American Health Dispatch
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Current Fellows
Adolescent Health
Myra Lee Fowler
Bloomberg Fellow
Myra Lee Fowler is a social scientist and the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Policy Analyst at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ WIC Division. She is a senior advisor to the State WIC Director and leads the statewide health equity initiatives to address social determinants of health that impact over 205,000 WIC families, especially among the most marginalized and underrepresented communities. Myra collaborates with researchers, nutrition and lactation experts, and local agencies to evaluate strategies and programs through an equity lens to mitigate bias in policies and practices. Previously, she managed operations for the statewide SDOH strategy steering committee led by the Chief Medical Executive for the state of Michigan. As WIC celebrates 50 years of service, Myra is committed to exploring its role in reducing maternal mortality, eliminating disparities in maternal health outcomes, and centering the voices of the adolescent population in Michigan.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is an agency that provides services and administers programs to improve the health, safety, and prosperity of the residents of the state of Michigan. To promote and improve the health and well-being of all Michigan residents, MDHHS implements initiatives aimed at disease prevention, health care access, and social services delivery. Playing a pivotal role in addressing the community's diverse needs, MDHHS oversees Medicaid and public health efforts and supports vulnerable populations, such as children, families, and seniors. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a USDA federally-funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program administered by MDHHS, serving low and moderate-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.