Wheeler honored with ASPPH early-career research award
March 8, 2017
Stephanie B. Wheeler, PhD, associate professor of health policy and management at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, has received the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) Early Career Public Health Research Award.
The annual award is presented to public health faculty members who are in the early stages of their professional careers and who are noted for excellence in teaching, research and mentorship.
Dr. Stephanie Wheeler
Wheeler, who earned a doctorate at the Gillings School, joined the School’s faculty in 2010.
Her research focuses primarily on cancer outcomes, with particular emphasis upon understanding and reducing health disparities. She is especially well-versed in using economic, epidemiologic and systems modeling to support improved health-care decisions.
During the past five years, her research studies have included a novel simulation model for understanding the behavioral economics of colorectal cancer screening in low-income populations (a project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and an American Cancer Society-funded study examining racial variation in the use of endocrine therapy among early-stage breast cancer patients.
“Beyond her [excellent] research,” said Morris Weinberger, PhD, Vergil N. Slee Distinguished Professor of Healthcare Quality Management and chair of the Gillings School’s Department of Health Policy and Management, “Stephanie is an outstanding mentor committed to educating and supporting the next generation of professionals who will improve how we deliver high-value care to patients. In my mind, Stephanie epitomizes what this prestigious award seeks to honor—a junior faculty member with ‘exemplary and documented scholarly accomplishments that advance the research mission of schools or programs of public health and improves the health of the communities served.’”
ASPPH is the voice of accredited academic public health, representing schools and programs accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The association’s mission is to transform public health by strengthening and promoting the education, research, service and practice activities of CEPH-accredited schools and programs.
The award will be presented at the 2017 ASPPH annual meeting March 15-17 in Arlington, Va.
Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: David Pesci, director of communications, (919) 962-2600 or dpesci@unc.edu
