Global Health Network- Supercourse Developers

LaPorte    Linkov    Shubnikov   Padilla    Sauer    Hennon     Lovalekar     Ardalan    Shishani    Marler    Hays    Eshelman     Dodani    Husseini    Trufanov    Songer    Choubnikova    Sa    Rico Verdin    Acosta    Sekikawa     Aaron    Huang   
Ronald E. LaPorte, Ph.D.

  • Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology in 1977, Masters degree in Epidemiology, 1981
  • 505 publications in Epidemiology, Global Health, and Internet
  • First Distinguished Teacher, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh 1989
  • Lillienfeld Award, APHA for outstanding life time achievement in education
  • Director, Disease Monitoring and Telecommunications, WHO Collaborating Center, Dept of Epidemiology
  • Developer and PI of the WHO multinational Project for Childhood Diabetes, involving 155 centers in 70 countries
  • 1994 Developer, Global Health Network
  • Numerous funded national and international projects from NIH, and NASA
  • Kelly West Diabetes Epidemiology Award from the American Diabetes Association
Faina Linkov, Ph.D.

  • Ph.D. in Epidemiology in 2005, MPH Community and Behavioral Health Science, 2001, University of Pittsburgh, B.S. Psychology, 1999 with Certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine
  • Maternal and Child Course coordinator, Pennsylvania Governor School for Healthcare (Summer 2002, Summer 2003)
  • Project Coordinator/Program Assistant at Magee Womancare International, Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC Health System, 1999-2001
  • Research interests: cancer biomarkers, chronic disease epidemiology, Internet, and Maternal and Child Health
  • 70 publications in Epidemiology, Public Health, and Internet
  • Current Position: Research Assistant Professor, Department of OB/GYN and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
Eugene Shubnikov, M.D.

  • M.D. from Novosibirsk Medical Academy, Novosibirsk, Russia, 1985
  • Research scientist for Laboratory of Epidemiology and Prevention of chronic noncommunicable diseases, Institute of Internal Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
  • Member of the European Association for the study of Diabetes (from 1992)
  • Responsible executor, WHO Multinational Project for Childhood Diabetes (DIAMOND) (1990-1999)
  • Research Fellow in Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh (February-June, 2000)
  • Supercourse coordinator of Internet prevention Program among Former Soviet Union Countries
  • Supercourse developer
Nicolas Padilla Raygoza, M.D.

  • M.D. University Autonomous of Guadalajara and University National Autonomous of Mexico(1984)
  • Pediatrician by Mexican Council of Certification in Pediatrics (1986)
  • Diploma in Methods of Clinical Research (2003), CoNaPeMe
  • Diploma in Knowing EPIINFO 2003 (2004), CoNaPeMe and University of Tlaxcala
  • Diploma Postgraduate in Epidemiology, University of London (2005)
  • Medical Coordinator of LatinAmerican Supercourse of Women's Health (School of Nursing and Obstetrics, University of Guanajuato, Mexico
  • Professor in Pediatrics, Statistics, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Nursing and Obstetrics of Celaya, University of Guanajuato, Mexico
  • Member of Mexican Academy of Pediatrics (1998)
  • Associate Member of American College of Epidemiology (2001)
Francois Sauer, M.D.

  • M.D., University of Mexico, UNAM; MBA, Harvard Business School program in Mexico City
  • M.S. Systems Analysis, Spanish-American University, Mexico City
  • CEO Trans Am Group. Trustee of the Baker University Board. Board member of the International Relations Council
  • Prior to this, he was the CEO of Cerner International, which produces IT products for health industry applications including presence in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Europe. At Transquest, Inc., he participated in an expansion strategy for the AT&T joint venture with Delta Airlines. Before that, he was at AT&T's Global Information Solution (old NCR)
  • 1994 Developer, Global Health Network. Author of numerous publications on health care, IT, telecom, and the options for their collaborative application
Meredith G. Hennon, MPH
  • MPH, Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, 2010.
  • Current position: Research Specialist, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Epidemiology
Mita Lovalekar, M.B.B.S., PhD, MPH

  • M.B.B.S. from Seth G.S.Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India, 1998
  • Ph.D. in Epidemiology in 2008, MPH in Epidemiology in 2003, University of Pittsburgh.
  • Research interest: Injury epidemiology, Application of the internet to dissemination of Medical information, Maternal and child health, Chronic diseases epidemiology
  • Current position: Assistant Professor in the Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition within the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
Ali Ardalan M.D., MPH, Ph.D.

  • Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Health Emergency & Disaster Division (HE&DD), Institute of Public Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Iran
  • ield of interest: Disaster epidemiology
  • Developer of several Just-in-Time (JIT) Supercourse lectures about Bam earthquake, Asian Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina & Rita, Pakistan earthquake
  • Author or co-author of 4 books and 14 peer reviewed articles on the epidemiologic methods and public health
Kawkab Shishani, Ph.D.

  • Ph.D. from University of Pittsburgh in 2003
  • Associate professor of Community Health Nursing
  • 20 publications in smoking cessation, NCD prevention, and global health
  • Invited to co-author chapter books: 1) Quantitative Methods (Chapter 8). Nursing Research: The International Council of Nurses Perspective (2009), 2)Global Cardiovascular Health (Chapter 43). Cardiac Nursing (6th ed) (2009), and 3) Nursing Interventions in Tobacco-Dependent Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases (Chapter 12). AnnualReviewof NursingResearch "Advancing NursingScience in Tobacco Control" (2009)
  • Well established record in translating research into practice, community activities, and international activities
  • Serves as editor of Saudi Medical Journal, Applied Nursing Research, McMaster PLUS/PIER/EB Journals, International Nursing review
  • Consultant for the Jordanian National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA)
  • Recipient of World Bank Volunteer Service Award in 2002
  • Nominated for: Research Dissemination Award, Sigma Theta Tau 2009, Sasakawa Award "WHO" 2007, King Abdullah-II Creativity Award 2007
  • Serve as the coordinator for nursing supercourse
Eric Marler, M.A., M.D., C.M., Dip. Med., F.A.C.P.

  • Educated at McGill University (1949-1961). He worked for the IBM Corporation from 1965 to 1993
  • In 1993, he retired from IBM and became a consultant serving international corporations active in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa
  • He has authored and co-authored articles, theses, book chapters and/or web sites in the history of science, internal medicine, physical biochemistry, public health, botany, disaster preparedness, and a variety of industry and corporate sectors
  • He served as Trustee (1988-1993) and later Chairman of the Child Health Foundation (1999-2002) and as a member of the Advisory Board of the Japan Heritage Foundation. He is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Metis Beach Community Association and served as a Member of the Board of Directors of Volunteers in Technical Assistance (1990-1999). He also served as Trustee of the International Center for Research on Women (1980-90). He was Co-Chairman of the Disaster Communications Preparedness Sub-Committee and Member of the International Disaster Advisory Council of the U.S. Department of State, Agency for International Development, chaired by Mrs. Marilyn Quayle (1990-92)
Dr. Walter W. Hays

During the past three decades with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and an NGO, the Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction (GADR), Dr. Hays has provided leadership for interdisciplinary research on disasters, post-disaster studies, and the implementation of disaster-prevention measures.

During this time, he contributed to the UN’s International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, UNESCO’s PAMERAR AND RELEMR programmes, and the former UNDRO’s SEISMED programme. The latter two programmes brought all of the countries adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea together for a common purpose—capacity building for earthquake risk reduction.

He contributed to post-earthquake studies and policy development following notable earthquakes such as the 1980 El Asnam, Algeria, 1988 Spitak, Armenia, 1995 Kobe, Japan, the 1999 Kochelli, Turkey, and the 2011 Tohoku, Japan earthquakes.

Apryl Eshelman, CFRE

Apryl Eshelman, CFRE, is the Director of Development at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. In her role as Director of Development, she raises support for scholarships, projects, capital needs and endowments for the school. In addition to reaching out to alumni, foundations and corporations, she stewards individuals who have a particular interest in the various chronic diseases and other health issues that faculty at the school work to alleviate.

Prior to joining the University of Pittsburgh, Ms. Eshelman raised support for The Nature Conservancy’s global conservation projects. She was a commercial wholesale banker for twenty years, beginning her career with JP Morgan Chase in New York City. She has also worked as a wholesale commercial banker in Europe and, most recently, in Pittsburgh.

Ms. Eshelman has served on numerous boards of directors throughout her career, providing leadership and philanthropic support. She is a member of AFP and CASE.

Ms. Eshelman is a native of Western Pennsylvania and a graduate of The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Sunita Dodani, M.D., Ph.D, M.S., FCPS

  • Ph.D. in Epidemiology, 2006
  • Global Health certified Aug 2003- July 2005
  • Masters in Clinical epidemiology 2000-2002
  • M.D. 1987- 1996
  • Developer SAHPA ( South Asian Health Preventionists Association ) 2004
  • Developer Pakistani Supercourse 2003
  • Rosen Kranz award of best presentation on Dean's day April 2004
  • National Gold Medal Award of best youngest researcher of Pakistan 2000
  • Aga Khan Foundation scholarship award 2001
Abdullatif S. Husseini Ph.D., MPH, M.S.

  • Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and head of the MPH program, Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University- Palestine
  • Fellow, Palestine Academy of Science and Technology
  • Ph.D. in Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway, 2002
  • MPH, College of Medicine, University of Wales, UK, 1995
  • M.S., Department of Life Sciences, Indiana State University, USA, 1990
  • Research interest: Epidemiology of diabetes mellitus, brucellosis, and Epidemiology and the Internet
Andrey I. Trufanov , Ph.D.

  • Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics, 1980, M.S. in Radiation Physics, 1973, St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 100 publications in Radiation Physics, Computer Simulation and Information Security
  • Numerous funded contracts with leading Russian ITT and Space Corporations
  • Professor, Irkutsk State Technical University, Irkutsk, Russia, since 1995
  • Award of the Ministry of Education, Russian Federation, 2001
  • Director, Information Policy Center, Irkutsk State Technical University, Irkutsk, Russia, 2001-2003
  • Member, Editorial Board, Russian National Journal "Security of Information Technologies", Moscow, Russia, since 1997
  • Research Fellow: School of Law, University of Zaragoza, September, 2003; School of Information Sciences , University of Pittsburgh, February-June, 2000; National Research Center for Computers and Law, University of Oslo, February-April, 1998
  • European LEFIS Nework("Legal Framework for the Information Society") collaborator, since 2003
Thomas J. Songer, M.Sc., Ph.D.

  • Assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology in the Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
  • Secondary appointment in the Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
  • Adjunct appointment in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie-Mellon University
  • Research interests in the areas of diabetes, injuries and health economics. He has completed projects addressing the socio-economics impact of diabetes and the motor vehicle crash risks associated with medical conditions
  • Currently working on projects to identify the medical cost related to child abuse and the role of health insurance in diabetes health care outcomes
  • Five years experience in using internet to teach classes in chronic disease and injury epidemiology (http://www.pitt.edu/~epi2170 and http://www.pitt.edu/~epi2670)
  • Former Member, Armed Forces Epidemiology Board Committee for Injuries
Julia Choubnikova, M.S.
(secondary member)

  • Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia (M.Sc.1987)
  • 987-1993 Engineer, Institute of computer systems, Novosibirsk, Russia
  • From 1993 Research Scientist for Center of Endocrinology "Sibdiab"
  • Member of the European Association for the study of Diabetes from 1994
  • Current position: technical consultant for the Supercourse project
EunRyoung Sa, M.S.
(secondary member)

  • MS. Health Education, Ewha Woman's Univ., Seoul, Korea, 1994
  • MS. Information Science and Telecommunication Technology, Ajou University, Seoul, Korea, 1998
  • Researcher. Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, Seoul, Korea: Health and Medical Reform in Korea/ Information System and Telemedicine in Medical and Public Health Area and the health policy, 1995-1996
  • Researcher. Ajou University, School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea: Telemedicine System for Home-care Nursing, 1997-1998
  • Researcher. Heidelberg University, School of Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany: The Quality of Health Information on the Internet/ The Impact of Using the Internet for Health & Patient Education, 1999
  • Current Position: Ph.D. Student of Epidemiology in the University of Pittsburgh
Beatriz Rico Verdin, M.D., M.Sc.
(secondary member)

  • M.D. from the National University of Mexico, 1988
  • Specialization in Epidemiology from the Mexican Institute of the Social Security, 1995
  • Master Degree in Medical Informatics from the Erasmus University of Rotterdam, 1999
  • Epidemiologist of the Mexican Institute of the Social Security, 1995-1998
  • Assistant professor in graduate courses in the Mexican Institute of the Social Security, 1996-1998
  • 6 publications in epidemiological topics related to diabetes mellitus and chronic gastritis
  • Ph.D. student of Epidemiology from 1999 in the University of Pittsburgh
Benjamin Acosta, M.D.
(secondary member)

  • M.D. from the National University of Mexico, 1990
  • Specialization in Epidemiology from the Mexican Institute of the Social Security, 1995
  • Head of the Department of Design and Analysis of Epidemiological Studies, Ministry of Health, Mexico 1996
  • Ph.D. student of Epidemiology from 1996 in the University of Pittsburgh
Akira Sekikawa M.D., Ph.D., Ph.D.

  • Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
  • Fellow, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, American Heart Association
  • Ph.D. in Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 1999
  • MPH in Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, 1996
  • Ph.D. in Medical Science, Yamagata University, Japan, 1991
  • M.D., School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Japan, 1983
  • Research interest: Epidemiology of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes
  • Principal Investigator of American Heart Association funded research project (2001-2002)
  • University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Scientific Award, 2001
  • Japanese Society of Internal Medicine Award, 1991
  • Former resource person for the WorldBank
Deborah J. Aaron, Ph.D., M.S.I.S.

Jianshi (Jesse) Huang, M.D., M.H.PE, MPH, MBA

    Jianshi (Jesse) Huang
    Born: October 5, 1953
    Died: August 16, 2011