Office Address:
D374 Mayo
Mailing Address:
420 Delaware St SE
MMC 729 Mayo
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Katy B. Kozhimannil, PhD, MPA
Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Division of Health Policy & Management
Titles
Co-director, Rural Health Research Center
Co-director, Rural Health Program
Education
PhD, Health Policy, Harvard University, 2009
MPA, Policy and Administration, Princeton University, 2003
BA, Spanish and International Relations, University of Minnesota, 1999
Summary
Katy Backes Kozhimannil is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Co-Director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center and the University of Minnesota Rural Health Program. Kozhimannil lives on Dakota land (Mahto Bde). Her ancestors come from northern Minnesota (Wenji-maajijiwang near Gaa-waabaabiganikaag Anishinaabeg, the White Earth Nation), Germany, England, and France.
Kozhimannil conducts research to inform health policy that supports people at critical times in their lives, including pregnancy and childbirth. She contributes to the evidence base for clinical and policy strategies to advance racial, gender, and geographic equity.
Kozhimannil’s research, published in major journals such as Science, the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Health Affairs, and the American Journal of Public Health, 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, brings attention to the ways that policies affect people. Referencing her research and recommendations, new local, state, and federal laws have allocated resources to improve access to evidence-based services for pregnant people, parents, infants, and families in communities that have long been affected by persistent inequities.
Kozhimannil teaches courses that build skills for engagement in public health programs, policy, and research, and she works extensively to engage with and inform leaders with the power to improve the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities, starting at birth.
Expertise
Health care policy, maternal and child health, rural health, health care quality, policy evaluation, health equity.
Awards and Recognition
- Outstanding Service Award, National Indian Health Board (2023)
- Aaka Pande and Sumit Majumdar Memorial Award, Harvard University Department of Population Medicine (2022)
- Outstanding Educator Award, National Rural Health Association (2022)
- Thank a Teacher Award, University of Minnesota Center for Educational Innovation (2021)
- Heinz Award for Public Policy, Heinz Family Foundation (2020)
- Carol Weisman and Gary Chase Gender Based Award for top abstract in Women’s Health at the AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting (2018)
- 2016 HCUP Outstanding Article of the Year Award, from AHRQ and AcademyHealth (2017)
- Alice S. Hersh New Investigator Award, AcademyHeatlh, 2016
- Labelle Lectureship in Health Services Research, international recognition of an emerging health services researcher with an inter-disciplinary approach to research, McMaster University, 2015
- Public Health Impact Award, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 2015
- Health Affairs Top 15 Most-Read Articles in 2013 “Cesarean Delivery Rates Vary 10-fold Among US Hospitals; Reducing Variation May Address Quality and Cost Issues,” 2014
- Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health, 2013
- University of Minnesota Institute for Diversity, Equity and Advocacy Multicultural Research Award, 2011
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