Fellow
Dr. Combs is a community-engaged researcher who studies the impact of health policies and practices on populations that experience marginalization and minoritization. His main communities of focus are sexual and gender minorities (LGBTQ+ people), people with disabilities, and people of color. He has several years of experience conducting qualitative and community-based participatory research in partnership with stakeholders such as community members and groups, patient populations, policymakers, public health professionals, and health care providers.
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About Ryan Combs
Dr. Combs is a community-engaged researcher who studies the impact of health policies and practices on populations that experience marginalization and minoritization. His main communities of focus are sexual and gender minorities (LGBTQ+ people), people with disabilities, and people of color. He has several years of experience conducting qualitative and community-based participatory research in partnership with stakeholders such as community members and groups, patient populations, policymakers, public health professionals, and health care providers.
| 2016 - Present | Fellow, University of Louisville ‐ Cooperative Consortium for Transdisciplinary Social Justice Research | |
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| 2015 - Present | Associate Professor, University of Louisville ‐ Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences | |
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Disciplines
Grants
| 2021 - 2022 | Developing Health Knowledge and Self-Advocacy Among Youth with Intellectual Disability during COVID-19 and Beyond |
| Crusade for Children | |
| Role: Principal Investigator | |
| $20,500 | |
| 2021 - 2022 | Embrace the Journey Kentucky |
| Cliff Todd Endowment Grant | |
| Role: Principal Investigator | |
| $5,000 | |
| 2021 - 2022 | Targeted COVID-19 Vaccine Decision Making Support for Sexual and Gender Minorities |
| National Institutes of Health | |
| Role: Co-Principal Investigator | |
| Colleague(s): Martha Bickford, Ph.D. | |
| $253,183 | |
| 2021 - 2022 | Transgender Individuals with Chronic Illness and Disability Study |
| Cooperative Consortium for Transdisciplinary Social Justice Research | |
| Role: Principal Investigator | |
| $2,485 | |
| 2021 - 2022 | Understanding African American parental concerns about child protective services involvement to improve access to pediatric medical and social care |
| (Blank) | |
| Colleague(s): Amber Pendleton, MD | |
| $38,957 | |
| 2019 - 2020 | Professional Healthcare Chaplaincy Certification: Exploring Efficacy & Strategizing Future Directions |
| Center for Health Organization Transformations | |
| Role: Principal Investigator | |
| $50,000 | |
| 2018 - 2020 | Increasing Pre-exposure Prophylaxis among High-risk African Americans in Louisville, KY |
| (Blank) | |
| Role: Co-Investigator | |
| Colleague(s): Jelani Kerr, Ph.D. | |
| $219,000 | |
| 2015 - 2020 | Changing the Narrative: Using Media to Shift Norms of Violence among Youth in West Louisville |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | |
| Role: Co-Investigator | |
| Colleague(s): Monica Wendel, DrPH | |
| $5,700,000 | |
| 2018 - 2019 | LGBTQ Adolescent Health |
| Cliff Todd Endowment Grant | |
| Role: Co-Principal Investigator | |
| Colleague(s): Maurice Gattis, Ph.D. | |
| $5,000 | |
| 2017 - 2019 | LGBTQ Adolescent Health |
| Cooperative Consortium for Transdisciplinary Social Justice Research | |
| Role: Principal Investigator | |
| $15,000 | |
| 2015 - 2018 | Increasing Health Literacy on Chronic Conditions in an Underserved Population |
| Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence | |
| Role: Co-Principal Investigator | |
| Colleague(s): Monica Wendel, DrPH | |
| $300,000 | |
| 2015 - 2018 | West Louisville Health Literacy Project |
| Commonwealth Institute of Kentucky by KentuckyOne Health | |
| Role: Co-Principal Investigator | |
| Colleague(s): Monica Wendel, DrPH | |
| $300,000 | |
| 2017 - 2017 | House Ball Scene |
| Cooperative Consortium for Transdisciplinary Social Justice Research | |
| Role: Co-Investigator | |
| Colleague(s): Emma Sterrett-Hong, Ph.D. | |
| $7,500 | |
| 2015 - 2015 | LGBT Health Equity & Access Project |
| Kentucky Voices for Health | |
| Role: Principal Investigator | |
| $25,000 |
Professional Service and Affiliations
| 2017 - Present | Member, Kentucky Public Health Association | 2015 - Present | Member, American Public Health Association | 2009 - 2017 | Member, American Political Science Association | 2012 - 2014 | Member, BSA Medical Sociology Study Group | 2012 - 2014 | Member, British Sociological Association |
Honors and Awards
- American Political Science Association Bailey Award for outstanding paper on an LGBT topic presented at the APSA Annual Meeting, 2009
- Invited Guest, 10 Downing Street (British Prime Minister’s Residence) LGBT receptions in recognition of work with the Government Equalities Office, 2012 & 2013
- Attendee, White House Convening on Advancing LGBT Progress in Rural America, 2016
- Commissioned a Kentucky Colonel, the Commonwealth’s Highest Title of Honor, 2020
- University of Louisville Student Champion, 2021
Courses
- Gender and Public Dialogue
- Transgender Studies
- Health Communications Campaigns
- Community Based Participatory Research
- Qualitative Research
- Ph.D. Seminar
- Social Justice and Health Equity Research
- LGBTQ Health
- Focus Groups
| 2011 | Ph.D., University of Manchester ‐ Politics, Health policy focus | |
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| 2006 | M.A., Graduated with Merit, University of Manchester ‐ Politics, Governance & Public Policy concentration | |
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| 2004 | B.A., Minor: Women's & Gender Studies, University of Louisville ‐ Department of Political Science | |
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Contact Information
School of Public Health & Information Sciences
485 E. Gray St., Room 210
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 852-1995 (Office)
Email:
