A primary focus of my external service work is improving public health at the intersection of policymaking and community engagement. I have built ties with state and national policy leaders as well as local and international community partners and with members of the media, who tell the stories that shape public knowledge and opinion. The core focus of my service work is policy change, made possible through the individual and organizational relationships I have built.

My service has focused on and achieved critical advances in public health and health equity, through translation of my academic work. Childbirth, the vitality of rural communities, and a commitment to equity are cornerstones of public health, from international to local levels, and I am proud to make service contributions that have impacted each of these, through policy change, community resources, and through my academic and University community engagement.

Academic field: In the field of health policy, I have contributed to shaping the science of our field. I was a founding associate editor of a new journal – Healthcare: the Journal of Delivery Science and Innovation – which publishes research on policy and health systems innovation to spur action and improvement in clinics and communities across the country. I also have served on the editorial board for the journal Women’s Health Issues, currently serve on the board of Health Services Research, and regularly review work on maternal health and rural health for top journals in which I publish. I have served on the advisory committee for the Child Health Services Research Interest Group for AcademyHealth, and my contributions to the field were honored when I received the Alice Hersh New Investigator award in 2016.

Policy change: Policies on maternity care are more evidence-informed as a result of both my research and service efforts. This engagement has had results, and my research and guidance has now informed the passage of legislation on Medicaid coverage for doula services in three states (Minnesota, Indiana, and New Jersey) and the passage of federal legislation to address rural maternity care access and maternal mortality. These policies, when fully implemented, will impact the lives of millions of families every year. My contributions to public policy were recognized when I received the Heinz Award for Public Policy in 2020.

Community resources: Beyond legislation, my research has impacted funding support and community resources for improving maternal health. For example, in 2019, the CDC modified a funding opportunity for state maternal mortality review committees, in response to a blog posting I led with 3 colleagues. Also in 2019, the Health Resources and Services Administration drew upon our research and guidance to create the RMOMS grant program, which will pour millions of dollars into rural maternity care delivery.

Media: Media coverage of my research, including feature stories by the Washington Post, National Public Radio, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, US News & World Report, and the Huffington Post, has generated dialogue, interest and policy action at local, state, national, and international levels. I have worked with hundreds of reporters, and my research has been cited on the front page of the New York Times – three times. I engage regularly on social media to provide context or highlight policy implications based on our research, and I have authored Op/Eds and high-profile blog posting based on my research that have been cited on the floor of Congress.

University community: At the University of Minnesota, I am a faculty affiliate of the Minnesota Population Center and the AHC’s Deborah E. Powell Center for Women’s Health where I have served on the planning committee for the University of Minnesota Women’s Health Research Conference. At the School level, I served a three year elected term on the SPH Faculty Consultative Committee and Policy Council. I have also led work on equity, diversity, and inclusion through supporting the Student Senate, EDIT, and the Health Equity Workgroup. At the Division level, I have served on search committees, on HPM’s Data Infrastructure and Student Authorship Committees, and on the PhD Admissions Committee. In recognition of the impact I have had at the intersection of my scholarship, teaching, and service, I received the School of Public Health’s first ever “Public Impact Award” in 2015.

The motivating focus of my service work is the potential to inform and catalyze improvements in the health and well-being of women and families. Knowing that my professional contributions have enabled and enhanced support to vulnerable families at a crucial time in their lives brings me tremendous personal and professional satisfaction.