Research at a glance
Research Topics
Research Summary
Dr. Robinson’s research focuses on older adult health, health communication and social support networks.
Education
- PhD, The University of Iowa, 2016
- MPH, The University of Iowa, 2014
- MSW, Washington University, 2010
- BA, The University of Iowa, 2005
Research interests
Gerontology; HIV/AIDS; Healthy Aging; Eldertechnology; Caregiving; Care Coordination
Teaching interests
Macro-level Social Work Practice; Gerontology; Research Methods; Qualitative Research
Awards
- 2025-2026 Outstanding Director of Graduate Studies Award, University of Missouri Graduate School
- 2024 Lee Henson Access Mizzou Award, University of Missouri
- 2024 Excellence in Mentoring Award, University of Missouri College of Health Sciences
- 2022 School of Health Professions Early Career Achievement Award
- 2021 Fellow, University of Missouri System Presidential Engagement Fellows Program
Research and scholarly activity
Aging, Health Communication, and Technology-Supported Care
Dr. Erin L. Robinson is a public health social worker and gerontologist whose research focuses on aging, health communication, social support, and health equity. Her scholarship examines how social and interpersonal factors shape health and well-being, with particular attention to older adults and caregiving populations.
A central area of Dr. Robinson’s research is HIV and aging. Her work examines HIV prevention and sexual health among older adults, with a particular focus on how healthcare providers communicate with older patients about HIV risk, sexual health, and prevention. Her research has demonstrated that intentional, age-inclusive conversations about HIV and sexual health can increase knowledge, perceptions of HIV susceptibility, and communication with sexual partners about prevention.
Dr. Robinson’s current interdisciplinary research focuses on eldertechnology and technology-supported care coordination. Working with collaborators in social work, nursing, medicine, and engineering, her teams have developed innovative approaches that integrate in-home monitoring technologies with care coordination to identify early signs of illness, functional decline, and changing care needs among older adults. This work examines how technology can support aging in place while connecting information from monitoring systems to timely, coordinated responses among older adults, families, and care providers.
Dr. Robinson is also committed to preparing social workers to work effectively with older adults and across systems of care. She teaches courses focused on social work practice, aging, and gerontology and develops innovative, experiential approaches to social work education. She has received multiple awards recognizing her excellence in teaching.
A member of the University of Missouri faculty since 2016, Dr. Robinson serves as Director of the MSW Program and is actively involved in advancing social work education, gerontology, and interdisciplinary collaboration at Mizzou. She is also engaged in national leadership through the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW).
