Key Personnel

    ×  

 

Ashish Joshi, PhD, MBBS, MPH

Dean and Distinguished University Professor

Dr. Joshi is Dean and a Distinguished University Professor of the School of Public Health of the University of Memphis. Dr. Joshi is an innovator, entrepreneur, educator, researcher, administrator, and mentor. He is an established population health informatics researcher who combines his academic training in clinical medicine, public health, and informatics to design and develop human-centered, technology-enabled interventions to enhance population health outcomes across diverse community settings. He has extensive experience in utilizing community and hospital-based data to implement and evaluate informatics-enabled solutions to address social, economic, and health inequities of the 21st century. He combines data-driven innovative entrepreneurial creative approaches to advance excellence in public health education, and research, that can address public health challenges in the community by preparing the next generation of public health leaders. Despite his administrative role, continues scholarly and research contributions toward improving the good health and well-being of individuals, families, and the communities they live in. Dr. Joshi conceptualized the SMAART informatics model using combined principles of the human-centered approach, humanistic, behavioral, learning, and information processing theory to advance the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. He has designed and developed, standalone and internet-enabled, multi-lingual, digital health interventions such as population health dashboards, consumer health informatics, m-health interventions, and population-based surveillance tools across multiple settings to improve population health outcomes.
Dr. Joshi successfully completed more than two dozen research projects in the areas of population health informatics across multiple countries including the US, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Haiti, Egypt, and Brazil. These projects were funded by several Federal, State, and international government agencies and other private foundations. Dr. Joshi also launched the first of its kind fully online Certificate and MS Population Health Informatics Programs. He was awarded by the Open Society Institute to establish the Regional Population Health Informatics Education Hub to prepare the public health workforce with skills in population health informatics and how community data can be utilized to design human-centered interventions for the improvement of population health outcomes. The hub is established at BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health with an aim to create a regional network of experts in the population health informatics field ready to respond as a team to the next public health challenge. Dr. Joshi has been leading CUNY SPH efforts to implement the NYC Resource Navigator Test and Trace Program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and secured an award of a $10 million contract with the Housing Recovery Operations of the Mayor’s Office to implement the aftercare resource navigator program to address COVID-19 recovery efforts. Currently, he is the Chair of the Global Health Informatics Working Group of the American Medical Informatics Association. He is also an author of the first textbook published on Population Health Informatics: Driving Evidence-based solutions into practice published by Jones Bartlett. Dr. Joshi will help establish and co-lead the Center for PH-IDEAS, collaborating closely with Dr. Michelle Taylor, Director of the SCHD to oversee all components of this agreement.

Bruce W. Randolph, MD, MPH

Co-Director

Dr. Bruce W. Randolph (aka “Dr. Bruce, the Total Wellness Doctor”) is a native of Live Oak, Florida. He attended Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) on a football scholarship and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Tuskegee University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. Dr. Randolph received his Doctor of Medicine Degree from the University of Florida’s College of Medicine. He received his Master of Public Health Degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. He received residency training in Family Medicine at the University of Arkansas, General Preventive Medicine at Johns Hopkins University, and Occupational Medicine at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Randolph has practiced medicine for 40 years in various settings such as correction/detention facilities, county/state health department, rural health clinic, community health clinic, student/college health clinic, occupational health clinic, Job Corps Center, Indian Health Service Clinic, and private practice clinics. Dr. Randolph served as the Health Officer for the Shelby County Health Department during the COVID-19 Pandemic. He also served as the Corrections Health Officer and Administrator of Inmate Health Compliance for the Shelby County Division of Corrections in Memphis, Tennessee. Prior to becoming the Health Officer, Dr. Randolph served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family & Preventive Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He also established his private practice, Randolph Occupational Medicine Services (ROMS), where he specialized in Occupational Health, Workers Compensation, Disability & Impairment Evaluation, Preventive Health Care, and Total Wellness. Dr. Randolph recently established ROMS Total Wellness and ROMS Consulting Services in which he provides wellness coaching, lectures, presentations, seminars, and consulting services in the following areas:

• Public Health
• Community Health
• Occupational Health
• Health Data Analysis
• Health Advocacy
• Health Disparities
• Mental Wellness
• Physical Wellness
• Spiritual Wellness
• Stress Management
• Body Movement
• Healthy Eating
• Faith & Spirituality

Dr. Randolph is also an ordained Gospel Minister. He founded Issa Ministries, Inc., a nonprofit religious corporation which promotes holistic health and wellness through education, counseling, mentoring, and evangelism. The focus of his ministry is “Total Wellness”, the wellbeing of Spirit, Mind, and Body. Dr. Randolph has been married to his wife, Mildred, for over 45 years. They have three children: Khari (wife Ebony), Kobie, and Trinity. They have two grandchildren: Nylah and Nia.

For more information about Dr. Randolph, visit his website: www.roms-totalwellness.com

Nichole Saulsberry-Scarboro, PhD

Director, PH IDEAS Workforce and Strategic Partnerships

Dr. Nichole Saulsberry-Scarboro is the PH-IDEAS Director of Workforce and Strategic Partnerships in the School of Public Health at the University of Memphis. She is also the Program Director for Innovative Non-Profit and Foundations Engaged Research (INFER) in the Department of Research Development at the University of Memphis. Dr. Saulsberry-Scarboro is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. She is passionate about moving her community forward and has worked for over 20 years as an administrator successfully developing, implementing and monitoring projects and initiatives that help people thrive. Specifically, she has successfully led efforts to assist families dealing with mental illness, increase university grantsmanship, improve college access and success, increase employment opportunities for entry-level workers, improve collaboration among human and social services agencies to more efficiently and effectively assist clients as they move themselves to economic self-sufficiency, promote education as a civil right and personal responsibility, create more financially savvy Tennesseans, improve healthy living habits, and increase exposure to STEM coursework and careers.
In addition to her extensive and varied work experiences, Dr. Saulsberry-Scarboro is a formally trained educator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Emory University, a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instructional Leadership from the University of Memphis, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Saulsberry-Scarboro has been happily married to Dr. Douglas Scarboro for over 23 years and they have two sons, both of whom, like herself, are elementary school graduates of the University of Memphis Campus School.

Stella Dockery, MPM, BBM

Project Manager

Stella is the Project Manager on PH-IDEAS. Stella is a highly accomplished professional with a strong educational background and a wealth of experience in project management and human resources. She has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence throughout her career. With a solid foundation in education, Stella holds a Master of Science in Project Management, showcasing expertise in planning, executing, and overseeing projects effectively. Her educational background also includes a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, providing a strong understanding of organizational dynamics and management principles. In Stella's professional journey, she excelled as a Management Analyst at the City of Dallas where she displayed a keen ability to manage operations effectively. Her role involved overseeing various facets of operations, including budget management, contract compliance, and process improvement. She consistently delivered results by evaluating and streamlining processes to enhance efficiency.
One of Stella’s standout experiences was as a Project Management Office Executive Administrator at KBR, where she was part of the Human Health Performance Contract team at NASA. In this prestigious role, Stella played a pivotal role in generating key deliverables, process improvements, and coordinating special projects. Her contributions were crucial in various areas, from process improvement to contract evaluations, and even incident command functions. Stella continued to make significant strides as a Human Resource Project Coordinator at Baylor Scott & White. In this capacity, she contributed to the successful execution of projects coordinating project-related tasks and implementing process improvements. Stella has leveraged her skills to enhance project efficiency and ensure that objectives are met.

Brenda Ballance

Program Administrator

Brenda is the Program Administrator on the PH-IDEAS. Brenda has a diverse background in trust administration and investment management, and development and advancement management for higher education, K-12 education, and healthcare. Previous to joining the University of Memphis PH-IDEAS, Brenda spent 10 years as a trustee for a private trust leading investment management, trust administration and operations. Brenda is a native of Michigan and spent 15 years in philanthropic development and advancement having served as a director of development at the University of Michigan, Oakland University and at the Ascension Healthcare System.

Xianqiang "Sean" Fu, MS

Research Analyst PH-IDEAS

Sean possesses a diverse educational background firmly grounded in environmental science and boasts a master’s degree in Biostatistics acquired from the University of Memphis. Having spent over five years at the same institution, Sean diligently honed his skills as a research associate, which encompassed tasks ranging from protocol development to the analysis of air pollutants and the production of comprehensive scientific reports. This fusion of environmental expertise and statistical acumen, combined with his unwavering dedication to efficiency and organization, bolsters his preparedness for forthcoming challenges. With a forward-thinking outlook, Sean eagerly anticipates channeling his wealth of experiences into meaningful contributions to the field of public health research while embracing potential leadership opportunities.

Nidhi Mittal, MSHI

Health Informatics Analyst

Nidhi is an experienced healthcare professional with over 4 years of expertise in the healthcare sector. She holds a master's degree in health informatics from Rutgers University and another master's degree in health and hospital management from India. Her objective as a PH-IDEAS Data Analyst is to develop and refine data sets.

Kelli Harris, LPC-MHSP ACS

PH IDEAS Conferences and Workshops Manager

Kelli Harris, LPC-MHSP ACS is a seasoned practitioner with over two decades of experience in social services and mental health. Based in Memphis for the past 30 years, Kelli has dedicated her career to supporting children and families across all economic backgrounds. Her extensive work encompasses a variety of counseling and therapeutic settings, where she has provided invaluable services, particularly in the areas of child and adolescent grief and trauma. Previously, Kelli served as the Director of Grief and Trauma at one of the largest behavioral health hospitals in West Tennessee. Her deep understanding of these communities' systemic and cultural dynamics has positioned her as a trusted and compassionate advocate for those she serves. Kelli is also pursuing a doctorate in Behavioral Health, furthering her commitment to advancing mental health practices. In addition to her professional achievements, Kelli is a proud mother of two adult children. Her daughter, Kennedy Davis, is a dedicated preschool teacher in the local community, and her son, Kaleb Davis, is a recent graduate of Howard University, currently residing in Washington, D.C.

Fedoria Rugless, Ph.D., CCRP

Public Health Educator and Programs Administrator

Dr. Fedoria Rugless was born in Michigan, but also claims the states of Alabama and Tennessee as home. In 2007, Fedoria received her B.S. in Biomedical Sciences, with honors, along with minors in both Chemistry and Music, from Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama. She went on to continue her educational pursuits at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine where she was a Yates scholar, a fellow in the Molecular Epidemiology in Children’s Environmental Health Training Program, and graduated with her Ph.D. in Molecular Epidemiology in 2012. Her research interests have spanned from studying exposure effects and neuromotor performance, to patient centered outcomes, cancer research, HIV behavioral surveillance, and community based participatory research. She has presented her work in several publications, and at various conferences nationally and internationally which include the American Public Health Association Annual meeting & Expo, Center for Environmental Genetics Regional Showcase, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer World Conference, American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, and the Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health. She is also a Certified Clinical Research Professional through the Society of Clinical Research Associates. Dr. Rugless has previously led out in clinical research regionally at the Baptist Memorial Hospital Cancer Center, the State of Tennessee Department of Health, and Church Health Center Clinic, and has given oversight to various initiatives, served as a liaison between various investigators, university faculty and students, along with community partners and organizations, with the goals of building a strong, nationally recognized, collaborative research programs and networks that enhances the community-based and clinical work being done within model organizations. She also championed and led the Live! Memphis Breast Cancer Consortium, which lowered the breast cancer incidence rates for African American women in the Mid-South. Fedoria also served as Population Health & Health Equity Director for Wellpoint, a member of Anthem, Inc. where she provided direction and oversight for efforts to improve the health and well-being of the Tennessee health plan’s Medicaid membership. Dr. Rugless serves on the board of various organizations locally inclusive of the Mid-South Food Bank, the Iris Collective, the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, and the American Heart Association Heart Walk. Fedoria also has a passion for education and is adjunct faculty at various institutions within the region. She is an esteemed member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the National Association of Health Services Executives, National Association of County & City Health Officials, American Public Health Association, Women in Medicine and Science, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. She is the proud founder and CEO of Holistic Harmony Inc., which specializes in health and wellness, consultation, grant writing, proposals, musicianship, production, and event management. Some of her extracurricular activities include mentoring, traveling, playing the piano, singing with various musical ensembles including the Memphis Symphony Chorus, Patrick Riddick & D’vyne Worship, and the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church Sanctuary Choir & Praise Team, and spending quality time with family and friends. She has been named in the Memphis Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40, a New Memphis Institute Leadership Fellow, an American Heart Association Mid-South Woman of Impact, and is a member of Oakwood University’s inaugural Top 40 Under 40 Class. Ultimately, she has a strong love for people, a desire to reduce healthcare disparities within underserved populations, and a burden for all to obtain holistic optimal health and wellness.

Brian B. McGoldrick

Research & Data Analyst, PH-IDEAS

Brian is a mixed-methods researcher from San Diego, CA, with a rich interdisciplinary background. He recently earned his Ph.D. in Performing Arts Health from the University of North Texas, through the Texas Center for Performing Arts Health—a collaboration between UNT and UNTHSC aimed at training young researchers and medical students to address occupational health concerns in the performing arts community. Before this career shift, Brian pursued multiple degrees in music performance, including a master’s degree from the University of Memphis. He further honed his skills in methodology and statistical analysis through UNT’s Department of Educational Psychology. These competencies were integral to his research on mental health challenges among college music students, as well as the psychosocial and institutional determinants of psychological distress in musician populations. In his current role as a Research and Data Analyst for PH-IDEAS, Brian is dedicated to leveraging his expertise in a public health setting to produce impactful research outputs and data-driven resources for the community.

Veera Venkata Vinod Chava

Software Programmer, PH-IDEAS

Veera Venkata Vinod Chava is a Software Programmer at the University of Memphis School of Public Health, where he supports the development of data-driven applications and digital health solutions under the PH-IDEAS initiative. Veera earned his Master’s in Data Science from the University of Memphis and brings over four years of experience in software development and business analysis. He’s passionate about using technology to improve public health and make data more accessible and actionable.