Hi, I’m Dr. Sarah Hartzell, a public health researcher, behavioral health advocate, and educator with over a decade of experience in behavioral health, research, and higher education.
I earned my Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2024, where my dissertation examined the impacts of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders on behavioral health outcomes across the U.S. I also hold an M.A. in Criminal Justice and a B.A. in Sociology, with minors in Psychology and Music.
Currently, I serve as the Regional Project Coordinator for the Behavioral Health Education, Retention, & Expansion Network of Nevada (BeHERE NV), a statewide initiative focused on strengthening Nevada’s behavioral health workforce. In addition to my research work, I teach college-level courses in sociology, psychology, and women’s studies, and have previously worked in direct care roles supporting individuals living with mental illness.
My research interests include mental health and crisis care, health policy, substance use, and health equity. I specialize in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including survey design, focus groups, and interviews. I also have experience working with large administrative datasets, such as medical claims data, and am proficient in data analysis using SAS, Stata, and SQL.
I’ve co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and presented nationally on topics such as:
- COVID-19's impact on mental health
- Opioid policy and prescribing practices
- Use of urine drug testing to mitigate opioid misuse
Beyond research, I am deeply committed to mental health advocacy. Since 2018, I’ve been an active board member of NAMI Northern Nevada, where I currently serve as Board President, leading efforts to reduce stigma and promote mental health awareness in our community.