His research is primarily focused on using large secondary data sources, such as medical billing claims from Medicaid and Medicare, to answer questions about health outcomes, health services utilization, and changes in health policy. He has published articles on a variety of topics including agricultural health, eye injuries, homicide, cancer, asthma, cost-sharing within public insurance, low-severity emergency department visits, and preventive dental care. Future and ongoing research includes long-term care policy and outcomes as well as the use of secondary stroke prevention medications. Dr. Blackburn holds a PhD in epidemiology from UAB and a MPH from the University of Kentucky.