G4: Implementation and Program Evaluation to Address Health of Vulnerable Populations

Matt Weinburke has over 20+ years working in the public health field. He recently retired from the US Public Health Service (USPHS/PHS) Commissioned Corps and Uniformed Service in May of 2020.

Wilson Majee (PhD, MPH) is an Associate Professor of Public Health at University of Missouri-Columbia. His overarching research goal is to explore, identify and implement place-based approaches to health and well-being for those living in resource-limited communities. One longstanding challenge is to transform resource-limited areas into sustainable and resilient communities. Unfortunately, the history of community health efforts in resource-limited areas has largely been a tale of short-term, top-down, funded projects that disappear when the grant ends, leaving communities jaded and underserved. Wilson works to create sustainable, real-world community health initiatives that live on after grants end because they are derived from and driven by the community members themselves.

Dr. Samara Sterling is a Nutrition Scientist and Health Communicator with expertise in the use of plant-based nutrition for the prevention and management of chronic diseases. She works as the Research Director for The Peanut Institute where she leads scientific affairs, research protocols, grant management, media health communication, and is actively involved in regulatory issues and nutrition policy. Dr. Sterling is also a researcher for clinical nutrition and lifestyle interventions and has served as nutrition consultant for various community-based research projects, examining strategies to improve health in at-risk communities. She regularly speaks for both national and international audiences and is passionate about translating science to consumer-friendly messages. She is described as a natural leader and mentor with the ability to engage patients, research participants, and community members in ways that motivate them to make changes in their health. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Stony Brook University, a Master’s degree from Andrews University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Dr. Shelly-Ann Bowen has 18 years of public health experience that spans local, state, and federal levels. She has managed large-scale training and technical assistance teams to provide basic to intensive capacity-building needs of state and federal recipients implementing state and national chronic disease prevention efforts. Most recently, Shelly-Ann worked with the CDC Chronic Disease Center as a contractor, providing evaluation, training, and technical assistance support to recipients across various cooperative agreements. In addition, she is an experienced qualitative researcher who has conducted qualitative studies (focus groups/individual interviews) and led qualitative analytic/coding data teams. Dr. Bowen earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health (Health Promotion Education and Behavior) from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Science in Clinical Laboratory.

Kelechi B. Onyeaka (MPH) He is a Fellow at the Community Health Center, Inc. where he supports HIV/STI prevention response. He has extensive experience in designing and implementing health care compliance projects, programs, and strategies that represents public health interests. His research interest revolves around disparities in disease prevention, treatment, and outcomes among under-served population through community-based participatory research.