Dawn P. Misra, Ph.D. is a Professor and the Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the MSU College of Human Medicine. Dr. Misra received her BA and MHS (Maternal and Child Health) from the Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from Columbia University. Her research focuses on social and biomedical factors which may explain the increased risks of infants born to poor and minority women. This includes examining the intersection between women’s health prior to pregnancy and outcomes of pregnancy. The Institute of Medicine committee report on preterm birth cites several of her papers and notes that her conceptual framework guided the committee’s approach to examining the causes of preterm birth. The chapter on social and psychosocial factors concludes that a more integrative approach to understanding racial-ethnic and socioeconomic disparities is needed. Dr. Misra’s current work investigates how racism acts as a fundamental cause of adverse maternal and infant outcomes for Black families. Her research endeavors to contribute to a fuller understanding of the pathways which lead to optimal perinatal health and close the gap in racial disparities. As an educator and a leader, she is committed to increasing diversity and equity among learners, faculty, and leaders in her profession. Dr. Misra is the author of more than 100 journal articles and book chapters. Her work has been funded by NIH and HRSA.