Jennifer Lafata, Ph.D., professor in the Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy will take over as its vice chair upon the retirement of Susan Blalock, Ph.D., M.P.H, professor in DPOP and current vice chair.
Blalock’s retirement is phased, so she will continue working part-time for the near future.
As vice chair, Lafata will assist in faculty development, recruitment and retention, overseeing educational training programs and serving as a mentor to DPOP’s junior faculty and trainees. She said she is excited to be a part of the DPOP leadership and to learn, grow and excel alongside the division’s talented team.
Lafata, who grew up in Chapel Hill and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University, came to the School as a professor in 2016. She previously worked in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine where she was a professor in the department of social and behavioral health and co-leader of the cancer prevention and control program at Massey Cancer Center. Lafata earned her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Lafata’s research has focused on how the engagement of patients can facilitate the delivery and receipt of evidence-based preventive care, particularly in the context of cancer prevention and control.
“The division is extremely fortunate to have Dr. Lafata as vice chair. She has strong administrative experience through her prior work at VCU and the Henry Ford Health System,” said Betsy Sleath, Ph.D., George H. Cocolas Distinguished Professor and chair of DPOP.
Sleath also thanked Blalock for her service on behalf of the division.
“Dr. Blalock helped make DPOP one of the top pharmaceutical outcomes research divisions in the country. We are happy that she will continue to contribute to the division on a part-time basis during her phased retirement,” she said.