91ɫƵ Institute for Health & Equity Directors
The Institute for Health & Equity is comprised of four divisions: Dr. Laura Cassidy is the director of the Institute for Health & Equity as well as the director of the Community Health Division. Dr. Liliana Pezzin is the director of the Epidemiology & Social Sciences Division. Dr. Art Derse is the director of the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities. Dr. Christa Wagner is the director of the Center for Sustainability, Health, and the Environment.

Laura Cassidy, MS, PhD
Professor and Director, Institute for Health & Equity; Director of Community Health; Associate Dean Global Health
GHE Course: Epidemiologic Research Methods

Arthur R. Derse, MD, JD, FACEP
Director, Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities; Julia and David Uihlein Chair in Medical Humanities, and Professor of Bioethics and Emergency Medicine

Liliana E. Pezzin, PhD, JD
Professor and Interim Director, Division of Epidemiology & Social Sciences, Institute for Health and Equity, 91ɫƵ

Christa L. Wagner, PhD
Director, Center for Sustainability, Health, and the Environment; Assistant Professor, Division of Community Health
IHE Staff Leadership





IHE Faculty Members


Kirsten Beyer, PhD, MPH, MS
Professor, Division of Epidemiology; Director, PhD Program in Public & Community Health; Co-Director, Global Health Pathway; Co-Director, GEO Shared Resource; Adjunct Associate Professor, Geography, UW-Milwaukee



Jennifer Geurts, MS, CGC
Assistant Professor; Program Director, Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program


C. Greer Jordan, PhD
Vice President Anchor Partnerships and CDIO; Assistant Professor, Community Health Division, Institute for Health and Equity

Fabrice Jotterand, PhD, MA
Professor of Bioethics and Medical Humanities; Director, Graduate Program in Bioethics

Joseph E. Kerschner, MD
Dean Emeritus of the School of Medicine; Professor, Otolaryngology & Communication Sciences and Microbiology & Immunology

Sara Kohlbeck, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor; Director, Division of Suicide Research and Healing

Constance Kostelac, PhD, MS
Assistant Professor; Director, Division of Data Surveillance and Informatics, Comprehensive Injury Center



Mara Lord, PhD, MBA
Chief Strategy and Growth Officer and Assistant Professor, Epidemiology and Social Sciences and Global Engagement

John Meurer, MD, MBA
Professor of Community Health and General Pediatrics; Institute for Health & Equity

David Nelson, PhD
Director Master of Public Health, Director Doctor of Public Health, Professor


Lisa Sanchez-Johnson, PhD, MS
Professor, Institute for Health & Equity and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine; 91ɫƵ Cancer Center Research Scholar Endowed Chair Associate Director for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) Office of EDIB

Theresa Shuck, MS, MA, CGC, LPC
Associate Director, Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program

Constance Shumba, PhD
Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Social Sciences, Institute for Health & Equity, Director, Master of Science Global Health Equity

Christopher Simenz, PhD, MS
Associate Professor, Associate Director- Master’s and Doctor of Public Health Programs

Ryan Spellecy, PhD
Assistant Provost and Director, 91ɫƵ Human Research Protection Program, Ursula von der Ruhr Chair in Bioethics; Professor of Bioethics and Medical Humanities, and Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine



Ben Weston, MD, MPH
Associate Professor, Division of EMS Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine; Chief Health Policy Advisor, Milwaukee County; Chief Medical Director, Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management


Staci A. Young, PhD
Senior Associate Dean for Community Engagement, School of Medicine; Director, Office of Community Engagement; Professor of Family and Community Medicine; Director, Center for Healthy Communities and Research; Associate Director, Community Outreach and Engagement, Cancer Center
IHE Staff Members
















Angie Jimenez
Research Program Assistant



Kellie LeGrave, BA
Education Program Coordinator III for the Precision Medicine MS degree and certificate & Public & Community Health PhD programs











