Health Equity Officer, Division of Overdose Prevention

CDC role

Laura M. Kollar, PhD, is the Health Equity Officer/Senior Health Scientist of the Division of Overdose Prevention (DOP) at the CDC Injury Center. Her interests include community-level prevention partnerships, health and wellness in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, prevention efforts for disproportionately affected communities, and health communication and behavioral interventions. Dr. Kollar especially is interested in supporting and establishing communities of practices for grounded knowledge sharing and grassroots subject matter expertise.

Areas of expertise

• Behavioral science and interventions
• Health communication science
• Health equity
• Specific populations and communities

Education

Dr. Kollar received a BA in Social Relations and a MA in Health Communication from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, and a PhD in Communication Studies (health communication specialty) from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.