Kelley Swatzell, DrPH

Associate Professor and MPH Program Director
203 Kennamer Hall 
256-782-8059
kswatzell@jsu.edu   

Kelley Swatzell, DrPH, has broad experience in public health, ranging from delivering prenatal and preschool education to designing, implementing, and evaluating graduate curricula in health and medicine. Dr. Swatzell’s career in public health started as a volunteer for the Jefferson County (Alabama) Department of Health where she provided health education and perinatal support for pregnant and postpartum mothers. This experience led to work on a cooperative grant project with The National Healthy Start Association and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health (SOPH).

She earned a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) at UAB in 2001 and managed the UAB MPH core curriculum from 2002-2006. In 2006, she accepted a faculty position with the UAB School of Health Professions (SHP), where she taught public health sciences for the health professions and provided leadership in program evaluation and outcomes research. Notably, Dr. Swatzell developed and managed a dual-degree program combining the Master of Physician Assistant Science with the Master of Public Health. She also created and coordinated interprofessional education, simulation, and service opportunities for students across various fields, including public health, medicine, nursing, social work, criminal justice, and other health and social service professions.

She earned her Doctorate in Public Health in 2014 and was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2016. In 2019, Dr. Swatzell returned to the UAB School of Public Health (SOPH) to guide curriculum innovation and ensure continuous accreditation with the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Her work included leading the successful reaccreditation self-study for SOPH and serving as a faculty advisor for MPH students specializing in Population Health.

Dr. Swatzell’s research focuses on interprofessional education and simulation, as well as perinatal health outcomes. She holds the position of Faculty Leadership Fellow and Scholar at UAB’s Center for Interprofessional Education and Simulation

Kelley Swatzell

Courses Taught

JSU - Fall 2024
  • PH 502 Theories of Public Health Behavior and Communication
  • PH 520 Administration of Public Health Initiatives


UAB
  • Public Health Professional Passport (co-curricular, multi-term course)
  • PUH 697 Practice Placement
  • PUH 695 Public Health Integrative Experience
  • PUH 604 Public Health Programs and Policies
  • HCO 605 Foundations of Maternal and Child Health
  • PUH 690 Directed Readings
  • PA 617 Applied Behavioral Medicine
  • PA 619 Research Methods
  • CDS 610 Research Methods and Statistics
  • PA 698 Scientific Research Presentations
  • PA 620 Literature Review and Analysis
  • HRP 411 Health Professions Honors Community
  • MT 455 Research Principles
  • HCM 487 Health Care Management Internship

Publications and Presentations

  • Register SJ, Peterson DT, Swatzell K, White ML. Effect of Interprofessional (IP) Faculty
    Development on Perceptions of IP Collaboration and on IP Behaviors. Journal of
    Interprofessional Care. 2019:1-3
  • Swatzell K. Socio-demographic characteristics, medical indications and perinatal
    outcomes associated with interventional early term deliveries. [Order No. 3668163]. The
    University of Alabama at Birmingham; 2014.
  • Waterbor JW. Swatzell K. Sample size consideration in medical research. JAAPA Research
    Corner Online. April 2008 21(4) www.jaapa.com
  • Swatzell K. Jennings P. Glasser S. Is meta-analysis the silver-bullet of research? JAAPA
    Research Corner Online. January 2008 21(1) www.jaapa.com
  • Swatzell K. Glasser S. The proper use of surrogate endpoints in research. JAAPA Research
    Corner Online. October 2007 20(10) www.jaapa.com
  • Swatzell K, Jennings P. Descriptive research: the nuts and bolts. JAAPA Research
    Corner Online. July 2007 20(7) www.jaapa.com.
  • McCormick L, Baker S, Mosley M, Swatzell K, Shorten A, Bosworth P, Nabavi M, Meador W.
    Students helping at-risk patients (SHARP): Public health voices on interprofessional teams are
    key to addressing the social determinants of health. American Public Health Association
    Annual Meeting, November 2021. Denver and Online.
  • Register SJ, Peterson DT, Swatzell KE, White ML. Role of Interprofessional (IP) Faculty
    Development on Positive Perceptions of IP Collaboration. Presented at: National Academies of
    Practice (NAP) Annual Meeting & Forum, April 2018, Atlanta, GA.
  • Swatzell KE, Pallotta A and Wallace S. Community health assessments and interprofessional
    education in a student-led emergency shelter clinic for homeless men. Presented at: American
    Public Health Association Annual Meeting, November 2016. Denver, CO.
  • Swatzell KE, Ginter PM, Rucks AC, Wallace LA, Kilgore JR. Innovation in a dual graduate
    degree program through collaboration among academic programs and clinical partners. Poster
    presented at: Bringing Public Health and Primary Care Together: The Practical Playbook
    National Meeting; May 2016; Bethesda, MD.
  • Prior E, Harada C, Hitchcock L, Mitchell S, Swatzell K. Interprofessional education at UAB: Past
    and Present. Presented at: Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Institute, Fall 2015;
    Washington, DC.
  • Caruthers K, Swatzell K. Baddley J. Increasing the Knowledge, Comfort and Skills of PA
    Students in the Management of Patients with HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections:
    HRSA Supported Training in Infectious Diseases at the UAB PA Program. American Academy
    of Physician Assistants Annual Meeting; May 2015; San Francisco, CA.
  • Swatzell K, Drace W. Admission criteria, academic performance and PANCE outcomes.
    Presented at: Physician Assistant Education Association Annual Meeting; October 2014;
    Philadelphia, PA.
  • Swatzell K. Wingate M. Racial and ethnic disparities in cesarean deliveries among women
    with chronic health conditions. Presented at: American Public Health Association Annual
    Meeting, November 2013. Boston, MA.
  • Swatzell K. Jennings P. Baddley J. Evaluating changes in knowledge, comfort and skills by
    physician assistant (PA) students who participated in an intensive STD/HIV experience
    funded by HRSA Title VII. Presented at: Physician Assistant Education Association
    Annual Meeting; November 2009; Portland OR.

Academic & Research Interests

  • Interprofessional education and simulation
  • Perinatal health outcomes

Other Responsibilities

  • Public Health Program Director

Education

  • 2014 Doctor of Public Health
    University of Alabama at Birmingham
    School of Public Health
    Department of Health Care Organization and Policy
    Dissertation title: Socio-demographic characteristics, medical indications and perinatal outcomes associated with interventional early term deliveries

  • 2003 Master of Public Health
    University of Alabama at Birmingham
    School of Public Health
    Department of Maternal and Child Health

  • 2001 Bachelor of Science, Psychology major & Sociology minor
    University of Alabama at Birmingham
    School of Arts and Sciences

  • 1987 Walt Disney World
    Certificate in Hospitality Management