Emily Zimmerman, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Emily Zimmerman, Ph.D.

Department: Division of Epidemiology

Phone: (804) 628-2462

Email: emily.zimmerman@vcuhealth.org

Undergraduate Education

  • Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, English (concentration in writing), B.A., Departmental Honors. 06/1986 - 12/1989
  • SUNY, New Paltz, Biology 08/1984 - 05/1986

Graduate Education

  • MPH, University of South Carolina 08/2013 - 12/2017
  • PhD, CUNY Graduate Center 2001
  • MS, Hunter College 08/1991 - 05/1993

Post Graduate Education

  • Social Marketing Training Academy, University of South Florida Social Marketing Conference, USF Health, June 13-14, 2009.
    Summer Short Course, Social Network Analysis, Center for the Advancement of Research Methods and Analysis (CARMA), Virginia Commonwealth University, 2009.
    Summer Research Institute, National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect, Cornell University, May 31 – June 4, 2006. 06/2014 - 06/2006

Research Expertise

  • Social determinants of health; health equity; community and stakeholder engagement in research; community-engaged research methods; qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research

Teaching Expertise

  • Research methods
    Statistics for social sciences
    Sociology

Keywords & Interest Areas

  • Community engaged research
  • Stakeholder engaged research
  • Social determinants of health
  • Health equity
  • Qualitative research
  • Quantitative research
  • Public health

Awards & Honors

  • Distinguished Colleague Award, Fairfax County, VA
  • Kenneth B. and Mamie Phipps Clark Fellowship for Doctoral Research with Potential for Social Action
  • Joseph Monticciolo Fellowship in Doctoral Studies
  • Ruth Weintraub Graduate Scholar

Selected Peer Reviewed Publications:

  • Duea SR, Zimmerman EB, Vaughn LM, Dias S, Harris J. A Guide to Selecting Participatory Research Methods Based on Project and Partnership Goals. Journal of Participatory Research Methods. Accepted.
  • Zimmerman EB, Raskin SE, Ferrell B, Krist A. Developing a classification system and algorithm to track community-engaged research using IRB protocols at a large research university. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science. 6: e6, 1–7. doi: 10.1017/cts.2021.877 11/2021
  • Egid BR, Roura M, Aktar B, Amegee Quach J, Chumo I, Dias S, Hegel G, Jones L, Karuga R, Lar L, López Y, Pandya A, Norton TC, Sheikhattari P, Tancred T, Wallerstein N, Zimmerman E, Ozano K. ‘You want to deal with power while riding on power’: global perspectives on power in participatory health research and co-production approaches. BMJ Global Health. 2021. 6:e006978. doi:10.1136/ bmjgh-2021-006978. PMID: 34764147, PMCID: PMC8587355 11/2021
  • Egid B, Ozano K, Hegel G, Zimmerman E, et al. Can everyone hear me? Reflections on the use of global online workshops for promoting inclusive knowledge generation. Qualitative Research. June 10, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1177/14687941211019585. PMCID: PMC8587355, PMID: 34764147 06/2021
  • Woolf SH, Chapman D, Sabo RT, Zimmerman EB. Excess Deaths From COVID-19 and Other Causes During 2020. JAMA. 2021, April 2. doi:10:1001/jama.2021.5199. PMCID: PMC8019132, PMID: 33797550 04/2021
  • Zimmerman EB, Rafie CL, Moser DE, Hargrove A, Noe T, Mills CA. Participatory Action Planning to Address the Opioid Crisis in a Rural Virginia Community using the SEED Method. Journal of Participatory Research Methods, 2020; 1(1). https://jprm.scholasticahq.com/article/13182-participatory-action-planning-to-address-the-opioid-crisis-in-a-rural-virginia-community-using-the-seed-method 08/2020
  • Rafie CL, Zimmerman EB, Moser DE, Cook S, Zarghami F. A Lung Cancer Research Agenda that Reflects the Diverse Perspectives of Community Stakeholders: Process and Outcomes of the SEED Method. Research Involvement and Engagement. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-018-0134-y 2019
  • Zimmerman EB, Haley A, Creighton GC, Bea C, Miles C, Robles A, Cook S, Aroche A. Assessing the Impacts and Ripple Effects of a Community-University Partnership: A Retrospective Roadmap. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning. 2019; 25(1): 62-76. 2019
  • Woolf SH, Chapman DA, Bobby KJ, Zimmerman EB, Blackburn SM. Changes in midlife death rates across racial and ethnic groups in the United States: A systematic analysis of vital statistics. BMJ. 2018; 362:k3096 http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k3096. 2018
  • Zimmerman EB, Woolf SH, Simon SM, Kimmel AD, Barnes AJ, Bono RS. The Case for Considering Education and Health. Urban Education. 2018; 53(6):744-773. doi: 10.1177/0042085916682572. 2018
  • Zimmerman EB, Cook SK, Haley AD, Woolf SH, Price SK, the Engaging Richmond Team. A Patient and Provider Research Agenda on Diabetes and Hypertension Management. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.01.034. 2017
  • Woolf SH, Purnell JQ, Simon SM, Zimmerman EB, Camberos GJ, Haley AD, Fields RP. Translating research into action: a framework for research that supports advances in population health. Front Public Health Serv Sys Res. 2016; 5(3):28–34. DOI: 10.13023/FPHSSR.0503.05. 2016
  • Woolf SH, Zimmerman E, Haley A, Krist A. Authentic Engagement of Patients and Communities Can Transform Research, Practice, and Policy. Health Affairs. 2016. 35 (4); 590-594. doi 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.1512. 2016
  • Woolf SH, Zimmerman E, Haley A, Krist A. Does Engagement Matter? A Supplement to: Authentic Engagement of Patients and Communities Can Transform Research, Practice, and Policy. Health Affairs. 2016. 35(4); Appendix. doi 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.1512. 2016
  • Woolf SH, Purnell JQ, Simon SM, Zimmerman EB, Camberos GJ, Haley AD, Fields RP. Translating evidence into population health improvement: Strategies and barriers. Annu. Rev. Public Health. 2015. 36: 463-482.1-21.20; doi 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-082214-110901. 2015

Books, Book Chapters, & Monographs:

  • Zimmerman EB, ed. Researching Health Together: Engaging Patients and Stakeholders, from Topic Identification to Policy Change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2021. 2021
  • Zimmerman EB, Cook SK. The SEED method: The SEED Method: a Multi-level Stakeholder Approach to Research Question Development and Prioritization. In: Zimmerman EB, ed. Researching Health Together: Engaging Patients and Stakeholders, from Topic Identification to Policy Change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2021: 92-116. 2021
  • Zimmerman EB, Concannon TW. Engaging Patients and Stakeholders in Health Research: An Introduction. In: Zimmerman EB, ed. Researching Health Together: Engaging Patients and Stakeholders, from Topic Identification to Policy Change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2021: 1-22. 2021
  • Zimmerman EB, Cook SK, Woolf SH, et al. (2020). Developing a Method for Engaging People in Setting Research Agendas. Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). https://doi.org/10.25302/04.2020.ME.131007664 2020
  • Zimmerman E, Aroche A, Bea C, Green C, Gregory L, Miles C. Regional Scan and Strategies for Community Engagement in Health, Housing and Community Development. Richmond, VA: Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Society and Health, 2018. https://drive.google.com/file/d/12gOA4OJ5DUhtOwg97ON-W1dpfOSF0ASn/view?usp=sharing 05/2018
  • Woolf S, Aron L, Chapman D, Dubay L, Zimmerman E, Lauren C. Snellings, Lindsey Hall, Amber D. Haley, Nikhil Hola, Kristin Ayers, Christopher Lowenstein, Timothy A. Waidmann. The Health of the States: Spotlight on Chronic Diseases, Part B. Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Society and Health and the Urban Institute, 2017. https://societyhealth.vcu.edu/media/society-health/pdf/HOTS-Supplement9-FINAL.pdf 12/2017
  • Woolf S, Aron L, Chapman D, Dubay L, Zimmerman E, Lauren C. Snellings, Lindsey Hall, Amber D. Haley, Nikhil Hola, Kristin Ayers, Christopher Lowenstein, Timothy A. Waidmann. The Health of the States: Spotlight on Chronic Diseases, Part A. Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Society and Health and the Urban Institute, 2017. https://societyhealth.vcu.edu/media/society-health/pdf/HOTS-Supplement8-FINAL.pdf 12/2017
  • Woolf S, Aron L, Chapman D, Dubay L, Zimmerman E, Lauren C. Snellings, Lindsey Hall, Amber D. Haley, Nikhil Hola, Kristin Ayers, Christopher Lowenstein, Timothy A. Waidmann. The Health of the States: Spotlight on Adult Health Status. Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Society and Health and the Urban Institute, 2017. https://societyhealth.vcu.edu/media/society-health/pdf/HOTS_Supplement7_FINAL.pdf 10/2017
  • Woolf S, Aron L, Chapman D, Dubay L, Zimmerman E, Lauren C. Snellings, Lindsey Hall, Amber D. Haley, Nikhil Hola, Kristin Ayers, Christopher Lowenstein, Timothy A. Waidmann. The Health of the States: Spotlight on Injury. Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Society and Health and the Urban Institute, 2017. https://societyhealth.vcu.edu/media/society-health/pdf/HOTS_06-Supplement_FINAL.pdf 07/2017
  • Woolf S, Aron L, Chapman D, Dubay L, Zimmerman E,  Lauren C. Snellings, Lindsey Hall, Amber D. Haley, Nikhil Hola, Kristin Ayers, Christopher Lowenstein, Timothy A. Waidmann. The Health of the States: Spotlight on Sexually Transmitted Infections. Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Society and Health and the Urban Institute, 2017. https://societyhealth.vcu.edu/media/society-health/pdf/HOTS_05-Supplement_FINAL.pdf 07/2017

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