Dr. Ward is a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing and the faculty director of the Morbridge Center for Public Service. She leads the cancer health disparities initiative at the UW Carbone Cancer Center. Her research is focused on beliefs about mental illness and the development of culturally appropriate and effective mental health interventions for African Americans.

Dr. Ward is a collaborator in lab projects focused on:

• The design of a culturally adapted measurement tool to assess illness perceptions in African Americans with type 2 diabetes
• The development and implementation of the Peers LEAD medication adherence intervention for African Americans with type 2 diabetes