Kara Zivin, PhD

 Kara Zivin
Marcia A Valenstein M.D. Collegiate Professor of Psychiatry
Professor of Psychiatry
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School
Professor of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health
Faculty Associate, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research
Available to mentor
Kara Zivin, PhD
Kara Zivin
Professor
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications

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    • Center Memberships
    • Center Member
      Eisenberg Family Depression Center
    • Center Member
      Institute for Research on Women And Gender
    • Center Member
      Opioid Research Institute
    • Center Member
      Center for History, Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Ethics in Medicine
    • Center Member
      Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation

    Research Overview

    Dr. Zivin is a health services and policy researcher who uses social science and public health tools to improve health and functional outcomes for vulnerable populations with mental health and substance use disorders (behavioral health conditions), including pregnant and postpartum women, Veterans, and older adults.

    Recent Publications

     See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Protecting providers: A qualitative study of Veterans Health Administration mental health providers' perspectives on leadership and burnout.
      Ortolan V, Abraham KM, Harrod M, Takamine L, Burgess J, Sripada RK, Grau PP, Zivin K. Psychol Serv, 2026 May 14; DOI:10.1037/ser0001042
      PMID: PMC13178103
    • Journal Article
      Preserving Access to Evidence-Based Preventive Services in Pregnancy and Postpartum: The Impact of Kennedy v. Braidwood Supreme Court Decision.
      Kumar NR, Fendrick AM, Zivin K, Dalton V. Am J Perinatol, 2026 Apr 8; DOI:10.1055/a-2849-7918
      PMID: 41950954
    • Journal Article
      Societal Costs of Total Abortion Bans in 14 US States After Dobbs.
      Platt IS, Starling JE, Pendl-Robinson E, Chavez S, Vohra D, Zivin K. Am J Public Health, 2026 Mar 5; e1 - e9. DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2025.308411
      PMID: 41785442
    • Journal Article
      Association between perinatal mood and anxiety disorders treatment status and infant outcomes among privately insured.
      Vance AJ, Shuman CJ, Bell S, Tilea A, Hall SV, Courant A, Zivin K. BMC Psychiatry, 2026 Jan 17; DOI:10.1186/s12888-026-07773-z
      PMID: 41547776
    • Journal Article
      Addressing PTSD symptoms in first responders and healthcare workers through trauma-focused treatment in Employee Assistance Programs: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial
      Sripada RK, Garlick J, Hemphill N, Walters HM, Ganoczy D, Kim HM, Zivin K, Nevedal AL, Avallone KM, Cigrang JA, Rauch SAM. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 2026 Jan 1; 160: DOI:10.1016/j.cct.2025.108174
    • Journal Article
      Burnout in practice: A qualitative study of the impact of organizational factors on burnout and patient care among VA mental health providers
      Harrod M, Takamine L, Abraham K, Ortolan V, Burgess J, Grau PP, Sripada R, Zivin K. Qualitative Research in Medicine & Healthcare, 2025 Dec 5; 100032 DOI:10.1016/j.qrmh.2025.100032
    • Journal Article
      The Structure of Major Life Transitions Among Older Suicide Decedents: An Application of Large Language Models
      Mezuk B, Kalesnikava V, Jurgens D, Johns L, Zivin K. Innovation in Aging, 2026 Jan 4; 9 (Supplement_2): igaf122.1215 DOI:10.1093/geroni/igaf122.1215
      PMID: PMC12762265
    • Journal Article
      Association between abortion restrictiveness and suicidality among birthing people in the United States 2010 to 2020
      Platt IS, Zivin K, Xiaosong Z, Tilea A, Miller E, Widner A, Courant A, Hall SV, Schroeder A, Dalton VK. Front Reprod Health, 2025 Sep 17; 7: 1553493 - 1553493. DOI:10.3389/frph.2025.1553493

    Featured News & Stories
    Department News

    U.S. moms say their mental health is getting worse

    Mental health is the top cause of postpartum deaths; treatment gaps and societal stressors worsen moms’ well-being—support must go beyond pregnancy.
    Department News

    Federal survey of new moms is on pause. What does that mean for postpartum health?

    Dr. Kara Zivin urges continued maternal health data collection, citing PRAMS' role in addressing postpartum mental health and maternal mortality.
         Illustration of person swinging from a tree on a swing made of DNA. A version of the same person is sitting at the base of the tree with their head down.
    Medicine at Michigan

    Searching for the biology of mental illness

    For half a century, Michigan Medicine researchers have been working to understand why we feel the way we feel. Their findings have offered hope to patients with mental health conditions from anxiety and depression to addiction and bipolar disorder.
    Department News

    New Maternal Mental Health Profiles and Dashboard Highlight U.S. Maternal Mental Health Needs

    1 in 5 U.S. moms face mental health issues; Dr. Kara Zivin’s team built a dashboard to guide better care and policy across all states.
    Health Lab

    Preventing suicide during pregnancy and after birth

    Many deaths by suicide during pregnancy and after birth are preventable. Along with a personal patient experience, three Michigan Medicine experts discuss the current landscape of suicide prevention in pregnant and postpartum people, including the latest research and resources for help.
    Department News

    U-M study of COVID-19 deaths challenges claims, understanding of pandemic-era suicides

    Researchers analyzed suicide narratives from 2020 to reveal pandemic-related factors, urging more empathetic public health responses in future crises.