The Faculty Instructional Coaches program facilitates confidential, peer-to-peer conversations about teaching through affinity groups and individual discussions. For new and experienced teachers alike, evidence suggests that talking with a colleague can bring in new ideas and perspectives, and build a culture of educational excellence.
Each cohort includes faculty members with a range of disciplinary backgrounds and teaching experiences, such as teaching with cases, promoting classroom inclusion and equity, managing large courses and course teams, and online instruction.
Coaches for the ’24–25 academic year
Heather Baer, ScD
Assistant Professor, Epidemiology; MPH in Epidemiology Faculty Director
Heather Baer’s research focuses on the role of lifestyle factors in the etiology and prevention of chronic disease. She has conducted studies to examine how factors such as obesity, diet, and physical activity affect risk of breast and ovarian cancer and overall mortality in women. Her most recent work also examines strategies for improving management of overweight and obesity in the primary care setting.
Notable courses: Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology (EPI 208); Analytic Methods for Epidemiology (EPI 522); Practice and Culminating Experience for the MPH in Epidemiology (EPI 945)
Garrett Fitzmaurice, ScD
Professor, Biostatistics
Garrett Fitzmaurice’s main research and teaching interests are in methods for analyzing longitudinal and repeated measures data. A major focus of his methodological research has been on the development of statistical methods for analyzing repeated binary data and for handling the problems of attrition and missing data in longitudinal studies. Much of his collaborative research has concentrated on applications to mental health research, broadly defined.
Notable courses: Has taught biostatistics at the Harvard Chan School for over 20 years. In the past decade, his teaching has focused on the following courses: Applied Longitudinal Analysis (BST 226; enrollment ~140 students); Linear and Longitudinal Regression (BST 215; enrollment ~50 students in residential version; created and has since taught online version for blended MPH in Epidemiology with enrollment ~40 students)
Maggie McConnell, PhD
Associate Professor of Global Health Economics, Global Health and Population
Maggie McConnell’s research combines behavioral economics with field and laboratory experiments to better understand and evaluate policies designed to change behaviors of patients and providers, with a specific focus on maternal and child health. Her research involves field trials in Africa and Latin America related to incentives and behavior change.
Notable courses: Introduction to Economics with Applications to Health and Development (GHP 230); Behavioral Economics and Global Health (GHP 237); Economics of Global Health (EC 1389)
Murray Mittleman, MD, DrPH
Professor, Epidemiology; Program Director of the MPH Degree; Field of Study Leader, Quantitative Methods
Murray Mittleman’s research focuses on methodology for highly stratified study designs with application to a wide range of outcomes. His research group has a particular emphasis on primary and secondary prevention of acute cardiovascular events.
Notable courses: Has been teaching epidemiologic methods core courses at the Harvard Chan School since 1994. His current teaching includes: Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods I (EPI 201; enrollment: ~190); Epidemiologic Methods 2: Elements of Epidemiologic Research (EPI 202; enrollment: ~150); Epidemiologic Methods Development – Past and Present (EPI 247; enrollment: ~20).
Advisors
Erin Driver-Linn
Dean for Education
Nancy Turnbull
Senior Lecturer on Health Policy, Health Policy and Management; Senior Associate Dean of Educational Programs