Mollyann Brodie Honored with AAPOR Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership in Public Health Research

The American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) has recognized Mollyann Brodie, Ph.D., with the AAPOR Award for Distinguished Achievement. The award, presented during AAPOR’s 81st annual conference in Los Angeles, honors Dr. Brodie for her three decades of outstanding leadership and contributions to the field of public opinion research.

As a KFF executive vice president and the executive director of KFF’s Public Opinion and Survey Research, Dr. Brodie has spearheaded polling initiatives that have become a primary resource for understanding health trends in the United States. Her work has earned the trust of policymakers, journalists and the general public by providing essential data on the American healthcare experience.

A Legacy of Impactful Health Policy Research

Dr. Brodie’s career is defined by her ability to translate complex data into meaningful narratives about public health. Under her direction, KFF has developed several critical research tools that document the evolution of American health policy and public sentiment.

Key contributions include:

• The KFF Health Tracking Poll: This initiative has documented the public’s opinions and experiences regarding the Affordable Care Act, creating a vital historical record of how major legislation impacts ordinary Americans.
• The KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor: During the pandemic, this resource became essential for understanding public views, vaccine access, uptake, and the various concerns surrounding emerging vaccines.

AAPOR noted in its award citation that Dr. Brodie’s vision allowed research to move beyond simple poll numbers, instead telling the “broader story of how Americans experienced major changes in health and health care.”

Advancing Inclusion Through Methodological Innovation

A central component of Dr. Brodie’s work is her commitment to inclusivity. She has consistently pushed for the elevation of voices that are frequently overlooked in traditional, nationally representative polls. Her leadership has led to the development of methodologically innovative surveys focused on:

• Working-class Americans
• Transgender adults
• Rural communities
• Hurricane Katrina evacuees

This dedication to diverse representation ensures that public opinion research reflects a more accurate and comprehensive picture of the American population.

KFF’s Surveys of Immigrants Receive Inclusive Voices Award

In a related achievement, KFF’s Surveys of Immigrants was honored with the 2026 AAPOR Inclusive Voices Award. This award recognizes research that examines the complex challenges faced by underrepresented populations.

The Surveys of Immigrants represent the only large-scale, nationally representative, probability-based survey of immigrants in the U.S. In recent decades. Developed through partnerships with The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times, the initiative utilizes multi-frame, multilingual, and multi-mode methods. These innovations have successfully amplified the voices of groups often excluded from research, including undocumented immigrants and those with limited English proficiency.

Leadership and Collaboration at KFF

Dr. Brodie’s success is supported by a robust team of experts at KFF. She works closely with Liz Hamel, Senior Vice President and Director of Public Opinion and Survey Research; Dr. Ashley Kirzinger, Director of Survey Methodology; and Larry Levitt, Executive Vice President. Together with KFF Founding President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman, this leadership team oversees the organization’s program directions and research integration.

“We started our polling program when we started KFF in the early 1990s, but it made the jump to light speed after Molly arrived. These awards recognize her expertise and vision, and how effective we’ve been in coordinating our polling under Molly’s leadership with our equally tremendous capacity in policy research and journalism,” said Dr. Drew Altman.

Key Takeaways

• Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Mollyann Brodie received the AAPOR Award for Distinguished Achievement for 30 years of excellence in public opinion research.
• Critical Data Resources: Dr. Brodie led the development of the KFF Health Tracking Poll and the KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor.
• Commitment to Inclusion: Research efforts have specifically targeted underrepresented groups, including rural and transgender populations.
• Immigrant Research Excellence: KFF’s Surveys of Immigrants received the AAPOR Inclusive Voices Award for its innovative, large-scale study of immigrant populations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the AAPOR Award for Distinguished Achievement?

It is the American Association of Public Opinion Research’s lifetime achievement award. It is granted for significant contributions to the field, including advances in research methods, improvements in ethical standards, and the promotion of public understanding of research.

How does KFF reach underrepresented populations in its surveys?

KFF utilizes innovative methodologies, such as multi-frame, multilingual, and multi-mode approaches, to ensure that groups like undocumented immigrants and those with limited English proficiency are accurately represented in national data.