Dr. Gollust is a social scientist studying the intersections of communication, politics, and health policy. Her past research has examined the roles of news media and public opinion within significant health policy issues, including obesity, health disparities, the Affordable Care Act, and cancer screening. The American Cancer Society, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health have funded her work. She is the associate director of the Interdisciplinary Research Leaders, a new Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program to support leaders engaged in research to advance health equity.