Heather Beaird, Ph.D, BS

Dr Heather Beaird is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, and Epidemiology. She teaches courses in introductory epidemiology at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. She received her BS in Biology from Kent State University in 1998 and her PhD in Epidemiology from Case Western Reserve University in 2005. In addition to teaching, Dr Beaird spent nearly 10 years serving in local public health as the Epidemiology Chief for Summit County Public Health and the Portage County Health Department. The majority of her work in local public health has involved the management of local surveillance systems, community health assessment, program evaluation, and the development of methodologies for effective public health data utilization. Her passion lies in the application of large administrative data for the investigation of health disparities, particularly as they apply to local populations in need of targeted public health services.