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
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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
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 CiteUpper 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 CiteChild 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 CiteRecent Grants
Collaborative cross-agency practices for improving child well-being
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Duke Endowment · 2024 - 2027Accelerated Aging in Gulf War Illness: Phenotypes, Epigenetic Biomarkers and Associations with Gulf War Exposures
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Department of Defense · 2023 - 2027Evaluating and Developing Progressive Prosecution in Durham, North Carolina
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Arnold Ventures · 2021 - 2026View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Pennsylvania State University ·
2005
Ph.D.
Pennsylvania State University ·
2000
M.S.
Cornell University ·
1997
B.S.