Ashly Westrick, PhD

Biographical Statement

Ashly C. Westrick, PhD, MPH, is a social epidemiologist and assistant scientist in the Department of Public Health Sciences at Henry Ford Health. She earned her doctorate in epidemiology from the University of Miami, completed postdoctoral training at Florida International University and the University of Michigan, and joined the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences partnership as its first assistant scientist dedicated to cancer research.

Dr. Westrick's research examines the intersection of cancer, aging and population health, with a focus on improving outcomes for cancer survivors as they grow older. She studies cognitive and functional aging, applying social epidemiology and causal inference methods to better understand how social determinants of health, neighborhood conditions and structural inequities influence cancer survivorship and healthy aging. Her work also investigates disparities in cognitive decline and age-related outcomes among diverse populations, with the goal of identifying opportunities to reduce inequities and improve quality of life. Through collaborations across epidemiology, oncology and public health, she develops evidence that informs interventions to support healthier aging for cancer survivors.

Dr. Westrick continues to collaborate with researchers and clinicians across Henry Ford Health, Michigan State University and national research networks to advance cancer epidemiology and aging research. Her long-term goal is to generate evidence that informs policies and interventions that improve health equity and the lifelong well-being of cancer survivors.

Research Interests:

• Cancer epidemiology
• Aging
• Social epidemiology
• Causal inference

Email: awestri5@hfhs.org