The Community Voices: Healthcare for the Underserved initiative is managed by the National Center for Primary Care at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. To reach the national program office, please contact:
Community Voices: Healthcare For the Underserved National Center For Primary Care Morehouse School of Medicine 720 Westview Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30310 Phone: 404-756-8914 Fax: 404-752-1198
www.communityvoices.org
Program Manager Starla Hairston-Blanks, MBA is a Program Manager for Community Voices: Healthcare for the Underserved of Morehouse School of Medicine. As Program Manager Ms. Hairston-Blanks works to develop curriculum, program evaluation tools, health education aids, technical assistance plans and trainings for community health workers and project staff. To this position she brings experience working at the local, state, and national levels on health promotion, health policy, diversity and access to care issues. Additionally, she has worked with community health workers, coalitions, health departments, school systems, community based organizations, and national networks on a variety of health promotion initiatives including diabetes, obesity, tobacco use, and chronic disease prevention. Mrs. Hairston-Blanks is a nationally recognized trainer with certifications in adult learning, community organizing, cessation, chronic disease, and outreach who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and her Masters degree in Business Administration.
Associate Director Dr. Kisha Braithwaite is associate director for Community Voices and assistant professor of clinical psychiatry and mental health policy analyst at the National Center for Primary Care at Morehouse School of Medicine, which promotes excellence in community primary health care and improved access to comprehensive services, with a special focus on underserved populations and eliminating health disparities. She earned her doctorate degree from Howard University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at The Johns Hopkins University. She brings several years of experience as a clinician and community-based researcher, working with children, adolescents, and adults. Dr. Braithwaite has extensive experience in evaluation research, and is co-owner of Evaluation Research Associates, Inc. Her research is focused on mood and anxiety disorders, HIV/AIDS, and youth violence prevention. Dr. Braithwaite has published in several peer-reviewed journals; and she is committed to promoting the health and well-being of culturally diverse families and the development of strategies to informing policy.
Administrative Assistant Ashayla Kenny is the administrative assistant for Community Voices. Her excellent organizational skills and attention to detail is a valuable asset to the Community Voices staff. On a daily basis, Ms. Kenny provides program support, including preparing and maintaining files, correspondence, program materials and communication to relevant agencies, organizations, non profits and business leaders. Working directly with the program manager and director of the department she also assists with conferences, meetings, travel and symposia preparation. Ms. Kenny previously served as administrative assistant for the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs for the City of Atlanta. Both of her positions have ignited her interest in cultural diversity, men’s health, incarceration and reentry, government affairs and politics. Ms. Kenny is an integral part of the Community Voices daily operation and function.
Senior Researcher Elisabeth E. Kingsbury is a Senior Researcher at Community Voices of Morehouse School of Medicine whose work focuses on the intersection of prisoner reentry and health policy analysis and advocacy. In the past, Ms. Kingsbury served as an Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellow at Legal Assistance of Western New York where she developed a Reentry Legal Services Clinic. Prior to that she was a Staff Attorney for the Mental Health Unit of Prisoners' Legal Services of New York where she represented seriously mentally ill inmates in state prison. Ms. Kingsbury received her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law and her B.A. in Political Science from Boston University. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and Georgia.
Project Director Glendale Manning has served as the Assistant Project Director for the Community Voices Program since 2005. In this capacity she is responsible for directing, planning and managing the division’s annual operating budget to include development, and implementation of the division’s financial operations, processes and procedures in accordance with grant awards and the institutional policies. Previously, she held the position of Center Administrator for the National Center for Primary Care where she was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Center including fiscal oversight, human resources and facilities management. Glendale received her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Alabama State University. She also successfully completed the Georgia Institute of Technology Mid-Management Program. In her down time she enjoys traveling, reading mystery novels and practicing yoga.
Behavioral Health Researcher Dr. Brian McGregor is a Health Policy Fellow with Community Voices: Healthcare for the Underserved and an Instructor of Clinical Psychiatry at the Morehouse School of Medicine. He earned his bachelor's degree in Psychology from Morehouse College and completed his master's and doctorate degrees in Clinical/Community Psychology from the University of South Carolina. He is a past fellow of the American Psychological Association, specializing in the treatment and prevention of substance abuse among ethnic/racial minorities. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Health Policy and Leadership Development at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute, where his focus was the reduction and ultimate elimination of health disparities, with emphasis on mental health policy and practice issues. He has also served as a clinician and supervisor of mental health services at several medium and maximum security correctional facilities in the state of Alabama. Since joining Community Voices, Dr. McGregor’s focus has been the development of community partnerships and collaborations for work that intersects the areas of mental health, substance abuse and criminal justice. Currently he is developing research models that will investigate community re-integration of formerly incarcerated individuals with mental illness and substance abuse, aimed at reducing recidivism and improving health outcomes. Dr. McGregor is committed to developing effective leadership strategies, policies, and practices designed to advance equity and reduce and eliminate disparities in health and mental health.
Program Manager Jareese is the Program Manager for the Community Voices and Men’s Health Initiative. She was the second member to join the Community Voices team as it transitioned from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to the National Center for Primary Care at Morehouse School of Medicine. Under the leadership of Henrie M. Treadwell, Director of Community Voices, Jareese works to ensure the productivity and long-term sustainability of the program. She firmly supports the vision of Community Voices by applying her experience in the areas of management, administration, communication, and strategic development/planning.
Jareese is a native of Chicago, Illinois. She migrated to Atlanta, Georgia in August 1998 in pursuit of a higher education. She attended Morris Brown College where she graduated Cum Laude in June 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. She was the recipient of many honors and awards for her leadership as well as academic studies.
Upon graduating Jareese joined Morehouse School of Medicine on a temporary assignment and is now in her sixth tenure and fifth tenure with Community Voices. Jareese is proud of the many accomplishments she has made while at Community Voices. She is even more enthused about Community Voices’ future endeavors as they proceed to meet their goal of health care for the underserved.
Research Coordinator Sharra Triplett is currently a research coordinator with Community Voices: Health Care for the Underserved of Morehouse School of Medicine (Community Voices). In this capacity, she facilitates the procurement of external support through research grants and proposals. She manages the information database containing descriptive information about a wide variety of topics, including partner organizations, research resources, and learning laboratories. In addition, she serve as the lead meeting planner for internal and external events that include developing a logistic agenda to help ensure a high level of energy and attendance among participants, meeting room size/set-up; audio visual needs, determining conference objectives and formats for delivery of information, locate sites, negotiate rates, and manage all logistics and on-site arrangements.
Formerly, Ms. Triplett served as Church Administrator for The Love Center, Atlanta Campus. She was responsible for the day to day activities that included managing all administrative functions of the church. Reviewed, developed and made improvements to church administrative policies. Ensured compliance and implementation of all administrative policies; ranging from leave record updates, reimbursement of claims and expenses, staff employment contracts, staff compensation and benefit policies. Coordinated and participated in visitation and outreach programs on a need basis. Ms. Triplett assisted in monitoring the department budgets and developing strategies for the church’s growth. She approved church advertisements and printed materials / collaterals such as publicity articles, bulletins and brochures; etc.
In addition to receiving her Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Mercer University, Ms Triplett is also an entrepreneur. In her spare time, she bakes and operates Sweet Reds. Her love and passion for baking has garnered first place awards for her famous red velvet cake and sweet potato pie.
Director Dr. Treadwell is Director and Senior Social Scientist for Community Voices. She has an appointment as a full time Research Professor in the Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine. Her major responsibilities include program oversight and management for Community Voices: Healthcare for the Underserved, a special informing policy initiative that is funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. She also has oversight of the men’s health programs that were funded as a special cluster by the Kellogg Foundation but that are managed by the National Center for Primary Care. Her special work includes development of strategies to inform policy, working to address health disparities among underserved populations, and dissemination of various media products to inform the public and communities of health related issues. Prior to joining the National Center for Primary Care, Dr. Treadwell served for 16 years as program director at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Michigan.
Dr. Treadwell’s educational background includes the bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree in Biology from Boston University, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from Atlanta University. She has also completed postdoctoral work at the Harvard University School of Public Health. Dr. Treadwell is a member of the Editorial Board for the American Journal of Public Health and the International Journal of Men’s Health and Gender; she also serves on the external advisory committee for the MPH program at Morehouse School of Medicine and is a recent inductee into the Leadership Atlanta Fellowship Class of 2006. She also serves as board member of the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, the Georgia Council for International Visitors, and the High Museum of Art. Additionally, she serves as a member of several professional organizations including and the American Public Health Association, Academy Health, Women in Philanthropy, and Sigma Xi. Dr. Treadwell is also a member of several organizations dedicated to community services including Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. and The Links, Inc.
Senior Researcher Dr. Clare Xanthos is a Senior Researcher at Community Voices of Morehouse School of Medicine. She provides leadership in the design and implementation of research studies relating to health and health care for underserved populations. She also explores policy options that can be taken to better the health status and health care of underserved populations.
Dr. Xanthos received her Ph.D. in Social Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2004, and is the author of several articles and papers on health policy issues. She brings a significant international perspective to her work, having lived and worked in several countries including the USA, Barbados, the U.K., and Nigeria. Before joining Community Voices, she was an Independent Consultant in the U.K., pursuing research on mental illness in the U.K. African-Caribbean population as it relates to social factors. Prior to this, Dr. Xanthos was a Research Fellow for the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, University of the West Indies, where she conducted research on the views of physicians in Barbados on providing a patient-focused health service.
Dr. Xanthos' research interests include the social determinants of health, prison health, disparities in health care quality, and cultural competence in mental health services.
Marcus Dumas is a Graduate Research Assistant for Community Voices: Healthcare of the Underserved and a first year student in the Mater of Public Health Program at Morehouse School of Medicine, where is track is Health Education/Health Promotion. Marucs completed his undergraduate work at Morehouse College in Sociology and before entering Morehouse School of Medicine research childhood obesity throughout the state of Georgia with ORC Marco Incorporated of Beltsville, Maryland. Upon completion, Marcus plans to obtain his medical degree and specialize in Adolescent Medicine and Preventive Medicine. He has a special interest in childhood obesity, child healthcare, and unequal access to healthcare in underserved communities. He is committed to providing information to the public on how to improve their health and prevent risk of illness and plans to one day join the United States Public Health Commissioned Corps.
Louis Graham is a current doctoral student at the University of North Carolina: Greensboro’s Department of Public Health Education in Community Health with a Cognate in Sociology and is a recent graduate of Morehouse School of Medicine’s Master of Public Health program, where his concentration was health policy and administration. Mr. Graham’s research and academic interests center on psychosocial and sexual health promotion and protection among ethnic and sexual minority men; and he is a former Outreach Advisory Board Member of the AIDS Research Consortium of Atlanta and AID Atlanta’s DeeperLove Project. He will be presenting his master’s thesis entitled: Exploring the psychosocial health of black queer men at the Association of Black Psychologists Annual Conference in Oakland this year and has recently presented his work at Our Common Welfare’s MSM Health and Wellness Summit and Georgia’s Public Health Association Annual Meeting last year. Lastly, Mr. Graham is a recipient of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council scholarship, is a Bill & Melinda Gates Scholar, and an active member of the American Public Health Association in the student caucus and mental health section.
Samantha Houston received a B.S in Biology from Spelman College in 2008. During her time at Spelman, she was a RISE Fellow performing research in such fields as bioinformatics and bioremediation. Her research in bioremediation gave way to funding that supplied her lab with upgraded instruments in the field of environmental science. Also, she is a co author on a paper in development on the degradation of Royal Demolition Explosive by a bacterial compound which is soon to be published. She has also presented at Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students as well as Research day at Spelman College. While at Spelman, she was a member of the Student Health Associates and Peer Educators (SHAPE) serving on the HIV/AIDS/STD/Abstinence committee as treasurer and as executive treasurer. She was also a member of the Spelman College Glee Club. Her most memorable experiences were working with the Office of Alumnae Affairs for such events as Reunion, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Founder’s Day.
Warner L. McGee is an ORISE fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He obtained his BA in Psychology from Morehouse College in 2005 and his MPH in Health Education/Health Promotion from Morehouse School of Medicine in 2008. Before entering his Master’s program he was a Health Educator at Planned Parenthood of Georgia coordinating an all male youth development program. He is interested in STDs, HIV/AIDS, and substance use among African-American males. After completing his MPH in May 2008, he will attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro to pursue a Doctorate of Public Health in Community Health Education. His long term plans are to open a male focused health center in an effort to reduce the STD/HIV disparity among minority males.
Shaun Newsome serves as the Health Communications Assistant for Community Voices. Shaun is a Master’s of Public Health candidate at Georgia State University’s Institute of Public Health. He is from Stone Mountain, GA and earned a B.S. in Psychology from Morehouse College in 2005. His research and academic interests include health promotion, education and reducing health disparities. Prior to coming to Community Voices, Shaun worked with Re-Entry programs and community building initiatives in Metro Atlanta. In addition, Mr. Newsome also researched hypertension and diabetes in African-Americans before coming to Community Voices. After completion of his program, Shaun plans to pursue a doctoral degree.
Candidate, Bachelor of Science Healthcare Management Clayton State University
Jansheal Patrick is a candidate for a Bachelor of Science in the field of Healthcare Management in May 2008. She is a currently a member of the Healthcare Management Association. She is currently an undergraduate intern for Community Voices: Healthcare for the Underserved at the Morehouse School of Medicine. She was also selected to be a participant in the Morehouse School of Medicine Summer Public Health Fellow program. After obtaining her undergraduate degree, she plans to continue her education at a graduate level and pursue a Master of Public Health in Public Health Administration degree.
I am a native of Pineville, South Carolina and a 2005 graduate of Clemson University. I formerly served in the South Carolina Army National for a period of six years, eighteen months of which was spent on a homeland defense mission in the District of Columbia. While in the South Carolina Army National Guard, I received the honor of being named soldier of the year for 2/263 ADA Battalion. I have worked for the Cobb County Department of Family and Children Services as a family independence case manager, where I helped to determine eligibility for Medicaid and Foodstamps for families and individuals. I have also interned with the Physical Activity and Health Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, I assisted in the completion of the U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines. The Guidelines, which is scheduled to be released in October 2008, is the first document of its kind in this nation. To assists in the completion of the Guidelines I served as chief reconciler of the Guidelines Database. This involved coding interventions and projects by study design and outcome, and deciding whether they should be included or excluded in the database for potential use by the writing group. I am currently a first year MPH student at Morehouse School of Medicine in the health administration and policy track. I have a profound interest in health policy, in particular, policy that relates to access to healthcare for disadvantaged populations.
Joelle Nicole Robinson was born in Washington DC and raised in Prince Georges County, Maryland. Active throughout high school, she was a member of the school marching band as a dancer. Dance has always been a favorite hobby. She began her matriculation at Spelman College in the fall of 2004. She has been involved in numerous campus activities and organizations. Additionally, her four hears of participation in the Americorps, Jumpstart Program, throughout her undergraduate studies displays her dedication to community service and early childhood eduction. Majoring in Sociology and Anthropology, with a concentration in Public Health she will graduate with honors from Spelman College in May of 2008. She is an undergraduate intern for Morehouse School of Medicine's Community Voices program. She plans to attend Columbia University in the Fall of 2008 to attain a Master of Public Health degree in Sociomedical Science.