Directory

Dr. Battaglia is a clinical teaching associate professor and co-director of the Health Services Research PhD program in the Department of Health Systems, Management & Policy in the Colorado School of Public Health. She currently teaches Clinical Outcomes Assessment and Grant Writing in the Health Services Research PhD program. Dr. Battaglia is a nurse scientist and core investigator at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System and Director of the Denver Research Education and Mentor Program at the Denver site of the Denver-Seattle Center of Innovation (COIN). She has a strong background in health services research, dissemination/implementation of interventions in routine clinical practice and mixed methods analyses. Dr. Battaglia's research is focused on access to care and improving the healthcare delivery system for veterans.

Cathy J. Bradley, PhD, is the Colorado School of Public Health's Associate Dean for Research and the Deputy Director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center. She holds the Grohne Chair for Cancer Prevention and Control Research, and is a professor in the Department of Health Systems, Management and Policy. Prior to joining ColoradoSPH and CU, she was the founding Chair of the Department of Healthcare Policy and Research, and Associate Director of Cancer Prevention and Control at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. She has been funded as a Principal Investigator by the NIH since 1998 and has received funding from the American Cancer Society, The Commonwealth Fund, and various state and international agencies. Dr. Bradley is an internationally recognized expert in health services research and health economics.

Professional Affiliations

• Member, National Cancer Policy Forum
• Editorial Board, Journal of Cancer Survivorship
• International Health Economics Association
• American Society of Health Economists

Sara Brandspigel, MPH has 15 years of experience managing public health and education programs and has overseen daily operations of the PIPER program, including program development, communications, and grants management, since early 2012. She serves as a Research Instructor for the Colorado School of Public Health. Ms. Brandspigel leads the National Peer Learning Team on Child Maltreatment, a CDC-funded initiative, and collaborates on several research and training projects. She is also the Research Engagement and Translation Director for Systems for Action housed in the Department of Health Systems, Management & Policy. 

Prior to joining ColoradoSPH, she led education and outreach activities for the family planning program at the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and served as development director for Heads Up, an educational enrichment program for underserved youth in Washington, DC, and project manager at the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs. She received her MPH with a focus on maternal and child health from the University of North Carolina.

Dr. Meredith Fort is a health services researcher and program evaluator with over 15 years of experience working in the design, implementation, and evaluation of community-based service delivery and public health programs in Central America, Mexico, and the United States. Her work is applied, engages patient, family, provider, and community stakeholders, and draws on a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods.

Currently Dr. Fort is leading a diabetes translational research pilot and feasibility study on family engagement with an Urban Indian Health Organization in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Recent program evaluation and case study writing efforts have focused on: specialty care access, human rights based approaches to care, cardiovascular disease risk reduction, and equitable access to care.

Richard C. Lindrooth, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Health Systems, Management and Policy in the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. He is also a co-director of the department's Health Service Research PhD program. He teaches graduate-level Health Care Financial Management and Health Services Research Methods.  

Dr. Lindrooth's research has primarily been focused on three topical areas: the economics of the hospital industry, mental health services research, and health policy. His ongoing research is focused on understanding the role that management practices play in determining differences in the quality of care and treatment decisions in cardiac care units. He recently started a project funded by the NIH Common Fund focused on understanding the differences in outcomes and cost between a system using global bundled payments and one that uses fee-for-service and primary care capitated payments in Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations. Dr. Lindrooth has been PI on several R01 grants funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. He has also been PI on projects funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Berlex Laboratories. 

Dr. Lindrooth was awarded the Charles E. Gibbs Leadership Prize in 2007 for his joint research with Dr. Jeffrey McCullough on Medicaid women's health policy. He received his PhD and MA in Economics from the University of Washington and a BA in Economics from the University of Vermont. 

As a pediatric physical therapist with doctoral training in Developmental Epidemiology, Dr. McManus’s research focuses on population-based health interventions for young children with developmental delays and disabilities. She is particularly interested in access to, utilization, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of health and therapeutic services for medically fragile infants. Dr. McManus employs a variety of quantitative methods, including multi-level statistical modeling, longitudinal analyses and structural equation modeling using large secondary data sets.

Elaine Morrato, DrPH, MPH, CPH, is Founding Dean of the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health at Loyola University and an adjunct professor in ColoradoSPH's Department of Health Systems, Management and Policy. She served as ColoradoSPH's Interim Dean from November 2016 to October 2017. Trained as an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University and board-certified in public health, her research focuses on accelerating the translation of medical innovation and drug warnings into clinical practice. Dr. Morrato’s public health practice has contributed to federal policies to promote the safe and appropriate use of medicines and she regularly advises the FDA on national issues of drug safety and risk management. 

Marcelo Coca Perraillon, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Health, Systems, Management & Policy. His research interest focuses on the intersection of healthcare quality, costs, and outcomes with an emphasis on statistical methods for observational data. His current research relates to the nursing home sector, particularly studying the effects of public reporting of quality on consumer and provider behavior. Other areas of current research involve ageing, measuring nursing costs, and cancer care. Much of his work involves statistical modeling using large data sets and observational data methods. He teaches graduate-level classes on statistical methods for health services research, economic evaluations, and health economics (see links to class notes below).

Before obtaining his doctoral degree at the University of Chicago, he was a researcher at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Dr. Perraillon co-directs the Population Health Share Resources core at the University of Colorado Cancer Center.  He is  also a member at the Center for Health Statistics at the University of Chicago and an editorial board member of Medical Care Research and Review (MCRR). Dr. Perraillon has a secondary appointment in the Department of Economics at the University of Colorado Denver.

[Personal website]  [Google Scholar] [New: Personal site mirror site]

Dr. Angela Sauaia is a professor of public health, medicine, and surgery at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She has an MD degree from the University of S. Paulo, Brazil, and a PhD in Health Services Research from the Colorado School of Public Health, where she's a professor of public health in the department of Health Systems, Management and Policy. 

Dr. Sauaia has more than 20 years of experience in health services and health outcomes research, and is internationally known for her research in post-injury care. She is a co-investigator in the NIH-funded, 20-year Trauma Center Grant, which has changed several aspects of current post-trauma care, especially in the areas of blood transfusions, multiple organ failure and early coagulopathy. Dr. Sauaia is also a co-investigator in the COMBAT (Control Of Major Bleeding in Acute Trauma) study, funded by the Department of Defense and the NIH-supported Colorado TACTIC (Trans-Agency Research Consortium for Trauma-Induced Coagulopathy). 

Dr. Sauaia is a nationally-recognized expert in the area of health equity. She led the federally-funded Tepeyac Project, which successfully diminished disparities in cancer screening among Latinas in Colorado using a church-based navigator program, and the state funded project TEACH (Teaching Equity to Advance Community Health) -- a capacity-building, training program for community-based organizations engaged in reducing health inequities.

Her book "The Quest for Health Equity" bears witness to the health inequities that plague our great nation, and brings hope that change is indeed possible and within reach.

As a Latina immigrant herself, bicultural and multilingual, Dr. Sauaia brings her own personal history to the table and has gained the trust of the local underserved communities, based on a history of respect and candidness. At the same time, she has built a reputation as an evidence-based scientist with a solid publication and grant record. 

Dr. Greg Tung is an assistant professor in the Colorado School of Public Health's Department of Health Systems, Management and Policy. His research interests relate to how scientific evidence is incorporated into policy and program decision making, with a special emphasis on injury prevention. Dr. Tung works on a diverse range of injury topics, including the prevention of youth violence, suicides, poisonings and child abuse. His research interests also include the integration of health services and public health systems, with a focus on non-profit hospital community benefit activities. Dr. Tung is a mixed methods researcher and utilizes both quantitative (e.g. longitudinal, multi-level, and time-to-event analysis) and qualitative (e.g. case studies) methods. He is also faculty in the Program for Injury Prevention, Education and Research (PIPER).

Dr. Battaglia is a clinical teaching associate professor and co-director of the Health Services Research PhD program in the Department of Health Systems, Management & Policy in the Colorado School of Public Health. She currently teaches Clinical Outcomes Assessment and Grant Writing in the Health Services Research PhD program. Dr. Battaglia is a nurse scientist and core investigator at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System and Director of the Denver Research Education and Mentor Program at the Denver site of the Denver-Seattle Center of Innovation (COIN). She has a strong background in health services research, dissemination/implementation of interventions in routine clinical practice and mixed methods analyses. Dr. Battaglia's research is focused on access to care and improving the healthcare delivery system for veterans.

Dr. Levine is a faculty associate at the CU Center for Bioethics and Humanities and a past chair of the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs. He has served as the Denver region's chief medical officer for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. He is actively involved in programs to improve population health through access to services that address social needs.

Sara Miller is the founder and owner of Otowi Group, working with government, private and non-profit organizations in the areas of strategic planning, facilitation, program development, program evaluation and resource development. Sara also currently serves as the Public Health Advisor for the Puerto Rico Public Health Trust and Director of Public Health Advancement for Americas for Conservation + the Arts. 

Prior to this work, she served 10 years as the CEO of Trailhead Institute, one of Colorado’s public health institutes. Sara has held leadership positions in state and local government, non profit, and private organizations.

She has led efforts over her career to plan, enhance, and implement of public health related programmatic and surveillance activities and strategies. Her particular expertise is focused on identification of fiscal and administrative challenges and generating solutions for both community-based organizations and large governmental organizations. She also has extensive knowledge in the development of organizational goals and strategic plans, working with multiple partner organizations, and development of actions to increase and maintain momentum in activities and programs. She has also spearheaded training and capacity building, public and professional education, and the partnership and development of community led projects.

She holds a faculty appointment with the Colorado School of Public Health. She loves being a mom, wife, reader, hiker, kayaker, artist and active community member and citizen.

Office Location

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Building (V20)
First Floor Room 1203

Personal Statement:

My scholarship and teaching is in the field of pharmaceutical outcomes research and in particular cost-effectiveness research application, methods and measurement. I have active funding from federal and non-profit foundations in discovering the value of pharmaceuticals and other medical interventions. One line of research collaboration is with the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review. My peer-reviewed publications are found here As the Graduate Director for the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research PhD track within Pharmaceutical Sciences, I am active in teaching in both the professional PharmD and Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research PhD programs.

Research Interests:

Cost-Effectiveness Research; Pharmacoeconomics; Comparative-Effectiveness Research.

Dr. Levine is a faculty associate at the CU Center for Bioethics and Humanities and a past chair of the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs. He has served as the Denver region's chief medical officer for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. He is actively involved in programs to improve population health through access to services that address social needs.

Shelli Bischoff is the founder and CEO of Nonprofit Impact and Conservation Impact. During her 30-year career in training, technical assistance, and capacity building, she has consulted with more than 1,000 organizations in the U.S., Canada and the Philippines. Her current practice is with public health agencies and organizations at multiple levels. She has worked in more than 15 states on chronic disease integration. Shelli brings the same enthusiasm and passion for her work to make public health organizations more potent and sustainable into the classroom. She is known for her practical, no nonsense approach. Here is what participants at the CDC Tobacco and Diabetes National Learning Institute had to say about Shelli’s training: “Shelli was terrific -- her personality, humor, insights & skills made her session personal, enjoyable, & informative”; “awesome”; “excellent teacher with content that can be applied to practice”; “She brought learning to life. It was fun, engaging and so very informative."

Preferred email: karen@conservationimpact.com

Sara Miller is the founder and owner of Otowi Group, working with government, private and non-profit organizations in the areas of strategic planning, facilitation, program development, program evaluation and resource development. Sara also currently serves as the Public Health Advisor for the Puerto Rico Public Health Trust and Director of Public Health Advancement for Americas for Conservation + the Arts. 

Prior to this work, she served 10 years as the CEO of Trailhead Institute, one of Colorado’s public health institutes. Sara has held leadership positions in state and local government, non profit, and private organizations.

She has led efforts over her career to plan, enhance, and implement of public health related programmatic and surveillance activities and strategies. Her particular expertise is focused on identification of fiscal and administrative challenges and generating solutions for both community-based organizations and large governmental organizations. She also has extensive knowledge in the development of organizational goals and strategic plans, working with multiple partner organizations, and development of actions to increase and maintain momentum in activities and programs. She has also spearheaded training and capacity building, public and professional education, and the partnership and development of community led projects.

She holds a faculty appointment with the Colorado School of Public Health. She loves being a mom, wife, reader, hiker, kayaker, artist and active community member and citizen.

Patrick O'Rourke served as vice president, university counsel and secretary of the CU Board of Regents from 2012-2020, where he was responsible for coordinating the university’s legal affairs and assisting the Board of Regents in its governance role. He has been with the university since 2005 and previously was responsible for overseeing the university’s litigation. O’Rourke teaches as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Colorado School of Law and the Colorado School of Public Health on the Anschutz Medical Campus. He is a frequent lecturer on the subjects of health care law, professional liability, legal ethics, and appellate practice.

O'Rourke was one of three finalists for a vacancy on the Colorado Supreme Court, and has tried some of the University's highest-profile cases. He has represented clients in a broad range of lawsuits, including class actions, employment law, civil rights, professional liability and product liability.

O'Rourke received his undergraduate degree from Creighton University and his law degree from The Georgetown University Law Center. He is active in the community and is a board member of the Denver School of Science and Technology, the Center for Legal Inclusiveness and the Colorado Judicial Institute.

Susan Rifkin teaches Global Health Policy and Health Policy Analysis and Communication. After completing two degrees in Chinese studies in the United States, she went to Britain and taught at the University of Sussex. For the following 10 years she lived in Hong Kong and traveled throughout Asia working with Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), helping them to establish community-based health programs and setting up a NGO network, Asian Community Health Action Network (ACHAN) becoming its first coordinator. She returned to the UK where she taught in Liverpool, London, and Holland and in 1989 went to Germany to help establish a new Masters Programme in Community Health and Health Management in Developing Countries at the University of Heidelberg. Returning to England in 1993 she has continued to teach and carryout research in the field of community participation and health policy. In 1999, she became co-director of the Tropical Institute for Community Health and Development in Kisumu Kenya, helping to establish a Masters Programme for African students.

She has been co-organizer of the study unit on Primary Health Care at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a study unit on Health Policy and Systems at the London School of Economics. She continues as a Senior Research Fellow at the London School of Economics. Dr. Rifkin has been a consultant for the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the European Union and UNICEF.

Her research interests are focused on community participation, empowerment, health policy and Primary Health Care. She has published widely in these fields. Most recently she has been working with the World Health Organization in Sudan teaching research design for the National Human Resources for Health Observatory.