Dovile Vilda, PhD, MSc

Assistant Professor

Dovile Vilda headshot, smiling at camera

Education & Affiliations

PhD, Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin, School of Social Work and Social Policy
MSc, Migration, Ethnic Relations and Multiculturalism, Utrecht University, Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science
BA, Political Science, Vilnius University, Institute of International Relations and Political Science

Biography

Dr. Dovile Vilda is an interdisciplinary social scientist and public health researcher with advanced training and experience in mixed methods and policy research. Her current projects focus on: 1) examining the medicalization of childbirth in Louisiana through a mixed-methods approach; 2) investigating intersectional disparities in fertility care; and 3) analyzing the role of social determinants and state-level policies (e.g., abortion bans, firearm laws) in contributing to higher rates of adverse maternal and child health outcomes in the U.S. She received her PhD in Social Policy from Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Social Epidemiology at the Mary Amelia Center for Women’s Health Equity Research (Tulane University).

Research Areas

  • Maternal and child health 
  • Women’s health equity 
  • Social determinants of reproductive health 
  • Policy analysis 
  • LGBTQ+ health 
  • Mixed methods research

Publications

View Dr. Vilda’s Publications at her NCBI Bibliography or Google Scholar pages.

Courses

SBPS 7250 Evidence-based Research Methods

SBPS 6490 Key Policies and Programs in Maternal and Child Health