MAKING A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE A Publication of the School of Public Health
Public Health students demonstrate their commitment to eco-responsibility at Tiger Blue Goes Green, a campus-wide sustainability fair
In This Issue:
By the Numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Letters from Our Leaders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Health Innovations Propelled by Dreams. . . 5 Training Students to Make a World of Difference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Advisory Council Spotlight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Divisional Reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Alumni Spotlight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Focus on Philanthropy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
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By The Numbers
Number of MASTER’S
PROGRAMS:
Number of
PROGRAMS:
PhD
LOCATIONS:
15
2
Other facts & figures:
47/$12 million Faculty members were awarded 47 research grants or contracts totaling $12 million dollars in annual direct costs.
Number of MHA INTERNSHIP
LOCATIONS:
1. Social and Behavioral Sciences 2. Epidemiology 3. Health Systems and Policy is currently under review by the Tennessee Board of Regents
MPH PRACTICUM
(+ 1 under review by TBR)
Number of
2
(MHA + MPH)
Number of training sessions/public health workforce trained in 2012-13: 21 training sessions as part of the HRSA Public Health Workforce Development grant, training a total of 525 individuals in West Tennessee in 2012-13.
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Enrollment & Graduation Figures:
MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH:
Current Students – 70 Graduates – 63 MASTER OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION:
Current Students – 37 Graduates – 247 Ph.D. IN EPIDEMIOLOGY:
Current Students – 10 Ph.D. IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES:
Current Students – 8 An important responsibility inherent in conducting research is the sharing of results and the dissemination of data and technology into the public domain so that others may benefit from the information gained. To that end, 21 faculty members presented 54 times at peer conferences and events and published 90 papers in the peer-reviewed literature in 2012-2013.
244
The number of additional public health professionals from West Tennessee the 2013 Public Health Summer Institute trained in the following areas: public health leadership, biostatistics, epidemiology, human resource management, informatics, community assessment, social determinants of health, program evaluation, and environmental health.
Local and regional involvement in funded research and collaborative projects includes awards from the State of Tennessee, Shelby County, the FedEx Institute, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Inc. and East Tennessee State University.
External funding sources in the past year have included the National Institutes of Health, the US Food and Drug Administration, the US Department of Defense, the US Department of Transportation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The SPH is a key participant in the Memphis Research Consortium, which is an inter-institutional collaborative research effort among the University of Memphis, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. An important focus of the Consortium is to develop multi-disciplinary capacity to better understand the complex interplay of forces that increase risk for obesity and diseases associated with obesity. Using that information, the Consortium strives to develop and test measures to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity in the greater Memphis community. 2
LETTERS FROM OUR LEADERS
BRAD MARTIN, INTERIM PRESIDENT Dear Friends, Why does the University of Memphis’ School of Public Health matter to you and to me? Our School of Public Health prepares public health and health management leaders to tackle the significant health care and public health challenges of our time. Its training programs emphasize both discovery and application, with the goal of moving “knowledge into action,” locally, nationally and globally. Moreover, the School of Public Health plays an integral role in our community. Its mission is to translate research into action, which means we are tackling some of our toughest public health problems (obesity, communicable diseases, health disparities, environmental justice), through community engagement and research. However, no discussion of the School of Public Health can be complete without a tribute to Shirley C. Raines, the recently retired U of M president. We are deeply indebted to Dr. Raines, whose vision and leadership transformed the “dream” of a School of Public Health into a reality. I look forward to working with Dean Klesges, the dedicated and talented faculty and staff, and our enthusiastic and loyal alumni and friends to advance the important work of the School of Public Health. Together, we can “make a world of difference.” R. Brad Martin, Interim President
Brad Martin / Interim President
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LISA M. KLESGES, Ph.D. DEAN Imagine health! The School of Public Health is embarking on an exciting challenge to be at the forefront of advances in our community’s health. To address this challenge, it will be important to combine our commitment to excellence in education, research discovery, and practice delivery with the collective actions of the community to ensure a healthier future for all individuals. Our work is of special importance, considering trends leading to an older population, increases in chronic disease, and higher health care costs that will affect our economic health as well as quality of life in Memphis and local regions. The School of Public Health is poised to influence these trends by shaping the next generation of health system leaders, creating new knowledge in research discoveries and practice-based evidence, and translating this evidence to impact health practice and public policy.
Lisa M. Klesges, Ph.D., Dean
With your help, we will continue to build our capacity in the School to capitalize on the unique circumstances unfolding in our country with reformation of a health care system to a “health delivery� system emerging from accountable care legislation and the expanding capabilities for prevention through technology and informatics. First, we are focusing our education and training programs on key competencies in response to a changing health care environment to ensure our students and public health professionals can lead into the future. Second, we are expanding our faculty and professional expertise in epidemiological and statistical methods, behavioral and psychosocial models, systems thinking, behavioral informatics, preventive and chronic care interventions, and creating healthier environments. Further we are advancing the health agenda by providing evidence-based recommendations, implementation strategies, and interventions to a broad audience of stakeholders at the local, state and national level to make good health possible. These are essential elements in reforming health care delivery systems and establishing the health of communities. Finally, the School of Public Health will honor the tenets of public health and continue to foster interdisciplinary partnerships across multiple sectors that emphasize translation of evidence to and from practices and populations. We will advocate for health equity and policy positions that support system transformations addressing health disparities related to age, wealth, race and culture. It is a privilege to serve the University and community as the Dean of the School of Public Health. I hope to challenge all of us to be dreamers who imagine health for all, thinkers who consider how to make the seemingly impossible somehow possible, and doers who make a world of difference in delivering better health to our community. Imagine health for all! Lisa M. Klesges, Ph.D., Dean
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Latino families participate in “Salsa, Sabor, y Salud” to reduce their obesity and diabetes risk
Health Innovations Propelled by Dreams. “...A win-win-win scenario for the University of Memphis, our region and students.” – Dr. Wilfried Karmaus, professor and director of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Environmental Health
Reducing the risk of diabetes in local Latino families. Studying the levels of toxins in our air. Developing tools to prevent childhood obesity. Researching sickle cell disease in Shelby County. Improving training for food safety inspectors. These are just a few of the significant issues the University of Memphis School of Public Health has been tackling since it was established in 2007.
Faced with both workforce shortages and local health needs, the Tennessee Board of Regents approved a Master of Public Health degree program in July 2006. By the next year, a Master of Public Health director was hired, and the first students enrolled. A School of Public Health director was hired a year later.
Public health is the science and art of improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles and research for disease and injury prevention. The goal is to prevent health problems before they occur.
The SPH is committed to providing excellence in education, research and outreach to enhance public health and promote health equity. Among the numerous outreach programs of the School are:
Of the 95 counties in Tennessee, Shelby County ranks 66th in health factors, including clinical care, health risk behavior, social and economic factors and physical environment. The county ranks 59th overall in health outcomes and 61st in premature death.
I M P R OV I N G C A R E FO R PATI E N T S W IT H H I V/A I D S
A H E A LT H Y S TA R T In the early 1980s, a group of Tennesseans saw a need for more public health care workers. The number of public health workers in America was declining, and between 1980 and 2000, that number would fall 21 percent. 5
Worse, estimates indicated that this country would have a shortage of 25,000 public health workers by 2020.
In collaboration with Shelby County Health Department Epidemiology Section, the Memphis TGA Ryan White Part A Program and the School of Public Health, a total of 286 survey interviews and four focus groups were conducted with participants in the Ryan White Program, which provides services to patients with HIV/AIDS who need care but can’t afford it. Patients were asked to assess overall barriers and facilitators to accessing care, including the role of social support from family, friends and church
Dr. Vikki Nolan provides epidemiology workshops at the Shelby County Health Department as part of workforce development
members, as well as HIV-related stigma, HIV disclosure and incarceration. Successes span from inclusion of out-of-care assessments to measures evaluating retention. Consumer survey results reported that almost half of respondents said they “sometimes/often” thought other people were uncomfortable being with them. “The importance of this research is to improve medical and supportive services, and linkage and retention in care,” said Dr. Latrice Pichon, assistant professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
A I R Q UA L IT Y M O N ITO R I N G The School of Public Health is a major collaborator with the Shelby County Health Department in a $574,404 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the Air Pollution Special Studies Grant Program. The study, titled “Reducing Exposure to Airborne Chemical Toxics (REACT) via Community-Scale Air Monitoring in Memphis,” will monitor more than 60 air toxics in ambient air in the Memphis area to understand their sources, exposure levels, and health risks. It will rely on a major collaboration between the U of M and Middle Tennessee State University. Dr. Chunrong Jia, assistant professor of Environmental Health, serves as the principal investigator of the U of M. This three-year study will provide data that can examine and compare health risk and air quality across different communities throughout Shelby County. The project will collect air toxics samples in almost half of the census tracts in Shelby County, and measure ambient concentrations of more than 50 air toxics. It will identify possible areas of high concentrations and major contributors of air toxics
Air quality monitoring in the field
pollutants and evaluate the health risks from exposure to air toxics in Memphis. This research will provide a better understanding of the type and origin of VOCs as ozone precursors. Overall, the study is designed to provide scientific data for EPA to conduct risk assessment and to control air toxics emissions. “The results will provide bases for future control of air toxics emissions, and ideally, to achieve clean air in Memphis,” Jia said.
P R E V E N TI N G A L L E R G I E S The new division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Environmental Health (EBE) offers a unique setting to collaborate in research, enhance teaching and provide service to the community. The research has local, national and international components, and it addresses a variety of health outcomes and environmental exposures. With a better understanding of specific diseases, medical personnel will be able to improve preventive and patient services. Drs. Hongmei Zhang and Wilfried Karmaus are working on a grant funded by NIH, the aim of which is to improve the classification of allergic diseases by developing joint cluster approaches for clinical markers and patients. Once developed for allergic diseases, the approach can be applied to other clinical markers (for instance, metabolic syndrome or cardiovascular diseases). “The aim is to prevent asthma, eczema and allergies by understanding early life risk factors,” said Karmaus. He is also working with colleagues from the Ukrainian Academy of Science in Kiev to study the health effects of the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986. (Story continued on page 7)
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AND MORE Partnering with researchers and physicians at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Drs. Vikki Nolan and James Gurney are studying sickle cell disease and health care utilization patterns in the Memphis area. Dr. Pratik Banerjee, assistant professor of Environmental Health, is principal investigator of a multi-institutional collaborative grant funded by the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services to provide standardized, effective training for food safety inspectors and stakeholders at all levels.
T H E S C H O O L TO DAY: G R OW I N G A N D T H R I V I N G
Some of these milestones are already accomplished or are very close to being accomplished. The School has completed its self-study evaluation and strategic planning, and is working to assemble a full complement of core faculty. It’s deepened its public health research programs and is working to obtain approval of its third Ph.D. program. This year has also seen the School advance several doctoral students to candidacy. Perhaps most importantly, the School is well on its way toward accreditation. It applied for accreditation candidacy in August 2012 and was accepted by CEPH in October. The School now has two full years to conduct an accreditation self-study and undergo a site visit by CEPH. The School hopes to schedule the site visit for spring or fall 2014.
The administration continues to develop specific goals and objectives. In addition to completing a comprehensive strategic plan for the School of Public Health, the administration plans to achieve accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), grow and improve the School’s graduate programs and research portfolio, increase its number of strategic partnerships in the community and grow development funding.
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Testing food safety in the Environmental Health Lab
MPH students collaborate with students from the Herff College of Engineering to promote safe walking and biking to school
SPH students visiting at the 2013 Orientation
Training Students to Make a World of Difference Two master’s programs and two doctoral programs train the new generation of public health professionals, health care leaders and researchers. The School of Public Health at the University of Memphis is dedicated to excellence in education, research and outreach that improves public health and promotes health equity in our community, in our state and throughout the world. The School creates an environment where students are trained through experiential opportunities to solve issues within public health and where they can help inform public policy, spread health information and increase the awareness of public health concerns. It is an environment conducive to interdisciplinary public health initiatives, with special emphasis on vulnerable populations who suffer disproportionately from illness and disability. By stimulating community collaboration, each academic programs works to develop effective partnerships in fighting health challenges, both locally and nationally.
provide monthly stipends. Since this program was instituted in 2001, our community partners have provided tuition and stipend funding exceeding $2,000,000.
Master of Health Administration
Because of our well-rounded curriculum, our graduates work in a wide variety of positions in health care, including CEOs, COOs, Directors, Managers, Operations Analysts, Health Information Managers, Telehealth Coordinators, Decision Support Analysts, Clinical Directors, Patient Services Supervisors, Quality Coordinators, and many more. We are extremely proud of our students and graduates, and we pledge to continue to provide up-todate and professional educational experiences and to motivate future outstanding health care leaders.
The CAHME-accredited Master of Health Administration program prepares students for entry-level and early careerist positions in a variety of health care organizations. Because of our extremely strong relationships with our health care community partners, over 65% of our full-time, nonmilitary students have served in graduate assistantships, which provide 20-30 hours per week of invaluable handson experience in a first-class health care facility. These experiences also pay for most of the students’ tuition and
In the classroom, students are exposed to many aspects of the health care industry, such as health information systems, leadership, finance, health care law, health economics, health policy, managerial epidemiology, human resources, and quality and outcomes management, among others. Within the program’s required 53 credit-hours, all students are also required to complete an internship experience, of no less than 300 hours, with a health care facility to gain invaluable experience working on management and health care provision issues with experienced administrators.
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Master of Public Health students participate in emergency response drill sponsored by the Shelby County Health Department
Master of Public Health Students enter the Master of Public Health (MPH) program with a variety of backgrounds, including anthropology, biology, business, computer science, communications, dietetics, exercise science, health promotion, human resources, law, library science, medicine, nursing, optometry, psychology and social work. Accordingly, MPH students may earn a generalist degree or elect to specialize in one of the following five areas of concentration: biostatistics; environmental health; epidemiology; health systems management; or social and behavioral science. Two formats have been implemented to facilitate student progress: an online M.P.H. degree and a “Fast Track” one-year option. Within the required 42 credit hours, students engage in practicum experiences with over 15 community agencies and work on a thesis or practicum project that addresses salient public health concerns, such as infant mortality, HIV
SBS doctoral student Jason Hodges spearheads the Health Department’s community assessment
prevention, childhood obesity, breastfeeding, refugee health, social determinants of health, environmental justice, health communication, emergency preparedness and international health issues. In 2013, MPH students also focused on local topics of concern, such as barriers to breastfeeding, HIV screening, sexual peer health counseling, veterans’ courts, points of distribution for emergency response, advance care planning in a hospital setting, Child Death Review to reduce infant and child mortality, asthma control in school-aged children, over-thecounter drug use, evaluation of Ryan White Service providers, and community-based interventions to reduce hypertension in African American men. International projects included Staci Somerville’s travel to Yarvicoya, Bolivia, as part of “Engineers without Borders” to help assess health aspects of the local water supply as engineering students evaluated water sources and worked to
Michael Schmidt, Doctoral Student, Social and Behavioral Sciences Recently recognized for bringing in over $1M in external contracts and grants
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Working with the Shelby County (TN) Office of Early Childhood and Youth, Michael Schmidt designed a policy decision aid that foregrounds the health and safety needs of children and youth. The Web-based decision application, launched in 2009, has been used by all county government divisions to generate over 100 child impact statements, informing county commission decisions on matters stretching from safety, health, and education to land use and development. Michael’s efforts have been shared with all members of the US House and Senate through “Big Ideas: Game Changers for Children,” published by national child advocacy organization First Focus. Michael presented his work on child impact statements in a poster session at the 2011 American Public Health Association national conference and at the National Children’s Budget Summit held by First Focus at the National Press Club. He was recently invited by UNICEF Canada to conduct a workshop on child impact assessment at an international child rights symposium to be held in Ottawa this spring. To learn more, you can access the decision aid at https://shelbychildimpact.org.
Research conducted by Dr. Julie Ware (MPH ’12) formed the basis for a community campaign to promote breastfeeding in underserved communities
develop new water supplies. In Haiti, Janice Ballard researched ways to prevent diarrheal dehydration, and Chuck Kolesar developed a sustainable, community-based program to rescue “restavecs,” Haitian children at risk of becoming slaves. Dr. Rick Savoy studied the role of humanitarian optometric missions in the amelioration of uncorrected refractive error in Northern Central America. Jeannette Kirby’s thesis, conducted in collaboration with researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, investigated hospital infection control strategies among children with cancer in the Philippines. In the summer of 2013, Justin Hendrix completed his MPH practicum in Uganda, conducting a community needs assessment with village/clan members to examine the social determinants of health among internally displaced persons. Ph.D. in Social and Behavioral Sciences Initiated in 2010, the Ph.D. program in Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) emphasizes developing scientific research skills using advanced theories and methods to examine and influence the social and behavioral determinants of population health, risk factors and outcomes. Graduates leave the program prepared to conduct innovative, interdisciplinary and translational research in community settings, especially among vulnerable populations, and to design, implement, administer and evaluate public health interventions and policies. As part of a metropolitan research university, the program focuses on urban health, health disparities, and social justice issues in the Mid-South. Students encounter numerous opportunities to be involved with community based projects, large cohort studies and clinical trials. Along with full-time students, part-time students come from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Shelby County Health Department and the University of Memphis faculty. Our doctoral students are working on a variety of research projects, including studying Pap test screening practices in HIV-positive women, in partnership with the Shelby County Health Department and the Ryan White program; development of a web-based tool for childhood obesity prevention; epidemiological profile of HIV risk factors among adolescents in Shelby County; breastfeeding among lowincome pregnant smokers; HIV/AIDS treatment among adolescent young adults; technological intervention to prevent childhood obesity; transition from pediatric to adult care among youth living with chronic illness; stress, smoking, and substance abuse among pregnant women; and prevalence of
health disparities observed in colorectal cancer incidence in Shelby County. We are excited to report that one of our students recently completed the comprehensive exam, and we anticipate that we will graduate our first Social and Behavioral Sciences Ph.D. student in 2014. Ph.D. in Epidemiology Begun in 2011, the Ph.D. program in Epidemiology is designed for those who intend to teach and conduct original research utilizing rigorous scientific theories and methods, as well as to be active in promoting policies and interventions designed to improve the health of populations. Close collaboration between Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health faculty within one division provides a unique opportunity for students to pursue a Ph.D. in Epidemiology supplemented with strong Environmental Health and Biostatistics components. Enrolled students complete 63 credits beyond the master’s degree with coursework consisting of a core of research methods, advanced methods, subject matter, and biostatistics, as well as two doctoral seminars. These courses provide the foundations in epidemiologic and biostatistical methods needed to pass the comprehensive exam and conduct independent dissertation research. The dissertation research involves collection and analyses of original data that culminates in three manuscripts of publishable quality and an overarching introduction and discussion that highlights the synergy of the three manuscripts. Aside from full-time students, part-time students come from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. We are excited to report that four of our students will be taking their comprehensive exam in the fall of 2013, and we anticipate we will graduate our first epidemiology Ph.D. student in 2014. Based on the background of our most-recently enrolled students, it is clear that there is nationwide and international interest in our program. Ph.D. in Health Systems and Policy A third doctoral program is currently in review by the Tennessee Board of Regents. Students will be admitted into the program in 2014.
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ADVISORY COUNCIL SPOTLIGHT Recently, Dr Blan Godfrey, former Board Chair of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, visited Memphis as an invited guest of the School of Public Health at the University of Memphis. He and the leaders of the school discussed how important it is going to be in the years ahead for our nation to build a HEALTH system, not just a HEALTHCARE system.
Pradeep Podila, Doctoral Student, Epidemiology SAS Certified Statistical Business Analyst finding ways to improve health services to the community. Pradeep Podila worked as a Local Technical Support Provider – I for the Dean’s Office in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Memphis before joining Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare’s Corporate Clinical Decision Support as a Decision Support Data Specialist-II in February 2011. At Methodist, he works as one of the project managers on a Community Health Record (CHR) grant and project with colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Health Information Technology group. He is also designing a SAS algorithm to identify the historical records of readmits for the Project SafeMED (a collaborative initiative between Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and University of Tennessee Health Science Center) to address issues related to Poly-pharmacy. He was selected for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) Student Quality Leadership Academy 2013 which he attended this summer in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His team has finished in the Top-3 in the National SAS Analytics Shootout Competition 2013 conducted by SAS, Teradata and the Institute for Health and Business Insight at the Central Michigan University. The exact rankings will not be revealed until the Analytics 2013 Conference Series on Oct. 21-22 in Orlando, Florida.
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A blueprint with three essential elements for the creation of a HEALTH system is becoming increasingly clear. First, much progress is being made in improving the experience of care in our hospitals and clinics...providing safer, more effective, efficient, equitable, timely, patient-centered care. Second, reduction in per capita costs of care is underway, but much more work needs to be done to reduce costs...not by eliminating helpful care...not by harming a hair on anyone’s head...but much more by eliminating waste and needless hassle. However, for the nation to build a true HEALTH system, bold initiatives to improve the health of our population will be an absolutely critical third element for our future success, attacking upstream the causes of ill health.... including poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and substance abuse. The simultaneous pursuit of these three elements, in large measure, needs to be a community task. Here in Memphis, we are blessed to have within the University of Memphis, an outstanding School of Public Health, playing a leadership role in the re-design of our health system, translating academic research into practice to address pressing public health concerns such as obesity, diabetes, HIV, tobacco abuse, among others, and, in addition, training the next generation of public health researchers, practitioners, and leaders to meet the challenges which lie ahead. In short, the School of Public Health is a treasured asset to our community and beyond. We hope this report will generate enthusiasm and support for its mission. Together, we can help build the health system all citizens deserve. Dr. Bob Waller and Dr. Ed Rafalski Co-Chairs, Dean’s Advisory Council
Dean’s Advisory Council Mr. Calvin Anderson Vice President of Federal and Community Relations, BCBS of Tennessee Ms. Mary Beard Customer/Business Transactions, FedEx Mr. Michael Cates Executive Vice President, Memphis Medical Society Dr. Paul DePriest Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation Mr. Gregory Duckett ( ex-officio) Senior Vice President and Corporate Counsel, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp. Ms. Dawn FitzGerald Chief Executive Officer, QSource Mr. John Gemmill Field Office Director, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Rabbi Micah Greenstein Senior Rabbi, Temple Israel Dr. Dennis Higdon Anesthesiologist, Methodist Healthcare
Ms. Yvonne Madlock Director, Shelby County Health Department Mr. Jay Martin President, NSA/Juice Plus Dr. Scott Morris Chief Executive Officer, Church Health Center Dr. Ed Rafalski, Co-Chair Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning and Marketing, Methodist Healthcare Dr. David Smalley President, American Esoteric Laboratories Ms. Cristie Upshaw Travis Chief Executive Officer, Memphis Business Group on Health Dr. Bob Waller, Co-Chair President Emeritus and CEO, Mayo Clinic Mr. Burt Waller Executive Director, Christ Community Health Services Ms. Laura Whitsitt Vice President of Research and Innovation, Smith and Nephew Orthopedics
DIVISIONAL REPORTS DIVISION OF EPIDEMIOLOGY, BIOSTATISTICS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH The unifying mission of this new division is to generate new knowledge in the fields of environmental health, epidemiology, and biostatistics that can lead to improvements in health. Special emphasis is placed on identifying and studying emerging areas in public health, especially those that cross disciplinary boundaries. For students, the Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health offers a unique chance to study Epidemiology at the masters and doctorate level with strong Environmental Health and Biostatistics components. Pratik Banerjee, M.Tech., Ph.D. Assistant Professor Dr. Banerjee is a Co-Principal Investigator of a multi-institutional, multi-million dollar collaborative grant funded by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to provide standardized, effective training for food safety inspectors and stakeholders at all levels. He is collaborating with Auburn University Food Systems Initiative and other national Universities to create training programs through a Virtual Food Systems Training Consortium (VFSTC). These training programs, as critical components of the Food Safety and Modernization Act (2011) provisions, will strengthen the security and safety of our nation’s food supply and public health. James G. Gurney, Ph.D. Professor and Director of Research Dr. Gurney is the Hardin Endowed Professor and is also an Adjunct Clinical Faculty Member at St. Jude Children’s Research in the Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control in Memphis. He is a Co-Principal Investigator of the newly developed Sickle Cell Clinical Research and Intervention Program at St. Jude in the Department of Hematology and is Co-Investigator for the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study, a comprehensive health follow-up study of adult survivors of childhood cancer. He is an elected Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology. Chunrong Jia, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Science Dr. Jia’s research focuses on human exposure to and health risks of toxic organic air pollutants in indoor and outdoor environments. His ongoing research, funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, aims to evaluate health risks of ambient air toxics in Memphis, Tennessee. Wilfred Karmaus, M.D., Dr. Med., MPH Professor and Director Trained as a physician in Germany and as an epidemiologist at UNC Chapel Hill, his interests cover environmental exposures and health outcomes in the life span from pre-conception to adolescence (maternal and child health). The overarching objective of his research is to understand the role of pre- and postnatal exposures and to re-set their adverse effects. Dr. Karmaus also enjoys working with mentees (graduate students and post-docs) and established a model of apprenticeship through which students learn on how to conduct and analyze epidemiologic studies and to present their results at conferences and in peer-reviewed journals. Lisa M. Klesges, Ph.D. School of Public Health Dean and Professor of Epidemiology & Social and Behavioral Sciences Dr Lisa Klesges and many SPH faculty are actively involved in Healthy Shelby, a Memphis Fast Forward Initiative (MFF) to accelerate economic growth and improve the quality of life in the Memphis region. Conceived by Dr. Donald Berwick and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, MFF is Memphis’
implementation of a national “Triple Aim” initiative to improve the individual experience of every person who receives healthcare, reducing per capita cost and improving population health outcomes. The program currently focuses on “end of life care”, reducing the community’s “infant mortality rate”, and better controlling “chronic diseases” that account for the majority of health care costs. The program is a partnership of local government and private and not for profit business. Sunil Mathur, Ph.D., MBA Associate Professor Dr. Mathur’s research interests focus on both biostatistical applications and methodological development of biostatistics. Dr. Mathur wrote the book Statistical Bioinformatics with R (Academic Press, USA) in January 2010. His research interests include public health, nonparametric statistics, likelihood procedures, genomics, epidemiology, and biostatistics. Fawaz Mzayek, M.D., MPH, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Epidemiology Dr. Mzayek has extensive experience in the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. He has been working with large datasets from longitudinal studies such as the Bogalusa Heart Study, the renowned longitudinal, community-based study of the natural evolution of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Mzayek also has a strong background in drug development and pharmacology. His work focuses on study design and research methods, and he has extensive experience in the conduct and analysis of clinical trials. Other areas of research interest include tobacco control and diabetes. Vikki Nolan, D.Sc., MPH Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Dr. Nolan works with physicians/researchers St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Methodist Healthcare Foundation to determine the epidemiology of sickle cell disease in Shelby County, TN and health care utilization patterns in the Memphis Metropolitan area. The goals of this project are to estimate the number of sickle cell patients using Memphis area hospitals, determine overall and age-specific hospitalization rates, and identify hospitalization rates of sickle cell associated complications. Dr. Nolan is also working with Methodist Healthcare Foundation to determine the efficacy of the newly established Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center as a medical home for those with sickle cell in the Memphis Metropolitan area. George Relyea, M.S. Assistant Research Professor Mr. Relyea’s research interests include statistical methods and computing in public health and biostatistics, assessment of substance abuse treatment, and activity and cognitive performance in children. Xinhua Yu, M.D., Ph.D., M.S. Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Dr. Yu has worked on large epidemiology studies such as CARDIA, a large national longitudinal study on cardiovascular risk factors among young adults. He is an expert in managing and analyzing very large administrative datasets such as Medicare claims, SEER-Medicare data, and survey data. He has conducted health disparities research among elderly population using Medicare claims and national cancer registry. Dr. Yu’s current research focuses on health disparities, determinants of health care utilization among cancer survivors, and epidemiological methods. Other areas of research interest include clinical epidemiology, cost-effective analysis, and health technology diffusion. Hongmei Zhang, Ph.D., M.S. Associate Professor Dr. Zhang’s research includes focus on Bayesian methods, statistic methods in bioinformatics, and variable selection, clustering methods and measurement error modeling.
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DIVISION OF HEALTH SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT AND POLICY Our field or discipline of health systems management and policy uses many names such as health administration, health services, health management, healthcare management, health systems administration, medical and health services management. Basically, we are concerned with the leadership, management and administration of hospitals, hospital networks, healthcare systems and public health systems. We train generalists and specialists. Generalists can manage an entire facility while specialists run the efficient operations of a special area such as policy analysis, finance, accounting, budgeting, human resources or marketing. SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. Assistant Professor Dr. Ahn is currently conducting research on the effectiveness of gardening in reducing body mass index and improving health. He strongly believes that gardening activities can improve body composition, physical health, and mental health without requiring medical assistance and the accompanying health care costs. Dr. Ahn has also participated in Diabetic Obesity Weight Loss Pilot Program of Church Health Center funded by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation as a program evaluator. The prevalence of obesity and diabetes is rapidly increasing, especially among low-income uninsured patients. Having health coach visits, dietitian consults, and exercise consult as interventions, Dr. Ahn examines changes in patient’s biometric (e.g., body mass index, HbA1c) and self-reported health status over time. David Burchfield, Ph.D., FHFMA Assistant Professor Dr. Burchfield is currently researching experiential learning opportunities for our MHA students. His is the education and growth of students, and he oversees both our Internship Program and our Graduate Assistantship Program. He also currently serves as the President-Elect of the Tennessee Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. Erik Carlton, M.S., Dr.P.H. Assistant Professor Dr. Carlton’s research focuses on the integration of public health and primary care systems, integrating behavioral health systems, and increasing interdisciplinary education in healthcare. He currently teaches the core health policy and organization of health systems course for the School of Public Health. He is also serving as a consultant to the Shelby County Health Department, where he is helping direct the health department’s community assessment using the national “Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships” (MAPP) model.
Ed Dismuke, M.D., M.S.P.H. Interim Director and Visiting Professor Interested in Community Health improvement and Population Health, Dr. Dismuke enjoys working with community groups to systematically and measurably improve community health. Currently he has a grant from the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation that 13
comes through the Tennessee Medical Association. It aims to promote the national Choosing Wisely Campaign to reduce the overuse of tests and procedures in medicine. In addition to promoting the campaign, he and his colleagues are trying to measurably reduce overuse in Memphis. Dan Gentry, Ph.D. Professor Dr. Gentry teaches in the areas of health care organization, health policy, and organizational analysis and change. Dr. Gentry’s research interests include the financing, organization, and delivery of prevention and care services, tobacco policy, obesity policy, HIV/STD policy, and evaluation of health and social service programs. Since 1996, he has received over $3 million in research funding as a principal investigator and has published widely in leading public health and health services journals. He currently serves as Chairman of the board of the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) and is a past fellow of CAHME. Mark D. Hendricks, MHA Instructor and Director of Masters’ Programs Mr. Hendricks’ main interests are in health planning and health care leadership as practiced in large urban health delivery systems. His work in the community has focused on the problems diverse urban populations face in accessing services, education and health care, as well as serving as a trustee of the LeMoyne-Owen College, the community’s Historically Black College, and a mayoral appointment as a member of the Memphis Center City Commission. A health care administration practitioner with over thirty years of experience in the field, he was most recently an executive with ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for twelve years. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, he obtained his Master of Health Administration degree from the Washington University School of Medicine. M. Paige Powell, Ph.D., MHA Assistant Professor Dr. Powell teaches in the areas of health policy and health policy analysis, health economics, health care systems, research methods, and ethics. A noted health policy expert, her research focuses on the impact of the insurance provisions in the Affordable Care Act on use of health care services in the general population. She also investigates the impact of medication therapy management on use of health care services and health outcomes in elderly populations. David Rosenthal, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Health Administration Dr. Rosenthal was awarded by the State of Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration, Division of Health Care Finance and Administration, Office of eHealth Initiatives a 16-month, $265,000 contract to conduct an evaluation of the State of Tennessee’s Health Information Exchange (HIE) Programs. The project focuses on identification of hospitals and reference laboratories participating in delivering electronic structured lab results, pharmacies participating in e-prescribing, providers exchanging patient summary of care records, and providers utilizing HIE-facilitated public health reporting.
DIVISION OF SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES Faculty and students in the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences conduct original research utilizing rigorous scientific theories and methods to understand and influence the social and behavioral determinants of population health risk factors and outcomes. The Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences consists of four faculty members, Drs. Satish Kedia, Marian Levy, Latrice Pichon, and Ken Ward, who serves as division director. The division is also home to nine doctoral students, and 15 MPH concentrators. Faculty in the division address several public health problems that are critical, both regionally and globally. Additionally, they are leaders at the state and national level, helping bridge the gap between academia and public health practice.
HIV education in the faith-based community
Latrice C. Pichon, Ph.D., MPH, CHES Assistant Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Kedia is a Principal Investigator of “Alcohol & Drug Abuse and Mental Health Treatment for Homeless,” an evaluation project funded by the federal agency Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). He also co-edited two thematic volumes as Editor of the Annals of Anthropological Practice. Currently, he is a Co-Investigator on the FITKids obesity reduction project.
Dr. Pichon’s research focuses on exploring the role of the faith-based community in addressing HIV awareness and prevention, partnering with community-based organizations to understand HIV outreach, care, and utilization needs among vulnerable populations, and using the application of community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches. With support of pilot funds from NIMH Grant R25HD045810 (PI Neilands, T.), Dr. Pichon is currently exploring the process by which predominantly African American churches develop, adopt, implement, and sustain programming to address HIV prevention.
Marian Levy, Dr.P.H., R.D. Assistant Dean of Students and Public Health Practice Associate Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Kenneth D. Ward, Ph.D. Director and Professor, Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Levy is a Co-Principal Investigator of a $2.6 million award from the Department of Defense with Dr. Robert Koch of the Loewenberg School of Nursing to enhance military and civilian interface during emergency response in large-scale catastrophes. She also serves as Co-Investigator partnering with the YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South on Salsa, Sabor, y Salud (Food, Fun, and Fitness), a grant awarded by the Tennessee Department of Health to reduce diabetes risk in Latino families. Dr. Levy also partners with the Herff College of Engineering in research to enhance walking to school in urban neighborhoods.
Intervention Director of the Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies, in Aleppo, Syria, Dr. Ward recently led the first research study conducted in a developing country to determine what methods of smoking cessation are most effective. Dr. Ward also directs the FITKids project, funded by the FedEx Institute of Technology and Bluecross Blueshield of TN Foundation partnering with the Bioinformatics program at the U of M, as well as the YMCA, Church Health Center, and other community organizations, to develop a computerized tool parents can use to determine their child’s risk of obesity and receive information on how to reduce this risk.
Satish Kedia, Ph.D. Professor of Social and Behavioral Science
FIT Kids computerized assessment
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Alumni Spotlight Landrus Burress MPH ’09 As a Research Associate at UT-Memorial Hermann Center for Healthcare Quality and Safety, Burress worked on several quality improvement and patient safety projects and is currently overseeing two major projects. The first works toward reducing medical errors in hospitals by focusing on patients and family members, and the second assesses attitudes of error disclosure with physicians in six University of Texas health related hospitals. Furthering his studies, he graduated from the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston, TX in May 2013 with a Doctor of Public Degree (Dr.P.H.) in Health Services Organizations and Research. He has also recently presented at two major conferences: Burress, L. (2012) Learning from Errors through Patients and Families. 2012 Summer Institute on Evidence-Based Practice &Quality Improvement Conference. San Antonio, TX Burress, L. (2012) Why Disclose Medical Errors? Literature-Derived Dimensions Of Performance, And Outcomes For Judging Performance. Kelsey-Seybold Research Foundation 13th Annual Health Services and Outcomes Research Conference. Houston, TX “My MPH experience and training at the University of Memphis School of Public Health helped prepare me both academically and professionally to be competitive in my doctoral studies and succeed in the field of public health and research. Along with the great faculty, it was a very enjoyable and memorable experience. “ 15
Chee Lam MPH ’12 Chee Lam has accepted an appointment by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a Public Health Analyst. He was awarded a two-year, paid CDC fellowship through the PHAP program and has been assigned to work with the East Metro Health District in Lawrenceville, Georgia. This award was highly competitive. Of the 4400 applicants, 1000 were invited to submit a personal statement. Of those, 500 interviews were granted; and only 133 individuals were accepted. Mr. Lam was among the top 3% of applicants ultimately selected.
Sarah Maurice MHA ‘12 After earning an MBA and working in business development in several industries, Sarah Maurice chose to pursue an MHA to gain the healthcarespecific knowledge that the differentiated degree offered. She is now the Chief Operating Officer at Campbell Clinic. “The MHA program at the University of Memphis has partnered with many area healthcare organizations that provide support through the extension of graduate internships and residencies. This afforded me the opportunity to study in the classroom while learning on the job. I was selected for a rotational residency program at a major health system that corresponded with the duration of the academic program. This opened doors to fulfill leadership roles in healthcare and I am now leveraging the education and experience the degree provided me, in my role as Chief Operating Officer at Campbell Clinic.”
Kyle Kuusisto MPH ‘11 Deeply motivated by his time in the M.P.H. program, Kyle Kuusisto teaches health and physical education in the Memphis City Schools at the elementary school level. He designs lesson plans in accordance with the Tennessee state standards, incorporating general principles of student development and other academic disciplines (i.e., music, history, anatomy, geography).
“I bring with me to the classroom daily the principles taught in the School of Public Health. I have drawn much from the philosophy of Paulo Freire and the belief in people and social action. I am in a continuous process of L-D-A (listen, dialogue, action). This has helped me to become a stronger teacher for my students and families by being a vested stakeholder in their school and community. I have brought this level of awareness to a weekly Walk to School Day event and most recently a Bike to School Day event that saw participation by over a hundred students and parents.”
Ken Holifield MHA ‘11 Currently a Clinic Operations Officer, Legal Officer, and Access to Care Manager for four clinics on the Oahu island, with about 30,000 enrollees, and will soon take over as the Department Head for Human Resources. Holifield has also been hand selected (over several O4s) to serve as the Director for Administration (DFA) while his supervisor is deployed for six months. The DFA is typically a senior O4 - O5 job that is in charge of Finance, Supply, Patient Admin, HR, IT, Business Ops, and Facilities. He is looking forward to this learning experience. “I wanted to pass on my sincerest thanks to everyone in the Master of Health Administration program, as well as the School of Public Health and the University of Memphis, for what you did for me my time there. You all have certainly put me in a position to succeed. Thank you all very much!”
WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM OUR SPH ALUMNI. PLEASE SEND YOUR UPDATES TO MLEVY@MEMPHIS.EDU.
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Focus On An Investment in the School of Public Health Is an Investment in Our Community The long-term success of our region is inextricably linked to the health and well-being of our population. Looking ahead, the School of Public Health(SPH) is uniquely positioned to address serious issues in our region, including heart disease, obesity, diabetesrelated deaths, and infant mortality. Our community has made inroads to address some of these health challenges over the years, but there is still much that can be accomplished. Established in 2009, SPH has quickly established itself since that time as a leader in promoting health, preventing disease, and prolonging life. Because of the crucial role it plays within our community, each of us must take great pride and ownership in its success. Success for SPH requires qualified and dedicated faculty and students, modern equipment, adequate facilities and strong constituent support that recognize the value of improving health outcomes of all citizens. SPH is teaching a new generation of public health professionals to become problem solvers and lifelong learners, ready to protect the health of our community and to meet the current and coming challenges. Through innovation and excellence in interdisciplinary education, research, service, and community engagement, we can tackle pressing societal problems and impact health outcomes in our neighborhoods and the world. Gifts from friends, alumni, practitioners, corporations, and foundations, make the university great and enable us to touch the lives of many. An investment in the SPH is an investment in healthy places and healthy people.
Julie L. Graves Director of Development
DONORS Dr. SangNam Ahn Dr. Sato Ashida Ms. Nancy W Avewater Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Foundation and Community Trust Ms. Camilla Blanks Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Bruns Dr. David C. Burchfield Mr. and Mrs. Steven H. Burkett Ms. Virginia Carney Dr. Erik L. Carlton Church Health Center of Memphis, Inc Mr. Daniel Clark Ms. Margie D. Collier-Smith Dr. Dan Gentry and Mr. Patrick Dunn Ms. Brenita Crawford Mr. Maurice W. Elliott Mr. and Mrs. Lendon and Sean Ellis Mr. Roderick D. Elmore Ms. Alisa M Firehock Mr. Dennis J. Greenwell The late Betty L. Hagerty Healthy Memphis Common Table Mr. Mark D. Hendricks Dr. and Mrs. Dennis A. Higdon Ms. Michell R. Hussey Jabie and Helen Hardin Charitable Trust
Dr. Robert J. Jackson Mr. Charles M. Key Dr. Chunrong Jia Dr. Lisa M. Klesges Mr. Morris Landau Dr. Marian C. Levy Methodist Le Bonheur Health Care Mr. James E. McGehee Jr. Dr. Fawaz Mzayek Dr. Daniel Newman Dr. Vikki G. Nolan Plough Foundation Dr. Latrice C. Pichon Mr. Bobby A. Prince Mr. Ronald J. Rey Ms. Mary L. Rhodes Dr. and Mrs. Karan P. Singh Dr. and Mrs. David L. Smalley Ms. Judy Soberman Mr. Justin W. Spinney Dr. Randall W. Spinney Mr. Justin P. Swearingen Temple Israel Tennessee Medical Association The Assisi Foundation of Memphis Incorporated Dr. Robert R. Waller Dr. Kenneth D. Ward Dr. Xinhua Yu
A GIFT THAT PLANS FOR YOUR FUTURE – AND OURS! Your gift to the School of Public Health can provide you with income for life! In exchange for your planned gift of $25,000 or more, the University of Memphis Foundation can offer you (or you and another person), the security of a fixed income for life. Benefits to you (and/or your spouse, parent, sibling or other person): · A lifetime income stream, part of which is tax-free · A substantial and immediate income tax deduction · Possible avoidance of capital gains taxes · Possible avoidance of estate and gift taxes on the gift that you have made Benefits to the School of Public Health: · Scholarships for outstanding students · Professorships for research faculty · Resources for preventative health measures Look at these sample rates:
S I NG LE LI FE Your Age 65 75 85
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Annuity Rate 4.7% 5.8% 7.8%
JOI N T LI F E Your Ages Annuity Rate 70/68 4.5% 76/73 5.0% 80/80 5.7%
Annuity rates are subject to change. Once your gift is made, the annuity is fixed for life! For a confidential, personalized proposal, contact Julie Graves at 901.678.4299.
DONOR PROFILE:
Jabez “Jabie” and Helen Hardin In an office over a restaurant at Florida and Calhoun in Memphis, TN, Helen stuck by the phone and put together orders for specialty foods. Meanwhile, Jabie drove a 1934 Chevrolet throughout the Mid-South. He would walk into a store, examine the stock, determine what was needed, get the customer to approve the order, and drive to the next store. He would do that all day, stopping only at noon to call the orders in to Helen. She would package and label the orders in the afternoon. Helen paid school children to help load the delivery truck, which was owned and operated by another company, in the early years. The ambition and irrepressible persistence of the late Jabez “Jabie” and Helen Hardin are legendary. Co-founders of wholesale food distributors, Hardin-Sysco, the Hardin’s have made significant investments in Memphis and now represent one of the great philanthropic couples in Memphis. Jabie and Helen, his wife of 76 years, believed strongly in giving back to the community. During their lifetime and with the legacy they left, Helen and Jabie supported local organizations that serve our region in important and valuable ways. Their generosity made a profound and lasting impact and set a powerful example for the next generation of business leaders and philanthropists. Nowhere has their leadership and impact been felt more deeply than at the University of Memphis. Before her death in 2008, Mrs. Hardin, a long-time supporter of the University of Memphis, gave a significant gift for the benefit of honor students. In recognition of the significance of the gift for the University’s high-ability students, the program was named The Helen Hardin Honors Program. The University’s past President Shirley Raines and retired Provost Ralph Faudree both acknowledged the significance of Mrs. Hardin’s gift, saying that “... honors students enliven the academic performance of the campus at large by creating a climate that encourages hard work, serious study, and high expectations of all students. The Hardin legacy will have a far-reaching and long-lived effect on the University and its students.” The Hardin’s also established the Jabie Sanford Hardin II Chair of Excellence in Combinatoric Mathematics in memory of their only son. In 1994, the Hardin’s established a chair of excellence in economics/managerial journalism.
The School of Public Health is the most recent beneficiary of their generosity. In 2012, the Hardin’s established the Jabie and Helen Hardin Professorship, and Fund in the School of Public Health. The quality of a university’s faculty drives the success of its academic programming. The Hardin’s gift allows the School of Public Health to invest in its faculty to ensure the integrity and quality of our academic programs. Professorships and Endowed Chairs provide support and recognition to faculty who have earned distinction in research, teaching, and outreach. The Hardins have made an immeasurable impact on the University of Memphis. Their contributions have allowed the University to recruit world-renowned researchers and educators, and attract talented students who help our city grow stronger and more vibrant.
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NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 207 MEMPHIS, TN
132 Robison Hall Memphis, TN 38152
CONTACT THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Mail: 132 Robison Hall Memphis, TN 38152 Email: sph@memphis.edu Website: memphis.edu/sph Phone: 901-678-4637
Fax Numbers: Receptionist: 901-678-0172 Health Systems Management and Policy: 901-678-0383 Social and Behavioral Science: 901-678-1715 Dean’s Office: 901-678-0372
Faculty and Administration Lisa Klesges, Ph.D., – Dean and Professor Marian Levy, Dr.P.H., R.D. – Assistant Dean of Students and Public Health Practice and Associate Professor James G. Gurney, Ph.D. – Hardin Professor and Director of Research
M. Paige Powell, Ph.D., MHA – Assistant Professor David Rosenthal, Ph.D. – Associate Professor
Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences: Kenneth D. Ward, Ph.D. – Professor and Director, Social and Behavioral Sciences Satish Kedia, Ph.D. – Professor Marian Levy, Dr.P.H., RD – Assistant Dean of Students and Public Health Practice and Associate Professor Latrice Pichon, Ph.D., MPH – Assistant Professor Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health Science: Wilfried Karmaus, M.D., Dr.Med., MPH – Professor and Director, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Environmental Health Science Pratik Banerjee, M.Tech., Ph.D. – Assistant Professor James G. Gurney, Ph.D. – Professor Chunrong Jia, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor Lisa Klesges, Ph.D. – Professor Sunil Mathur, Ph.D., M.B.A – Associate Professor Fawaz Mzayek, M.D., MPH, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor Vikki Nolan, D.Sc., MPH – Assistant Professor George Relyea, M.S. – Assistant Research Professor Xinhua Yu, M.D., Ph.D., M.S. – Assistant Professor Hongmei Zhang, Ph.D.– Associate Professor Division of Health Systems Management and Policy: Ed Dismuke, M.D., M.S.P.H. – Visiting Professor and Interim Director, Division of Health Systems Management and Policy SangNam Ahn, Ph.D, M.P.S.A – Assistant Professor David Burchfield, Ph.D. – Associate Professor Erik Carlton, M.S., Dr.P.H. – Assistant Professor Dan Gentry, Ph.D – Professor Mark Hendricks, MHA – Visiting Assistant Professor, Director of Masters Programs
Staff Angela Beckham – Administrative Associate Andrea Jones – Administrative Assistant I Lisa Krull – Research Study Coordinator Ropo Sanvee – Associate Director of Business Operations Shirl Sharpe – Academic Services Coordinator II LaKesha Smith – Administrative Associate Nancy Wilson, Ph.D. – Data Manager Business Operations: Ropo Sanvee 236C Robison Hall Email: rsanvee@memphis.edu Phone: 901-678-1679 Dean’s Office: LaKesha Smith 232 Robison Hall Email: lsherrng@memphis.edu Phone: 901-678-4501 Fax: 901-678-0372 Development Office: Julie Graves 220 Robison Hall Email: jlgrves1@memphis.edu Phone: 901-678-4299 Fax: 901-678-1715 Physical Address: Robison Hall 3825 Desoto Avenue Memphis, TN 38152
The University of Memphis is a Tennessee Board of Regents Institution. An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action University