School of Rural Public Health Center for Community Health Development awarded federal funding to continue activities

The Center for Community Health Development (CCHD) in the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health, which addresses critical health issues in rural and underserved populations in communities across Texas, has been awarded $3.9 million for five years from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to continue its activities as one of 35 CDC designated and funded prevention research centers nationwide.

“This five-year funding from the CDC will provide critical support for the center, school and health science center to work closely with regional and state organizations and groups to improve the health of our rural and underserved populations,” said Kenneth McLeroy, Ph.D., CDC grant principal investigator. “It also strengthens our ability to collaborate with other prevention research centers, including our partners at The University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston, to address the health and public health needs of the state and nation.”

The CCHD also received $2 million in support of three special interest projects focusing on healthy aging, nutrition and obesity, and cancer.

Two of the special interest projects will be led by Joseph Sharkey, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., associate professor in the HSC-School of Rural Public Health. The Texas Healthy Aging Network, which Dr. Sharkey established in 2004, received funding to continue working with a network of community, health and aging service organizations in the seven-county region of the Brazos Valley, the Lower Rio Grande Valley and across Texas to conduct community-based participatory research on prevention of health issues related to aging.

The Texas Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research Network (TxNOPRN), also led by Dr. Sharkey, received funding to work in collaboration with the national Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research Network (NOPRN) to address issues related to identification, adoption and outcome of policies affecting improved access and availability of healthy foods. TxNOPRN also will target rural communities within Central Texas and colonias – residential area along the Texas-Mexico border that typically lacks the most basic living necessities – in South Texas to determine policy changes related to children’s access to healthy foods.

The Central Texas Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network – led by Marcia Ory, Ph.D., M.P.H., Regents Professor in the HSC-School of Rural Public Health, in coordination with colleagues at Scott & White Healthcare and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service – was the third special item funded. The network aims to involve community members in research around cancer prevention and control by working closely with community stakeholders and disseminating evidence-based cancer prevention and control interventions. The focus of these interventions will be to improve the coordination of post-treatment care. It also will link cancer survivors to resources in their communities that encourage adoption of lifestyle behaviors reducing the risk of reoccurrence or occurrence of another type of cancer.

“An additional five years of funding plus the expansion of activities through these special interest projects validates that the center is filling an important role in the nation’s prevention research,” said James N. Burdine, Dr.P.H., CCHD director and co-principal investigator. “It also encourages us to increase our efforts to demonstrate the value of improving communities’ ability to solve local health problems as a key component of any national health care reform strategy.”

The Center for Community Health Development mission is to work collaboratively with communities and other partners to translate, evaluate and disseminate effective individual, organizational, community and regional strategies for addressing critical public health and health-related issues in rural and underserved populations.

SRPH Faculty Promotions

Four faculty in the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health recently were promoted.

Dr. Steve Moore has been promoted to executive associate dean. Dr. Moore received his M.D. from Southwestern Medical School, Master of Public Health (M.P.H) from the Medical College of Wisconsin and Bachelor of Science (B.S) in Physics from The University of Texas.

Dr. Antonio Rene has been promoted to associate dean for academic affairs. Dr. Rene received both his Ph.D. in Epidemiology and his M.P.H. in Disease Control from The University of Texas. He received a B.S. from Southern University.

Dr. Jean Brender has been promoted to associate dean for research. Dr. Brender received both her Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N) from the University of Washington. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) from Whitworth University.

Dr. James Burdine has been promoted to assistant dean for public health practice. Dr. Burdine received his Doctorate of Public Health (Dr.P.H.) in Community Health Education from the University of North Carolina, an M.P.H. in Community Health Education from California State University and a B.S. in Health Science from San Fernando Valley State College.

"The success of any school rides on the shoulders of the faculty, staff and students affiliated with the school’s activities," said Craig Blakely, Ph.D., M.P.H., dean of the HSC-School of Rural Public Health. "The experience, expertise and leadership reflected by this assembled team places the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health in a great position to continue its commitment to improving the population health status of our global community, and rural and underserved populations in particular. I look forward to working closely with these colleagues and the entire school community as we continue pursuit of this mission.

Ashleigh Dozier secures $250,000 grant for Washinton County

Working on behalf of Washington County, Ashleigh Dozier, a graduate student in the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health, recently secured a $235,000 grant from the Texas Office of Rural Community Affairs to support development of a county health center.

“This funding moves us closer to our goal of improving access to medical care for residents in Washington County,” Dozier said. “I am excited to be a part of a project that will improve the lives of so many and proud to work with many individuals who have a passion to see that happen.”

The health center will co-locate a health clinic to serve uninsured Washington County residents, along with the county’s Texas Department of State Health Services public health nurse; Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program; Medication Assistance Program; Indigent Health Care Program; and other providers. It is expected to open later this year.

“Without Ashleigh’s due diligence of getting all the answers and materials together for the grant, we probably would not have been successful,” said Washington County Judge Dorothy Morgan. “We are truly grateful for her dedication and hard work.”

Dozier has worked with Washington County, Faith Mission and Trinity Medical Center in developing the proposal since October 2007, when the medical center contracted with the HSC-School of Rural Public Health’s Center for Community Health Development (CCHD) to jointly fund her graduate research assistant position. She will continue with the group in developing the clinical protocol and facility.

“Ashleigh was a catalyst in bringing the Washington County Coalition together to successfully develop our health center project,” said John Simms, Trinity Medical Center CEO. “Her ability to organize the process, coordinate activities, facilitate meetings and research the options speak well of her abilities and the education she received at the School of Rural Public Health.”

Jim Burdine, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., professor at the HSC-School of Rural Public Health and CCHD director, said, “There is such great value in the opportunity to provide students with real-world experience as they transition from graduate school into their professional careers. Ashley is a great example of the type of training and community work that is at the Center for Community Health Development’s mission. We’re really proud of her.”

Dozier is expected to graduate in May with a Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) degree and has already accepted a position as administrative fellow with the Moore County Hospital District in Dumas, Texas.