In 2024, the School of Social Work welcomed Dr. Quinton Cotton. With over 20 years of experience spanning clinical practice, macro social work practice, and public health consulting, Cotton brings a wealth of expertise to his new role. His work centers health equity and promotes culturally responsive interventions for marginalized populations, particularly individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their caregivers.
Cotton’s academic journey includes a PhD in clinical investigation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University, and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and social welfare from Marquette University. He also completed postdoctoral training at the University of Minnesota, where he honed his skills in mixed methods research and behavioral intervention design.
Cotton’s program of research is centered on examining the impact of life events, social positions, and social “ISMs” (racism, ageism, ableism) on health outcomes across the life course. His work seeks to dismantle barriers that prevent marginalized populations from accessing optimal care. One of Cotton’s key areas of focus is the development and implementation of culturally responsive interventions for ADRD patients and their caregivers. His approach emphasizes community-based solutions and collaborative care models. In addition to his research on ADRD, Cotton Dr. Quinton Cotton is actively engaged in several health promotion projects that aim to strengthen the capacity of residents and systems through programmatic and policy innovations.
Joining Pitt’s School of Social Work marks an exciting new chapter for Cotton.
“I was drawn to the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work because of its unapologetic position that oppression is a root cause of social inequality, and it is a place that truly values research as a strategy for improving the health and quality of life of people in communities.”
Cotton sees significant opportunities to address systemic barriers within the field of social work. As a new member of the Pitt community, he is eager to contribute to the university’s mission of advancing social justice and equity. “I am most excited about strengthening connections between social work and the health sciences” Cotton says. “People in communities deserve to experience systems and professionals that work together to address their needs. Pittsburgh is the right size city where an intervention co-designed with the community can be tested, implemented, and make a real difference.”
Cotton is also excited to highlight two research projects that he’s interested in bringing to Pittsburgh. “The first project will examine mechanisms of social connectivity across the life course” he explains. “The goal of this project is to use community knowledge to engineer a program that meets community-identified needs and connects youth, adults, and older adults.” His second project aims to develop a decision-support tool to help families manage care decisions after a diagnosis of dementia and to inform future care decisions. “These research projects are important because everyone deserves to have the opportunities, connections, and resources to be as healthy as possible” Cotton explains.