Kenneth D. Smith, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

Knoxville, TN, US

Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

My academic focus involves action research to tackle the structural determinants of health inequities at the local, national, and global levels. I work collaboratively with advocates, coalitions, community leaders, and non-governmental organizations to identify and implement strategies to address wicked social problems that keep health disparities locked.

Austin, Texas, United States

• Develop, manage, and administer the community health portfolio for the State of Texas’ Public Health Institute, managing interns and junior analysts. Coordinate with health equity, convenings, and education teams using.
• Developing and implementing vision and evaluation methods for the largest Southern Obesity Summit in 13 years. Training nearly 500 registrants to meet learning, motivational, and networking outcomes.
• Conducting in-depth interviews and analyzed annual budget expenditures with elected and appointed officials in Texas counties and municipalities. Uncovering how the budget process shapes expenditure decisions..
• Managing five community health needs assessments and improvement plans for integrated regional systems.
• Developing and analyzing evaluation methods to capture social determinants of health in Houston’s most diverse community.

• Engaged community leaders and conducted research in the Health Policy and Legislative Affairs office to identify and address health disparities. Wrote policy briefs and educated medical students about the role of.
• Supervised six staff, managed administrative and outreach activities, and ensured the collection of race, ethnicity, and language data for electronic medical records.
• Delivered training and technical assistance to healthcare organizations in the Community Centered Health Homes (CCHH) initiative, the largest demonstration of CCHH in the US.
• Coached C-suite leaders and director-level staff from five CCHH sites on adaptive leadership, authentic community engagement, and understanding complex systems to support organizational change.
• Addressed health issues in UTMB’s patient population with research, analysis, and strategic interventions.
• Principal Investigator of a study about the health care access issues of migrant children fleeing violence from Mexico and Central America. Coordinated multi-institution, transdisciplinary research team. Recruited and.

Washington, DC

• Served as a policy expert for over 40 large and medium-sized public health departments nationwide. Supported policy and systems change approaches to chronic disease prevention and environmental health. Increased local.
• Created a portfolio of long-term, sustainable policy changes, funded by the CDC, Pew Charitable Trust, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).
• Directed health impact assessments and community development efforts, resulting in policy solutions to lower chronic disease rates. Directed and coordinated training academies for the Leadership for Healthy Communities.
• Provided technical assistance to local health departments and developed web-based training and educational materials for the association’s 13,000 members.
• Wrote effective policy statements and supported advocacy to build support from U.S. House and Senate officials and local NACCHO members.
• Analyzed federal policies and drafted recommendations for Food and Drug Administration about menu labeling practices and suggestions for regulate trans fats.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

• Managed 18 staff and led tobacco control, chronic disease, and fiscal areas of the 10 largest public health department. Convened and implemented five large health collaboratives, resulting in reduced chronic disease.
• Implemented Philadelphia’s Clean Indoor Air Act in cooperation with the Division of Environmental Health.
• Led and advocated for menu labeling task force in collaboration with City Council, resulting in the most comprehensive menu labeling ordinance in the country.
• Managed the $2.5 million Steps to a Healthier Philadelphia initiative in partnership with the CDC.
• Directed a community action plan for Kellogg’s healthy living initiative to increase access to nutritious food and physical activity, through built environment changes.

Philadelpia, Pennsylvania

• Served as project director for pharmacoeconomic research and as a research consultant for health issues in Italy.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:
• Investigated inappropriate medication subscribing. Served as a statistical consultant related to Italy’s prescription drug program. Researched pharmacy co-payments.
• Researched and analyzed inappropriate medication prescribing for elderly ambulatory patients in Emilia Romagna, Italy.
• Led study of how physicians modify prescriptions for their type 2 diabetes patients in response to information about HbA1c levels. Analyzed claims/encounter data from Horizon Blue Cross merged with HbA1c lab results to.
• Senior Analyst for the study of impact of Topiramate on Productivity.
• Statistical Consultant for the study of inappropriate medication prescribing for elderly ambulatory patients in Emilia Romagna, Italy.

Princeton, New Jersey

• Evaluated large national demonstration projects. Developing healthcare financing models. Provided data healthcare workforce issues. Wrote Reports to Congress. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:
• Evaluated 4 Medicare projects, including Telemedicine and Medicare Advantage demonstrations.
• Developed and tested parsimonious risk measures for Medicare Advantage and evaluated costs and developed risk adjusters for dual eligibilities in the State of Colorado.
• Developed a scenario forecasting model to predict future requirements and supplies of health professionals and paraprofessionals. Used model to help the Assisi Foundation of Memphis allocate scholarships.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Health Economics And Economic Demography

Bachelor’S Degree, Economics And International Studies