Linda B Cottler, PhD, MPH, FACE
Dean's Professor Of Epidemiology
About Linda B Cottler
Linda B. Cottler, PhD, MPH, FACE, is Dean’s Professor of Epidemiology at the College of Public Health and Health Professions and the College of Medicine (2011-present) and former Senior Associate Dean for Research at the College of Public Health and Health Professions (2012-2022) at the University of Florida. Before moving to UF to become Founding Chair of the Department of Epidemiology (2011-2018), Dr. Cottler was at Washington University for 30 years, where she earned her PhD and developed a robust research program in addiction and community engagement science. She has been continuously funded by NIDA since 1989 and has received numerous contracts and grants from multiple Institutes. This research includes: 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. Her work has had international focus as well, extending to Afghanistan, Australia, Haiti, India, Kenya, Taiwan, and Thailand.
Dr. Cottler’s research has also focused on populations underrepresented in the research enterprise to increase health equity. She is Founding Director of HealthStreet (1989)—a community engagement program of the UF CTSA in which Community Health Workers assess health concerns and needs of community members and provide referrals to medical and social services and opportunities to participate in research. Cottler is Director of the Community Engagement for the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (President 2022 to 2024), and is Co-Chair of the Special Interest Group PACER (Partners for the Advancement of Community Engaged Research).
Dr. Cottler has had the privilege to be mentored by Dennis Slone and Allen Mitchell in Boston, as well as Lee Robins in St. Louis, where she coordinated the landmark Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program. She has been PI of numerous intervention studies to reduce high risk behaviors, the NFL study of retired players, and NMAPSS and SNAPS, to understand stimulant use among 10 to 17 year olds. She directs the NDEWS and PANDEMIC initiatives, and co-directs ABCD and All of Us initiatives, among others. The highlight of her career has been working with the many talented and diverse mentees as part of her funded training programs, especially the NIDA T32 and Fogarty International Center Training Grants. Cottler has published over 360 manuscripts and chapters and been the recipient of numerous awards for her mentoring and research achievements including the Marian Fischman and Rema Lapouse Awards.
Teaching Profile
Board Certifications
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FACEAmerican College of Epidemiology
Research Profile
See About (above)
- Substance Use Epidemiology, particularly opioids
- Drug addiction
- community engagement
0000-0001-5643-8536
Publications
Perceived Risk of Weekly Cannabis Use, Past 30-Day Cannabis Use, and Frequency of Cannabis Use Among Pregnant Women in the United States
Grants
Education
Contact Details
- Business:
- (352) 294-5947
- Business:
- lbcottler@ufl.edu