Joyce (Joy) E. Balls-Berry, Ph.D.

Joyce (Joy) E. Balls-Berry, Ph.D., is a psychiatric epidemiologist and health educator. Her primary research focus is evaluating the application of community-engaged research principles in diverse populations. Secondly, she is interested in how community-engaged research can be applied to increase health equity.

Dr. Balls-Berry has also focused her research on determining the best approaches for the inclusion of diverse populations into health research. This includes evaluating community recruitment approaches and determining the best methods for returning research findings to research participants.

Focus areas

• Determining the best community-engaged research approaches to increase health equity in populations at risk of premature death from preventable diseases
• Evaluation of the best practices for returning cumulative research results to study participants
• Determining the perceptions and practices of African-Americans' participation in clinical research in the post-Tuskegee experiment era
• Evaluation of the pedagogical approaches to increase learners' (students, trainees, fellows and community members) knowledge of community-engaged research and health disparities

Significance to patient care

Dr. Balls-Berry's research will help to improve patient care by helping community members learn new approaches to increase wellness. Much of Dr. Balls-Berry's research focuses on bringing awareness to populations that we serve, and she hopes this work promotes thoughtful collaborative partnerships among community members, medical practitioners and academic researchers to activity commit to helping to improve health care of individuals and communities.

Furthermore, Dr. Balls-Berry is encouraged that this work will ultimately help to put the needs of our patients and communities first.

Professional highlights

• Practice-Based Research Network Travel Award, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Department of Health and Human Services, 2011
• 2nd Place for Oral Presentation at 2nd Annual Graduate Student Symposium, Graduate Student Association, University of Toledo, 2009
• Dissertation Scholarship Award, College of Health and Human Services, University of Toledo, 2008
• Karen H. Evans Memorial Scholarship, Ohio Chapter of the Society of Public Health Education, 2006
• President, Eta Sigma Gamma Health Education Honorary Iota Chapter, 2006
• Research Coordinator, Eta Sigma Gamma Health Education Honorary Iota Chapter, 2005