Lauren R. Gilbert, Ph.D., M.P.H., is a clinical assistant professor at the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. She teaches community engagement and qualitative research methods, and contributes to community health initiatives and the Humana Integrated Health System Sciences Institute.

Her expertise is in qualitative and quantitative methods, including focus groups, in-depth interviewing and survey design. With community-based participatory research (CBPR) and empowerment evaluation as guiding frameworks, Gilbert examines health disparities and concerns within the social contexts and settings of underserved and rural communities. She is particularly interested in examining substance abuse prevention and treatment disparities, and developing and evaluating interventions, specifically rural health disparities related to substance use, misuse, abuse and treatment.

She is passionate about working with communities and community stakeholders to identify their unique health issues and support their solutions.

Gilbert earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from Marquette University. She has a doctorate in sociology and a master’s degree in public health management and policy and from the University of Florida.

Previously, she worked with the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center as an assistant research scientist and at Mercer University School of Medicine as an assistant professor of community medicine.