Esther Chernak, MD, MPH, FACP

Director, Center for Public Health Readiness and Communication (CPHRC)

Dr. Chernak is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, and Director of the Center for Public Health Readiness and Communication (CPHRC). She also co-leads the Master’s in Infection Prevention and Control online program.

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Tom Hipper, MSPH, MA

Associate Director, Center for Public Health Readiness and Communication

Tom is an Assistant Clinical Teaching Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, and Associate Director of the CPHRC.

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Renee Davis, MD, MPH

Research Associate, Center for Public Health Readiness and Communication

Dr. Davis is a research associate at the CPHRC. She is also Coordinator and Senior Research Associate of the Drexel Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program at the Dornsife School of Public Health. Dr. Davis serves as both a subject matter expert and liaison between CPHRC and the MCH programs.

Collaborating Faculty

Renee M. Turchi, MD, MPH

Renee M. Turchi, MD, MPH is a faculty member at the Dornsife School of Public Health and Drexel University College of Medicine and Program Director of the Drexel Maternal and Child Health Program. She serves as the Director of the Pennsylvania Medical Home Program (EPIC IC), a statewide quality improvement program for pediatric practices across Pennsylvania. Dr. Turchi is also a Medical Director of Special Programs at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, where she oversees grants and program development and practices. Her research and clinical work around care coordination and children with special health care needs have been presented and published in multiple national forums.

Jessica Caum, MPH

Jessica Caum is Affiliate Faculty at the Dornsife School of Public Health. She is also the Program Manager for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness Program. Ms. Caum serves as a consultant for CPHRC research projects.

Jerry Fagliano, PhD, MPH

Jerry Fagliano, PhD, MPH is a Clinical Professor and former Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health. Before coming to Drexel, Dr. Fagliano spent 30 years in public health practice at the New Jersey Department of Health. As the senior environmental/occupational epidemiologist, he managed the Environmental and Occupational Health Surveillance Program, where he oversaw a broad portfolio of responsibilities: surveillance of work-related diseases and injuries; tracking of environmental exposures and related health outcomes; assessment of public health hazards posed by hazardous sites; risk assessments of drinking water contaminants; investigations of disease clusters; and epidemiologic investigations related to air and water pollutants. His research publications include articles on pediatric asthma and air pollutants, legionellosis and drinking water, perfluorinated chemicals and effect biomarkers, and surveillance of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Jennifer Plumb, DSW/LSW

Jennifer Plumb, DSW/LSW is the Senior Outreach Core Director for the AJ Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel University. Dr. Plumb worked as the Social Worker in the Division of Child Development, Rehabilitation, and Metabolic Disease at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s in the Regional Autism Center from 2003 to 2013. While at the Children’s Hospital she co-facilitated social skills groups, organized parent educational groups and provided ongoing support and resource coordination to families of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other special health care needs. Dr. Plumb served as faculty in the Leadership Education and Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program and was a member of an interdisciplinary autism diagnostic team and an early autism screening clinic. Jennifer’s research interests include the impact of social support and parental stress on family resilience in families impacted by ASD.

Students

Dornsife students have worked with CPHRC faculty to complete Applied Practice Experiences, Integrated Learning Experiences, and other projects as part of their degree requirements.

Drexel graduate and undergraduate students in public health and related disciplines who are interested in working with the Center on applied research and projects should contact Tom Hipper at tjh87@drexel.edu.