People

Kate Barbier has over 20 years of experience as a social work and public health professional focusing on program planning and implementation, interdisciplinary collaboration, group facilitation, and community engagement in a broad range of social service and health-care settings. At the School of Public Health, she oversees the applied practice experience (practicum) program for master’s […]

Rachel Garg’s research examines how individual-level unmet social needs, such as housing instability and food insecurity, impact health outcomes and behaviors such as smoking cessation. By building theory around the mechanisms linking social needs and health, she aims to inform the development of interventions that address these needs and reduce health disparities.   Garg is a […]

Ross Hammond uses advanced computational modeling to understand and find practical solutions for critical public health and social science issues. His work encompasses a broad range of public health topics including obesity etiology and prevention, food systems, tobacco control, behavioral epidemiology, and the broader social determinants of health such as crime, corruption, segregation, trust and […]

Ragini Maddipati has more than 14 years of experience in clinical research, data management and analysis, program management and evaluation, as well as sexual and reproductive health and reproductive justice.   After earning her MSW from the Brown School in 2009, Maddipati worked in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at WashU Medicine as a key […]

Virginia (Ginger) McKay’s research is centered around the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices, with a particular focus on sustaining effective interventions and de-implementing ineffective or harmful practices.  McKay examines these issues in the context of infectious disease, antimicrobial stewardship, and cancer, employing mixed methods and systems science approaches to tackle research questions in these […]

Amy McQueen’s research is aimed at finding ways to help individuals engage in positive behavioral change and to improve population health by creating systems-level change. She studies the interplay between health behaviors and cognitive, psychosocial and environmental determinants.  McQueen applies social psychology and health behavior theory to develop, implement and evaluate behavioral interventions to increase […]

Ilana Seff’s research agenda is focused on improving the lives of vulnerable and marginalized populations across the globe through evidence-based public health solutions. Her extensive research experience encompasses the prevention of violence against women and girls, particularly in humanitarian settings, and the psychosocial well-being and mental health of refugees and other displaced populations. Seff’s work […]

Morgan Shields studies the quality and accountability of behavioral health care. Her research focuses on identifying and implementing strategies to improve the use of evidence-based practices, ensuring patient-centered care and promoting equity. Shields is particularly interested in the policy dimensions — such as payment and regulations — that can motivate and support quality improvement within […]

Joseph Steensma integrates science, entrepreneurship and community engagement. As a scientist and entrepreneur, Steensma has founded and led several businesses focused on advancing public health. His work aims to commercialize innovative products and services that address pressing public health challenges, bridging the gap between research and real-world application.  Steensma’s research focuses on the complex interactions […]

Emmanuel Tetteh is a trained physician and infectious-disease epidemiologist whose work focuses on applying implementation research and systems science methods to enhance health-care delivery in routine-care settings. His current research emphasizes understanding multilevel mechanisms and pathways for integrating noncommunicable-disease care into the management of individuals living with HIV in resource-limited settings.  Tetteh works primarily with […]