I first presented at American Public Health Association Annual Meetings 24 years ago, and have served 35 years as a health researcher and educator, offering my experience as the Research and Dissemination Activities Director at the Center for Public Health and Community Genomics since 2001. Located at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, the Center promotes the integration of genomic discoveries into public health practice utilizing community input, with the goals of improving health and reducing or eliminating health conditions and disparities. This work has steeped me in the conduct and public/professional translation of community dialogues, research support for school genetics (e.g., diabetes, substance use disorder) educational projects, and public health genomics technical work with medical and public health colleagues. A composite snapshot of a typical workday for me is: start the day with sending and responding to e-mails, then digging into technical aspects of the project at hand or preparing a piece of writing or presentation (Morning), followed by overseeing research assistant work, teaching a course, accomplishing dangling tasks, and setting up any remaining “home work” and details for the next day (Afternoon). The Health Management and Policy course I co-taught for more than 15 years enabled students to look closely at genetics issues and convert them to policy at various levels; I continue to serve as a guest lecturer in Epidemiology. Aside from my writing activities which I really enjoy, I am becoming increasingly involved in public service, e.g., Chair of the American Public Health Association Action Board and an active executive member of other APHA units, collaborative activities in a local climate action circle, and involvement with Rotary (community service and delivering talks).
I have served as chief data analyst for numerous National Human Genome Research Institute- and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded projects, among them “Health in Our Hands: A New Genomic Framework for Schools and Communities” employing the Next Generation Science Standards to teach diabetes and substance use prevention; the 5-state “Midwest Community Genomics Forums”; and the “Communities of Color and Genetics Policy” Project. This work entails quantitative and qualitative analysis for community-based participatory research and educational research in the area of genetics and genomics with an emphasis on hereditary chronic disease. My focus has always been on the community and population levels, though technical work has also involved the detailed cataloguing of disease-associated genetic variants. I enjoy publishing in peer-reviewed genetics, health policy, and public health journals, and have 11 book chapters and a monograph to my name. Currently I am serving as Guest Editor for the peer-reviewed journal Healthcare Special Issue “Policy Interventions to Promote Health and Prevent Disease.” Community-wise I have kept busy delivering talks on the diabetes and substance use prevention project to Rotary and high school audiences, and on environmentally friendly investing to congregants from a variety of churches as a member of the Dayenu Climate Action Circle of Ann Arbor. Hobbies include book reading groups with a focus on literature and philosophy, workouts at LA Fitness, hiking and water sports. I live with my wife Wanpen Modell in Ann Arbor, MI; my daughter Marrisa resides in nearby Van Buren Township.