Betty Bekemeier, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN

Betty Bekemeier is associate professor at the University of Washington (UW) School of Nursing and Director of the UW School of Public Health’s Northwest Center for Public Health Practice. She is a distinguished public health systems researcher and has worked extensively toward improving the effectiveness of our prevention systems and related workforce. She has led numerous studies regarding local health department (LHD) services and their impact on health outcomes and health disparities. Dr. Bekemeier is PI of the Public Health Activities and Services Tracking (PHAST) Study, initiated through the RWJF Nurse Faculty Scholars Program. PHAST is now a highly regarded, growing database of uniquely detailed and linked data regarding LHD services, has supported several important studies, and involves an interdisciplinary team of researchers. Dr. Bekemeier’s studies on change, variation, and outcomes regarding public health systems have been conducted in partnership with public health practice leaders and have been immediately relevant to addressing current policy issues. Her recent study on relationships between LHD expenditures and local rates of low birth weight was awarded AcademyHealth’s 2014 Public Health System Research Article of the Year. Dr. Bekemeier is a national public health nursing leader, having served in significant leadership positions in organizations that include the American Public Health Association and the American Academy of Nursing.

Areas of Expertise: Public health systems and services research, practice-based research, public health workforce development