Michelle Scotton Franklin PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, CNS

Dr. Michelle Scotton Franklin is a nurse scientist, dual-certified nurse practitioner, and leader in advancing health equity for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. With extensive experience in research, clinical practice, teaching, and health policy engagement, she has demonstrated a sustained commitment to improving the health and well-being of the IDD and other marginalized communities through developing innovative research, interventions, community partnerships, and evidence-based policy solutions.   

Dr. Scotton Franklin conducts research and disseminates findings with clinical applications that advance science and health equity locally, nationally, and internationally. By convening teams of individuals with IDD, family caregivers, healthcare providers, organization leaders, researchers, health policymakers, and elected officials domestically and globally, her work and leadership are changing research, clinical practice, and policy to address the long-standing injustices and unmet needs that impact the IDD community. She focuses her efforts on two primary contexts to achieve impact: 1) research addressing disparities in healthcare and improving health outcomes experienced by people with IDD and 2) health policy advocacy, in collaboration with the IDD community, increasing access to quality healthcare and community services to facilitate thriving in their community and prevent institutionalization. 

Dr. Scotton Franklin received her Bachelor’s and Master of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Ph.D. in Nursing from the Duke School of Nursing at Duke University. Prior to joining the Duke School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, she completed pre-doctoral training as a Margolis Scholar and post-doctoral fellowship at the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy.