As a Professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Dr. Patel has established herself as a national leader in research on financial burden, healthcare affordability, and non-medical drivers of health. Her research examines how the cost of care—and the lack of essentials like transportation, housing, and food—undermine people’s ability to manage chronic illnesses. She identifies systemic barriers within healthcare and social services, and evaluates policies and interventions that better support people’s financial and physical well-being. The goal of her work is to ensure that no one has to choose between getting medical care and meeting basic needs.
Dr. Patel’s research has helped shape how organizations build navigation tools, offer financial support, and reduce unnecessary burden for patients. Her work spans a wide range of chronic diseases, and encompasses measurement development, epidemiological analysis, intervention design and testing, and large-scale evaluation of policies and programs.
Throughout her career, Dr. Patel has held several leadership positions in academia and advisory roles with health organizations at both state and national levels. Her expertise in financial burden chronic disease management has made her a sought-after advisor for health systems, foundations, and government agencies working to address and advance research on non-medical drivers of health.
Her research has been continuously funded through competitive grants from federal agencies and private foundations. Dr. Patel has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals including Diabetes Care, Health Affairs, JAMA Network journals, and the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Dr. Patel’s contributions have been recognized through her election as a member of the National Academy of Medicine’s Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine program and through awards from major professional organizations. She is committed to education and mentorship, and routinely mentors students, fellows, and junior faculty.
Dr. Patel received her PhD and MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan.