Michelle S. Williams, PhD, MSPH

Dr. Michelle S. Williams is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Global and Community Health at George Mason University. Dr. Williams’ research is focused on developing culturally appropriate health behavior interventions for cancer prevention and control that will lead to a reduction in cancer disparities. Since 2009, Dr. Williams has been conducting research in Ghana, West Africa that is focused on cervical cancer prevention.

Dr. Williams’ research interests include the cancer prevention behaviors, Community-Based Participatory Research, qualitative research, and the design and conduct of mix method studies.  She is currently working studies that are aimed at using different forms of  mhealth to reduce cancer disparities in the Deep South region of the US and in low- and middle-income countries. 

Dr. Williams is extremely passionate about public health and cancer prevention and control. She dedicates a lot of time to serving her community as a volunteer for community-based organizations. When she is not working, or volunteering, she enjoys weightlifting, kickboxing, and playing tennis. She loves to travel and learn about different cultures.

Research

Williams MS, Beech BM, Griffith DM, Jr Thorpe RJ. The Association between Hypertension and Race/Ethnicity among Breast Cancer Survivors. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2020 Mar 17;. doi: 10.1007/s40615-020-00741-7. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32185742.

Hohmann, N.S., McDaniel, C.C., Mason, S.W., Cheung, W.Y., Williams, M.S., Salvador, C., Graves, E.K., Camp, C.N. and Chou, C. (2020), Healthcare providers’ perspectives on care coordination for adults with cancer and multiple chronic conditions: a systematic review. J Pharm Health Serv Res. doi:10.1111/jphs.12334

Hohmann, N.S., McDaniel, C.C., Mason, S.W., Cheung, W.Y., Williams, M.S., Salvador, C., Graves, E.K., Camp, C.N. and Chou, C. (2019), Patient perspectives on primary care and oncology care coordination in the context of multiple chronic conditions: A systematic review. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2019.11.014

Williams, M. S., Young, C., McKinney, S., Simon Hawkins, O. S., Roberson, C., Udemgba, C., Rogers, D. B., Wells, J., Lake, D. A., Davis, D., Young, T., Donnell, D., & Herring, B. J. (2019). Making Breast Screening Convenient: a Community-Based Breast Screening Event During a Historically Black University's Homecoming Festivities. Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education, 10.1007/s13187-019-01600-8. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-019-01600-8

Williams, M. S., Kenu, E., Adanu, A., Yalley, R. A., Lawoe, N. K., Dotse, A. S., . . . Fontaine, K. (2018). Awareness and Beliefs About Cervical Cancer, the HPV Vaccine, and Cervical Cancer Screening Among Ghanaian Women with Diverse Education Levels. J Cancer Educ. doi:10.1007/s13187-018-1392-y

Williams, M. S., Kenu, E., Dzubey, I., Dennis-Antwi, J. A., & Fontaine, K. (2018). A qualitative study of cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening awareness among nurses in Ghana. Health Care Women Int, 39(5), 584-594. doi:10.1080/07399332.2018.1424169

Fontaine, K. R., Williams, M. S., Hoenemeyer, T. W., Kaptchuk, T. J., & Dutton, G. R. (2016). Placebo effects in obesity research. Obesity (Silver Spring), 24(4), 769-771. 

Williams, M., Moneyham, L., Kempf, M.C., Chamot, E., & Scarinci, I. (2014). Structural and Sociocultural Factors Associated with Cervical Cancer Screening Among HIV-Infected African American Women in Alabama. AIDS Patient Care and STDs.

Williams, M. S. (2014). A Qualitative Assessment of the Social Cultural Factors That Influence Cervical Cancer Screening Behaviors and the Health Communication Preferences of Women in Kumasi, Ghana. Journal of Cancer Education, 1–8.

Williams, M., Kuffour, G., Ekuadzi, E., Yeboah, M., El Duah, M., & Tuffour, P. (2013). Assessment of Psychological barriers to Cervical Cancer screening among women in Kumasi, Ghana using a mixed methods approach. African Health Sciences, 13(4), 1048–1055.

Williams, M., and Amoateng, P. (2012). Knowledge and Attitudes About Cervical Cancer and Cervical Cancer Screening Among Men in Kumasi, Ghana. Ghana Medical Journal. 46(3), 147- 151.​

​Williams, M. (2012). Development of the Nutrition4Kids Website. Studies in Health Technologies and Informatics. 172. 174-179.

Bowen, S., Williams, E., Stoneberg-Cooper, S., Glover, S., Williams, M., and Byrd, M.(2012). Effects of Social Injustice on Breast Health Seeking Behaviors of Low-income Women. American Journal of Health Promotion 27(4):222-30.

Hardy, C., Wynn-Wallace, T., Williams, M., Marron, J., and Partridge, E. (2012). Community Health Advisors as Research Partners: Utilizing Community-Based Participatory Research to Address Cancer Prevention and Control in African American Communities in the Deep South. Journal of Healthcare, Science, and the Humanities II(2), 95-107.

Honors and Awards

• Travel Award, The Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science
• Fellow, Obesity Health Disparities (NIH NHLBI PRIDE)
• 3rd Place, Postdoctoral Fellow Category, UAB School of Public Health Research Day
• Volunteer of the Year, Susan G. Komen, North Central Alabama Affiliate
• Career Enhancement Award, UAB Office of Postdoctoral Education
• First Prize, R. Davilene Carter Presidential Prize for Best Manuscripts (American Association for Cancer Education)
• Ireland Research Travel Award, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Sparkman Global Health Fellow, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Predoctoral Trainee Fellowship, UAB Cancer Prevention and Control Training Program
• Travel Scholarship, International Conference on Health in the African Diaspora
• Second Place, Koronisfest National Public Service Announcement Competition
• Promising Scholar Fellowship, UAB Cancer Prevention and Control Training Program
• Travel Scholarship, American Association for Cancer Education International Conference
• Bronze Award, St. Jude's Cure4Kids eHealth Challenge
• Fulbright Award for Research, Fulbright U.S. Student Program
• Second Place Oral Presentation, University of South Carolina Graduate Student Day
• Academic Achievement Award, USC Black Graduate Student Association
• Research Fellow, NIHM Minority Health International Research Training Program
• Best Student Poster in Social Science, Carolina Women’s Health Research Forum
• Graduate Incentive Fellowship, University of South Carolina Graduate School
• Volunteer of the Year Award, Tallahassee March of Dimes Collegiate Council
• Outstanding Research Abstract Award, TerraSeer Graduate Research Contest
• First Place Poster in Life Sciences, The Florida Georgia Louis Stokes Alliance Student Research Expo
• Academic Scholarship, FAMU/BIONR Center for Advancing Students' Progression in the Biological Sciences

Affiliations

• Member

  2020 - present
  Society for the Analysis of African American Public Health Issues
• Member

   
  American Association of Cancer Research
• Member

   
  American Association for Cancer Education
• Member

   
  American Public Health Association

Degrees

• Master of Science in Public Health, Health Outcomes Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Doctor of Philosophy, Health Education and Health Promotion, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Graduate Certificate, Global Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Graduate Certificate , Women and Gender Studies, University of South Carolina
• Graduate Certificate, Adult Education and Human Resource Management, Florida State University
• Master of Public Health, Environmental Health, Florida A&M University
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Florida A&M University