Leadership
James E. Bailey, MD, MPH, FACP
Executive Director
Executive Director
Jim Bailey is Executive Director of the Tennessee Population Health Consortium. He
also serves as the Robert S. Pearce Endowed Chair in Internal Medicine, Professor
of Medicine and Preventive Medicine, and Director for the Center for Health System
Improvement. Dr. Bailey continues to practice general internal medicine as a primary
care physician for adults with complex chronic illness and teaches doctors-in-training.
He is principal investigator (PI) for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
(PCORI)-funded study, Management of Diabetes in Everyday Life (MODEL), which recently
demonstrated the effectiveness of low-cost motivational text messaging and health
coaching to improve healthy eating and other essential diabetes self-care decisions
in low-income people with uncontrolled diabetes. He was PI for the Center for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS)-funded SafeMed study that demonstrated how hospitals can
drastically reduce hospital re-admissions and overall costs through better outpatient
care. Dr. Bailey has served as PI for over 10 major grants and health systems improvement
research initiatives and has over 75 journal articles, book chapters, and publications.
His research appears in many peer-reviewed medical journals, including JAMA, Journal of General Internal Medicine, and Annals of Internal Medicine. His novel, The End of Healing: A Journey Through the Underworld of American Medicine, received a Benjamin Franklin Book Award for popular fiction. Dr. Bailey’s work focuses
on patient-centered approaches to improve quality of care and health outcomes for
people living in medically underserved areas with multiple chronic conditions. He
enjoys leading multidisciplinary teams to address systemic challenges using innovative
approaches to meet the triple aim and simultaneously improve patient experience, maximize
population health, and reduce healthcare costs.
Email: jeb@uthsc.edu
Phone: 901.448.2475
Deputy Executive Director
Annie Ninan is Deputy Executive Director of the Tennessee Population Health Consortium.
She brings diverse managerial and clinical experience to the Consortium team. She
is a board-certified family nurse practitioner, and in that role saw patients in the
primary care setting prior to moving into the operations and informatics arena of
healthcare. At HCA Healthcare she managed and led the clinical informatics team, and
was responsible for the rollout and implementation of several programs and products
in the ambulatory settings across the HCA enterprise. As Director of Strategic Operations
she implemented Annual Wellness and Episodes of Care programs throughout the LifePoint
Health organization’s network of rural hospitals and practices. She brings vast knowledge
and experience from her work to drive, roll out, and implement several programs including
Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH), Episodes of Care program and Center for Medicare
Services (CMS) quality initiatives such as MACRA/MIPS/CCM/CPC+ and value-based programs.
Email: aninan@uthsc.edu
Phone: 615.828.8985
Umar Y. Kabir, DVM, MPH, PhD
Director of Operations
Umar Kabir serves as Director of Operations for the Tennessee Population Health Consortium as well as Research Leader at the Center for Health System Improvement at UTHSC College of Medicine. With a PhD in Health Systems Management at the University of Memphis School of Public Health, he brings a wealth of research experience in various areas including process improvement, health information technology (HIT), health systems strengthening, and healthcare disparities in low-resource communities and among vulnerable populations. Dr. Kabir earned his Master of Public Health from Western Kentucky University in 2016 and holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ahmadu Bello University (2011). He is a published author in several peer-reviewed journals and is a seasoned presenter at both national and international conferences. As an educator Dr. Kabir has taught at the University of Memphis and the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism in Abuja, FTC. He also completed a fellowship in Process Improvement at Qsource. Dr. Kabir’s professional experience includes working as an epidemiologist fellow for the Shelby County government, where he managed the Department of Health’s COVID-19 Cluster Investigation Unit and Special Investigations Teams. Early in his career, he was a clinician at the State House Veterinary Clinic in Abuja.
Email: ukabir@uthsc.edu
Director of Operations
Umar Kabir serves as Director of Operations for the Tennessee Population Health Consortium as well as Research Leader at the Center for Health System Improvement at UTHSC College of Medicine. With a PhD in Health Systems Management at the University of Memphis School of Public Health, he brings a wealth of research experience in various areas including process improvement, health information technology (HIT), health systems strengthening, and healthcare disparities in low-resource communities and among vulnerable populations. Dr. Kabir earned his Master of Public Health from Western Kentucky University in 2016 and holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ahmadu Bello University (2011). He is a published author in several peer-reviewed journals and is a seasoned presenter at both national and international conferences. As an educator Dr. Kabir has taught at the University of Memphis and the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism in Abuja, FTC. He also completed a fellowship in Process Improvement at Qsource. Dr. Kabir’s professional experience includes working as an epidemiologist fellow for the Shelby County government, where he managed the Department of Health’s COVID-19 Cluster Investigation Unit and Special Investigations Teams. Early in his career, he was a clinician at the State House Veterinary Clinic in Abuja.
Email: ukabir@uthsc.edu
Phone: 901.448.2453
Satya Surbhi, PhD
Director of Measurement and Reporting
Satya Surbhi, an Assistant Professor in the Center for Health System Improvement, College of Medicine, UTHSC, serves as Director of Measurement and Reporting for the Tennessee Population Health Consortium. Dr. Surbhi obtained her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in India, completed her Master's in Pharmacy Administration from St. John’s University, and obtained her PhD in Health Outcomes and Policy Research from UTHSC. Her current work focuses on medication adherence, social determinants of health, care transitions, quality improvement, and comparative effectiveness of therapies, among vulnerable patients with multiple chronic conditions. She has experience in conducting health services research among medically underserved populations using administrative claims data and electronic medical records, as well as in conducting pragmatic randomized controlled trials. Currently, she is the principal investigator of a study funded through the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). The major goal of this project is to test the effectiveness of a pharmacy-led care transitions intervention to provide free medications, convenient medication delivery, and care coordination in improving adherence and reducing hospitalizations, emergency department use, and costs. She is also the principal investigator on the CDC 1815 project in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Health, which focuses on CDC strategies to improve prevention and management of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke in Tennessee. Additionally, she is the Co-Investigator on quality improvement projects funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and by UnitedHealthcare.
Email: ssurbhi@uthsc.edu
Phone: 901.448.4166
Curriculum Vitae
Director of Measurement and Reporting
Satya Surbhi, an Assistant Professor in the Center for Health System Improvement, College of Medicine, UTHSC, serves as Director of Measurement and Reporting for the Tennessee Population Health Consortium. Dr. Surbhi obtained her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in India, completed her Master's in Pharmacy Administration from St. John’s University, and obtained her PhD in Health Outcomes and Policy Research from UTHSC. Her current work focuses on medication adherence, social determinants of health, care transitions, quality improvement, and comparative effectiveness of therapies, among vulnerable patients with multiple chronic conditions. She has experience in conducting health services research among medically underserved populations using administrative claims data and electronic medical records, as well as in conducting pragmatic randomized controlled trials. Currently, she is the principal investigator of a study funded through the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). The major goal of this project is to test the effectiveness of a pharmacy-led care transitions intervention to provide free medications, convenient medication delivery, and care coordination in improving adherence and reducing hospitalizations, emergency department use, and costs. She is also the principal investigator on the CDC 1815 project in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Health, which focuses on CDC strategies to improve prevention and management of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke in Tennessee. Additionally, she is the Co-Investigator on quality improvement projects funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and by UnitedHealthcare.
Email: ssurbhi@uthsc.edu
Phone: 901.448.4166
Curriculum Vitae
Director of Population Health Research Education
Asos Mahmood is an Assistant Professor in the Center for Health System Improvement
at the UTHSC’s College of Medicine and serves as Director of Population Health Research
Education for the Tennessee Population Health Consortium. Dr. Mahmood received his
Ph.D. in Health Systems Management and Policy from the University of Memphis School
of Public Health and received his Master of Public Health from the same school. He
also earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree from the
University of Sulaimani School of Medicine. Dr. Mahmood’s research is focused on the
biopsychosocial determinants of health, chronic medical conditions, health care disparities,
and health services access and utilization among aging, low-income, and underserved
populations. He is also interested in research assessing and evaluating the role of
evidence-based interventions and health policies in prevention and improving health
outcomes for patients with chronic medical conditions. His other research interests
include examining impacts of health informatics and patient-empowering tools, such
as mobile health (mHealth) apps, in enhancing the quality of life and quality of delivered
care. Dr. Mahmood has presented his research at various scientific conferences and
has successfully published in many peer-reviewed prestigious national and international
journals including the European Heart Journal, Health Services Research, Cancer Causes
& Control, and Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Email: amahmoo5@uthsc.edu
Phone: 901.608.9149
Director of Patient Engagement
Susan Butterworth serves as an Associate Professor in the Center for Health System
Improvement, College of Medicine, at UTHSC, and serves as Director of Patient Engagement
for the Tennessee Population Health Consortium. As Director of Patient Engagement,
Dr. Butterworth oversees the curriculum, program development, delivery, and competency
assessment for UTHSC Motivational Interviewing, Health Coach, and Community Health
Worker Training and Certification programs for lay and clinical health care workers. She has a clinical background in exercise
physiology and received her doctoral degree in adult education and training, with
a cognate in health promotion from Virginia Commonwealth University. During her 20-year
tenure as faculty at Oregon Health & Science University, she founded Health Management
Services which won several national awards. Dr. Butterworth's special area of expertise
and research is the practical application of behavior change science, such as Motivational
Interviewing-based health coaching, to various healthcare settings. She has been the
principal investigator or co-investigator on numerous NIH, HRSA and PCORI grants to
study the efficacy and impact of health management interventions and has published
multiple articles on the theory and outcomes of health coaching. Dr. Butterworth has
been an active member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT)
since 2002, and has developed certification courses on motivational interviewing and
health coaching for clinicians, health coaches, and community health workers for premier
health systems nationwide.
Email: sbutter1@uthsc.edu
Implementation Research Lead
Cori Cohen Grant is a part-time Assistant Professor in the Department of Preventive
Medicine and the Center for Health System Improvement at UTHSC, where she leads the
qualitative and implementation science teams for the Heart Health Network funded by
AHRQ, and Research Associate with AMGA. In her roles, Dr. Grant conducts implementation
science and qualitative research projects in partnership with healthcare systems.
Dr. Grant has held a variety of roles which included leading large-scale quality improvement
initiatives on behalf of CMS, implementation studies, and small-scale collaboratives.
As the director of marketing research and planning for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare,
she conducted research, often including consumers, to guide business decisions and
quality improvement initiatives for the organization. During this time, she designed
and analyzed dozens of qualitative and quantitative research studies utilizing market
research techniques such as focus groups, qualitative interviews, and surveys. Cori
is a six-sigma green belt and earned a Master of Science in Public Health from The
University of Texas School of Public Health and an MBA from The University of Tennessee.
She received a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Memphis School of Public
Health. Dr. Grant’s research interests are focused on improving chronic disease management
and prevention and promoting health equity. Outside of work, Cori enjoys playing competitive
tennis and volunteering on the Assisi Foundation Community Board to help identify
health and social needs in the Memphis community.
Email: cgrant1@uthsc.edu
Marketing and Communications Lead
Nicky Hitching serves as Marketing and Communications Lead for the Tennessee Population
Health Consortium and its signature initiative, the Tennessee Heart Health Network,
as well as the Center for Health System Improvement. She has experience as a writer
for Memphis nonprofits, and in her previous career worked for many years as a journalist
for Memphis Business Journal and for national business and finance publications. She
received her BA from Vanderbilt University.
Email: nhitchin@uthsc.edu
Phone: 901.448.2477
Patient Advisory Council Coordinator
Gladys Hunt serves as the Research Coordinator for the TN Heart Health Network initiative
and Patient Advisory Council Coordinator for the Tennessee Population Health Consortium.
As PAC Coordinator she is responsible for organizing patient partner experts in patient
advisory councils in hub cities in each of Tennessee’s grand regions. She received
her BA in International Business at Memphis State University. After a long career
in management for an international corporation, she shifted her focus to healthcare
in 2002. Prior to joining the Center for Health System Improvement, she worked for
a healthcare consulting organization working to improve healthcare quality in all
clinical settings.
Data Analyst, Tennessee Population Health Data Network (TN-POPnet)
Avinash Pakker serves as Data Analyst for the Center for Health System Improvement
and Tennessee Population Health Data Network (TN-POPnet). He is responsible for the
analysis of EHR and administrative claims databases, production of quality/practice
improvement reports for TN-POPnet participating health systems and practices and for
assisting with the design, analysis, and interpretation of various health services
research studies. He also helps to operationalize research questions, create study
cohorts, apply analytic approaches, and assist with interpretation. Avinash has a
MS in Health Informatics from Indiana University and a Doctor of Pharmacy from Jawaharlal
Nehru Technological University in Hyderabad, India.
Email: apakker@uthsc.edu
Graduate Research Assistants
Ming Chen, MS
Graduate Research Assistant
Ming Chen is a doctoral research assistant in the Institute of Health Outcomes and
Policy and the Center for Health System Improvement and she works to support research
initiatives of the Tennessee Population Health Consortium. She received her bachelor’s
and Master's degrees in Social and Administrative Pharmacy from China. She earned
her Master in pharmaceutical outcomes research from the University of Florida. Her
main interests include health service research, health outcomes, and observational
study. The databases she has worked on include Registry, electronic medical records,
federal and commercial administrative claims. She likes traveling, basketball, and
watching live games.
Email: mchen46@uthsc.edu
Deborah Ogunsanmi, B Pharm
Graduate Research Assistant
Deborah Ogunsanmi is a PhD student in the Institute for Health Outcomes and Policy
at UTHSC and a graduate research assistant in the Center for Health System Improvement.
She also actively supports research initiatives of the Tennessee Population Health
Consortium. She received her bachelor's degree in Pharmacy from the University of
Lagos, Nigeria. Her research interest is focused on social determinants of health
(SDOH) and on improving health care quality, health outcomes, access to medicines,
and medication adherence especially amongst those with chronic conditions. Ms. Ogunsanmi
has gained valuable experience working with various databases including Registry,
electronic medical records, and federal clains (Medicaid claims).In her free time
she enjoys working out, traveling, and making new friends.
Email: dogunsan@uthsc.edu