Department of Behavioral Health Sciences (BHS)
Description:
The mission of the Department of Behavioral Health Sciences (BHS) is to
train public health professionals who will be engaged in the promotion
of health and prevention of disease and illness in underserved populations,
working in collaboration with community partners. In order to achieve
this mission, BHS focuses on research on the social and behavioral determinants
of health problems and the application of evidence-based models and principles
to address these problems and reduce their impact on communities. BHS
students and faculty members are committed to promoting optimal health,
the elimination of health disparities, and the reduction of the overall
burden of chronic and acute health and social problems in a culturally
relevant manner.
The department offers two graduate degrees - a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) in social and behavioral health sciences. Some of the ongoing areas of research and practice in the department are obesity, substance abuse, oral health, complementary and alternative medicine, HIV/AIDS, and disaster preparedness and response. In their research and practice work on these topics, faculty members and students collaborate with community partners and researchers from other institutions in the Baltimore area.
The Department of Behavioral Health Sciences is home to the only undergraduate program in the school - the Nutritional Sciences Program, accredited by the American Dietetic Association. The focus of the program is on dietetics and food service systems but students are required to take introductory public health courses.
BHS Faculty:
Dr Isidore S. Obot, Chair and Professor
Dr Yvonne Bronner, Professor
Dr Robert Jagers, Associate Professor
Dr Kim Sydnor, Assistant Professor
Dr Randy Rowel, Assistant Professor
Nutritional Sciences Program Full-time
Faculty
Dr Ivis Forrester-Anderson, Associate Professor
Dr Cynthia Tucker, Assistant Professor