The Institute for Population and Public Health (IPPH) is proud to celebrate 20 years of impact, innovation, and advancing population health. Join us for a special anniversary event featuring distinguished speakers, networking and discussions, and student and trainee presentations.
Monday, November 2, 2026
11:45 AM to 5:30 PM
Vanderbilt University Student Life Center
310 25th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37240
We hope you will join us for this special occasion!
REGISTER
Agenda
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Lunch & Networking (Boxed lunches available beginning at 11:30 AM)
12:00 PM - 12:20 PM | Welcome & Opening Remarks Russell Rothman, MD, MPP
FEATURED TALKS (Moderator: Sunil Kripalani, MD, MSc)
12:20 PM - 12:40 PM | Wes Ely, MD, MPH - Using Science and Humanism to Build a Research Enterprise
12:40 PM - 1:00 PM | Melinda Aldrich, PhD, MPH - Who Are We Missing? The Future of Lung Cancer Screening
1:00 PM - 1:20 PM | Susannah Rose, PhD - Trustworthy Innovation: The Evolution of Ethics and AI in Healthcare
1:20 PM - 1:40 PM | Michael DeBaun, MD, MPH - Primary Stroke Prevention in Children with Sickle Cell Anemia Living in Africa: The False Choice Between Patient-Oriented Research and Humanitarian Service
1:40 PM - 2:00 PM | Refreshment Break
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Panel Discussion: The Future of Public Health
Moderator: David Stevenson, PhD | Panelists: Muktar Aliyu, DrPH, MPH; Stephen Patrick, MD, MPH; Christianne Roumie, MD, MPH; Consuelo Wilkins, MD, MSCi
3:00 PM - 3:10 PM | Closing Reflections Russell Rothman, MD, MPP
3:10 PM - 3:30 PM | Recognition Ceremony & Group Photo Honoring Robert S Dittus, MD, MPH
POPULATION & PUBLIC HEALTH COLLOQUIUM
3:30 PM - 3:40 PM | Welcome & Introduction - John Dunn, MD, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Health
3:40 PM –3:55 PM | Presentation of MPH Alumni Awards, Christianne Roumie, MD, MPH
3:55 PM – 4:30 PM | Student & Trainee Oral Presentations
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Poster Session & Reception (Hors d'oeuvres & Networking)
Speaker Bios
Melinda Aldrich, PhD, MPH
Professor of Medicine
Department of Medicine
Genetic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology
Director, Aldrich Lab
Melinda Aldrich, PhD, MPH, is a Professor in the Division of Genetic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology within the Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Aldrich is an international expert in lung cancer epidemiology. Her current research focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer for all populations. Her current work encompasses two primary areas of focus: 1) understanding genetic and non-genetic determinants contributing to lung cancer risk and outcomes, and 2) developing personalized prediction models for lung cancer screening. As an international leader in lung cancer screening research, her work has played a pivotal role in shaping key U.S. health policy guidelines for lung cancer screening issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Dr. Aldrich has authored over 160 publications and holds numerous national and international leadership positions.
Muktar Aliyu, MD, DrPH, MPH
Director, Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health
Endowed Directorship in Global Health
Professor of Health Policy and of Medicine
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Muktar Aliyu, MD, DrPH, MPH, is Director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health and Professor of Health Policy and Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He holds the Endowed Directorship in Global Health. Dr. Aliyu earned his medical degree from Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria, an MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from George Washington University, and a DrPH in Epidemiology and International Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He completed residency training in occupational medicine at Meharry Medical College and a fellowship in general preventive medicine at Mayo Clinic. His research focuses on the application of epidemiologic, implementation science, and health systems approaches to improving population health, with a focus on optimizing HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment services in resource-constrained settings. Dr. Aliyu is the recipient of numerous honors, including the UAB Alumni Award for Scientific Excellence and the American College of Preventive Medicine’s Rising Star Award. He is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and a diplomate of the American Board of Preventive Medicine.
Michael DeBaun, MD, MPH
Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine
Vice Chair for Clinical and Translational Research, J.C. Peterson Chair in Pediatric Pulmonology,
Director, Vanderbilt-Meharry Center for Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease
Dr. DeBaun’s research has advanced the understanding and treatment of major complications of sickle cell disease across the lifespan, including neurologic injury, pulmonary morbidity, priapism, and maternal and perinatal mortality. For more than 30 years, he has led an independent, NIH-funded research program focused primarily on preventing silent cerebral infarction and overt stroke. His work has progressed from carefully designed observational studies defining the clinical history of CNS, lung, and priapism across the lifespan to clinical trials testing interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality. He has led more than eight clinical trials across North America, Europe, and Africa that have changed standards for primary and secondary stroke prevention in children with sickle cell anemia. In the United States, he has mentored six physician-scientists from pre-K career development through K12/K23 awards; all six are now professors leading research programs focused on improving care for children and adults with sickle cell disease. He currently mentors two NIH K43 scholars and former VIRDE graduates, one in Nigeria leading a community-based stroke prevention trial in children and one in Ghana focused on reducing maternal and perinatal mortality, extending his commitment to developing independently funded physician-scientists globally.
Robert Dittus, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine
Albert and Bernard Werthan Chair in Medicine
Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health
Chief Innovation Officer and Senior Vice President, Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network
Director, Tennessee Valley Geriatric Research of Education and Clinical Center
Director, Quality Scholars Program of VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System
Robert Dittus, MD, MPH has devoted over 40 years to improving the effectiveness, efficiency, timeliness, and safety of health care. He has secured over $600 million in grant funding and has over 300 publications with over 62,000 citations. He has advanced the methodology of medical decision-making and delineated the comparative effectiveness of alternative strategies for clinical care. He was the founding Director of the Center for Health Services Research, Institute for Medicine and Public Health, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center and the Quality Scholars program. He has previously served Vanderbilt as Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, Associate Vice Chancellor, Executive Vice President, Senior Associate Dean and founding co-PI of the CTSA. He has directed federally funded training programs continuously for the past 40 years. His recognition includes the Vanderbilt Harvey Branscomb Distinguished Professor Award, Distinguished Educator Award from the Association for Clinical and Translational Science, VA Worthen Career Achievement Award in Health Professions Education, Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance Legacy Award, election to AAP, and distinguished alumni awards from three universities.
John Dunn, DVM, PhD, EMBA-SL
Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health
Dr. John Dunn is the Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Health. He previously held positions as State Epidemiologist and State Public Health Veterinarian. A Nashville native, he earned a BS in Zoology and a PhD in Veterinary Medical Sciences, specializing in Epidemiology and Community Health, from Louisiana State University, where he also completed his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Following three years in mixed animal veterinary practice, Dr. Dunn conducted collaborative research with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the pre-harvest epidemiology of Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli in ruminants. In 2003, he joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a U.S. Public Health Service officer and Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, contributing to foodborne and diarrheal disease surveillance, outbreak investigations, and botulism consultation. His interests include population health, infectious disease epidemiology, zoonoses, and pre-harvest food safety.
E. Wesley Ely, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine and Critical Care
Associate Director of Aging Research, VA GRECC
Dr. Ely is the Grant W. Liddle Professor of Medicine and Critical Care at Vanderbilt University and founder and co-director of the Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction and Survivorship (CIBS) Center. A pulmonary and critical care physician, he conducts patient-oriented health services research and large-scale clinical trials focused on improving outcomes for critically ill patients. His research has transformed understanding and treatment of ICU-acquired brain dysfunction, including delirium and post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), and more recently COVID-19 and Long COVID. The CIBS Center brings together more than 90 investigators across multiple disciplines and has advanced major tools and treatment approaches, including the CAM-ICU and ABCDEF Bundle. Dr. Ely has maintained continuous federal funding for 25 years and has authored more than 600 peer-reviewed publications. He is also the author of Every Deep-Drawn Breath, an award-winning narrative nonfiction book, from which 100% of the proceeds go to support survivors of critical illness and Long COVID.
Sunil Kripalani, MD, MSc, MHM, FACP
Director, Center for Health Services Research
Vice President, Health System Sciences
Professor, Medicine and Health Policy
Sunil Kripalani, MD, MSc, MHM, FACP is Professor of Medicine and Health Policy and Vice President for Health System Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He directs the Center for Health Services Research, where he leads initiatives focused on improving health care quality, value, and patient-centered outcomes. An internationally recognized implementation scientist, Dr. Kripalani’s research focuses on health communication, medication safety, care transitions, and the adoption of evidence-based practices in clinical care. He serves as principal investigator on multiple NIH-funded studies that translate genomic discoveries, health-related social needs, and predictive models into practice. He also co-leads Vanderbilt’s Health Systems Implementation Initiative, advancing organizational capacity for improvement, implementation, and data science. A leader in health services research and learning health systems, Dr. Kripalani contributes nationally through advisory, research, and editorial roles while helping transform research findings into meaningful improvements in patient care.
Stephen Patrick, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP
Professor
Chair, Department of Health Policy and Management
O. Wayne Rollins Distinguished Professor of Health Policy and Management
Stephen W. Patrick, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP, is Chair and O. Wayne Rollins Distinguished Professor of Health Policy and Management at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. He also serves as Co-Director of the Emory Health Services Research Center, a practicing neonatologist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and an Adjunct Physician Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation. His NIH-funded research focuses on improving outcomes for pregnant women with opioid use disorder and their infants, as well as families involved in the U.S. child welfare system. His work integrates clinical care, public health, and policy to translate research into action. Previously, Dr. Patrick served as Senior Policy Advisor to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, where he helped develop a national interagency action plan addressing substance use. He has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and serves on national committees focused on child and maternal health.
Christianne Roumie, MD, MPH
Professor, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics
Institute for Population and Public Health
Director, Master of Public Health Program
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Christianne Roumie, MD, MPH, is a physician-scientist specializing in cardiovascular prevention, medication use, and population health. She graduated Alpha Omega Alpha from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed training in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Public Health at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Roumie’s research focuses on designing and implementing interventions to improve cardiovascular risk, medication prescribing, and patient outcomes through evidence-based, population-based approaches. Her work has earned national and international recognition in pharmacoepidemiology, cardiovascular epidemiology, and health care improvement, and she frequently presents at leading professional organizations. She has served on numerous expert committees, including the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Diabetes Research Consortium Executive Committee and Veterans Health Administration Geriatrics Taskforce. Dr. Roumie served as a voting member and Chair of the FDA’s Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee through 2021. A dedicated educator and mentor, she directs and mentors trainees through the Nashville VA Quality Scholars Program, and multiple training programs including T32 and K12 programs.
Russell Rothman, MD, MPP
Director, Institute for Population and Public Health
Senior Vice President, Population and Public Health
Ingram Chair in Integrative and Population Health
Professor, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics & Health Policy
Dr. Russell Rothman is Professor of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Health Policy; Ingram Chair in Integrative and Population Health; Senior Vice President for Population and Public Health; and Director of the Institute for Population and Public Health (IPPH) at Vanderbilt. An expert in health services research, health communication, and chronic disease prevention and management, he has over 240 publications and has served as principal investigator on over $120 million in funded research. His work, supported by the NIH, PCORI, and others, focuses on health communication, real world evidence research, and pragmatic clinical trials to improve health outcomes. He leads the PCORI STAR Clinical Research Network, which engages 9 major health systems and includes electronic health record data on over 30 million patients, and the NIH CODA study examining early diabetes progression. Dr. Rothman is currently serving as the George Eastman Visiting Professor at Balliol College and the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at Oxford University.
David Stevenson, PhD, SM
Mike Curb Chair, Department of Health Policy
Professor of Health Policy
David Stevenson, PhD, SM, is the Mike Curb Chair and Professor of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. His research focuses on aging, end-of-life care, and long-term care, with particular emphasis on the quality and safety of care. His work has examined the evolution of Medicare’s hospice benefit, the role of ownership in hospice and nursing home care, and regulatory oversight of hospice agencies and nursing homes. Dr. Stevenson is also deeply committed to education and mentorship, teaching and mentoring graduate and medical students, residents, and fellows. At Vanderbilt, he has held numerous educational leadership roles, including faculty Co-Chair of the MD Admissions Committee and Health Policy Track Director in the MPH program. He previously served as Vice Chair for Education in the Department and is the inaugural holder of an endowed Directorship in Health Policy Education. He earned his BA from Oberlin College and SM and PhD degrees from Harvard University.
Consuelo Wilkins, MD, MSCI
Senior Vice President Senior Associate Dean, Office of Community Health & Engagement
Professor of Medicine
Division of Geriatric Medicine
Consuelo H. Wilkins, MD, MSCI, is an internationally recognized physician-scientist whose research integrates social, cultural, and environmental factors into clinical and translational science. A distinguished leader in community engagement and the science of recruitment, she has developed innovative, community-informed strategies to broaden participation in clinical research. Dr. Wilkins serves as principal investigator on multiple NIH-funded research centers and has authored more than 170 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Wilkins is a tenured Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine; Senior Vice President and Senior Associate Dean, Community Health and Engagement; and the inaugural Mildred Thornton Stahlman Chair in Rural Health at Vanderbilt Health and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. She earned a Bachelor of Science in microbiology and Doctor of Medicine from Howard University; completed residency at Duke University Medical Center; Geriatric fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital; and MSCI from Washington University School of Medicine.