Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research

Collin Calvert, PhD, MPH
HSR Fellow

Collin Calvert is a social epidemiologist and methodologist. His research interests include policy outcome evaluation, substance use, cancer, violence and injuries, and chronic pain. He has assisted with and led studies on a variety of topics, including interventions to prevent cognitive decline, awareness of alcohol as a cause of cancer, the effects of marijuana legalization on traffic crashes, and methods for preventing gun violence. Having employed and taught both quantitative and qualitative research methods, Collin strives to explain complex concepts clearly to a broad audience.

Education:

• BA, Anthropology, Macalester College, Saint Paul, MN
• MPH, Community Health Promotion, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
• PhD, Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Check out a full publication list on Google Scholar.

Renee Colsch, PhD, RN, SCRN, CQ
VAQS Fellow

Renee is a nurse scientist, associate professor, and OIF Air Force veteran. Her research interests are in women’s health, quality of life, sex differences, stroke and cardiovascular disease. Specifically, she aims to reduce health inequities among stroke and disenfranchised minority women and veteran women through symptomatology health promotion and prevention. Renee is an active member in the American Heart and Stroke Association and an active community member for the Combat Veterans Association.

Research Interests:

• Women’s health
• Veteran’s health
• Stroke and cardiovascular disease
• Sex differences
• Symptomology

Education

• A.S., Nursing, Ridgewater College, Willmar, MN
• B.S., Nursing, Excelsior College, Albany, NY
• M.S. Nursing Education, Excelsior College, Albany, NY
• Ph.D. Nursing, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND

Jessica Friedman, PhD, MPH, MSc
HSR Fellow

Jessica Friedman is an Epidemiologist and Health Services Researcher. Her research focuses on reproductive health and the intersections of chronic pain management and mental health. She is currently developing a portfolio of research focused on reproductive autonomy and gendered dimensions of trauma and chronic pain. In addition to her research, she is actively engaged in several quality improvement and evaluation initiatives to improve health outcomes for Veterans.

Research Interests:

• Reproductive health (contraception, reproduction)
• Multimodal Care for Chronic Pain
• Trauma
• Design and systems thinking
• Shared decision-making

Education:

• BA, Politics & Law & Society, Oberlin College, OH
• MSc, International Environmental Planning and Regulation, Roskilde University, Denmark
• MPH, Community Health Promotion, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
• PhD, Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Wendy Miller, MD
HSR Fellow

Dr. Miller is a general internist with an interest in in addiction research, specifically access to medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder. Her current research focus areas are addiction treatment implementation and reducing harms.

Areas of interest

• Addiction treatment
• Healthcare access and disparities
• Chronic pain treatment 

Education

• BS, Biology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
• MD, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
• Residency, Internal Medicine, Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, MN

Alexander Thompson, DNP, PMHNP-BC
VAQS Fellow 

Alex is psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. His primary practice experience is with patients who have severe mental illness. Prior to completion of his DNP degree at the University of Minnesota he worked as an inpatient psychiatric nurse on a high-acuity unit. Primary areas of interest for research and quality improvement including psychiatric care delivery, methods for patient engagement and activation for patients with severe acute psychiatric symptoms and innovations in psychiatric nursing practice.

Areas of Interest

• Care of patients with severe mental illness
• Psychiatric nursing care delivery
• Innovations in procedures for staff and patient safety
• Patient and staff engagement

Education

• BSN, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN
• DNP, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN