Melissa L. Gilliam

Melissa Lynn Gilliam is an American pediatric and adolescent gynecologist. She is the first woman of color to serve as provost of Ohio State University, having previously served as the Ellen H. Block Distinguished Service Professor of Health Justice at the University of Chicago.

Melissa L. Gilliam
Born
Washington, DC
Parent(s)Dorothy Butler Gilliam (mother)
Sam Gilliam (father)
RelativesLeah Gilliam (sister)
Academic background
EducationBA, English literature, Yale University
MA, philosophy and politics, University of Oxford
MD, Harvard University
MPH, University of Illinois Chicago
Academic work
InstitutionsOhio State University
University of Chicago

Early life and education

Gilliam was born in Washington, DC to journalist mother Dorothy Butler Gilliam, and artist father Sam Gilliam.[1] Her mother was the first African-American journalist for The Washington Post.[2] She earned her Bachelor's degree in English literature from Yale University, a Master of Arts degree in philosophy and politics from the University of Oxford, a medical degree from Harvard University and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Illinois Chicago.[3]

Career

Gilliam joined the faculty at the University of Chicago (U of C) in 2005.[4] She eventually became the chief of family planning and contraceptive research and head of the program in gynecology for children, adolescents, and young women at the University of Chicago Medical Center. In this role, her research team followed African American teenage mothers to see how their education, housing, exercise, weight gain, emotional state, and relationships influence their risk of a repeat pregnancy.[5]

As a result of her research, Gilliam was named a Faculty Fellow of the Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence for the 2013–14 academic year.[6] During this time, Gilliam founded the Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Innovation in Sexual and Reproductive Health (Ci3) that used games, narrative, and design to understand and address the social and structural determinants of adolescent sexual and reproductive health.[7] Within the Ci3, there are three internal laboratories including one for game design, one for storytelling, and one for design thinking.[8] In her Game Changer Chicago Design Lab, she used video games and digital storytelling to discuss sexual violence prevention in a "safe risk taking" manner. She also received a MacArthur Foundation grant to develop a game called A Day in the Life to teach teenagers about HIV, bullying, teen pregnancy, healthy relationships, and intersections between home and school life.[9] Following this, Gilliam was elected to the National Academy of Medicine for being "an authority on contraception and adolescent health."[10]

Following her election to the National Academy of Medicine, Gilliam was appointed the Vice Provost for Academic Leadership, Advancement and Diversity.[11] She was also appointed the Ellen H. Block Professor in Health and Justice.[4] Prior to leaving U of C, Gilliam's professorship was given the Distinguished Service title.[12] In 2021, Gilliam joined the faculty at Ohio State University where she became the first woman of color to serve as provost.[13] In the same year, she joined the board of directors at Talis Biomedical.[14]

Personal life

Gilliam and her husband, who is also a doctor, have two children together.[1]

References
  1. Schoenberg, Nara (March 31, 2013). "Remarkable Woman: Melissa Gilliam". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  2. Orozco, Jessica (May 28, 2021). "New provost looks to make lasting impact at Ohio State, promote a more inclusive environment". The Lantern. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  3. Kyaw, Arrman (May 27, 2021). "Dr. Melissa L. Gilliam Named Ohio State University's First Woman of Color Provost". Diverse. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  4. "UChicago faculty members receive named, distinguished service professorships". University of Chicago. February 17, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  5. Springen, Karen (January 11, 2011). "U of C Doc Melissa Gilliam Fights Teen Pregnancies". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  6. "Melissa Gilliam, MD, MPH 2013–2014 SENIOR FACULTY SCHOLAR". Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  7. "VICE PROVOST, FACULTY, PHYSICIAN, REASEARCHER". The Chicago News. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  8. O'Neill, Brook (May 17, 2016). "Changing the game on teen health: Melissa Gilliam gives young people a voice". University of Chicago. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  9. Feldheim, Ben (June 9, 2015). "Gaming Against Sexual Violence". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  10. Easton, John (October 19, 2015). "Profs. Melissa Gilliam and David Meltzer elected to National Academy of Medicine". University of Chicago. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  11. "Beilock, Gilliam and Hale appointed to leadership roles in Office of the Provost". University of Chicago. May 19, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  12. "Twenty-three UChicago faculty receive named, distinguished service professorships". University of Chicago. December 22, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  13. "Melissa L. Gilliam, MD, named Ohio State provost". Ohio State University. May 27, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  14. "Talis Appoints Melissa L. Gilliam, M.D., M.P.H., to Board of Directors". BioSpace. January 27, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.