Community & Behavioral Health News
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COBH Doctoral Students Present Research at Tennessee Public Health Association Conference
Esther Osime, a third-year DrPH student, and Marie Stahmer, a first-year DrPH student, presented research conducted through Dr. Jodi Southerland's Aging Research Lab at the Tennessee Public Health Association Annual Conference in September 2026.
Esther presented Reaching Caregivers and Communities Where They Are, highlighting Tennessee's Dementia Navigator Program, and Strengthening Social Connection and Healthy Aging, exploring community strategies to reduce social isolation.
Marie presented Aging in Alignment, examining how Tennessee's local health department action plans align with statewide health priorities to support healthy aging.
Their presentations highlight the contributions of doctoral students to applied public health research across Tennessee.
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ETSU MPH Student Publishes Two Books to Support Older Adults and Family Caregivers
ETSU Master of Public Health student Keita Cole has turned her passion for helping older adults and caregivers into two newly published books, NOW WHAT? and The Now What? Care Companion. Drawing on years of experience in aging services, Keita wrote these books to offer practical guidance and encouragement to families navigating a dementia diagnosis.
In September, she also presented The Hidden Impact of Ageism on Healthy Aging at the Tennessee Federation for the Aging Conference in Gatlinburg.
Through her business, Aging Rewired, Keita is working to change how we view aging!
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New Faculty Join the Department
The Department of Community and Behavioral Health welcomes Dr. Chris Honeycutt and Dr. Harrison Ihrig as Clinical Instructors. Both are graduates of ETSU’s Doctor of Public Health program and will contribute to the department’s teaching and community-engaged work. Honeycutt and Ihrig will teach undergraduate and master’s-level courses and support Project EARTH/Niswonger VILLAGE at the ETSU Eastman Valleybrook Campus, contributing to the department’s ongoing efforts to connect public health education with community-based practice and experiential learning.
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O’Connell Honored for Research
Dr. Beth O’Connell received the Faculty Research Award at the 2026 College of Public Health Annual Picnic. O’Connell’s research focuses on public health interventions in low-resource communities, with an emphasis on drinking water quality. She currently serves as principal investigator of ETSU’s subaward on a $3.7 million NIH-funded study led by Virginia Tech. The Rural Water Filtration and Health (RWELL) Trial is examining whether household water filtration can improve water quality and reduce water-related illnesses among families relying on private wells and springs in rural Appalachia. She also evaluates programs with the Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development Council, the Coalition for Home Repair and Tennessee Department of Health.
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Foster Honored for Teaching
Allison Foster received the Adjunct Faculty Award at the 2026 College of Public Health Annual Picnic. Foster serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, contributing to the department’s teaching and student learning. She is also pursuing her Doctor of Public Health degree in Epidemiology at ETSU, further connecting her work as an educator with her continued training in public health research and practice.
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Southerland Recognized with Three Awards
Dr. Jodi L. Southerland received three awards in August/September 2026 recognizing her service, scholarship, and public impact: the ETSU College of Public Health Service Award, Tennessee Public Health Association Academician of the Year Award, and ETSU Public Impact and Engagement Award. Southerland’s work focuses on healthy aging, caregiving, and strengthening communities for older adults. She credits nearly 20 years of caring for her grandparents with profoundly shaping her work and commitment to older adults and caregivers.
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Southerland Featured on WJHL Daytime Tri-Cities
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Dr. Jodi L. Southerland joined WJHL’s Daytime Tri-Cities on September 15 to discuss the statewide expansion of the Century Club of Tennessee, an initiative she founded to recognize and celebrate Tennesseans age 100 and older. Southerland shared more about the program’s growth across Tennessee and its efforts to honor centenarians and preserve and share their stories. To learn more click here.