Tevin Mathew Strengthens Brain Injury Services Through Program Evaluation in Tennessee

Tevin Mathew was pursuing a Master’s in Public Health at Vanderbilt University (link opens in new window) when he served as a Region IV PHTC Pathways to Practice Scholar during Spring 2024. He completed his field placement with the Tennessee Department of Health’s Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Program (link opens in new window), which supports individuals, families, and caregivers affected by brain injury across the state.

During his placement, Tevin focused on developing a comprehensive evaluation plan to better understand how effectively the TBI Program is meeting the needs of the communities it serves. His work included conducting a national scan of TBI programs, engaging stakeholders across the country, and developing key tools, including a logic model, an evaluation framework, surveys, and focus group guides.

His work emphasized the importance of combining quantitative and qualitative data to capture the experiences of TBI survivors and caregivers, while also identifying gaps in access and opportunities to strengthen services. Tevin’s evaluation plan accounted for real-world constraints, offering practical strategies to integrate evaluation into the program’s day-to-day operations despite limited resources.

“My field placement with the TDH TBI Program was a profoundly enriching experience that expanded my professional skills and deepened my understanding of public health evaluation. It highlighted the importance of community engagement, the value of mixed-methods research, and the impact of strong leadership in overcoming resource limitations. I am grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to such a vital program and look forward to applying the lessons learned in my future endeavors.”