Center for Health Policy

Ed Baker, PhD – Director of the Center for Health Policy
(208)-426-3118
ebaker@boisestate.edu

Director of the Center for Health Policy and a Professor in the Department of Community and Environmental Health in the College of Health Sciences at Boise State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Temple University in 1994. He has over 20 years of experience in healthcare working with hospitals, physicians, integrated delivery systems, biotech pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions. Dr. Baker’s research interests include healthcare policy, rural workforce planning, healthcare financing, and health system performance improvement. Link to CV.

Tedd McDonald, PhD – Senior Researcher
(208) 426-2425
tmcdonal@boisestate.edu

Senior Researcher at the Center for Health Policy, Director of the Master of Health Science Program and a Professor in the Department of Community and Environmental Health in the College of Health Sciences at Boise State University. He is a community psychologist with interests in studying access to and delivery of health care services, particularly in the context of mental health. He earned his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1998. Most of his research focuses on mental health, substance abuse, and quality of life issues among members of vulnerable populations, including the homeless, refugees from war-torn countries, at-risk youth, Native Americans, senior citizens, and residents of isolated rural communities. Link to CV.

Elizabeth (Lee) Hannah, MPH – Senior Researcher
(208) 426-2508
ElizabethHannah@boisestate.edu

Senior Researcher at the Center for Health Policy, Associate Professor in the Department of Community and Environmental Health in the College of Health Sciences at Boise State University. She earned a Master’s degree in Program Development and Evaluation from the University of Florida in 1991, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Florida in 1993, and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Kansas Medical Center in 1997. Dr. Hannah spent over 5 years as a Commissioned Office in the U.S. Public Health Service and graduated from the Epidemic Intelligence Service program, a hands-on epidemiology training program sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Hannah’s research interests include chronic disease prevention, antimicrobial resistance, public health promotion, and drug and alcohol prevention. 

Dave Schmitz, MD – Affiliate Faculty
(208)-514-2500 Ext. 5167
dave.schmitz@fmridaho.org

Affiliate Faculty at the Center for Health Policy and Associate Director of Rural Family Medicine at the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho. Graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo, Dr. Schmitz completed his residency at Family Medicine Residency of Idaho in 1999. After six years practicing as a rural family physician, he returned to join the Residency as faculty in 2005. While practicing in northern Idaho, he served as chief of staff of Benewah Community Hospital as well as co-founder and medical director of the St. Maries Volunteer Community Clinic. Dr. Schmitz is a current board member of both the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians and the Idaho Medical Association.

Tim Dunnagan, PhD - Dean College of Health Sciences
(208)-426-4116
timdunnagan@boisestate.edu

Dean of the College of Health Sciences at Boise State University, responsible for the leadership and management of the College of Health Sciences, which is dedicated to providing health care professionals with an education that emphasizes state of the art practice, critical thinking skills, health advocacy and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. He earned his Ed.D. in Health Promotion and Human Behavior from the University of Kentucky in1994. Dr. Dunnagan’s research interests include Native American health, diabetes prevention, genetic testing, behavioral health, employee wellness programs, healthcare profession education and health promotion. He is also involved in program evaluation of health interventions. Link to full bio.