Learn more about the focus of our students' research in Drexel Dornsife's DrPH in Health Management and Policy program.

Table of Contents:

• Rachel Augustin, MPH
• Kayla Burley, DrPH(c), MPH
• Pooja Doshi, MPH, COA
• Amanda Marie Doty, MS
• Kathleen Fox, MPH
• Jayne E. Guare, MPH, CPH
• Emily Kane, MPA
• Molly Sadowsky, MPH
• Sammy Shuster, MSW
• Shanna-Kay Townsend, MPH
• Kimberly D. Williams, MPH

Rachel Augustin, MPH

Degrees: BA in Psychology from Columbia University. MPH from the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University.

Rachel's Focus: Rachel's research focuses on the architecture of healthcare systems. She is especially interested in using data informatics to analyze and map the dynamic relationships among service recipients, communities, payers, policymakers, and organizations, to improve the patient experience and effectiveness of care. She works as a Data Strategist for Community Behavioral Health in Philadelphia.

Research Interests:

• Population health
• Health policy and systems research (HPSR)
• Physical and behavioral health integration
• Social and structural determinants of health
• Health equity
• Vulnerable populations (with an emphasis on immigrants of African descent and people living with serious mental health)
• Mixed methods
• Dissemination and implementation research
• Health behavior decision-making
• Use of health information technology for assessment and intervention

Contact: rachel.augustin@drexel.edu

Kayla Burley, DrPH(c), MPH

Degrees: BS in Health Sciences with a minor in Substance Abuse Prevention from James Madison University. MPH from Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health.

Kayla's Focus: Equitable and sustainable cross-sector partnerships that address the needs of Black children.

Research Interests:

• Children's mental health
• Health equity
• Community partnerships

Contact: kayla.m.burley@drexel.edu

Pooja Doshi, MPH, COA

Degrees: BS in Neurobiology and Physiology from University of Maryland, College Park; MPH in Public Health Practice & Policy from University of Maryland, College Park

Pooja’s Focus: Pooja’s research focuses on addressing health disparities among blind and visually impaired vulnerable populations in low-and-middle income countries. Previously, she has consulted for global eye health non-profits, the USAID Child Blindness Program, and the Defense & Veterans Eye Injury and Vision Registry (DVEIVR) for the VA Vision Center of Excellence. She currently works as a Director of Clinical Research and Grants for a medical specialty non-profit, implementing innovative grants programs and funding large multi-center clinical trials and registries nationally.

Research Interests:

• Health Equity & Disparities
• Vision and eye health
• Global mapping of eye diseases
• Community based research and practice
• Mixed Methods Research

Contact: psd44@drexel.edu

Amanda Marie Doty, MS

Degrees: BS in Immunology and Infectious Disease and BS in Toxicology from the Pennsylvania State University. MS in Clinical Research and Translational Medicine from Temple University.

Mandy's Focus: Defining approaches that health systems can take to improve trust in the community that they serve.

Research Interests:

• Intersection of health care and community
• Making health care more community-focused

Contact: amanda.marie.boyle.doty@drexel.edu

Kathleen Fox, MPH

Degrees: BA in Sociology and Spanish from Franklin and Marshall College. MPH from Thomas Jefferson University.

Kate's Focus: Kate is passionate about bridging gaps between public health theory and behavioral health practice. She has worked for the City of Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) since 2012. At DBHIDS, she has served in a number of different capacities, most recently working directly with the Chief Medical Officer on strategic policy and planning related to health promotion, population health, and trauma-informed systems.

Research Interests:

• Public behavioral health
• Behavioral health policy
• Social determinants of behavioral health
• Trauma as a social determinant
• Community-based research and practice
• Social epidemiology

Contact: kathleen.eastman.fox@drexel.edu

Jayne E. Guare, MPH, CPH

Degrees: BS in Nutritional Science with a Minor in Women's Studies from Penn State University; MPH from West Chester University; Certified in Public Health through the National Board of Public Health Examiners

Jayne’s Focus: Jayne's interest is in public health policy that focuses on making sexual and reproductive healthcare affordable and accessible to all. Her goal is to transform research into policy to improve the health and well-being of her community.

Research Interests:

• Social determinants of health
• Sexual and reproductive healthcare
• Access to care
• Healthcare affordability
• Health policy
• Health equity

Contact: jeg377@drexel.edu

Emily Kane, MPA

Degrees: MPA from Villanova University; BFA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College

Emily’s Focus: I am focused on primary and behavioral healthcare access, trauma-informed care, and public health workforce development.

Research Interests:

• Trauma-informed public health workforce training and optimization
• Access to healthcare coverage
• Strengthening primary care infrastructure in the United States

Contact: egk47@drexel.edu

Molly Sadowsky, MPH

Degrees: BA in Communication Science and Disorders with a minor in Spanish from the University of Pittsburgh; MPH in Epidemiology from George Washington University

Molly’s Focus: My research is focused on identifying barriers in access to care for people with disabilities and translating research into policy and practice to improve health outcomes. I work at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute as a research associate.

Research Interests:

• Access to equitable health
• Disabilities
• Program evaluation
• Reproductive health

Contact: ms5359@drexel.edu

Sammy Shuster, MSW

Degrees: BA in Metropolitan Studies at New York University; MSW from Temple University

Sammy’s Focus: Sammy had previously worked for several years at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health in their Maternal, Child and Family Health Division. She recently joined the Environmental Collaboratory at Drexel to work on community-led climate mitigation projects.

Research Interests:

• Community based-research practice
• Maternal and infant health
• Climate change and public health

Contact: ss5436@drexel.edu

Shanna-Kay Townsend, MPH

Degrees: BA in Health Care Management from State University of New York at Canton. MPH from State University of New York Downstate.

Shanna-Kay’s Focus: Shanna-Kay is passionate about the lived experiences of children exposed to parental incarceration as well as other Adverse Childhood Experiences. She is committed to promoting resilience among, and reducing stigma towards the children of incarcerated parents. She currently works as a Senior Quality Improvement Specialist at New Alternatives for Children.

Research Interests:

• Children and Families affected by Incarceration
• Child Mental Health
• Youth Trauma
• Violence intervention and Prevention
• Urban Health Issues

Awards and Honors:

• Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society
• Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
• Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society

Contact: Stt45@drexel.edu or LinkedIn

Kimberly D. Williams, MPH

Degrees: BA from Hampshire College; MPH from Drexel University

Kim’s Focus: Kim’s research focuses on developing strategies to integrate behavioral health care services into the medical system and translate evidence-based solutions into policy and clinical practice. Her current research centers on identifying strategies to reduce barriers and increase access to treatment in the primary care setting for individuals with opioid use disorder. In addition to her role as a doctoral student at Drexel, Kim works as a Research Investigator with the Institute for Research on Equity and Community Health at ChristianaCare Health System in Wilmington, DE.

Research Interests:

• Substance Use
• Behavioral Health Integration
• Access to Care
• Health Services Research
• Dissemination & Implementation Research
• Health Policy

Contact: kdw56@drexel.edu

Learn more about the Doctor of Public Health in the Health Management and Policy and the unique research opportunities available.