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Elizabeth Joanne Gifford CV

Research Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy
Sanford School of Public Policy
Duke University, Box 90545, Durham, NC 27708-0264
214 Rubenstein Hall, 302 Towerview Rd., Durham, NC 27708
CV

Overview


Beth Gifford is a research professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy, a core faculty member of the Center for Child and Family Policy and the Margolis Institute for Health Policy. She leads a multidisciplinary research team that examines the health and social services engagement of children and families. Motivating her research is the need to understand how social policies and practices can better support children and families. Her work spans many public institutions including education, social services, criminal justice, and health care systems. She is the Director of the Undergraduate Health Policy Certificate Program and the Health Policy and Innovation Theme Leader for Bass Connections.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Research Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy · 2024 - Present Sanford School of Public Policy
Faculty Director, Health Policy Undergraduate Certificate of the Margolis Institute for Health Policy · 2024 - Present Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, University Institutes and Centers
Professor of Pediatrics · 2024 - Present Pediatrics, Children's Health Discovery Institute, Pediatrics
Affiliate of the Center for Child and Family Policy · 2023 - Present Center for Child and Family Policy, Sanford School of Public Policy
Core Faculty Member, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy · 2024 - Present Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, University Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published February 3, 2025
Celebrating Duke’s New Full Professors
Published April 27, 2018
Curiosity and Generosity Drive Presidential Award Winners
Published November 6, 2017
Five New Faculty Bring New Expertise to Sanford School

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Recent Publications


Barriers and facilitators to social-emotional health screening in pediatrics: Results from a qualitative study of practitioner perspectives

Journal Article Social and Emotional Learning Research Practice and Policy · December 1, 2025 Social-emotional health (SEH) affects well-being and outcomes across the lifespan and is most malleable when addressed before age five. Despite the importance of early screening, SEH screening does not occur at most well-child visits. This study aimed to e ... Full text Cite

Upper gastrointestinal symptoms and Gulf War Illness in a clinical cohort of US veterans: a retrospective, cross-sectional study

Journal Article BMJ Open Gastroenterology · September 2025 ObjectiveApproximately 30% of the 700 000 US Gulf War Veterans (GWVs) report symptoms collectively termed Gulf War Illness (GWI), a multisymptom illness of uncertain patho ... Full text Cite

Child Maltreatment Re-report, Substantiation, and Foster Care Placement: A Latent Class Analysis of Child, Caregiver, and Household Risk Factors Across Screened-In and Screened-Out Cases.

Journal Article Child maltreatment · July 2025 Children reported to Child Protective Services (CPS) face elevated risks of adverse outcomes. It is essential to identify vulnerable populations and opportunities for early intervention. This study combined qualitative coding of CPS intake reports with lat ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Collaborative cross-agency practices for improving child well-being

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Duke Endowment · 2024 - 2027

Accelerated Aging in Gulf War Illness: Phenotypes, Epigenetic Biomarkers and Associations with Gulf War Exposures

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Department of Defense · 2023 - 2027

Evaluating and Developing Progressive Prosecution in Durham, North Carolina

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Arnold Ventures · 2021 - 2026

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Education, Training & Certifications


Pennsylvania State University · 2005 Ph.D.
Pennsylvania State University · 2000 M.S.
Cornell University · 1997 B.S.

External Links


CV