An Interdisciplinary Team with a Disciplined Focus
We are a team focused on men's health outcomes and the full range of factors that affect men's health.
Director, Center for Research on Men's Health
Professor of Medicine, Health, & Society
Email: derek.griffith@vanderbilt.edu
Research Interests: Addressing men's health disparities and improving men's health and well-being.
Gregory (Dan) Ayers, M.S.
Biostatistician
Education/Training:
M.S. in Applied Statistics from Louisiana State University
M.S. in Forestry from Louisiana State University
B.S. in Forestry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Jacquelyn Pennings, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Statistics for Center for Research on Men's Health
Research Assistant Professor of Medicine, Health, & Society
Accredited Professional Statistician™
Education/Training:
Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Texas Christian University
M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Texas Christian University
B.S. in Psychology from Belmont University
Emily Cornish Jaeger, M.P.H.
Project Director
Education/Training:
M.P.H. in Community and Behavioral Health from the University of Iowa;
B.S. in Health Sciences from Drake University
Erin M. Bergner, M.P.H., M.A.
Senior Research Specialist
Education/Training:
Ph.D. Candidate in Sociology at Vanderbilt University;
M.P.H. in Behavioral Sciences from Emory University;
B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Tulane University
Andrea R. Semlow, M.P.H., M.S.
Project Coordinator
Education/Training:
M.P.H. in Community Health from University of North Texas Health Science Center
M.S. in Applied Anthropology from the University of North Texas
B.S. in Biology and Anthropology from Grinnell College
Elizabeth C. Stewart, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Education/Training:
B.S in Biology from Fisk University
M.S. in Public Health from Meharry Medical College
Ph.D. in Behavioral Health and Health Education from Florida A & M
Jennifer Ellison, M.A.
Project Coordinator
Education/Training:
M.A. in Psychology from California State University, Long Beach
B.S. in Psychology from Arizona State University
Vanderbilt University Medical Center Career Award Mentees
Nicole Senft, PhD – (AHRQ PROgRESS T32) Center for Clinical Quality and Implementation Research, VUMC
Ebele Umeukeje, MD, MPH – (NIDDK K23), Clinical Medicine Instructor, Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, VUMC
Former Junior Faculty Mentees - American Academy of Health Behavior, Research Scholar Program
Ledric Sherman, PhD – Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University
Michael Rovito, PhD – Assistant Professor, Department of Health Professions, University of Central Florida
Former Junior Faculty Mentees - Obesity Health Disparities PRIDE Program, NHLBI R25
Shani K. Collins, PhD, MSW - Assistant Professor of Social Work, Austin Peay State University
Krista Mincey, DrPH, MPH, Assistant Professor of Public Health Sciences, Xavier University of Louisiana
Jameta N. Barlow, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Writing, George Washington University
Veronica J. Oates, PhD, RDN, LDN, Associate Professor of Family and Consumer Sciences, Tennessee State University
Jylana L. Sheats-Stuart, PhD, MPH – Manager, Behavior Science at Johnson & Johnson Health and Wellness Solutions, Inc.
Michelle S. Williams, PhD, MPH, MSPH, CHES - Assistant Professor, John D. Bower School of Population Health,
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Janella Melius, PhD, LCSW - MSW-Core Faculty at Walden University, Barbara Solomon School of Social Work & Human Services
Desmond W. Delk, PhD, Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Education, Langston University
LaToya J. O’Neal, PhD, Assistant Professor of Health and Wellness, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida
Former Undergraduate Students
Mallory Johnson (2016-2017)
Junh Hyan "Joony" Seo (Fall 2018)
Heath Moore (Spring 2018)
Mia Ross (Fall 2018)
Hassan Hassan (Spring 2019)
Patrick Jeon (Spring 2019)
Jeremy Mani (Spring 2018)
Kamala Mullur (Spring 2019)
Loveis Jackson (Spring 2020)
Former Graduate Students
Katie Marrero (2015) – MHS MA Thesis, VU
Meera Nargarsheth (2016) – MHS MA Thesis, VU
Ashley Klein (Summer 2016) – MPH student Middle TN State University
Venus Green (2016-2017) – MHS MA student, VU
Peter Kent-Stoll (2017) – MHS MA Thesis, VU
Chelsea McQueen (2017) – Human & Organizational Development MA Thesis, VU
Ashley White (2017) – PhD program, University of Alabama, Department of Health Science
Titilola A. Ogunsola (2018) – New York Medical College, MD Candidate, '21 (VUMC Vanderbilt Diabetes Center/ Vanderbilt Summer Research Training Program in Diabetes - NIDDK Medical Student Research Program)
Glory Stanton (2018) – Medicine, Health, & Society 4+1 program
Vanderbilt University Faculty Affiliates
Lois Autrey Betts Chair in Education and Human Development
Professor, Human and Organizational Development in Peabody College at Vanderbilt University
Hector Myers, Ph.D.
Professor, Medicine, Health and Society and Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Vanderbilt University
Ebony O. McGee, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Education, Diversity, and STEM education, Dept. of Teaching and Learning in Peabody College at Vanderbilt University
Lauren M. Gaydosh, PhD
Assistant Professor, Medicine, Health, & Society and Psychology, Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University Medical Center Faculty Affiliates
Assistant Professor, Urologic Surgery in Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Vanderbilt University Medical Center Chief of Urology, Urologic Surgeon/Oncologist
Gregory (Dan) Ayers, M.S.
Senior Associate in Biostatistics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Jacquelyn Pennings, PhD
Assistant Research Professor, Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
External Faculty Affiliates
Bettina M. Beech, Dr.P.H., M.P.H.
Associate Provost for Planning and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Houston
Bettina Campbell, M.S.W.
Executive Director, YOUR Center in Flint, Michigan
David O. Garcia, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Univeristy of Arizona
Director, Nosotros Comprometidos A Su Salud
Director, Community Health and Outreach, Center for Health Disparities Research, University of Arizona Health Sciences
Assistant Director of Community Outreach & Engagement, The University of Arizona Cancer Center
Gary G. Bennett, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Bishop-MacDermott Family Professor, Psychology and Neuroscience in the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences at Duke University
Keith C. Norris, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research University of California Los Angeles
Co-Director UCLA-CTSI Community Engagement & Education Center, University of California Los Angeles
Ken A. Resnicow, Ph.D.
Irwin M. Rosenstock Collegiate Professor, Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan
Kevin L. Billups, M.D.
Professor, Urology/Internal Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College
Executive Director, Meharry Men's Health Program, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College
Luis A. Valdez, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, School of Public Health and Health Sciences at University of Massachusetts Amherst
Marino A. Bruce, Ph.D, M.S.R.C., M.Div.
Science Director, OHD PRIDE, The Univeristy of Mississippi Medical Center
Natasha Schaefer-Solle, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Assistant Director of Behavioral and Community-Based Research Shared Resource
Robert L. Newton, Jr., Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Physical Activity and Ethnic Minority Health in Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University
Roland J. Thorpe, Jr., Ph.D.
Professor, Health, Behavior, and Society in Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins University
Director, Program for Research on Men's Health, Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions