My name is Caroline Brooks and I’m an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Kentucky. My research explores how social statuses such as gender, race, and ethnicity shape public perceptions and personal experiences of health and illness, with a particular interest in chronic pain conditions, such as migraine.
My scholarship is published in outlets such as the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Social Psychology Quarterly, Headache: The Journal of Headache and Face Pain, and the Journal of Marriage and Family, among others. More information and a complete list of publications can be found on my CV.
At UK, I teach classes about Medicine, Health, and Society; the Sociology of Health and Illness; and the Sociology of Sport. Check out my teaching page to learn more.
Beyond my scholarship within sociology, I often engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with the field of headache medicine and advocacy work on behalf of migraine and headache patient organizations.
I completed my graduate training at Indiana University where I received a PhD in Sociology in 2025 and an MA in Sociology in 2019. I additionally hold a BS in Molecular and Cell Biology and Sociology from the University of Connecticut.