Tuesday, February 16, 2016 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Humphrey School of Public Affairs, Room 205
Katy Kozhimannil and Carrie Henning-Smith, School of Public Health, UMN
This talk will focus on rural/urban differences that impact women, children, and families early in the life course. In particular, we'll address rural/urban differences in the quality of obstetric care, predictors of obstetric unit closures in rural areas, and rural/urban differences in access to child care. For each study, we'll discuss real-world implications for families in rural communities, including the role of policy, access to care, and rural health workforce issues.
Dr. Kozhimannil is an Associate Professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health and an Investigator at the Rural Health Research Center. Dr. Kozhimannil's work applies the tools of public policy analysis and health services research in the context of women’s and children’s health, primarily using administrative and survey data to characterize patterns of care and to examine the impacts of policies and interventions. Prior to starting her research career, Dr. Kozhimannil worked on HIV/AIDS prevention and policy as well as education and youth development both domestically and abroad.
Dr. Henning-Smith is a Research Associate at the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center. Her work primarily focuses on policy issues that impact quality of life and quality care for older adults and individuals with disabilities. She also conducts research on the social determinants of health, access to care, and health disparities. Before coming to the University of Minnesota, Dr. Henning-Smith worked in community organizing, policy advocacy, and social services.