Benjamin H. Walker
Assistant Professor-Research
Department:
SPH-Population Health Science
Email:
bwalker5@umc.edu
Work Phone:
(601) 915-9544
Biography
Dr. Benjamin Walker is an Assistant Professor of Population Health Science at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He earned his PhD in Sociology with a specialization in Demography and his MS in Experimental Psychology from Mississippi State University, and his BA in Psychology from Southeastern Louisiana University.
His research focuses on child health and the life-course origins of health outcomes, with particular attention to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), neurodevelopment, and geographic variation in health. He is currently an investigator with the NIH/NICHD-funded IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network (ISPCTN).
In addition to his own research, Dr. Walker provides statistical expertise in study design and advanced data analysis, collaborating across disciplines to strengthen population health research. At UMMC, he teaches courses in demography, advanced statistics, and introductory statistics, and mentors doctoral students in population health.
Education
| Mississippi State University, PhD, Sociology | 2021 |
| Mississippi State University, MS, Experimental Psychology | 2012 |
| Southeastern Louisiana University, BA, Psychology | 2008 |
Current Positions
| Program Director, Doctoral Program in Population Health Science, School of Population Health, Department of Population Health Science | 08/2025 - Present |
| Assistant Professor, School of Population Health | 06/2022 - Present |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, Mississippi 39216 | |
Academic Appointments or Other Previous Appointments
| Assistant Research Professor, Mississippi State University | 2021 - 06/2021 |
| Project Manager, Mississippi State University | 2017 - 2021 |
| Research Associate II, Mississippi State University | 2016 - 2017 |
| Research Associate I, Mississippi State University | 2012 - 12/2016 |
| Graduate Research Assistant, Mississippi State University | 2011 - 2012 |
Sponsored Program Funding
| Intramural, Text-based Motivational Interviewing Intervention to Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding (Text-MI), Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research (MCCTR) | 08/2026 - 08/2027 |
| Extramural, Methodological Support for Child Care Market Rate Estimation and Reporting, Mississippi Department of Human Services via Mississippi State University | 11/2025 - 10/2028 |
| Extramural, Mississippi Pediatric Clinical Trials Network 3 (ECHO ISPCTN Cycle 3), NIH/ECHO/ISPCTN | 09/2025 - 05/2030 |
| Extramural, Enhancing Administrative Data Systems for Childcare Market Rate Analysis, Mississippi Department of Human Services via Mississippi State University | 02/2025 - 11/2025 |
| Extramural, Impact of Medicaid Postpartum Coverage Extension and Mandated Postpartum Depression Screening on Care for Gestational Diabetes and Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy, NIH/NICHD | 09/2023 - 08/2030 |
| Extramural, Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center at UMMC, NHLBI | 08/2023 - 08/2025 |
| Extramural, STORK Program (Stabilizing OB/Neo Patients, Training for OB/Neo Emergencies, Outcome Improvements, Resource Sharing, Kind Care for Vulnerable Families)—Part 2, W.K. Kellogg Foundation | 05/2023 - 04/2025 |
| Extramural, Data Support for MSDH CORE SIPP Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via Mississippi State Department of Health | 01/2023 - 06/2023 |
| Extramural, MSDH Website and Data Project, Mississippi Department of Human Services via Mississippi Department of Human Services | 12/2022 - 11/2024 |
| Extramural, MS Department of Human Services Market Rate Survey, Mississippi Department of Human Services | 01/2021 - 07/2021 |
| Extramural, Mississippi Pediatric Clinic Trails Network 2 (ECHO ISPCTN Cycle 2), NICHD | 09/2020 - 08/2025 |
| Extramural, Mississippi Kids Count Data Partnership, Annie E. Casey Foundation via Children's Foundation of Mississippi | 01/2020 - 01/2022 |
| Extramural, Economic Impact of Mississippi Grants and Philanthropy, Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy via Louisiana State University | 08/2019 - 01/2020 |
| Extramural, Philanthropic Giving in Mississippi, Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy | 01/2019 - 08/2019 |
| Extramural, Child Care Pandemic Influenza Analysis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via American Academy of Pediatrics | 10/2018 - 12/2018 |
| Extramural, ACA Survey Research Project, Center for Mississippi Health Policy | 04/2017 - 10/2017 |
| Extramural, Education Services Project, Woodward Hines Education Foundation | 02/2017 - 02/2020 |
| Extramural, Mississippi Association of Grantmakers Philanthropic Report, Mississippi Association of Grantmakers | 09/2014 - 05/2015 |
| Extramural, Mississippi School Health Council Technical Assistance Project, W.K. Kellogg Foundation via Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi | 01/2014 - 09/2019 |
Publications
Journal Article | |
| Amedari MI, Heaton LJ, Dobbs T, Ivey K, Agbonlahor O, Walker BH Pediatric care coordination and oral health outcomes among children with mental disorders in the United States Preventive Medicine Reports. 2026 Apr 24:103482. | 2026 |
| Amedari MI, Dobbs T, Alade MA, Gholar V, Agbonlahor O, Walker BH Pediatric Care Coordination and Oral Health Outcomes in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of 2022–23 National Survey of Children’s Health. Population Health Management. 2026 Apr 9:19427891261442063 | 2026 |
| Walker BH, Jackson EK, Hargrove KL, Heitman E, Reneker JC Association Between Age at Menarche and Cardiovascular Disease Among African American Women in the Jackson Heart Study Public Health Rep. 2026; Jan 18:333549251404837 | 2026 |
| Teng F, Burns PA, Welsch MA, Walker B, Liang K, Huang H, Yin Z, Li L, Li C, Sherer R, Hazra A, Lio J, Qiu D, Tucker JD, Tang W Daily PrEP and event-driven PrEP adherence for men who have sex with men in China. Sex Health 2026 Feb 5;23(1):SH25074. PMID: 41332199 | 2026 |
| Patrick Z, Heitman E, Affuso O, Walker BH, Cooper LL, Reneker JC Association of Physical Activity with Aortic Stiffness in the Jackson Heart Study Am J Hypertens. 2026 Apr 1;39(4):547-553 | 2026 |
| Abedin M, Faruque FS, Dobbs T, Walker BH Social determinants of stroke prevalence in the United States adults: Analysis of 42 states using behavioral risk factor surveillance system 2022 data Prev Med Rep. 2025 Dec 26;61:103363 | 2025 |
| Pongetti LS, Faruque FS, Walker BH Park Quality and Chronic Disease: A City-Level Analysis Wellbeing, Space, and Society. 2025; 100265 | 2025 |
| Amedari MI, Atanda AA, Amedari IK, Monger M, Walker BH The association between predisposing, enabling and need factors and oral health care utilization among U.S. working age adults BMC Oral Health. 2025, 25: 501 | 2025 |
| Hayes CA, Thorpe Jr RJ, Dhamoon M, Heitman E, Norris KC, Beech BM, Bruce M, Walker BH, Reneker JC Stroke Incidence and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Among African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study. Ethnicity & Disease. 2025 Mar 1;35(1):1-7 | 2025 |
| Teng F, Burns P, Welsch M, Tang W, Walker BH HIV risk perception and PrEP uptake among black MSM in Mississippi Int J STD AIDS. 2024; 36(2): 119-125 | 2025 |
| Shirley HL, Walker BH, Reneker JC University Club Sport Student-Athlete Concussion Profiles Differ by Sport and Sex Shirley HL, Walker BH, Reneker JC. University Club Sport Student-Athlete Concussion Profiles Differ by Sport and Sex. Recreational Sports Journal. 2024 Mar 7:15588661241236408. | 2024 |
| Roberts DK, Sarver DE, Cash AR, Walker BH, Lim CS Understanding health behaviors that modify the risk for obesity in ADHD J Pediatr Psychol. 2024 May 16;49(5):372-381 | 2024 |
| Brown DC, Lariscy JT, Walker BH State-Level Trends in Lifespan Variability in the United States, 1960–2019: A Research Note Demography. 2023; 60(1):1-14. | 2023 |
| Gissandaner TD, Stearns MA, Sarver DE, Walker BH, Ford H Understanding the Impact of Insufficient Sleep in Children with Behavior Problems on Caregiver Stress: Results from a US National Study Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2023; 28(4):1550-1564. | 2023 |
| Walker BH, Brown DC Trends in lifespan variation across the spectrum of rural and urban places in the United States, 1990–2017 SSM Popul Health. 2022; 19:101213. | 2022 |
| Walker BH, Brown DC, Walker CS, Stubbs-Richardson M, Oliveros AD, Buttross S Childhood adversity associated with poorer health: evidence from the US National Survey of Children's Health Child Abuse Negl. 2022; 134:105871. | 2022 |
| Yigit IA, Brown DC, Walker BH, Pellegrine SE, Baird-Thomas C, Hanna HL, Buttross S. Perceived barriers to developmental screening among children ages 0-5: Results from a statewide survey of health care providers in Mississippi Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association. 2021; 62: 88-94. | 2021 |
| Walker CS, Walker BH, Brown DC, Buttross S, Sarver DE Defining the role of exposure to ACEs in ADHD: Examination in a national sample of US children Child Abuse Negl. 2021; 112:104884. | 2021 |
| Shope TR, Walker BH, Aird L, Southward L, Martin JM Influenza vaccine requirements in United States child care centers J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2020; 9(5):566-572. | 2020 |
| Shope TR, Walker BH, Aird LD, Southward L, McCown JS, Martin JM Pandemic influenza preparedness among child care center directors in 2008 and 2016 Pediatrics. 2017; 139(6). | 2017 |
| McKee C, Long L, Southward LH, Walker BH, McCown JS The role of parental misperception of child's body weight in childhood obesity J Pediatr Nurs. 2016; 31:196-203. | 2016 |
| Walker BH, Sinclair HC, MacArthur J. Social norms vs social motives: The effects of social influence and motivation to control prejudice reactions on the expression of prejudice. Social Influence. 2015; 10:55-67 | 2015 |
| Walker BH, McCown JS, Bowser D, Patev A, Raede FS, Razavi M, Dzielak D, Southward LH An assessment of emergency department use among Mississippi’s Medicaid population J Miss State Med Assoc. 2015; 56(5):120-124. | 2015 |
Presentations
| Platform Presentations, Resilience for Whom? Population-Level Patterns in the Distribution of Positive Childhood Experiences, Pediatric Academic Societies, Boston, MA | 04/2026 |
| Poster Presentation, Caregiver Stress Among Parents of Children with Hearing Loss: Implications for Family-Centered Pediatric Audiology, American Audiology Association Annual Convention, San Antonio, TX | 04/2026 |
| Poster Presentation, Key Predictors of Oral Health Care Utilization in Depression, IADR/AADOCR/CADR General Session & Exhibition, San Diego, CA | 04/2026 |
| Poster Presentation, The Moderating Role of Physical Activity on the Association Between Waist Circumference and Heart Failure: The Jackson Heart Study, Society for Epidemiologic Research, Boston, MA | 06/2025 |
| Poster Presentation, Association between state-level policies and stroke mortality, Society for Epidemiologic Research, Boston, MA | 06/2025 |
| Poster Presentation, Racial differences in social and contextual determinants of adolescent behavioral problems, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Annual Convention, Philadelphia, PA | 11/2024 |
| Platform Presentations, The association of social determinants and health service deficits with delay in dental care due to cost and dental visits, Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO | 09/2024 |
| Platform Presentations, Estimating stroke prevalence across 34 US states: Predictive insights from social determinants of health using BRFSS 2022 Data, Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science annual meeting, St. Louis, MO | 09/2024 |
| Platform Presentations, Recent urban-rural trends in disability-free life expectancy among older U.S. adults, Population Association of America, Columbus, OH | 04/2024 |
| Poster Presentation, Association of physical activity with aortic stiffness in the Jackson Heart Study, American Heart Association EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions, Chicago, IL | 03/2024 |
| Poster Presentation, The role of preventable mortality in the urban-rural differences in lifespan variation in the United States, Population Association of America, New Orleans, LA | 04/2023 |
| Poster Presentation, Age at menarche associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors and history among African American women: The Jackson Heart Study, American Heart Association EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions, Boston, MA | 03/2023 |
| Poster Presentation, Black-White differences in the rural lifespan variation penalty, Population Association of America, Atlanta, GA | 04/2022 |
| Platform Presentations, State-Level trends in lifespan variability in the United States, 1960–2014, Population Association of America, Virtual | 05/2021 |
| Platform Presentations, Rural-Urban differences in lifespan variation in the United States, Population Association of America, Virtual | 05/2021 |
| Platform Presentations, Geographic inequality in mortality compression in the United States, Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA | 10/2019 |
| Platform Presentations, The shifting importance of physical and mental health on self evaluations of health across the life course, Population Association of America, Austin, TX | 04/2019 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| Inductee, The Academy for Excellence in Education, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2025 |
| Finalist, Regions Bank TEACH Prize, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2025 |
| Inductee, Norman C. Nelson Order for Teaching Excellence, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2025 |
Professional Membership and Service
| Population Association of America, Member | |
| Interdisciplinary Association of Population Health Science, Member | |
| American Heart Association, Member |
Committee Service
| SCHOOL OF POPULATION HEALTH-PROMOTION AND TENURE COMMITTEE, Member | 2025 - Present |
| Qualifying Exam Committee, Chair | 2025 - Present |
| Population Health Science Department Chair Search Committee, Member | 2024 - 2024 |
| MEDICAL CENTER-FACULTY SENATE, Alternate | 2024 - Present |
| Qualifying Exam Committee, Department of Population Health Science, Member | 2023 - 2024 |
| Admissions Committee, Department of Population Health Science, Member | 2023 - 2025 |
| Department of Population Health Science Promotion and Tenure Committee, Member | 2023 - Present |
| MEDICAL CENTER-INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT, Member | 2023 - Present |
| Curriculum Committee, Department of Population Health Science, Member | 2022 - Present |
| SCHOOL OF POPULATION HEALTH-ACADEMIC COUNCIL, Member | 2022 - Present |
| Student Recruitment Committee, School of Population Health, Member | 2022 - 2023 |
Other Service
| Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science (IAPHS), Abstract Reviewer | 03/2025 - 03/2025 |
| Personality and Individual Differences, Ad Hoc Reviewer | |
| Preventive Medicine, Ad Hoc Reviewer | |
| Academic Pediatrics, Ad Hoc Reviewer | |
| Journal of Adolescent Health | |
| Scientific Reports, Ad Hoc Reviewer | |
| Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association, Statistical Editor, Statistical Editor | |
| Journal of Gerentology: Social Sciences, Ad Hoc Reviewer | |
| Journal of Family Studies, Ad Hoc Reviewer | |
| American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Ad Hoc Reviewer |
Teaching Experience
| PHS 749, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Advanced Statistics in Population Health | Spring 2026 - 2026 |
| PHS 798, Population Health, Course Director, Doctoral Dissertation Research | Summer 2026 - 2026 |
| PHS 796, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Directed Research | Summer 2026 - 2026 |
| PHS 749, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Advanced Statistics in Population Health | Spring 2025 |
| PHS 702, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Statistical Methods in Research | Fall 2025 - 2025 |
| PHS 701, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Applied Demography | Fall 2025 - 2025 |
| PHS 702, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Statistical Methods in Research | Fall 2024 |
| PHS 701, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Applied Demography | Fall 2024 |
| PHS 702, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Statistical Methods in Research | Fall 2023 |
| PHS 796, Population Health, Course, Co-Course Director, Directed Research | Fall 2023 |
| PHS 701, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Applied Demography | Fall 2022 |
| PHS 749, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Longitudinal and Multilevel Models | Fall 2022 |
Directed Student Learning
| Primary Mentor, Pre-Doctoral Research Training Program (T32), Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Advised: Kerri Ivey | 2026 - Present |
| Dissertation Committee Member, The Relationship Between SDOH and Morbidity in Premature Infants: A NSM Model Approach Advised: Melissa Henry | 2026 - Present |
| Dissertation Committee Chair, State-Level Policy and Maternal Health: Non-Severe Maternal Morbidity, Severe Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in The Deep South Advised: Kerri Ivey | 2025 - Present |
| Dissertation Committee Member, Longitudinal High-Sensitivity Troponin T and Risk of Incident and Recurrent Ischemic Stroke in ARIC | 2025 - Present |
| Dissertation Committee Chair, Depression and Oral Health Among U.S. Adults: Outcomes, Service Utilization, and Incremental Costs Advised: McKing Amedari | 2025 - Present |
| Mentor, Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center (GTEC), State Policy Environments and Changes in Stroke Mortality, United States, 2000-2019 Advised: Kerri Ivey, Gidarell Bryant | 2024 - 2025 |
| Dissertation Committee Member, Maternal Health Policies and Policymaking in Mississippi Advised: Sabrina Alam | 2023 - 2026 |
| Mentor, Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center (GTEC), Association of Physical Activity with Aortic Stiffness in the Jackson Heart Study | 2023 - 2024 |
| Mentor, Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center (GTEC), The association between use of antihypertensive medications and lung function: The Jackson Heart Study Advised: Destinee Manning | 2023 - 2025 |
| Mentor, Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center (GTEC), The moderating role of physical activity and sedentary behavior on the waist circumference-heart failure association: The Jackson Heart Study Advised: Garrett Jordan | 2023 - 2025 |
| Dissertation Committee Member, Understanding Barriers and Facilitators to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Care Continuum among Vulnerable Populations in the United States and China Advised: Fei Teng | 2023 - 2023 |
| Dissertation Committee Member, The Intersection of Environment and Health: Exploring Park Quality, Green Space, and Temperature Effects Advised: Lauren Pongetti | 2023 - 2026 |
| Mentor, Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center (GTEC), Lower Satisfaction With Healthcare Providers’ Communication Associated With African Americans Seeking Care From Complementary And Alternative Medicine Providers: The Jackson Heart Study Advised: Saara Nasruddin | 2022 - 2023 |
| Mentor, Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center (GTEC), Can participation in vigorous physical activity influence lung function in African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study? | 2022 - 2024 |
| Mentor, Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center (GTEC), Association between Age at Menarche and Cardiovascular Disease among African American Women in the Jackson Heart Study Advised: Katelyn Jackson, Kenzie Hargrove | 2022 - 2024 |
| Mentor, Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center (GTEC), The association between metabolic syndrome and hs-CRP: The Jackson Heart Study Advised: Miguel DeLeon | 2022 - 2024 |