Amanda Boyd, PhD

Co-Director of IREACH, Associate Professor in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

Amanda is an Associate Professor in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and a Co-Director of IREACH. She is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta and from Treaty 8 territory in Canada. Amanda’s research draws from an interdisciplinary background, which includes communication, rural sociology, management sciences, and Indigenous studies. She began her career as a public relations specialist in industry, where she developed community initiative programs and created marketing materials. Her education includes a PhD in Communication Studies from University of Calgary, a Master of Science in Rural Sociology from University of Alberta, a Bachelor of Management in Management Studies from University of Lethbridge, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Visual and Digital Health Communication from Boston University, a Graduate Certificate in Energy and Environmental Systems from University of Calgary, a Management Studies diploma from Grant McEwan University, and a Dental Assistant Level II certificate from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. Amanda has more than 15 years of health and science communication research experience and practice. She works with Indigenous communities throughout the United States and Canada to examine the impact of communications on risk perceptions and behavior. Through this work, she aims to develop the tools and theory needed to create effective, culturally relevant communications that improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous populations. She works with Inuit in the Arctic to understand risk perceptions of contaminants (e.g., mercury, lead), while also promoting the consumption of healthy, traditional food sources. She also co-leads the dissemination cores of two NIH-funded Centers focusing on controlling blood pressure and reducing the risk of adverse outcomes in Native populations (Native-CHART), and reducing or eliminating alcohol-related health disparities among Indigenous populations (NCARE). Her K01 Career Development Award, funded by the National Institute on Aging, aims to advance knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease communication and recruitment science among American Indians and Alaska Natives. In her free time, Amanda can be found on her family farm and ranch in Canada with her son Sage.

IREACH Programs

Projects

Boyd

Institution

IREACH Teams

  • Leadership
  • Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Core