Susan Marshall Mason, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health

Contact Info
Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health
Member, Healthy Weight Research Center
PhD, Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2010
MPH, Maternal & Child Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2004
BA, Womens Studies, College of William and Mary, 2000
BS, Chemistry, College of William and Mary, 2000
Summary
As a social epidemiologist, my research focuses on the population health impacts of adverse and traumatic experiences, including childhood abuse and neglect, sexual violence, racial segregation, and other forms of violence and social marginalization. These adverse and traumatic experiences are highly prevalent and have impacts on numerous health outcomes of major public health importance. The overarching goal of my work is to advance the evidence base for clinical practice and public health action to prevent these adversities and their negative health impacts.
Expertise
Social determinants of health, maternal and child health, adverse childhood experiences, child maltreatment, psychosocial stress, weight-related health, reproductive health, health inequalities, epidemiologic methods
Research
Research Funding Grants
- 2017, NIH, "Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH) Interdisciplinary Scholar"
- 2016–2017, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, "Interdisciplinary Research Leaders," Co-Investigator
- 2016–2017, NIH NHLBI, "Project EAT-IV: Eating and Activity in Adolescents and Young Adults," Co-Investigator
- 2018-2022, NIH/NICHD, "Maternal early adversities and weight during childbearing," Principal Investigator
- 2018-2020, NIH/NIDDK, "Adverse childhood experiences and obesity in emerging adults: mixed methods study," Principal Investigator
- 2018-2019, Hennepin-University Collaboration Grants, "Understanding the complex needs of parents involved in Hennepin County’s Child Protection Defense Unit," Co-Principal Investigator
Publications
See more publications on PubMed
- Mason SM, Ayour N, Canney S, Eisenberg ME, Neumark-Sztainer D. "Intimate Partner Violence and 5-Year Weight Change in Young Women: A Longitudinal Study," Journal of Women's Health, Jan 2017
- Watts AW, Mason SM, Loth K, Larson N, Neumark-Sztainer D. "Socioeconomic differences in overweight and weight-related behaviors across adolescence and young adulthood: 10-year longitudinal findings from Project EAT," Preventative Medicine, June 2016
- Sundaram ME, Mason SM, Basta NE. "HPV vaccine uptake among overweight and obese US adolescents: An analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2014," Vaccine, May 2016
- Mason SM, Bryn Austin S, Bakalar JL, Boynton-Jarrett R, Field AE, Gooding HC, Holsen LM, Jackson B, Neumark-Sztainer D, Sanchez M, Sogg S, Tanofsky-Kraff M, Rich-Edwards JW. "Child Maltreatment's Heavy Toll: The Need for Trauma-Informed Obesity Prevention," American Journal of Preventative Medicine, May 2016
- Mason SM, Tobias DK, Clark CJ, Zhang C, Hu FB, Rich-Edwards JW. "Abuse in Childhood or Adolescence and Gestational Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study," American Journal of Preventative Medicine, April 2016
Teaching
Teaching Areas
I teach within the Epidemiology and Maternal and Child Health MPH programs.
Courses
- PubH 6341 Epidemiologic Methods I
- PubH 6675, Women's Health
- PubH 8341, Advanced Epidemiologic Methods: Concepts
Media
In The News
SPH News
- Assistant Professor Susan Mason has received a Research Scholar Collaborative Award to work with the University's Just & Equitable Communities Collaborative. Learn More
- Study to Examine Link Between Mothers’ Experiences of Abuse in Childhood and High Pregnancy Weight Gain
In The Media
- Premature babies face higher risk of maltreatment, study finds (Becker's Hospital Review)
- Sexual assault and harassment may have lasting health repercussions for women (NPR)
- Sexual assault and harassment may have lasting health repercussions for women (WGBH)