Carrie Karvonen-Gutierrez, Ph.D., M.P.H.
(She/her/hers)
Biography
Dr. Karvonen-Gutierrez is an Associate Professor and the Associate Chair of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan and Director of the Center for Midlife Science. Dr. Karvonen-Gutierrez’s research focuses on critical periods of risk for adverse health outcomes in women. Specifically, she evaluates the impact of chronological aging, reproductive aging and obesity and their intersections, on the development and progression of chronic disease and musculoskeletal outcomes through the creation of a metabolically-dysfunctional and pro-inflammatory environment. To address her research agenda, Dr. Karvonen-Gutierrez uses both epidemiologic and clinical research designs leveraging her leadership in ongoing cohort studies as well as new data collection efforts.
Dr. Karvonen-Gutierrez received her PhD in Epidemiologic Science and MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan. She is a National Institute of Aging Butler Williams Scholar and is on the Editorial Board at the Midlife Women’s Health journal. She has a K01 Mentored Research Scientist award from the National Institute of Aging to examine metabolomics and osteoarthritis. She is the Principal Investigator on the Michigan Bone Health and Metabolism Study, the Michigan site of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, and the PROTECT-Moms Study. Dr. Karvonen-Gutierrez is also an affiliate of the Michigan Center on the Demography of Aging (MiCDA).
- Ph.D., University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
- M.P.H., University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
- BA, University of Northern Iowa
Research
Dr. Karvonen-Gutierrez's research program seeks to understand the impact of critical life stages and transitions on metabolic and musculoskeletal health outcomes. Her research program includes four aims: 1) identifying inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers related to osteoarthritis incidence, progression and severity; 2) describing the epidemiology of and risk factors for physical function limitations, disability and falls during midlife; 3) characterizing changes in bone health and skeletal fragility across the menopausal transition; and 4) identifying environmental exposures associated with metabolic dysfunction in women during critical risk periods.
