Linda B. Cottler PhD, MPH, FACE

Dr. Linda Cottler, Associate Dean for Research and Planning at the College of Public Health and Health Professions and Dean’s Professor and Founding Chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the College of Public Health and Health Professions and the College of Medicine at the University of Florida, is involved in studies in several major areas with public health importance. These include: the development of culturally reliable and valid measures for identifying substance use, abuse and dependence, along with psychiatric disorders and their risk factors; innovative methods for conducting national surveys of high risk behaviors; and community based, peer-delivered interventions to change high risk behaviors and substance abuse. The Cottler lab has focused its work with underrepresented populations including prescription drug misusers, former National Football League players, stimulant users among youth 10 to 18 years of age nationally, out-of-treatment drug users and heavy drinkers, prescription drug misusers, female sex workers, and criminal justice populations. The work she has done is directly related to reducing disparities for health research and health services. Dr. Cottler has been involved with major research efforts over the years, including the Epidemiologic Catchment Area study and now the longitudinal ABCD study.