About
The East Tennessee Forum (ETF) on Public Health and Preventive Medicine- an Affiliate PBRN - was established in 1995 to facilitate closer working relationships between academia and public health and preventive medicine practitioners. Three leadership groups within the ETF comprise the partners in this current proposal: the University of Tennessee Center for Health Policy and Services Research (UT Center, the secretariat for the ETF); the Knox County Health Department (KCHD); and the East Tennessee Regional Health Office (ETRO, with 15 County Health Departments). Dr. Paul Erwin, Director of the UT Center, will serve as PI for this project. The Directors of the KCHD and ETRO (Dr. Martha Buchanan and Ms. Janet Ridley) and Dr. Margaret Knight, Assistant Professor at UT will serve as co-PIs. All have been involved from the very first dissemination of the Call For Proposals. Frequent exchange of ideas via e-mail, telephone, and in-person meetings took place in the development of this proposal. Doctoral and Masters-level epidemiology staff at KCHD and ETRO provide expertise in measure development in communicable diseases, chronic diseases, and environmental health services. KCHD and the ETRO/15 LHDs share a common information system which has been in place for more than 10 years. This will allow uniform data collection methods to be utilized across the 16 sites. Dr. Paul Erwin has 16 years’ experience as a public health practitioner and in the past 5 years has managed research projects that have utilized NACCHO's Profile of LHDs. Dr. Buchanan has been KCHD Director for 3 years and in public health practice for 7 years and is leading efforts in accreditation preparation. Ms. Ridley has 30+ years of experience in public health practice, as a public health nurse in a LHD, Regional Director of Nursing and since 2009, Regional Director. Dr. Knight is a Registered Health Information Technician and a Certified Coding Specialist.
Grantee
Funding
Public Health PBRN MPROVE Award