Biography

Heather-Lyn Haley, Ph.D., is a sociologist with a background in medical education, family, and social networks. Her current work focuses on race, power and privilege; reflective practice and cultural competence in medical education. As program director in the department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Dr. Haley spends much of her time teaching medical students and residents about populaiton and community health. She is the founding director of the MLK Semester of Service Student Awards.

Dr. Haley spent several years as a key member of the institutional DRIVE Committee - Diversity, Representation and Inclusion for Value in Education, and is a member of the FMCH Department Equity Action Planning team. She has trained in the principles of restorative justice, and is a member of the FMCH Response team to support faculty, staff or learners who have experienced harm, serving as an ombudsperson as they navigate official reporting processes.  

 Her  publications highlight her community-based research with medical legal partnerships and developing health promotion programs collaboratively with recent refugees from Burma, as well as curriculum development work with colleagues in correctional health and faculty development in primary care.  She has previously published qualitative research on medical student reflection and cultural competence, and numerous methodological papers on the measurement of student, resident and faculty performance during standardized patient encounters. 

Positions Held

• Assistant Professor, Family Medicine and Community Health AND Dept of Medicine

• Program Director for Community Health, Dept of Family Medicine and Community Health (2021-)

• Project Manager for Community Health, Dept of Family Medicine and Community Health (2012-2021)

• Project Manager for Diversity, Representation and Inclusion for Value in Education (DRIVE), Office of Undergraduate Medical Education

• Project Manager for Collaboratory Community Engagement Data Initiative, Office for Community and Government Relations

Education

MA in Sociology, University of Massachusetts Amherst 2001
PhD in Sociology, University of MassachusettsAmherst 2003

Scholarly Activity

1. Evaluation of student, resident and faculty programs in population health
2. Measurement of teacher identity among primary care preceptors
3. Evaluation and understanding of student reflective practice
4. Mentoring relationships within an academic department of Family Medicine and Community Health
5. Teaching about Race, Power and Privilege in Clinic and Community