Sarah Verbiest, DrPH

Dr. Sarah Verbiest is a public health social worker who has spent the last 20 years working to improve the health of women and babies in North Carolina and the southeast. She has taken on this challenge from many angles – as a program leader, strategic planner, educator, lobbyist, fundraiser, connector, systems-thinker, manager, researcher and partner.

Dr. Verbiest is a clinical associate professor in the UNC School of Social Work, co-founder and director of the Every Woman Southeast Coalition and senior advisor to the National Preconception Health and Health Care Initiative. She has served as director of the Center for Maternal and Infant Health for 11 years. She has her DrPH, MPH and MSW – all earned at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Teaching Interests

Dr. Verbiest teaches the following courses:
     Health Equity and Policy, UNC School of Social Work
     Administration and Management, UNC School of Social Work

Research Activities

Preconception health, postpartum health and wellness, health equity, leadership, preterm birth prevention, reproductive health and life planning

Service Activities

Dr. Verbiest is an active member of the Wildacres Leadership Initiative, which is part of the William C. Friday Fellowship on Human Relations. She also serves on numerous committees at the Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist. This past spring she saw her entire Girl Scout Troop graduate from high school after serving as their leader for 13 years.

Practice Activities

Leadership development, Women's health, Health equity, Coalition building, Social media and communications

Education

DrPH, Public Health Leadership, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2008

MPH, Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1995

MSW, Community, Management and Policy Practice, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1995

Certificate, International Health, Boston University, 1993