Minal R. Patel

Minal R. Patel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior & Health Education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, where she earned both her MPH and PhD degrees. Dr. Patel's research program focuses on optimizing the management and prevention of chronic diseases through the development and evaluation of interventions to improve outcomes in disparity populations. Emphases of her work include access to care, health care navigation, health-related financial burden, and team-based care. Dr. Patel has led multiple studies focused on improving health insurance literacy in economically disadvantaged communities, screening and addressing social determinants of health in clinical settings, and health care provider training in implementing guideline-based care. She is also a co-investigator on the evaluation of Michigan’s expanded Medicaid program. Dr. Patel’s work has been funded through the AHRQ, NIH, and private foundations. In 2017, Dr. Patel received the Early Career Achievement award from the Behavioral Sciences and Health Services Research Assembly of the American Thoracic Society. In 2018, Dr. Patel was elected to the National Academy of Medicine’s Emerging Leaders in Health & Medicine program.