State of the Public’s Health Conference

Moderator: Rebecca Wells, PhD, MSW, MPH, Clinical Associate Professor, School of Social Work and College of Public Health, University of Georgia

Dr. Rebecca Wells is a Clinical Associate Professor, jointly appointed to the Department of Health Promotion & Behavior in the College of Public Health and the School of Social Work. She directs UGA’s Maternal & Child Health (MCH) Catalyst training program, UGA MCH LEEDS, and is the coordinator of the Master of Social Work-Master of Public Health program.

Keisha R. Callins, MD, PHD, Obstetrician/Gynecologist & Chief Wellness Officer, Community Health Care Systems, Inc.

Dr. Keisha R. Callins is an obstetrician/gynecologist with Community Health Care Systems, Inc., a federally qualified health center network serving rural and underserved communities across Georgia. She also serves as a Professor in the Department of Community Medicine at Mercer University School of Medicine. Dr. Callins has been appointed to several state commissions, including the Georgia Maternal and Infant Health Commission. A respected speaker and published author, she has presented at congressional briefings, national conferences, and community events. Guided by her personal mission, “You may not be able to change the world, but you can change the world of everyone with whom you interact,” Dr. Callins is dedicated to advancing equitable maternal and child health.

Sycarah Fisher, PhD, Associate Professor of School Psychology, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Georgia

Dr. Sycarah Fisher is an Associate Professor of School Psychology at the University of Georgia and Director of the PRISMS Lab. Her research focuses on adolescent substance use prevention, with an emphasis on adapting and implementing evidence-based practices in schools and communities. Dr. Fisher’s work bridges implementation science and public health to advance equitable mental health and prevention services for youth, particularly in high-need schools.

Lucy Annang Ingram, PhD, MPH, Professor and Chair, Department of Health Promotion & Behavior, University of Georgia

Dr. Lucy Annang Ingram is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Promotion & Behavior in the College of Public Health at UGA.  She is public health scholar whose research focuses on eliminating health inequities among racial and ethnic minoritized populations through community-engaged approaches and sustainable academic-community partnerships.  Her work has positioned her as a trusted mentor, teacher, and researcher in the areas of diversity, aging, and maternal health, with a strong emphasis on translating research into programs that have the multiplicative effect of promoting optimal health and training the next generation of public health leaders.

Erin Vinoski Thomas PhD, MPH, Research Associate Professor and Interim Director of the Center for Leadership in Disability, Georgia State University

Dr. Erin Vinoski Thomas is a Research Associate Professor in the School of Public Health and Interim Director of the Center for Leadership in Disability, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), at Georgia State University. Her research and program implementation focus broadly on addressing health equity for individuals with disabilities and their families across the life course, including children and youth with special healthcare needs. She is currently conducting research to explore the perspectives of caregivers of children diagnosed with both intellectual/developmental disabilities and food allergies to better understand individual, family, and policy level implications.

Kaprice Welsh, CNM, MSN, MPH, Doctoral Student, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University

Kaprice S. Welsh is a certified nurse-midwife, public health leader, nurse educator, and doctoral student at Emory University with over 30 years of experience in maternal health. She has taught at Emory, Chamberlain University, and Georgia State University, dedicating her career to advancing respectful, equitable maternity care and reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. She has held leadership roles with the Georgia Affiliate of Nurse Midwives, National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, and March of Dimes. A Fellow of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and recipient of multiple awards for health equity, Kaprice is passionate about inspiring the next generation of midwives and public health professionals.

Nadine Peever, BA, Executive Director and Principal Consultant, Bonne Fire ATL

Nadine Peever is the Executive Director and Principal Consultant at Bonne Fire ATL, a leading health innovation community in Atlanta, with nearly 15 years driving healthcare interoperability and strategic partnerships. She bridges technical expertise with community building to create the collaborative ecosystems that transform how healthcare organizations share data and innovate together.

Sarah Carrigan, MPH, Director of Strategy, Bonne Fire ATL

Sarah David Carrigan is Principal Owner of Carrigan Health Strategies and Director of Strategy at Bonne Fire ATL, bringing more than a decade of experience at CDC leading national campaigns such as Hear Her and advancing programs in HIV/AIDS, antimicrobial resistance, and emergency response. With a career spanning public health, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors, she specializes in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and program design to help organizations and communities create innovative, equity-centered solutions to complex health challenges.

Mitch Chaney, MPH, Managing Director for Market Access, Innsena

Mitch (Kost) Chaney is a Managing Director for Market Access at Innsena, with prior experience at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Policy (ASTP)/ Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) where she advised senior leadership on national health IT policy and federal initiatives. She holds a Master’s in Public Health from Johns Hopkins and a B.A. in Psychology from George Mason University.

Moderator: Brigette Ulin, DrPH, MPH, Adjunct Faculty, Rollins School of Public Health- Emory University, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (retired)

Dr. Brigette Ulin is a strategic public health leader with 25+ years of experience advancing national prevention, research, and health equity initiatives. As Director of CDC’s Prevention Research Centers Program, she led a 26-university research network that translated evidence into scalable, community-based solutions for preventing chronic disease. Her expertise spans implementation science, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration, with a career that includes development of the Affordable Care Act’s National Prevention Strategy, and contributions to high-profile federal policy initiatives addressing tobacco prevention, nutrition and physical activity, aging, and health equity.

Megan Brock, PhD, MS, Associate Director of Graduate Student Services and Faculty Engagement, University of Georgia’s Career Center

Dr. Megan Brock is the Associate Director of Graduate Student Services and Faculty Engagement at University of Georgia’s Career Center, where she supports students and faculty in advancing career pathway education and development. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from UGA and previously served as a Lecturer in the Division of Academic Enhancement, earning recognition for her leadership in teaching innovation and active learning. Her work is dedicated to empowering students and equipping faculty with the tools and resources needed to foster meaningful career development and engagement.

Vincent Lafronza, EdD, MS, President and CEO, National Network of Public Health Institutes

Dr. Vincent Lafronza is President and CEO of the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) where he provides strategic leadership on national initiatives and cultivates collaboration across public health institutes and multisector partners. With more than three decades of experience in gerontology, behavioral health, environmental health, and public health systems development, he has advanced population health at community, state, national, and tribal levels. Before joining NNPHI, he co-founded CommonHealth ACTION and Institute for Public Health Innovation and held leadership roles at the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and at CDC.

Lee Warner, PhD, MPH, Executive Coach and Public Health Consultant, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (retired)

Dr. Lee Warner has led numerous reproductive health efforts at the federal and state government levels during his 35 year career. At CDC, he was most recently Director of the Women’s Health and Fertility Branch in the Division of Reproductive Health, where he led national surveillance systems regarding the health of women and infants, oversaw development of contraception guidance for healthcare providers to use with their patients, and led adolescent reproductive health initiatives. Over his career, Dr. Warner has led studies and authored >150 articles on contraceptive use and effectiveness, adolescent pregnancy prevention, congenital syphilis, STI/HIV prevention interventions, infertility, disability, and fatherhood.  He is now transitioning to executive coaching and consulting, being especially drawn to working with organizations in public health-related fields.

Poster presentation and snack break.

Moderator: Tyler Wallace, PhD, MBA, Part-Time Assistant Professor in Health Administration, University of Georgia and AI Adoption Advisor, Scale St.

Dr. Tyler Wallace is an AI adoption consultant helping organizations realize the benefits of AI, and he also teaches Health Informatics in the University of Georgia’s Master of Health Administration program. Additionally, he has led over 50 AI training sessions for healthcare and government organizations in both the U.S. and abroad.

Kelly Johnson, MBA, ACC, Part-Time Assistant Professor in Health Administration, University of Georgia and  Healthcare Growth Marketing Strategist, Crystal Lake Marketing & Coaching

Kelly Johnson is a healthcare growth strategist, executive coach, and educator who helps healthcare organizations achieve measurable results through strategic growth and people development. She combines go-to-market expertise with leadership coaching to equip executives, managers, and teams to adapt, lead effectively, and create cultures of growth. In addition, she teaches Professional Development in the University of Georgia’s Master of Health Administration program, preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders.

Maddox Shook, MHAc, Master of Health Administration Student, University of Georgia

Maddox Shook is an MHA student at the UGA College of Public Health. Following his course in health informatics, Shook went on to use AI during his internship in a rural hospital.

This session will include three, 25-minute presentations.

Georgia by the Numbers: Challenges, and Opportunities for Healthy Cognitive Aging

Living with Dementias in Georgia: A Panel Discussion from a CARE Patient’s Perspective

Meeting Georgia’s Challenges: Roadmap for a Better-Informed Public Health System

Stephen Correia, PhD, ABPP-CN, Associate Professor and Associate Director, Institute of Gerontology and Neuropsychologist, CARE Center, University of Georgia

Dr. Stephen Correia is Associate Professor in the Institute of Gerontology and a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist within the Cognitive Aging Research and Education (CARE) Center.  His research interests include brain imaging, particularly the connections between brain regions, in older adults with and without cognitive impairment.  He is interested in the interface between neuropsychology and the arts and has been heavily involved in neuropsychology training.  In addition to his research and teaching roles he provides clinical services, education, and outreach to older adults through the CARE Center.  Dr. Correia is currently the Associate Director of the Institute of Gerontology.

Sarah Saint Hamilton, PhD, MSW, Clinical Associate Professor, Institute of Gerontology and Director of Social Support Services, CARE Center, University of Georgia

Dr. Sarah Saint Hamilton is a Clinical Associate Professor in the UGA Institute of Gerontology and the Founding Director of Social Support Services for the Cognitive Aging Research and Education (CARE) Center. Specializing in life course health development, Dr. Saint Hamilton’s work centers on patient and caregiver experiences, delivering essential dementia diagnosis support, community education, and advanced social work student mentorship.

Andrew Kiselica, PhD, ABPP-CN, Associate Professor, Institute of Gerontology, University of Georgia and Clinical Neuropsychologist CARE Center, University of Georgia

Dr. Andrew Kiselica is an Associate Professor in the Institute of Gerontology and a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist within the Cognitive Aging Research and Education (CARE) Center. His research interests include expanding Alzheimer’s disease screening in rural communities, improving assessment of cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, and studying the link between technology use and Alzheimer’s risk. Dr. Kiselica also provides clinical services, education, and outreach to older adults through the CARE Center.

Lisa Renzi–Hammond, PhD, Professor, Institute of Gerontology and Co-Director, CARE Center, University of Georgia

Dr. Lisa Renzi–Hammond is the founding co-Director of the UGA Cognitive Aging Research and Education (CARE) Center in the UGA Institute of Gerontology, where she also serves as the Leonard Poon Professor for Innovation in Public Health and Aging. She is a neuroscientist by training who specializes in behavioral strategies for promoting brain health and preventing cognitive decline.

Don Scott, MD, MHS, Clinical Professor, AU/UGA Medical Partnership School of Medicine and Medical Director, CARE Center, University of Georgia

Dr. Don Scott is a physician and a Clinical Professor of Medicine. He serves as the Director of Education in Geriatric Medicine at the AU/UGA Medical Partnership School of Medicine in Athens, and he is also the Medical Director of the Cognitive Aging, Research and Education (CARE) Center in the College of Public Health.