Derek M. Griffith, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Health Behavior and Health Education

Director, Center on Men's Health Disparities

Assistant Director, Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health

Faculty Advisor, Public Health Students of African Descent

3806 SPH I
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2029

(734) 936-1318; Fax: (734) 763-7379

E-mail: derekmg@umich.edu

Website(s): Center on Men's Health Disparities; Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health; Men 4 Health; Public Health Students of African Descent

Curriculum Vitae (PDF, 222,791 KB)

Professional Summary

Dr. Griffith's research explores men's health disparities: why men of different races, ethnicities, sexual identities and economic statuses have disparate patterns of health and illness. Men's health disparities takes an intersectional approach that considers how cultural values and beliefs associated with male gender intersect with social, cultural and economic factors to differentially affect the health of men defined by race, ethnicity, class, SES, sexual identity, age, address, urbanicity, religion, culture or country of origin. More specifically, Dr. Griffith uses qualitative and quantitative approaches to develop and test theories that will help improve Black American men's longevity and quality of life. In this work he examines how racism, social support, stress, and life priorities influence men's health behavior, men's health outcomes, and men's health disparities. Dr. Griffith is currently the Principal Investigator of grants funded by the American Cancer Society, the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research to improve healthy eating, increase physical activity and reduce African American men's cancer risk in three cities in Michigan: Flint, Detroit and Ypsilanti. He also is the evaluator for a faith-based HIV prevention project in Flint, Michigan - YOUR Blessed Health.

Courses Taught

HBEHED613: Men's Health: A Social Ecological Perspective
HBEHED622: Program Evaluation in Health Education
HBEHED632: Racial/ Ethnic Health Disparities Research and Interventions
Previously taught HBHED 702: Reducing Racial/ Ethnic Health Disparities

Education

W.K. Kellogg Community Health Scholars Program, University of North Carolina, 2004
Ph.D., Clinical/Community Psychology, DePaul University, 2002
Pre-doctoral Internship, Clinical-Community Psychology, Yale University School of Medicine, 2000
M.A., Clinical/Community Psychology, DePaul University, 1998
B.A., Psychology/Afro-American Studies, University of Maryland at College Park, 1993

Research Interest & Projects

Men's health disparities

Structural and institutional racism

Community-based participatory research

Qualitative research

Program evaluation

Selected Publications

Griffith, D.M., Johnson, J., Ellis, K., Schulz, A.J., (In Press). Cultural Context and a Critical Approach to Eliminating Health Disparities Ethnicity and Disease

Griffith, D.M., Citrin, T., Jerome, N.W., Bayer, I.S., & Mebane, E. (In Press). The Origins and Overview of the W.K. Kellogg Community Health Scholars Program. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action.

Watkins, D.C., Walker, R.L., & Griffith, D.M. (In Press.). A Meta-study of Black Male Mental Health and Well-Being. Journal of Black Psychology.

Griffith, D.M., Campbell, B., Allen, J.O., Robinson, K.J., & Kretman, S. (In Press.). YOUR Blessed Health: An HIV Prevention Program Bridging Public Health and Faith Communities Public Health Reports.

Gillum, F., & Griffith, D.M. (In Press.). Prayer and Spiritual Practices for Health Reasons among American Adults: The Role of Race and Ethnicity. Journal of Religion and Health.

Griffith, D.M., Yonas, M., Mason, M., & Haven, B. (In Press.). Considering Organizational Factors in Addressing Healthcare Disparities: Two Case Examples. Health Promotion Proactice.

Griffith, D.M., Neighbors, H.W., & Johnson, J. (2009). Using National Data Sets to Improve the Health of Black Americans: Challenges and Opportunities. Cultural Diversity and Ethinic Minority Psychology,, 15(1), 86-95.

Griffith, D.M., Mason, M., Rodela, M., Matthews, D.D., Tran, A., Royster, M., Cotten, M., & Eng, E. (2007). A Structural Apprach to Examining Prostate Cancer Risk for Rural, Southern African American Men. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 18 (supplement), 73-101.

Bediako, S.M. & Griffith, D.M. (2007). Eliminating Racial/ Ethnic Health Disparities: Reconsidering Comparative Approaches. Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice, 2 (1), 49-62.

Griffith, D.M., Mason, M., Yonas, M., Eng, E., Jeffries, V., Plihcik, S., & Parks, B. (2007). Dismantling Institutional Racism: Theory and Action American Journal of Community Psychology, 39(3-4), 381-392.

Professional Affiliations

American Public Health Association
Society of Public Health Education

Professional Summary
Courses Taught
Education
Research Interest & Projects
Selected Publications
Professional Affiliations

Healthy Eating for Men

Through Men 4 Health, funded by the American Cancer Society, Griffith and colleagues are working to improve the quality of food that African-American men eat and the amount of physical activity they get. They're examining how partners and families can support efforts to make healthier food choices in the home, and they’re trying to get fraternal organizations, men’s lodges, sports teams, motorcycle clubs, men’s church groups, and other organizations to encourage men to engage in healthy behaviors. They're also working to change the culture of some of these organizations so that they prepare and provide healthy foods for events and activities and promote physical activity. More info in spring 2009 Findings magazine.