David A. Ross, ScD
Director
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Decatur, Georgia 30030
866-815-9704 (Phone)
404-371-0415 (Fax)
dross@taskforce.org

Dr. David Ross is Director of the Public Health Informatics Institute. He became the Director of All Kids Count, a program of the Institute supported by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), in 2000, and subsequently began the Institute, also with funding from RWJF.

His experience spans the private healthcare and public health sectors. Before joining the Task Force, Dr. Ross was an executive with a private health, also the Paartherapie und Familientherapie has in their performance catalogue with in there, information systems firm, a Public Health Service officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and an executive in a private health system.

Dr. Ross holds a doctoral degree in Operations Research from The Johns Hopkins University (1980) where he was involved in health services research. After serving as Director of the Health Service Research Center, Baltimore USPHS Hospital, he became Vice President for Administration with the Wyman Park Health System. In 1983, he joined the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health. During his career at CDC, he worked in environmental health, CDC’s executive administration, and public health practice. Dr. Ross was founding director of the Information Network for Public Health Officials (INPHO), CDC’s national initiative to improve the information infrastructure of public health. His research and programmatic interests reflect those of the Institute: the strategic application of information technologies to improve public health practice.

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Kristin N. Saarlas, MPH, ScD
Deputy Director
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-687-5617 (Phone)
404-371-0415 (Fax)
ksaarlas@taskforce.org

As Deputy Director for the Public Health Informatics Institute and Common Ground National Program Office, Kristin Saarlas is responsible for strategic and business planning, program development and evaluation, and fostering partnerships with other organizations. Prior to the creation of the Institute in 2002, Dr. Saarlas was the deputy director of the RWJF-funded All Kids Count National Program from 1994 to 2004 – an initiative that fostered the development of immunization registries and integrated child health information systems.

Previously, Dr. Saarlas worked at the International Health Program Office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for three years and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Benin, West Africa, from 1986 to 1989. Dr. Saarlas received her ScD (2006) in health systems management and MPH (1990) in international health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and her BA in international relations from Michigan State University (1986).

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Carol Vess
Senior Accountant
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-592-1411 (Phone)
404-371-0415 (Fax)
cvess@phii.org

Carol Vess joined the Public Health Informatics Institute in February 2007 as a Senior Accountant. She is responsible for general accounting and financial reporting support for the Institute.

Ms. Vess came to the Institute from the Center for International Programs Abroad (CIPA) of Emory University, where she worked as an accountant. Prior to that, she was a consultant to DeRoyal Industries in Powell, Tennessee. In addition, she worked in various capacities at four different banks in Atlanta and North Carolina. During those years, she carried out budgeting, accounting, tax reporting, banking, and other accounting functions.

Ms. Vess received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Georgia State University in 1986.

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Debra Bara, MA
Community Manager
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-592-1403 (Phone)
404-371-0415 (Fax)
dbara@phii.org

Debra Bara is responsible for managing the Connections Community of Practice (CoP). The Connections CoP is a learning community that assists public health agencies to develop strategies and activities for integrating information systems essential to improving the health of children. Ms. Bara’s primary responsibilities include facilitating peer-to-peer knowledge exchange and problem solving among Connections members, identifying and documenting best practices of the learning community, and developing collaborations with organizations to support the development of integrated child health information systems.

Ms. Bara has extensive experience in strategic planning, program planning and implementation, public health advocacy, maternal and child health services and mental health. She has over 20 years experience at the management and executive levels in both private and public health care settings, including children’s hospitals, non-profits, and a private/public community based coalition. Prior to joining the Institute, Ms. Bara was an executive in Florida’s Healthy Start Initiative, a private/public partnership to improve the health status of Florida mothers and babies.

Ms. Bara received her undergraduate degree from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida and MA in Rehabilitative Counseling from the University of South Florida.

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Valerie Britt, BEE, MBA
Senior Business Analyst
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-592-1415 (Phone)
404-371-0415 (Fax)
Vbritt@phii.org

As Senior Business Analyst for the Institute, Ms. Britt provides the analytical expertise for the Institute’s collaborative requirements development projects, including facilitating business process analysis and requirements definition work group meetings.

Ms. Britt brings extensive experience as a business analyst, project manager, and technical writer to the Institute. She has worked for Rockwell International, McDonnell Aircraft Company, and Boeing, where she served in various engineering and analyst roles such as systems engineer and technical leader. Her previous work experience also includes working as an IT strategist and project manager for BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Company. In these roles, she helped business units within the corporation to utilize information technology solutions to meet business objectives. She also served as facilitator for IT standards and processes. Most recently, Ms. Britt supported the City of Atlanta’s Department of Information Technology as a technical writer and business analyst.

Ms. Britt has a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA with a concentration in Management Information Systems from Mercer University.

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Linda Erzah
Business Analyst
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-592-1461 (Phone)
404-371-0415 (Fax)
lerzah@phii.org

Linda Erzah’s work experience spans several industries, including computer software, computer hardware, health care, and gaming, where she has worked as a developer, systems analyst, business analyst, and project coordinator. In these roles she has worked with customers to define requirements to develop suitable systems that meet business objectives.

Linda Erzah is also proficient at writing customer and system requirement documents and is familiar with industry standard methodologies, including Rational Unified Process (RUP). Her most recent work at Scientific Games entailed facilitating the definition of the requirements management processes with the goal of aligning IT to business objectives. Ms. Erzah is also a member of the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), where she has held several positions of leadership. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Information Systems at Kennesaw State University.

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Kymberlee F. Estis, MPP
Communications Director
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-687-5611 (Phone)
404-371-0415 (Fax)
KEstis@taskforce.org

Kymberlee Estis, MPP, is the Communications Director for PHII. In this role, she is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive communications strategy to address the range of audiences for PHII programs.

Ms. Estis began her professional career in the government consulting practice of Booz, Allen, and Hamilton (VA), supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, and the California State recycling program. Upon relocating to Georgia, Ms. Estis served as the Director of Development for Oak Mountain Academy (GA), where she directed all communications and fundraising activities, including web content, direct mail, e-newsletter, and press relations for the school. For the American Cancer Society, Ms. Estis managed a number of communications and marketing activities, including support for a nationwide event raising over $4M for breast cancer research. Additionally, she has worked with several non profit organizations as a consultant on their communications and resource development strategies.

Ms. Estis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English/Pre-law from Washington State University (1984), and a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California at Berkeley (1986).

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Alan R. Hinman, MD, MPH
Senior Public Health Scientist
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-687-5636 (Phone)
800-765-7520 (Fax)
ahinman@taskforce.org

Dr. Hinman is a Senior Public Health Scientist at The Task Force for Child Survival and Development, a program affiliated with Emory University and The Carter Center. At the Task Force he works with the Public Health Informatics Institute, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded program seeking to advance public health practitioners’ ability to strategically apply and management information systems. In addition, he works with the PARTNERS TB Control Program, a program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation addressing multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis in Peru and globally.

Dr. Hinman received a BA from Cornell University (1957), MD from Western Reserve University (1961), and MPH from Harvard University (1969). Since 1965 he has been involved in public health programs at state, national, and international levels, primarily working with CDC. At CDC he held positions including EIS Officer (1965-1967), Director of the Immunization Division (1977-1988), Director of the National Center for Prevention Services (1988-1995), and Senior Advisor to the Director (1995-1996). In addition, he has worked for the State Health Departments of New York (1970-1975) and Tennessee (1975-1977). He retired from the U.S. Public Health Service in July 1996, having attained the rank of Assistant Surgeon General. Dr. Hinman is the author or co-author of more than 300 scientific publications. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University (Departments of Epidemiology and International Health), where he teaches courses in Vaccines & Immunization and Health & Human Rights. He is also Speaker of the Governing Council of the American Public Health Association.

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John Kiely
Communications Manager
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-592-1424 (Phone)
404-371-0415 (Fax)
jkiely@phii.org

As Communications Manager for the Public Health Informatics Institute, John Kiely brings more than 20 years of experience in editorial management and journalism, marketing and corporate communications, writing/editing, media relations, advertising/promotions, mentoring editorial staff, and coaching colleagues.

John has worked in print, broadcast, and online communications for CNN, Turner Broadcasting, AOL, American Airlines, UPS, and Emory University. He has written for Travel & Leisure, The Miami Herald, and Men’s Journal, and has served as Editor in Chief of Orlando magazine and Boating World magazine.

John holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising from the College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida, and coursework toward an MA in Anthropology/ Latin America Studies. Among his accomplishments, he was awarded an Inter American Press Association scholarship to serve as an exchange journalist on assignment to La Nacion daily newspaper in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As a black belt in karate, John enjoys training and teaching classes.

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Rhonda Miller, MeD
Senior Program Associate
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404- 687-5632 (Phone)
404-371-0415 (Fax)
rmiller@phii.org

Rhonda Miller, Program Coordinator, provides administrative support for all projects at the Institute. As a project team member, she coordinates the logistics for meetings and assists in budget management specific to the projects. In addition to these activities, she assists with program research and provides assistance to the director.

She previously worked in student affairs in residence life and development, where she focused on program evaluation. Ms. Miller received her BS in Psychology from James Madison University (2001) and MEd in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia (2003).

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Jim Mootrey
Project Manager
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-592-1416 (Phone)
404-371-0415 (Fax)
jmootrey@phii.org

As Project Manager for the Institute, Jim Mootrey oversees various public health informatics projects. Before joining the Institute staff, Mr. Mootrey provided technical support to the Institute as the Information Technology Manager of The Task Force for Child Survival and Development.

Mr. Mootrey brings more than 20 years of technical experience that spans a number of diverse companies, including large corporations such as Digital Equipment Corporation. Prior to joining the Task Force, he worked for eight years as the Network Operations Manager for XcelleNet, a global software development company. This experience has given Mr. Mootrey a solid technical and business analysis background.

Mr. Mootrey holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Lowell, MA, and various technical certifications.

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Anita Renahan-White, MPH
Project Management Director
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-592-1409 (Phone)
404-371-0415 (Fax)
arenahan-white@phii.org

As Project Management Director for the Institute, Anita Renahan-White guides and oversees projects to develop requirements for health information systems. With her experience in management best practices, project and resource planning, and IT project management, Ms. Renahan-White offers facilitation for group planning, requirements definition, change management, and oversight of project development and implementation. She is currently providing project management support for the Common Ground Program, a national initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Before joining the Institute, Ms. Renahan-White was Applications Director for the Business Operations and Systems team at McKesson, Inc. (formerly HBO & Company), a supply management and health-care information technology company. In this position, she managed a team of software developers, database administrators, project managers, and application support personnel, and was responsible for daily operations of the sales and marketing automation tool, customer support tool, and enterprise reporting tools.

Ms. Renahan-White received her MPH from Emory University (1993) and BA in English and Women's Studies, also from Emory (1991).

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Gracie Saddler
Budget Coordinator
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-687-5638 (Phone)
404-371-0415 (Fax)
gsaddler@taskforce.org

Gracie Saddler joined the Task Force in 1998 to provide administrative support for All Kids Count, an Institute program. She has primary responsibility for coordinating travel and budgets and provides logistical support for staff and programs. Previously, she worked for Human Resources at Emory University and was a fiscal coordinator for the Vice Provost for Computing at the University of Pennsylvania for over 10 years.

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Karen Torghele, BSN, MPH
Health Scientist
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-687-5622 (Phone)
404-371-0415 (Fax)
KTorghele@phii.org

Karen Torghele brings a variety of clinical and public health experience to the Institute as Health Scientist. Her primary responsibilities include collecting and analyzing data for the implementation of child health information systems, and designing new initiatives and projects based on that analysis. She is also tasked with providing expert advice and consultation on issues related to designing evaluation systems for projects, providing strategic direction, and researching and supplying subject-specific content for endeavors related to maternal and child health.

Before joining the Task Force in 2005, Ms. Torghele worked as a critical care nurse in Utah, Texas, and California. While in California, she helped to develop a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program for post myocardial infarction patients. After earning her MPH in epidemiology, she worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta in Reproductive Health, where she researched causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. She also worked in CDC’s Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Division, where she helped develop a new instrument for gathering and organizing information for a study designed to help identify the causes of cerebral palsy. Most recently, she worked in the Office of Workforce and Career Development at CDC, where she contributed to the development and management of a new one-year fellowship for medical students called The CDC Experience. She also worked for two years as a legislative aide in the state of Georgia.

Ms. Torghele received her BSN from Brigham Young University and MPH in Epidemiology from the University of California at Los Angeles.

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Ellen Wild, MPH
Director of Programs
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-687-5607 (Phone)
404-371-0415 (Fax)
ewild@taskforce.org

Ellen Wild brings frontline public health experience to her Director of Programs role, with primary responsibility for day-to-day management, including planning, implementation, and evaluation of specific programs.

Before joining the Task Force in 1996 as a project officer for All Kids Count, an Institute program, Ms. Wild worked for the Hawaii State Health Department as the Infant Immunization Program Manager, responsible for directing a statewide immunization campaign, developing and enforcing state immunization requirements for school entry, advising physicians and nurses on recommended immunizations and assessing state immunization levels.

As a Project Officer for All Kids Count, Ms. Wild had primary responsibility for monitoring the progress of state and local immunization registry projects, providing technical assistance to the projects, developing and analyzing quantitative and qualitative surveys, participating in the development of national guidelines on immunization registry development, and providing expert advice to projects nationwide. She is particularly interested in legislation and procedures for maintaining the confidentiality and security of data in health information systems.

Ms. Wild received her BA from the University of Colorado (1986) and MPH in Community Development/Health Education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (1991).

Informations in german can be found here.