Derek M. Griffith, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture, and Health

Assistant Professor, Health Behavior and Health Education

Director, Center on Men's Health Disparities 

Faculty Advisor, Public Health Students of African Descent

Professional Summary
Dr. Griffith's research explores men's health disparities: why men of different races, ethnicities, sexual identities and economic statuses have disparate patterns of health and illness.  Men's health disparities takes an intersectional approach that considers how cultural values and beliefs associated with male gender intersect with social, cultural and economic factors to differentially affect the health of men defined by race, ethnicity, class, SES, sexual identity, age, address, urbanicity, religion, culture or country of origin.  Dr. Griffith uses qualitative and quantitative approaches to develop and test theories and interventions that will help improve Black American men's longevity and quality of life.  In this work he examines how racism, social support, stress, and life priorities influence men's health behavior, men's health outcomes, and men's health disparities. Dr. Griffith is currently the Principal Investigator of grants funded by the American Cancer Society, the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research to improve healthy eating, increase physical activity and reduce African American men's cancer risk in three cities in Michigan: Flint, Detroit and Ypsilanti.  He also is the evaluator for a faith-based HIV prevention project in Flint, Michigan - YOUR Blessed Health.