Sarah Gollust, PhD

Public health research identifies numerous potential opportunities to improve population health. Yet when it comes to translating this research into policies and programs to improve public health, roadblocks emerge. My work looks to examine processes through which health information gets translated into the media, shapes public attitudes and opinions, and influences the health policy process. By describing the political, social, ethical, and psychological factors that moderate this process – and often pose as barriers – my research yields insight into how communication to the public and policymakers can be more effective. I have applied this research approach to several important public health challenges, including policies to address obesity, health disparities, the Affordable Care Act, and cancer screening and prevention. 

• McKnight Land-Grant Professor, University of Minnesota, 2014-2016
• Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health, 2014

Selected Grants

• 1/1/20-12/31/21, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, "Media Research Synthesis to Build a Culture of Health", Principal Investigator
• 4/1/19-8/31/20, Russell Sage Foundation, "Media Messaging about the Affordable Care Act during Political Upheaval", Co-Principal Investigator
• 12/15/18-12/14/21, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, "Testing Strategies to Communicate Evidence about Toxic Stress While Minimizing Stigma towards Children and Families". Co-Principal Investigator
• 1/15–12/18, American Cancer Society, Research Scholar Grant, "Effects of Media Controversies on Public Attitudes about Cancer Prevention," Principal Investigator
• 4/16–8/17, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, "Interdisciplinary Research Leaders," Associate Director
• 6/13–5/18, Veterans Affairs, "Enhancing Motivation of Providers on Work to Eliminate Racial Disparity (EMPOWER)," Co-Investigator

• Publications on Google Scholar
• Publications on PubMed

Selected Publications

• Gollust SE, Vogel RI, Rothman A, Yzer M, Fowler EF, Nagler RH. Americans’ Perceptions of Disparities in COVID-19 Mortality: Results from a Nationally-Representative Survey. Preventive Medicine. 2020; 141: 106278.

• Gollust SE, Saloner B, Hest R, Blewett LA. US Adults’ Preferences for Public Allocation of a Vaccine for Coronavirus Disease 2019. JAMA Network Open. 2020; 3(9):e2023020.

• Gollust SE, Nagler RH, Fowler EF. The Emergence of COVID-19 in the U.S: A Public Health and Political Communication Crisis. Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law. 2020; 45(6):967-981.

• Gollust SE, Fowler EF, Niederdeppe J. Ten Years of Messaging about the Affordable Care Act in Advertising and News Media: Lessons for Policy and Politics. Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law. 2020; 45(5):711-728.

• Gollust SE and Miller JM. Framing the Opioids Crisis: Do Racial Frames Shape Beliefs of Whites Losing Ground? Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law. 2020. 45(2): 241-276.

• Gollust SE, Fowler EF, Niederdeppe J. Television News Coverage of Public Health Issues and Implications for Public Health Policy and Practice. Annual Review of Public Health. 2019. 40: 167-185.