Get Involved

UH Population Health Affiliate Faculty Program

The UH Population Health Affiliate Faculty Program is designed to recognize and acknowledge, using affiliate appointments, the diverse interdisciplinary backgrounds of University of Houston faculty that regularly participate in department activities by attending or giving seminars, teaching population health-related courses, collaborating on research projects with UH Population Health, and/or providing population health-related research opportunities for students. Faculty affiliates will receive a courtesy appointment in UH Population Health. The Provost's Office will be provided with a record of affiliate faculty appointments.

  • Must be UH Faculty.
  • Appointed on a 3-year renewable term.
  • Required to hold a faculty appointment in an academic unit at the University of Houston.
  • Expected to actively participate in UH Population Health education, research, and/or practice activities.
  • Reviewed periodically to evaluate ongoing involvement with UH Population Health.
  • Involvement can include, but is not limited to:
    • Teaching or co-teaching a course/course(s) affiliated with UH Population Health (e.g., a cross-listed course, a course with a UH Population Health prefix).
    • Collaborating on grants or have published work with UH Population Health.
    • Planning future collaborations (teaching, research, practice) UH Population Health.
To request formal affiliation, the interested faculty member will send an email to Dr. Bettina Beech, Chief Population Health Officer (bmbeech@central.uh.edu), and include:
  • Most recent CV.
  • Brief cover letter indicating your interest in UH Population Health should also include:
    • A brief description of research and/or teaching specialties for inclusion on the UH Population Health website.
    • Any joint research projects held jointly with UH Population Health faculty, staff or affiliates including pending proposals with title and funding agency.
    • A list of UH Population Health committees in which s/he/they has (have) participated.
  • If UH Population Health determines that a courtesy appointment is appropriate, the Chief Population Health Officer will inform the department chair of the faculty member's primary Department to determine if the chair is supportive of the affiliate appointment.
  • The Chief Population Health Officer will confirm, by vote, that the UH Population Health Department members view such an appointment as appropriate.
  • If the Department supports the affiliate appointment, the Chief Population Health Officer will send his or her endorsement of the courtesy appointment to the Dean or Associate Dean with a summary of the rationale for the appointment including the result of the Department vote and a draft of the appointment letter to be sent to the intended affiliate appointee.
  • Once the Dean approves the affiliate appointment, the appointment letter from the Chief Population Health Officer will be sent to the Associate Provost of Faculty Affairs for final approval.
  • Once the affiliate appointee sends an affirmative reply to the appointment letter, the Chief Population Health Officer will forward the reply to the department chair and Provost's office.
UH Population Health Faculty Affiliates will be invited to all UH Population Health seminars and events as well as be included on printed or web-based rosters. UH Population Health Faculty Affiliates must include UH Population Health as an affiliation on pertinent publications and presentations.
  • The documentation required to renew an affiliate appointment is similar to the original appointment. The department chair's letter should include a summary of the rationale for the reappointment, including the Department's vote for renewal.

  • UH Population Health Faculty Affiliates can discontinue the appointment by submitting a request in writing to UH Population Health. The Chief Population Health Officer will notify the faculty member's department chair, Dean, and Associate Provost of the change in status.

All resources for faculty affiliate appointees (e.g., salary, benefits, and/or research support) will be provided by the faculty member's primary Department.

Working Papers Series - Pre-publication versions of book chapters, reports, and articles by UH Population Health Affiliates.

The UH Population Health Working Paper Series shares preliminary results of population health-related research conducted at the University of Houston available in advance of publication or presentation at conferences to encourage discussion among and feedback from researchers.

Working papers are pre-publication versions of academic or policy articles, book chapters, or reviews. Papers that are posted are typically in progress, with preliminary findings, tables, and data descriptions, but the work is far enough along and ready to be shared. Some working papers may already be under submission or in press and forthcoming elsewhere.

Affiliated faculty members can apply for the Working Paper Series Incentive Grant, not exceeding $500. The purpose of this series is to publish original and unpublished research to disseminate and encourage discussion on recent studies and/or reports on population health-related topics and approaches.

Authors of papers will participate in UH Population Health's Brown Bag Seminar prior to the publication or presentation of their research. The final determination will be vetted by UH Population Health senior staff.

UH Population Health Faculty Affiliates can discontinue the appointment by submitting a request in writing to UH Population Health. The Chief Population Health Officer will notify the faculty member's department chair, Dean, and Associate Provost of the change in status.

 

Executive-in-Residence Program

Steven Woolf, M.D., was the inaugural Population Health Executive-in-Residence for 2023. Dr. Woolf is the director emeritus and senior advisor for the Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Society and Health. A family physician and expert in population health, Dr. Woolf was on campus from March 19-23 and conducted grand rounds with the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. Dr. Woolf also met with members of the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science, select UH students, faculty members, and the UH Population Health team.

Executive-in-Residence programs allow academic institutions to develop meaningful engagement with retired or semi-retired academic leaders and industry professionals to lecture, coach, and mentor students, and to link UH colleges with these industries. Executives bring energy and perspective to campuses that augment classes and research projects and build connections can translate into professional opportunities and summer internships for students.

 

Executive-in-Residence programs range from an intensive one-day program that engages with 2-3 executives, to 1-year, appointments made by the Chief Population Health Officer.

  • Executives provide:One-on-one student career advising.
  • Guest lecturing and participation in industry panels.
  • Guidance for expansion of UH Population Health.
  • Advising for student organizations in area of expertis.
  • Participation in advisory boards for UH Population Health.

EIRs can be working, semi-retired or retired academic leaders and industry professionals who are recognized as significant leaders within their industries and meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Minimum of 20 years of increasing responsibility and acknowledged success in a specific industry.
  • Prior experience with universities including teaching, writing, consulting, guest speaking and research.
  • Previous mentoring experience and willingness to assist students and faculty with networking opportunities.
  • Availability for one to three quarters during the academic year for significant interaction with students and faculty.

EIRs are nominated by the Population Health Internal Advisory Council and screened by a selection committee.

  • Candidates must be available during the academic year for significant interaction with students and faculty.
  • Final appointments are approved by the Chief Population Health Officer.
  • If EIRs are selected to exclusively visit with a single college, the sponsoring department prepares a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and it is signed by the EIR candidate