New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine-Arkansas has added Jennifer Conner, DrPH, MPH, MAP, as an associate professor of clinical medicine. Conner, who is a translation scientist in public health, is the newest member of NYITCOM’s faculty and will assist with the development of the Delta Population Health Institute (DPHI). In addition to her role with the DPHI, Conner will also teach courses in NYITCOM’s Master of Public Health program and will be actively involved in the First District Congressional Health Policy Fellowship.
A native of the Arkansas Delta, Conner grew up in Lake Village and has spent most of her career serving rural communities across the southern United States. Conner earned a Master of Applied Psychology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, a Master of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Public Health, and a Doctorate of Public Health in Leadership from the UAMS COPH.
“Dr. Conner has extensive experience in behavioral research, clinical health services research, grant administration, community-based public health programming, and policy evaluation, all of which make her an extremely valuable addition to our faculty,” said Brookshield Laurent, DO, chair of clinical medicine and executive director of the Delta Population Health Institute. “We are thrilled to add Dr. Conner to our team.”
Throughout her career, Conner has brought together academic institutions, hospitals, schools, faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, municipalities, and nonprofits to investigate and evaluate a broad range of health topics, including childhood obesity, respiratory illness, traumatic brain injury, cancer, and birth defects. She has also examined healthcare system topics such as access to quality care, safety net benefits, and incentive-based insurance.
Prior to joining NYITCOM, Conner held positions as a health policy specialist for the Arkansas Surgeon General at the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement and as an assistant professor at the University of Texas School of Public Health. She also served as a program specialist for the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care to investigate health disparities and evaluate disease prevention and health promotion strategies across the state and continued those efforts with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service as part of a Centers for Disease Prevention and Promotion study.