Melissa Creary

Dr. Melissa Creary is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She holds both a PhD and an MPH from Emory University, where she developed her expertise at the intersection of public health, science, and technology studies. Dr. Creary's current research centers on community perspectives regarding trustworthiness in government and its impact on trust in healthcare systems. She teaches courses such as "Race, Ethnicity, and Culture in Health Policy" and "Public Health Systems," which explore critical issues related to health equity and policy.Dr. Creary's work emphasizes the importance of understanding how social determinants influence health outcomes, particularly within marginalized communities. Her research interests include the concept of "bounded justice," which critiques public health policies that fail to address underlying structural inequities, and "biocultural citizenship," examining how biology and culture intersect to shape identities and trust in health systems. Through her teaching and research, Dr. Creary aims to foster a deeper understanding of the ethical, legal, and social implications of health policies, contributing significantly to the discourse on health equity and community engagement.