Skip to main content

Asheley Cockrell Skinner

Professor in Population Health Sciences
Population Health Sciences
215 Morris Street, Suite 210, Durham, NC 27701

Overview


Areas of expertise: Implementation Science, Health Services Research, Child Obesity, Pediatric Population Health, Opioids

Asheley Cockrell Skinner, PhD, is a health services researcher whose work addresses a variety of population health issues, particularly implementation of programs to improve the health of vulnerable populations. She is currently a Professor in Population Health Sciences at Duke University. She received her PhD in 2007 in Health Policy and Administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  A nationally-known expert in childhood obesity, her work uses a data-driven approach to understand pediatric obesity and improve implementation of evidence-based treatment. She applies this implementation science approach to other populations, including those with opioid use disorder and people who use drugs. In addition to her many roles in research, she also currently serves as the Director of Graduate Studies for Population Health Sciences, directs multiple training programs, and actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students, fellows, and junior faculty.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor in Population Health Sciences · 2021 - Present Population Health Sciences, Basic Science Departments
Professor in Medicine · 2023 - Present Medicine, General Internal Medicine, Medicine
Professor in Pediatrics · 2024 - Present Pediatrics, General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Pediatrics
Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute · 2016 - Present Duke Clinical Research Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published October 7, 2022
New DCRI Center Targets Ending Opioid Addiction
Published June 1, 2021
Asking New Questions in the Fight Against Childhood Obesity
Published February 26, 2018
Newest Data Shows Childhood Obesity Continues to Increase

View All News

Recent Publications


The Feasibility of Using Best Practice Alerts in Pediatric Primary Care for Obesity Research.

Journal Article Acad Pediatr · March 26, 2026 BACKGROUND: Recruiting participants in pediatric obesity research is challenging due to logistical and systemic barriers. This study evaluated the use of a best practice alert (BPA) within the electronic health record (EHR) to aid in recruitment for a rand ... Full text Link to item Cite

Nutrition and obesity in under-represented population (NOURISH): study protocol to examine the effect of restricted and unrestricted financial benefits on infant food insecurity, growth, and nutrition.

Journal Article BMC Pediatr · January 10, 2026 BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that food insecurity (FI) during infancy is associated with higher odds of obesity in early childhood, but the evidence regarding the impact of FI interventions on improving child body mass index (BMI) remains inconclusive. T ... Full text Link to item Cite

Parent Perspectives on the 2023 Clinical Practice Guideline for Pediatric Obesity: A Mixed-Methods Study of Acceptance and Concerns.

Journal Article Pediatr Obes · January 2026 BACKGROUND: The 2023 Clinical Practice Guideline for pediatric obesity recommends immediate, intensive treatment, including behavioral therapy, medications, and surgery when indicated. Understanding parental agreement with the guideline is critical for suc ... Full text Link to item Cite
View All Publications

Recent Grants


Real world use of anti-obesity medications to treat adolescent obesity: moving beyond the clinical trial

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2029

Supporting Safe and Effective GLP-1 Prescribing in Pediatric Primary Care

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by American Heart Association · 2025 - 2028

View All Grants

Education


University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · 2007 Ph.D.