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Samantha Hurst, Ph.D. is a Health Sciences Clinical Professor in the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science. As a medical anthropologist, Dr. Hurst’s mission of work emphasizes the goal of equitable partnership with community collaborators, where community health colleagues serve as primary drivers of the knowledge that is needed to assist in improving health and health equity for their own communities.

Dr. Hurst is widely recognized for her expertise in participatory frameworks that prioritize justice-based and health equity approaches to public health research. A dedicated educator and mentor, she teaches in the Master of Public Health (MPH) and Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health (JDP).

A central element of Dr. Hurst's work is her commitment to community-driven research, grounded in a framework that emphasizes shared responsibility, co-learning, and knowledge democracy. She values the lived experiences and expertise within communities, fostering partnerships that bridge the gap between academic research and practical, real-world applications. Her approach ensures that research is not only scientifically rigorous but also socially and culturally impactful, by addressing inequities and advancing justice in public health.

Dr. Hurst also integrates a bio-cultural ethics approach into her roles as both a community partner and collaborator. This approach underpins her commitment to ethical practices in research, teaching, and collaboration, ensuring that her work not only advances academic knowledge but also serves the broader community in meaningful ways. Through her dedication to health equity, health justice, and ethical research practices, Dr. Hurst exemplifies the role of an academic leader committed to fostering an inclusive and just public health landscape. For over two decades, she has been a part of community projects focusing on unique U.S. and international ethnic/cultural communities - American Indian, Australian Aborigine, First Nation [Canada], Maori [New Zealand], Somali-American refugees, Yoruba [Nigeria], and Jigjiga, Ethiopia [Somali].

Dr. Hurst received her Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship training in Cultural Psychiatry and Medical Anthropology at the Alcohol Research Center at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla.