The Department of Health Management (HMP) and Policy of the Saint Louis University (SLU) School of Public Health is pleased to announce that Keith Elder, PhD, MPH, MPA has been named Chair of the HMP Department as of January 2013. Dr. Elder joined the Department in 2011-2012 as Associate Professor and Director of the SLU Master of Public Health in Health Policy Program. He has previously served on the faculties of the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina and the Department of Health Services Policy and Management at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB). Dr. Elder is known as an excellent teacher and accomplished scholar. His research, which focuses on improving health outcomes and mitigating the burden of disease in vulnerable and underserved populations, has been funded by AHRQ, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NIH, CDC, and HRSA. Dr. Elder received his, B.S. (Psychology), his M.P.H. (Health Care Organization and Policy), and his M.P.A. (Organizational Development) from UAB and his Ph.D. (Health Policy) from the University of Maryland.
The Department would like to thank Kanak Gautam, PhD for his dedicated service as Interim Chair since February 2011. Dr. Gautam, who holds a PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, looks forward to redirecting his efforts to his research and teaching.
Jason Turner, PhD has been named the first Associate Director of the SLU Master of Health Administration (MHA) Program beginning January 1, 2013. A graduate of Stanford University, Dr. Turner also has both a master's degree in Applied Economics and a PhD in Health Care Finance from the University of Michigan. He has been a tremendous teacher, a committed mentor for students, and an impactful researcher since joining the faculty in 2008.
Ana Maria Lomperis, PhD has announced that she will be stepping down from her role as Director of the SLU MHA Program next summer so she can refocus her energies on her research and writing. Dr. Lomperis, who has served as SLU’s MHA Program Director since August 2007, has been integral in enhancing the quality and national standing of the program. She is known nationally for her commitment to advancing the pedagogy of the MHA curriculum and the employment readiness of MHA students. A graduate of Duke University (A.B., History), Lomperis also has a M.A. (International Relations) from The Johns Hopkins University and Ph.D. (Economics) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She looks forward to working with Dr. Turner and the Department during this period of transition and fully supporting Dr. Turner when he becomes the MHA Program Director in Summer 2013.
Due to the growth and expansion, the Department of Health Management invites applications for two tenure track positions. The successful applicants must hold a doctoral degree in health management, health policy, health services, or a related field. They should have a productive record of research publication and demonstrated ability to secure external research funding. Full job announcements for both of these positions will be published in the next issue of the AUPHA Exchange. Please contact Keith Elder (kelder2@slu.edu) for additional information concerning these positions.