Gregory Hand Ph.D., MPH, MS
Gregory Hand Ph.D., MPH, MS
Dean and Professor
College of Health Professions
Ahlberg Hall 400
Main Campus
Overview
Dr. Gregory A. Hand, PhD MPH became the Dean of the College of Health Professions at Wichita State University in September 2020. He also serves as a Professor in the Departments of Public Health Sciences and Physical Therapy. Previously, Dr. Hand served as West Virginia University’s Founding Dean of the School of Public Health, Special Assistant to the Vice President for Health Sciences, and Professor of Epidemiology. Before joining the faculty at West Virginia University, he served as Associate Dean for Research, Practice and Information Technology, and Professor of Exercise Science at the Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina.
He trained in physiology, public health and exercise science at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Arizona. He was awarded a National Institutes of Health-sponsored postdoctoral fellowship at the Moss Heart Center in Dallas, where he studied the physiology and neurobiology of blood pressure regulation.
Dr. Hand is recognized internationally for his research on physical activity, lifestyle medicine and health. His work has spanned the physiology and psychobiology of exercise and stress, HIV/AIDS, physical activity and energy utilization, and practical applications of lifestyle medicine for chronic conditions. He has published over 140 refereed scientific articles and book chapters and has presented his research on five continents. Dr. Hand has trained over 40 research mentees at the postdoctoral, graduate and undergraduate levels. He has received over $20 million in research and educational funding from federal and state agencies, foundations, corporations and industry.
Dr. Hand is a regular contributor to newspapers and journals on topics related to lifestyle, health, and the impact of health on community vitality. He currently serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Clinical Medicine, and as Commentary Editor for the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Hand is an Elected Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and the European Society for Preventive Medicine.
Areas of Research Interest
Research interests include assessing health collaboratives and social network relationships using network analysis tools, qualitative methods for program development and health education/promotion, and end-user perspectives using health related tools.
Areas of Teaching Interest
- Evaluation Methods in Public Health
- Program Development and Management
- Public Health Administration
- Grants and Writing Proposals
- Coalition Development, Evaluation, and Sustainability
- Foundations in Public/Community Health
Publications
Ahlers-Schmidt CR, Schunn C, Redmond ML, Smith S, Brown M, Kuhlmann S, Engel M, Benton M. Qualitative Assessment of Pregnant Women’s Perceptions of Infant Sleep Boxes. Global Pediatric Health. 2017; 4: 1-7.
Ahlers-Schmidt CR, Brown M, Engel M, Schunn C, Rosell J, et al. (2017) Baby Talk: Developing a Community Collaborative Prenatal Education Program to Support Low-Income Pregnant Women. J Ped Moth Care 2(2): 113.
Wetta, R.E., Pezzino, G., LaClair, B., Orr, S., Shirley, J., Brown, M.B. (2013). Voices Across Kansas: Community Health Assessment and Improvement Efforts among Local Health Departments. JPHMP.
Professional Experience
Assistant Dean and Assistant Educator, Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice, Wichita State University, College of Health Professions, Wichita, Kansas
Program Director, Prenatal Education Collaborative Program, KU School of Medicine-Wichita, Department of Pediatrics, Wichita, Kansas
Assistant Director and Health Education Coordinator, Community Health Operations, Reno County Health Department, Hutchinson, Kansas
Project Assistant (PT), Immunize Kansas Kids, Sedgwick County Health Department, Wichita, Kansas
Administrative Support, University of Nevada – Las Vegas, Student Health Center Rebel Wellness Zone, Las Vegas, Nevada
Clinical Experience
Unit Support, Emergency Department (Adult and Pediatric), St. Rose Dominican Hospital System, Las Vegas, Nevada
E.R. Technician (EMT-B), Lovelace Medical Center, Level II Trauma Emergency Department, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Medical Assistant, Lovelace Medical Center, General Surgery, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Awards and Honors
2014 – 2015 Kansas Local Public Health Leadership Series
2011 – 2012 Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute Cycle IX Fellow
2011 – 2012 Avis G. McPike Scholarship in Leadership
Grants
Maternal Child Health Title V Grant, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (2016-2018)
Maternal Child Health Title V Grant supplemental funding, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (2017)
March of Dimes (2017)
Ebola Preparedness, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (2015)
Blueprint for Early Childhood: Healthy Development, Strong Families, Early Learning Collaboration (co-wrote Health Department responsibility – 2015)
Chronic Disease Risk Reduction Grant, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (2013 – 2015)
Healthy Living Grants Initiative, Kansas Health Foundation (2014 – 2016)
Areas of Service
- Society of Public Health Education, House of Delegates Speaker of the House (2020) and Member
- Society for Community Action and Research, Member
- Kansas Public Health Association (Board Member 2013 – 2019), Member
- Consortium for Autism and Related Disabilities, Wichita State University
- Analytics Showcase – Planning Committee, Wichita State University
- Interprofessional Advisory Committee, Wichita State University, College of Health Professions,
- Strategic Planning Activation Team (AcT), Community and Industry Partners, Wichita State University
- Health Alliance, Sedgwick County, Kansas, Member
- Health and Wellness Coalition, Sedgwick County, Kansas, Member
- Leadership Training Task Force, Kansas Action for Children Collaboration, 2018
- Maternal Infant Health Coalition, (Co-Chair 2017), Member