University of New England

Staff

The professional staff and consultants at CHPPR are our most important resource. CHPPR maintains a quality core team of professionals with a broad range of experience in program and policy analysis, research, and healthcare services consulting. Our complement of professionals includes leading health and medical specialists with expertise in epidemiology, disease surveillance, applied information technology, strategic and health services planning, toxicology, biostatistics, medicine, and program evaluation.

Staff Biosketches

Ronald D. Deprez, Ph.D., M.P.H. - Executive Director
Gary Cattabriga - Director of Technology Consulting
Sue Stableford, M.P.H., M.S.B. - Director, Health Literacy Institute
Nancy Brossoie, Ph.D. - Senior Research Associate
Amy Kinner, M.S. - Research Associate
Dorothy Radziszewski - Data Analyst
Lauren Colodny - Development Specialist
Jia-Ling Loo - Fellow

Consultants

Ron Breazeale, Ph.D. - Consulting Psychologist

Amy Flowers, Ph.D. - Research Manager for Market Decisions

John Gale, M.A. - Behavioral Health Consultant

Richard Lumb, Ph.D., M.S. - Public Safety and Corrections Consultant

Jason Maurice, Ph.D. - Research Analyst for Market Decisions

Peter McKenney - Finance Consultant

C. Irving Meeker, M.D. - OB/GYN Consultant

Linda M. Niccolai, Ph.D. - Epidemiology Consultant

L. Christine Oliver, M.D., M.S. - Respiratory Medicine Consultant

Brian Robertson, Ph.D. - Director of Research for Market Decisions

James S. Smith, Jr., Ph.D. - Toxicology Consultant

William B. Stason, M.D., M.S. - Senior Clinical Consultant

Richard K. Thomas, Ph.D. - Planning Consultant

Gail Tudor, Ph.D., M.S. - Biostatistician Consultant

Ronald D. Deprez, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Executive Director
As Executive Director of The Center for Health Policy, Planning & Research (CHPPR), Dr. Deprez provides consultation on the development and application of health information tools for health services planning, disease surveillance, health information systems, and health care reimbursement, on a scale encompassing rural hospitals, urban American regions, and developing nations. He is the primary developer of the population based health planning tools used by CHPPR including those designed for strategic planning, heart health, reproductive health, child and adolescent health and behavioral health. The Center has extensive experience in health planning ranging from estimating health service needs to redesigning local health care delivery systems.

Dr. Deprez is an expert in chronic and infectious disease delivery systems-ranging from screening, detection, education, treatment and follow-up care for persons with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, selected cancers, asthma,  COPD,  malaria and water borne diseases. Dr. Deprez holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Rutgers University and an MPH in Epidemiology from Harvard University. He also holds a certificate in survey research methods from the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Phone: 207-221-4560
Email: rdeprez@une.edu

Gary Cattabriga
Director of Technology Consulting
Mr. Cattabriga has over 20 years experience in applying technology to business success. His expertise in Project Management, Application Development and Informatics has delivered solutions ranging from a Medical Claims Data Warehouse, Client/Server Claims Analysis application, to automated process control equipment.

Gary received his B.S. in Physics from Cornell University. His positions have included: Software and Hardware Engineer for several engineering firms, President and Consultant of his own technology consulting company, Director of IT for Fresh Samantha, a leading juice manufacturer, and VP of Technology for ecuCare International, a Healthcare Informatics company. He has personally designed and built database applications, complex process control computer equipment, and data extraction & transformation tools. He has experience in many programming languages, databases and hardware platforms.

Phone: 207-221-4562
Email: gcattabriga@une.edu

Sue Stableford, M.P.H., M.S.B.
Director, Health Literacy Institue
Sue Stableford, M.P.H., M.S.B., is the co-founder and Director of the Health Literacy Institute, Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research. She has provided plain language training, consulting, and materials development services for 18 years and is nationally known as an expert in the field. Sue is the plain language trainer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Massachusetts General Hospital, and other public health and medical care organizations. She and her colleagues in the Clear Language Group present at national forums, participate in research and advocacy efforts, teach in health professions education programs, and publish in peer reviewed journals. Sue has been selected each year since 2003 as a Pfizer-sponsored Health Literacy Visiting Professor. She has an undergraduate degree in political science from Oberlin College and masters degrees in public health and business.

Phone: 207-221-4567
Email: sstableford@une.edu

Nancy Brossoie, Ph.D.
Senior Research Associate
Nancy Brossoie is a Senior Research Associate at the Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research (CHPPR) at the University of New England with a focus on health service planning, survey research, and evaluation research, with a focus on the needs of the older adult population. Ms. Brossoie brings to the position 20 years experience in the delivery and evaluation of community-based programs in behavioral health and home and community-based services for state and non-profit agencies. Her research interests include developing/evaluating community capacity, studying quality improvement activities within organizations, and developing consumer satisfaction measures.

Ms. Brossoie’s background is informed by a strong background in gerontology. In 2005, she was named an AARP National Scholar for her research interests in how community members and community programming contribute to of quality of life and facilitate home and community-based living. She is concluding her doctoral education in the field of human development through Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where she most recently served as adjunct faculty and Research Associate/Project Coordinator for the Center for Gerontology.

Phone: 207-221-4566
Email: nbrossoie@une.edu

Amy Kinner, M.S.
Research Associate
Amy Kinner is a Research Associate at CHPPR with a focus on epidemiology, survey research, evaluation research and consulting. Amy has extensive experience in analyzing and evaluating public health programs. She has experience developing and coordinating technical analyses, managing and analyzing health data, and communicating the results of technical analyses to a wide variety of audiences. Amy also is proficient with Geographic Information System (GIS) software ArcGIS 9.x by ESRI. Her past employment includes appointments with the US EPA’s Aging Initiative and with EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. Amy holds a MS in Health, Environment, and Development from the University of California at Berkeley School of Public Health, where she received extensive training in epidemiology, statistics, economics, and risk assessment. She also holds a BA in Chemistry from Middlebury College in Vermont.

Phone: 207-221-4565
Email: akinner@une.edu

Dorothy Radziszewski
Data Analyst
Ms. Radziszewski provides data management expertise for CHPPR's technical projects. She has previous work experience at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield as well as ecuCare International. In addition, as a former acute care staff nurse, she is able to synthesize the latest technical capabilities with the diverse data needs of the healthcare marketplace. One of Ms. Radziszewski's projects at PHRG is the serving as a Subject Matter Expert in developing an Oracle data warehouse to store national and state statistical data. Her technical software knowledge includes InfoReports, Visual Basic, Crystal Reports, Track Record, Test Bytes, SQA Suite, SQL Plus, and Business Objects.

Lauren Colodny
Development Specialist
Lauren Colodny is the Development Specialist at CHPPR. Her main role in this position is the identification, development and submission of proposals to fund CHPPR projects.  She assembles and coordinates the work of the proposal development teams to ensure that proposals developed meet the content, budget and submission requirements of the request for proposals.  She assists CHPPR staff in project proposal writing/review and is responsible for marketing the Centers expertise. Lauren holds a B.A. in Economics from Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania.

Phone: 207-221-4564
Email: lcolodny@une.edu

Jia-Ling Loo
Fellow
Jia-Ling Loo is a Research Fellow at CHPPR. Her primary duties include assisting the Center's Executive Director and other professional staff in researching and preparing (write, design, draft, edit, etc.) documents related to project proposals, data analysis, and reporting. She is also involved in the Center's strategic planning and grant development activities and assists by compiling background information, conducting basic data analysis, writing document drafts and outlines, and generating ideas for future project development. Jia-ling holds a BA in Anthropology from Colby College.

Phone: 207-221-4560
Email: jloo@une.edu

Consultants

Ron Breazeale, Ph.D.
Consulting Psychologist
Dr. Breazeale is a consulting psychologist with CHPPR and works on developing and evaluating behavioral health services projects, especially those that focus on expanding access to mental health and substance abuse services. Past experience includes developing behavioral health services networks, education and training programs and behavioral health services planning. He has developed and implemented a peer life skill-coaching program that can be delivered face-to-face as well as through tele-courses and the Internet.  His specialty is programs that focus on the needs of individuals with a chronic illness or disability.  Dr. Breazeale’s multi-disciplinary research work involves evaluation of behavioral health care demonstrations. He received a BS and Ph.D. degrees in Psychology from the University of Tennessee and completed an internship program at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Memphis.

Amy Flowers, Ph.D.
Research Manager for Market Decisions
Ms Flowers works directly with clients to design research studies, coordinate data collection, supervise analysis and report results. Amy has over 15 years of research experience in both academia and for commercial research firms. As an assistant professor, she has taught courses in research methods and statistics at California State Polytechnic University. Amy holds a Ph.D. and Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Southern California and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of California, Berkley.

John Gale, M.A.
Behavioral Health Consultant
Mr. Gale work focuses on the development, delivery, and integration of primary care, mental health and substance abuse treatment services; financing and access issues; community development initiatives; rural safety net services; state health policy issues and, the development and maintenance of the health care infrastructure in rural communities. He is currently on the staff of the Muskie School of Public Health Policy.  Mr. Gale has managed the delivery of a full continuum of inpatient, outpatient, and step-down mental health and substance abuse services. He also managed the delivery of primary care services in two psychiatric hospitals, the physician services in an in-patient substance abuse and eating disorders facility, and various hospital-based ambulatory practices.

Richard Lumb, Ph.D., M.S.
Public Safety and Corrections Consultant
Mr. Lumb received his doctorate from Florida State University and his Master and Bachelor degrees from the University of Southern Maine.  Lumb’s academic career includes Chair of two criminal justice academic departments and Director of the Institute for Leadership Development at the State University of New York at Brockport.  He also completed twenty-eight years in policing serving as chief of police in two cities.  Lumb was the Director of the Research, Planning, and Analysis Bureau at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for five years and developed an internationally recognized crime and problem-solving analysis program that included spatial and temporal GIS mapping. Lumb currently provides research, program planning and evaluation, and training development services to the Maine Department of Corrections and quality control and outcomes evaluation to a project between the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Southern Maine Community College.

Jason Maurice, Ph.D.
Research Analyst for Market Decisions
Dr. Maurice serves as a Research Analyst for Market Decisions and performs statistical analyses including modeling techniques such as regression. Additionally, he is involved in the interpretation and reporting of analyses, preparation of cross tabs, report charts, SPSS and SUDAAN programming, data editing and coding. Dr. Maurice has many years of experience in survey research regarding health and public policy related issues. Prior to joining Market Decisions, he served as Research Consultant at the Social Perceptions Lab at Brandeis University, as Research Associate at the Heller School for Social Welfare at Brandeis University and as Research Assistant at the University of Southern Maine. Dr. Maurice has extensive teaching experience, teaching research methods for health professionals at George Washington University, research methods and statistics at Brandeis University and Introductory Psychology and Social Psychology at Brandeis. Dr. Maurice holds a Ph.D. in Social/Developmental Psychology from Brandeis University, Master of Arts in Psychology from Brandeis University and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Southern Maine.

Peter McKenney
Finance Consultant
Peter C. McKenney, B.S.M.E., M.B.A., C.P.A., J.D., L.L.M.(taxation), is a consultant with CHPPR's partner firm Stroudwater Associates.  Peter has 22 years of experience in the health care field. He has worked with physician multi-specialty groups and hospital systems on business planning and improving delivery systems. For 17 years, he was a partner with KPMG Peat Marwick, providing services to health care providers. He also served as the executive director of a 50-member radiology practice and assisted in forming a multi-specialty practice.

C. Irving Meeker, M.D.
OB/GYN Consultant
C. Irving Meeker, M.D. is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mercy Hospital and former Quality Assurance Officer at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. Dr. Meeker received his medical degree at Cornell University College of Medicine in New York City. He had his residency training at the University of Vermont in Burlington and at the Boston Lying In Hospital in Boston. Following a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at McGill University he was on the faculty of the University of Vermont until he came to Maine.

Linda M. Niccolai, Ph.D.
Epidemiology Consultant
As a Research Associate for Public Health Resource Group, Inc. and Public Health Research Institute, Dr. Niccolai conducted analysis and interpretation of quantitative data used to describe and understand health status characteristics and the health care delivery system. She has worked on projects ranging from general community health needs assessments to the evaluation of physician practice guidelines in obstetrics and to the development of an asthma surveillance system for the state of Maine. Dr. Niccolai holds a Masters of Science in Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health and a Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology from Tulane University. She currently teaches at Yale University and  has taught graduate classes in survey research and data analysis.

L. Christine Oliver, M.D., M.S.
Respiratory Medicine Consultant
L. Christine Oliver, M.D., M.S. is President of Occupational Health Initiatives, Inc. and its sister organization Occupational Health Institute. She is an Associate Physician in the Department of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit) at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Board certified in Internal Medicine and in Occupational Medicine, Dr. Oliver's primary specialty is Occupational and Environmental Medicine. For the past decade an important focus of her research has been health and safety hazards for construction workers in heavy and highway construction. As part of this research, she and colleagues developed a relational database for medical surveillance of these workers that included both primary health survey data and secondary insurance claims data.

Brian Robertson, Ph.D.
Director of Research for Market Decisions
Dr. Robertson has hands on experience managing survey research centers, designing surveys, conducting statistical analyses and reporting the results. Brian was employed at the University of Utah Survey Research Center for ten years, initially as an analyst and programmer then as a project manager and survey analyst. His private research experience includes five years as Vice president and Director of Research at Utah's largest research company, Valley Research. Brian has helped design and managed over 200 studies during the past five years, including large-scale mail and telephone surveys. In addition, Brian has provided consulting services to private businesses and government agencies on a variety of topics including program evaluation, economic forecasting, research methodology, and market assessment. His areas of expertise include overall research design, survey design, sampling methodology, survey project management, statistical analysis of data, preparation of reports based on collected data, and development of policy goals and objectives.
Brian has a Ph.D. in Anthropology and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Utah. He is member of the Market Research Association (MRA), and the Association American Public Opinion Research (APPOR).

James S. Smith, Jr., Ph.D.
Toxicology Consultant
James S. Smith, Jr., Ph.D., President & Toxicologist of Oak Creek, Inc. Toxicology and Risk Assessment Consulting has 13 years of professional experience as a toxicologist and risk assessor. He also has 5 years within the Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and 8 years consulting in the environmental sciences. Special areas of expertise in risk assessment include the derivation and use of chemical-specific information on bioavailability, endocrine disruption, toxic equivalency factors for dioxins and related compounds, and the estimated order of potency approach for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Dr. Smith holds a Ph.D. in Toxicology from University of Cincinnati, Medical College, in Cincinnati, Ohio and a BS in Biological Sciences from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

William B. Stason, M.D., M.S.
Senior Clinical Consultant
William Stason, M.D., M.S. is a Senior Scientist at Brandeis University and Instructor at the Harvard School of Public Health.  He is also a regular consultant on clinical issues for the Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research (CHPPR) at UNE. He is an expert in outcomes research in health care, technology assessment, and the application of cost-effectiveness analysis to medical practices and technologies.  With his extensive medical and research experience, Dr. Stason is an invaluable resource for our team.

Richard K. Thomas, Ph.D.
Planning Consultant
Dr. Thomas is an expert in health service planning. He has spent the majority of his 30-year career developing local health service plans for communities throughout the US, including the preparation of regional health service inventories, creation of planning documents and coordination of regional planning councils. Dr. Thomas has carried out planning studies and developed strategic and business plans for hospitals, clinics and physician groups throughout the Southeast. Dr. Thomas has a master’s degree in sociology and in geography/city planning from the University of Memphis. He also holds a Doctorate in Medical Sociology from Vanderbilt University.

Gail Tudor, Ph.D., M.S.
Biostatistician Consultant
Gail Tudor, Ph.D., is a consultant biostatistician to CHPPR. She is currently a Associate Professor at Husson College School of Science and Humanities. Previously she was clinical Assistant Professor in Biostatistics at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Tudor holds a Ph.D. in Biostatistics from the University of North Carolina, and a MS in Biostatistics from the University of Minnesota.