of rural maternal health research projects, and has experience working with many types of quantitative and qualitative data including weighted and unweighted surveys, national and international secondary data, genomic and proteomic data, key informant interviews, focus groups, and case studies. She has previously been involved in RHRC projects investigating medical debt, elder abuse, and Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), as well as projects outside the RHRC involving farmer mental health, rural cancer clinical trials, and aging support services in rural MN. During graduate school, she worked at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) in the foodborne illness unit, as a research assistant in a genetic epidemiology lab, and as a researcher in the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP).
Research Interests
- Social determinants of health
- Indigenous/Tribal health
- Maternal and child health
- Infectious diseases in rural areas
- Disability policy
Megan is a Senior Research Fellow at the Rural Health Research Center, hired in September of 2017.
Education
- MPH, Public Health Administration and Policy, University of Minnesota, 2017
- BA, Sociology, Kenyon College, 2010
Experience
Prior to coming to the Rural Health Research Center, Ms. Lahr worked at the State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC) on a variety of projects related to access, cost, quality, and health outcomes. Ms. Lahr also spent several years working in federal policy for U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. While working in the Senate in Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis, MN, she held several positions focusing on operations, policy development, health reform, and healthcare outreach and casework.
Research Interests
- Health policy and systems
- Access to care
- Health equity
PubMed link to authored publications.
Kevan is a Research Coordinator. She began full-time work with the RHRC in October 2024.
Education
- MPH, Environmental Health, University of Minnesota, 2024
- BA Environmental Science, Saint Louis University, 2018
Experience
Prior to joining RHRC, Kevan worked as a substance use counselor and as a volunteer emergency medical technician in Southeast Alaska– through many professional and personal experiences, she became interested in and concerned about healthcare access in rural and remote settings. While completing her Master in Public Health she worked with the Minnesota Department of Health Office of Rural Health and Primary Care on a range of projects related to health care access in rural Minnesota; she was also involved in air quality research, worked on student engagement initiatives aimed at building the healthcare workforce, and deeply valued opportunities to teach– both as a writing consultant and as a teaching assistant. Kevan brings experience with project management and coordination and quantitative and qualitative research methods. She works closely with Dr. Interrante on a variety of rural maternal health research projects.
Research Interests
- Access to care/resources
- Epidemiologic methods
- Environmental exposures
- Health policy and equity
Madeleine Pick is a Research Fellow with the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center (RHRC), primarily working on the Flex Monitoring Team (FMT). She joined the RHRC full-time in March 2020.
Education
- MPH, Public Health Administration & Policy, University of Minnesota, 2019
- BS Neuroscience, University of St. Thomas, 2013
Experience
Since joining the RHRC and FMT, Ms. Pick’s work has focused on quality of care and best practices in Critical Access Hospitals and access to health care for rural residents. She has also contributed to work addressing needs of marginalized populations, including the health and well-being of rural LGBTQ+ residents and language interpreter services in Critical Access Hospitals. Prior to joining the RHRC, she worked in clinical research at the Veterans’ Health Administration, conducted a community health assessment for a local public health department, and compiled a suicide prevention toolkit for rural communities.
Research Interests
- Health and hospital systems
- Quality improvement
- Health equity
Education
- MPH, Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2017
- BA, Psychology and Sociology/Anthropology, St. Olaf College, 2015
Experience
Research Interests
- Health outcomes for Indigenous communities
- Health equity
- Access to care
- Social determinants of health
- Maternal and child health
Dr. Schroeder is a Research Scientist at the University of Minnesota’s Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation. He began contributing to RHRC projects in September 2019.
Education
- PhD, Geography, University of Minnesota, 2009
- MA, Geography, University of Minnesota, 2004
- BA, Computer Sciences + English, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1998
Experience
Dr. Schroeder has worked at the Minnesota Population Center and the IPUMS Center for Data Integration at the Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation (ISRDI) since 2009. His primary role is as a project manager for the IPUMS National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS), a website that provides free online access to summary statistics and GIS files for U.S. censuses and other nationwide surveys from 1790 through the present. Schroeder leads the development and documentation of new NHGIS data products, including NHGIS time series tables, which link together census summary data from multiple years using harmonized categories and geographic units. He also leads the development of integrated geographic variables for IPUMS USA census microdata. As an RHRC contributor, he provides expertise in U.S. population geography, map design, and geographic data analysis, with deep knowledge of U.S. census data resources for studying rural populations.
Research Interests
- Geographic harmonization of census data
- U.S. population geography
- Spatial models and analysis
- Map design
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Education
- BS, Neuroscience (Minor, Public Policy), University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2024
Experience
A Minnesota native and UW-Madison alum, Sushma joined the RHRC as a Research Coordinator after moving back to Minnesota. Prior to joining the RHRC, Sushma worked as a Research Assistant at the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the Department of Medicine in Madison, looking at the association between the gut microbiome and Alzheimer’s. She also completed a Senior Honors Thesis in this lab researching the effects of hormone therapy on Alzheimer’s pathology in postmenopausal women. Sushma has aspirations of pursuing a career in health equity and eventually receiving her master’s degree in public health.
Research interests
- Aging
- Maternal and child health
- Health equity
- Social determinants of health
Education
- PhD, Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2018
- MA, Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2012
- BA, Sociology, Doane University, 2007
Experience
Research Interests
- Social determinants of health
- Family and social support
- Work, family roles, and well-being
- Minority health disparities
Mariana is a Research Fellow. She began full-time work at RHRC in June of 2019.
Education
- MPH, Public Health Administration & Policy, University of Minnesota, 2019
- BA Biology, BA Spanish, University of Arkansas, 2012
Experience
Throughout graduate school, Ms. Tuttle worked on health policy-relevant research, analysis, and dissemination efforts at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the MN Department of Human Services, and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She brings experiences effectively writing about and presenting health-related data to impact policy that drives population health. These experiences combine with substantive skills in both quantitative and qualitative data analysis from her MPH. Prior to pursuing her MPH, she worked for several years in market research and technology, where she designed projects for clients, managed communication, and coordinated business development efforts. This work further built on her natural understanding of innovative and creative ways to disseminate important information.
Research Interests
- Health equity
- Health care policy
- Maternal and child health
- Quality improvement
- Access to care
PubMed link to authored publications.
Students
Andrew is a Graduate Research Assistant at the Rural Health Research Center (RHRC). He began work with the center in September of 2024.
Education
- MPH, Infectious Disease and Vaccinology, University of California, Berkeley, 2014
- BA, Biomedical Sciences, University of Northern Iowa, 2005
Experience
Prior to joining the RHRC, Mr. Abram was an Epidemiologist at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), where he was integral to the expansion of COVID-19 wastewater surveillance across the state. His work included developing data systems for tracking pathogens beyond SARS-CoV-2, including Influenza A & B, RSV, and Mpox, and developing a Lab Information Management System (LIMS) for streamlining state environmental lab data reporting to CDC. Previously, Andrew contributed to global health applied research initiatives with Jhpiego and IntraHealth, focusing on malaria in pregnancy and data QA/QC audits in Kigali, Rwanda. Andrew is transitioning to the field of Clinical Social Work and is currently pursuing a Masters of Social Work with the University of Minnesota.
Research Interests
- Public health surveillance
- Infectious disease epidemiology
- Global health
- Rural and urban health inequities
Jayne is a Graduate Research Assistant at the Rural Health Research Center. She began working with the RHRC in August 2024.
Education
- MPH, Public Health Administration and Policy, University of Minnesota, Expected 2025
- LLM, International Business Law, University of Essex, Expected 2025
- PG Dip Applied Clinical Research, McMaster University, 2019
- MBBS, University of Jos, 2009
Experience
Ms. Adole is a graduate research assistant with the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs in a Hennepin-University Partnership evaluating the implementation of Whole Person Care for the End HIV Epidemic initiative. She is also the project manager for the Youth Health Connect project in the Youth Health and Housing Lab at the Department of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health. She has developed skills and experience in clinical, qualitative, and translational research which she brings to the RHRC. Before graduate studies, she was a practicing physician in Nigeria and a harm reduction, mental health, and trauma counselor in Toronto, Canada.
Research interests
- Maternal and child health
- Sexual and Reproductive health policy
- Rural healthcare, policy, and outcomes
- Pregnancy/postpartum health care and health outcomes
- Translational, Mixed methods, and qualitative research methods
Dionne is a Graduate Research Assistant at the Rural Health Research Center. She began working with the RHRC in March of 2024.
Education
- MPH, Morehouse School of Medicine, 2021
- BS, Human Performance (Concentration: Sports Medicine), Howard University, 2019
Experience
Dionne is from the great state surrounded by lakes, Michigan. Dionne is a third-year Ph.D. student in the University of Minnesota’s Health Services Research, Policy and Management program. Prior to her matriculation into the program, she attended Howard University as a student-athlete and earned her bachelor’s in Human Performance with a concentration in Sports Medicine and a minor in chemistry. Following, she attended Morehouse School of Medicine, where she earned her Master’s in Public Health.
Research interests
- Aging
- Aging in place
- Gentrification
- Neighborhoods
- Health equity
- Health disparities
- Racial equity
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Education
- MA, Econometrics, Xiamen University 2024
- MA, Music and Dance, Xiamen University 2020
- BA, Economics, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, 2014
- BA, Finance, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, 2014
Experience
Alonso is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Health Services Research, Policy, and Management program at the University of Minnesota, specializing in Health Economics. He is the co-director of the Ecuadorian Development Research Lab (LIDE), a nonprofit organization focused on advancing research and education to reduce poverty and social inequality in Ecuador. In this role, he has secured several grants from the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador to support the training of over 20 young research fellows from economically disadvantaged communities across the country.
Alonso has published research on health policy evaluation, access to primary care, women’s health, gerontology, and clinical trials in music therapy. His academic interests emerged from an interdisciplinary background. Before pursuing doctoral studies, he worked at Deloitte as a Mergers and Acquisitions Advisor. He later transitioned into health services research after spending five years in China, where he completed graduate studies and collaborated on clinical trial research using music therapy with stroke patients. In addition to his research, Alonso is passionate about teaching. At LIDE, he has taught courses in Econometrics, Impact Evaluation, and R programming to early-career researchers.
Research interests
- Health economics
- Health policy evaluation
- Women’s health
- Social epidemiology
- Gerontology
- Music therapy
- Medical ethnomusicology
PubMed link to authored publications.
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Education
- MPH, Maternal, Child, and Family Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, 2022
- BS, Biology; BA, African, African American, and Diaspora Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2017
Experience
Prior to joining the RHRC, Ms. Sheffield worked as a research assistant in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, conducting research for an evaluation of a newly opened maternity care center at a rural Critical Access Hospital in North Carolina. She joined the RHRC with substantive skills in quantitative and qualitative data analyses and with a graduate certificate in Survey Science from her MPH. Prior to pursuing graduate school, she worked for several years in disability advocacy and education research spaces.
Research interests
- Reproductive health policy/policy analysis
- Pregnancy/postpartum health care and health outcomes
- Rural maternity care
- Reproductive justice and birth equity
- Maternal and child health
- Mixed methods, quantitative research methods