Nathan Hale has been named the Associate Dean for Research in the College of Public Health. Kate Beatty has been named the Master of Public Health Director.
Nathan Hale, PhD, MPH is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Services Management and Policy and joined the ETSU faculty in 2015. His research has focused primarily on ensuring access to important health services among vulnerable populations—particularly women and children in rural and Appalachian communities. Dr. Hale has a strong history of funded research. Over the duration of his academic career Dr. Hale has led and co-led multiple research grants and program evaluations occurring at the local, state, and federal level, with over 20 million in funding. His research findings have been published in high impact journals including the Journal of Rural Health, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the American Journal of Public Health.
Dr. Hale has held leadership positions in a federally funded research center and is currently the Director of Research for the Center of Applied Research and Evaluation (CARE) in Women’s Health. Prior to his academic tenure, Dr. Hale spent nearly a decade working in public health practice at the local, regional, and state level.
“ETSU has given me the opportunity to have a career I love in a place I want to be. I’m grateful for those who have invested in me throughout my career. I want to use my experiences to support others and the continued growth of research the College,” said Dr. Hale. “The work we do is important and has a direct impact on the lives of those who live in this region and across the country—that is something I want to be a part of and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help shape the future.”
Kate Beatty, PhD, MPH is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Services Management and Policy at ETSU’s College for Public Health. She is affiliated with the Center for Rural Health Research and CARE Women’s Health where she is the principal investigator of a multi-year study of contraceptive access at safety-net clinics. She serves as the Chair of the COPH Curriculum Committee. Recently, she led the departmental workgroup to develop a new concentration in the MPH program, Public Health Leadership and Policy.
Dr. Beatty is also a member and a past chair of the Academic Section of the Tennessee Public Health Association. She currently serves on the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) Practice Section and was elected to the ASPPH Practice Advisory Committee.
Dr. Beatty has a Master’s of Public Health with a dual concentration in Behavior Science and Health Education and Epidemiology. Dr. Beatty received her PhD in Public Health Studies at Saint Louis University’s College for Public Health and Social Justice in August 2013. Her dissertation focused on organizational and structural factors related to accreditation in local health departments, focusing the unique challenges faced by rural communities.
“I am so very proud of the MPH program here at ETSU. I am excited to step into this leadership role at this critical time for the program, our college, and the field of public health,” said Dr. Beatty. “Our students are positioned to go into the field and make incredible impacts on the organizations and communities they serve. I look forward to working with and learning from all the students, faculty, and staff that are connected to our MPH program.”