Florida Public Health Training Center

at Florida A&M University

The Florida Public Health Training Center is housed in the Institute of Public Health, College of Pharmacy, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). The Florida PHTC provides continuing professional education for the public health workforce in Florida as well as student field placements and faculty-student collaborative projects. Areas of expertise include: health disparities, cultural competency, community-based participatory research, and interprofessional collaboration.

Founded in 1887, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is a land-grant institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, resolution of complex issues and the empowerment of citizens and communities. FAMU’s faculty educate students at the undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional levels; and prepares graduates to apply their knowledge, critical thinking skills and creativity in their service to society. Created in 1995, the mission of the Institute of Public Health (IPH) is to develop and produce culturally competent public health practitioners and leaders through graduate training, research and service. The IPH offers both the master of public health (MPH) and doctor of public health (DrPH) degrees, with the MPH degree being offered both in an online and traditional format. The IPH program is the only accredited public health degree program that is administratively housed in a college/school of pharmacy. It is also ranked #5 in the production of African Americans with a public health degree.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Community Health Assessment
Community-Based Participatory Research
Cultural Competency Training
Data Analysis and Management
Health Disparities
Interprofessional Collaboration
Program Evaluation
Public Health Genomics

KEY PARTNERS

Florida Area Health Education Centers (AHECs)
Florida County Health Departments
Florida Department of Health
Florida Public Health Association
Community Based Organizations (local and state)

STAFF

Cynthia M. Harris, Ph.D., DABT

Principal Investigator and Director
cynthia.harris2@famu.edu

Dr. Cynthia M. Harris is Director and Professor of the Florida A&M University Institute of Public Health. The Institute of Public Health was created in 1995 by the Florida Legislature and administers two accredited public health programs: Master of Public Health (MPH) and Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Degree Programs. She is the inaugural director. Dr. Harris has over (25) years of research and service experience in health disparities, community-based participatory research, and environmental toxicology and health risk assessment. She currently serves on the Association of Schools and Programs in Public Health (ASPPH) Board of Directors, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Charter Science Advisory Board, and is Vice-President of the Trust for America’s Health Board of Directors. She is also a former councilor of the national public health accrediting body, the Council on Education for Public Health. She has served on numerous grant reviews for several federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Environmental Health Services, and the Health Resources and Services Administration. Dr. Harris is a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology.

Gebre-Egziabher Kiros, Ph.D., MSc

Faculty Trainer
ge.kiros@famu.edu

Dr. Gebre-Egziabher Kiros is a Professor of Biostatistics at the Institute of Public Health at Florida A&M University. Dr. Kiros has vast experience in programing, data management, and analysis. He is also an IBM Certified Data Analytics Professional. His research interests include research study design, demography, multilevel analysis, and health disparities.

Sandra G. Suther, Ph.D.

Evaluator
sandra.suther@famu.edu

Dr. Sandra Suther is a professor in Economic, Social & Administrative Pharmacy in the College of Pharmacy at Florida A&M University. She received her master’s in Medical Anthropology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and her doctorate in Health Education from Texas A&M University. Dr. Suther has over 17 years’ experience in community-based research utilizing both qualitative and quantitative research methodology. Research interests include racial and ethnic health disparities, HIV/AIDS, and maternal and child health as well as concerns about the misuse of new genomic technology. Additionally, Dr. Suther has been evaluating health programs and projects for over 15 years. She has served as evaluator for 12 funded programs (Texas Department of Health, Florida Department of Health, HRSA, NIH, NSF, Howard Hughes Medical Institute).

Felicia Green, MPH, CHES

Program Coordinator
Felicia1.green@famu.edu

Felicia Green is the program coordinator of the Florida Public Health Training Center at Florida A&M University. She holds a Masters of Public Health in Behavioral Science and Health Education and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health at FAMU. Through her community involvement, her passion is to improve the quality of life in underserved populations. Her areas of interest include: disease prevention education, school based violence and injuries, and child adolescent health related issues specifically in the areas of mental health and bullying victimization among youth.