The Central Office for the Region 2 Public Health Training Center is located at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health (CUMSPH) within the Department of Sociomedical Sciences. The faculty and staff that work in the Central Office have expertise in training, adult learning, health promotion, and instructional design.
Principal Investigator, Christian Gloria
Christian T. Gloria, PhD, MA, CHES, is the Director and Principal Investigator of the Region 2 Public Health Training Center. He is an Associate Professor and Deputy Chair of the Department of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health. As Deputy Chair, Dr. Gloria oversees the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the department’s master’s programs including the MS, MPH, Accelerated MPH, Dual Degree (e.g., MSW+MPH), and 4+1 (BA+MPH) programs—accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Dr. Gloria is a Visiting Scientist of the Philippine Council for Health Research & Development and a Visiting Professor of Public Health for several higher education institutions in the Republic of the Philippines (specifically, Angeles University Foundation, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Silliman University, University of San Agustin, University of the Assumption, and University of the Philippines Manila). Through these roles, he collaborates with schools, governments, professional associations, industries, and communities to redefine and spotlight “public health” in the health system, conduct needs assessments, as well as develop public health workforce training programs.
Previously, Dr. Gloria was the Department Chair and Associate Professor of Public Health at Hawaii Pacific University (2012-21), as well as the Vice President (2016-17) and President (2017-18) of the Hawaii Public Health Association. He led the developments of the first CEPH-accredited BSPH and fully-online MPH programs in the State of Hawaii, which also provided training needs assessments, technical assistance, and continuing education for the existing public health workforce.
Nationally and internationally, Dr. Gloria continues to serve as a consultant for the development and evaluation of academic and government public health programs.
Education
PhD, 2013, The University of Texas at Austin (Health Behavior & Health Education; Specialization: Stress & Resilience)
MA, 2009, The University of Texas at Austin (Health Education; Specialization: Nutrition & Built Environment)
BS, 2005, The University of Texas at Austin (Health Promotion & Fitness; Specialization: Exercise Science & Personal Training)
Memberships and Certifications
Member, Mental Health Technical Working Group of the Philippine Council for Health Research & Development, Department of Science & Technology
Member, Medical Sciences Division of the National Research Council of the Philippines
Co-Convenor & Curator, Independent Dialogue for the United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021
Member, National Steering Committee of the Public Health Learning Agenda for Systems Change
Member, American Public Health Association
Member, New York State Public Health Association
Assistant Director, Melinda Lippert
Melinda Lippert, MPH, CHES®, is the Assistant Director and Regional Coordinator of the Region 2 Public Health Training Center. Melinda joined the Region 2 PHTC team in March 2023. She works closely with academic and community partners to ensure that the current and future public health workforce is adequately trained to address the emerging challenges of their communities. Melinda previously worked as a Senior Program Manager at the New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO) where she served as the staff lead on the Columbia University Region 2 PHTC Contract and the Consolidated Training and Education Contract. Her work supported the New York State Department of Health’s Office of Public Health Practice and the Early Intervention, Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs, Environmental Health, and General Public Health Works programs. She also coordinated training summits and conferences. Melinda is a Certified Health Education Specialist and is knowledgeable about workforce training, public health practice, and maternal and child health. Melinda holds a Master of Public Health degree and a Graduate Certificate in Maternal and Child Health from the University at Albany School of Public Health.
Education
MPH, University at Albany School of Public Health
Certificate of Graduate Study, Maternal and Child Health, University at Albany School of Public Health
BA, Biology and Biochemistry, University of Southern Maine
Memberships and Certifications
CHES®
Member, NYSPHA
Member, APHA
Instructional Designer, Shwetha Bhaskar
Shwetha Bhaskar has 7 years of experience developing online training for the public health workforce at the federal, state, and local levels for both the National Center for Disaster Preparedness and Region 2 PHTC. These trainings have been developed under the purview of grant-funded training programs sponsored by CDC, FEMA, HRSA, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response. Shwetha has worked closely with experts in these agencies, and at Columbia University, to develop more than 40 online certificate courses based upon instructional design theory and using industry standard tools and software (e.g., Articulate). Topics of her trainings have included emergency preparedness and response; social media use in emergencies; climate change and disasters; and leadership and decision making. Shwetha also has experience managing the learning management systems as well as web and social media communication efforts.
Education
MA, Columbia University, Teachers College
BA, Bangalore University
Memberships and Certifications
Advanced Business Certificate, Columbia University, School of Professional Studies
