MSS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Research Assistant Professor of Medical Social Sciences ( Determinants of Health )

Dr. Haywood studies intersections of chronic disability, community life, organization of health services, and access to health care. Her clinical and research backgrounds have included a heavy emphasis on disability, rehabilitation, and community participation with predoctoral training in occupational science from the University of Southern California and postdoctoral training in health services and outcomes research at Northwestern University. She has robust methodological training and experien...[Read full text] Dr. Haywood studies intersections of chronic disability, community life, organization of health services, and access to health care. Her clinical and research backgrounds have included a heavy emphasis on disability, rehabilitation, and community participation with predoctoral training in occupational science from the University of Southern California and postdoctoral training in health services and outcomes research at Northwestern University. She has robust methodological training and experience in qualitative and community-engaged research approaches. Dr. Haywood's active research is focused on access and quality of health care for people with disabilities, including physician attitudes towards people with disabilities and medical education for disability-competent health care. She has a career development award (NCATS KL2TR001424) to define factors influencing participation in health care for people with mobility impairments. [Shorten text]

Job Titles:

• Research Assistant Professor of Medical Social Sciences ( Determinants of Health )

Dr. Edwards is a social work scholar who studies individual and ecological factors that contribute to positive social-emotional development in infancy and early childhood, particularly parenting, parent-child relationships, parent mental health, and cultural influences. Her work also focuses on prevention and intervention efforts, specifically home visiting services, intended to support pregnant women, parents and young children from underserved communities. She advocates for including family st...[Read full text] Dr. Edwards is a social work scholar who studies individual and ecological factors that contribute to positive social-emotional development in infancy and early childhood, particularly parenting, parent-child relationships, parent mental health, and cultural influences. Her work also focuses on prevention and intervention efforts, specifically home visiting services, intended to support pregnant women, parents and young children from underserved communities. She advocates for including family strengths in developmental research and studies supportive, relationship-based services for families. Recent research examines family engagement and retention in services and research, and highlights the importance of nonjudgmental, trusting participant-provider relationships in facilitating engagement and identifies common barriers that impede participation. [Shorten text] Education PhD: The University of Chicago (2011)

Job Titles:

• Research Assistant Professor of Medical Social Sciences ( Outcome and Measurement Science ) and Medical Social Sciences ( Determinants of Health )

Sarah Pila is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Social Sciences. She holds a doctorate in Media, Technology, and Society from Northwestern University. Sarah also holds a Master of Arts in Child Study and Human Development from the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development at Tufts University. Her research interests focus on the benefits of prosocial and educational media for young children, particularly in early childhood education. As a developme...[Read full text] Sarah Pila is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Social Sciences. She holds a doctorate in Media, Technology, and Society from Northwestern University. Sarah also holds a Master of Arts in Child Study and Human Development from the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development at Tufts University. Her research interests focus on the benefits of prosocial and educational media for young children, particularly in early childhood education. As a developmental scientist and researcher, Sarah is most interested in the intersection of technology and healthy child development. She has been published in such works as Computer & Education, Mobile Media & Communication, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Media. Sarah is also proud to be on the Student and Early Career Advisory Council for the International Communication Association.[Shorten text] Education BS: University of Florida (2013) MA: Tufts University (2015) PhD: Northwestern University (2020) Institutes and Centers