Education

• MS, Health Policy and Management, University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, 2003
• BS, Business Administration, University of Southern Maine, 1979

Experience

Since joining the Maine Rural Health Research Center in 1999, rural health has been a central focus of John’s research. Building on his experience as a senior manager in primary care and behavioral health physician practices and other health care organizations, he has focused on the operation and function of rural delivery and safety net systems of care and the role of key rural providers including Rural Health Clinics, Critical Access Hospitals, and mental health providers in those systems of care. Other key areas of work have included the integration of primary care and behavioral health services, rural residents’ access to systems of care, the organization of mental health and substance abuse delivery systems, the use of health information technology by rural providers, rural substance abuse issues, and state and federal program management and evaluation. John has developed practical products and tools on community benefit, community health needs assessment, performance measurement, and logic modeling for use by rural providers and stakeholders including State Offices of Rural Health and Flex Programs. He is committed to giving back to the field by sharing his expertise and the results of the Flex Monitoring Team’s and Maine Rural Health Research Center’s work through participation on numerous boards, advisory committees, editorial, and expert panels as well as through speaking engagements, presentations, and webinars at national and state rural health meetings.

Research Interests

• Community engagement, community benefit/impact and needs assessments
• Rural Health Clinics
• Integration of behavioral health and primary care
• Rural health delivery systems including primary care, mental health and substance abuse
• Federal and state program management and evaluation

Awards and Honors

• Senior Fellow, Health Research and Education Trust
• Advisory Committee, Association for Community Health Improvement
• President, New England Rural Health Roundtable (2009-11)
• Fellow, Secretary’s Primary Care Policy Fellowship, Dept. of Health and Human Services (2002)
• Frontier and Rural Expert Panel, National Center for Frontier Communities
• National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health Rural Health Clinic Advisory Committee