CHS REACHED Leadership

Dr. Emre Umucu is the Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship at the College of Health Sciences and director of CHS REACHED. interdisciplinary research aims to improve health, rehabilitation, community participation, and well-being outcomes for individuals and veterans with chronic conditions, especially those who are underserved and underrepresented including Veteran community. He collaborates with local, federal, national, and international agencies and centers to create innovative solutions to complex health and community concerns. He also aims to contribute to creating positive and autonomously supportive health and higher education institutions. Dr. Umucu and his colleagues’ research has been funded by federal agencies (e.g., NIH, NIA, DHHS, VA, SAMHSA, HRSA, DOE).

Dr. João Ferreira–Pinto is Assistant Dean for Interdisciplinary Research and Evaluation at the College of Health Sciences. Dr. Ferreira-Pinto's research interests center on HIV/AIDS/STD prevention and treatment, community and organizational development, and qualitative evaluation methodologies. Most of his work is based on fostering the collaboration between academics and community-based organizations to improve community-based participatory research. Paulo Freire’s and other critical thinkers’ methodologies and pedagogies have influenced his research and teaching approaches.