Chad Abresch, PhD

Chair

Associate Professor
Department of Health Promotion
University of Nebraska Medical Center
College of Public Health

Professional Summary

Health outcomes in the United States are nowhere near where they should be. A myriad of key health indicators, such as infant and maternal mortality, life expectancy, cancer survival rates, AIDS diagnoses, and more, reveal marked differences based on personal identity (e.g., race, ethnicity, sexual identity). These health inequities hurt us all, reducing our collective well-being and limiting our human potential.

Chad Abresch, along with a host of great colleagues, holds a vision for a better future and is working to make that vision a reality. Dr. Abresch serves as Chair for the Department of Health Promotion at UNMC’s College of Public Health. The Department of Health Promotion is dedicated to addressing and improving health for all populations and partnering with communities to realize an end to inequitable health outcomes. The faculty is one of the most diverse on UNMC’s campus, and their diversity can be seen in their personal identities, research interests, methodological approaches, and community partners. The work and research conduct within the department emphasizes the importance of relationships, working together with community members, patients, health professionals, educators, policy-makers, and more to improve populational health outcomes.

Chad enjoys life in Omaha, Nebraska with his four growing children.

• 2023 – Present   Chair, Department of Health Promotion, College of Public Health, UNMC
• 2023 – Present   Associate Professor, Department of Health Promotion, College of Public Health, UNMC
• 2022 – 2023      Adjunct Instructor, School of Public Administration, University of Nebraska, Omaha
• 2022 – 2023      Assistant Professor (Courtesy), Department of Health Promotion, College of Public Health, UNMC
• 2020 – Present   Graduate Faculty Member, University of Nebraska
• 2019 – 2023      Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Health Policy, UNMC
• 2015 – 2019      Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Health Policy, UNMC 
  
  

Education

• 2014 – 2018   University of Nebraska, Omaha. Ph.D., Public Administration
• 1998 – 2000   University of Nebraska, Lincoln. M.Ed., Health Education
• 1992 – 1996   University of Nebraska, Lincoln. B.A., Psychology 
  
  

Research interests

Selected Publications

• Niebur, H., Rookwood, A., Karki, B., & Abresch, C. (2023). Towards a New Model of Childhood Asthma Care: Community Needs Assessment in an Underserved Urban Population.Journal of Asthma, (just-accepted), 1-15.
• Abresch, C., Gilbert, C., Johnson, M., Karki, B., Lyons, K., Meyer, K., ... & Toure, D. (2022). Understanding the Emotional Labor of Public Health Equity Work: a Mixed Methods Study. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 1-11.
• Grimm, B., Ramos, A. K., Maloney, S., Abresch, C., Tibbits, M., Lyons, K., & Palm, D. (2021). The Most Important Skills Required by Local Public Health Departments for Responding to Community Needs and Improving Health Outcomes. Journal of Community Health, 1-8.
• Abresch, C., Grimm, B., Lyons, K., Maloney, S. & Tibbits, M. (2021) Who gets included in Collective Impact: A mixed methods study of 10 CI initiatives. Community Development, DOI: 10.1080/15575330.2021.1941161
• Collie-Akers, V., Landry, S., Ehule, N. J., Pecha, D., Beltran, M. M., Gilbert, C., & Abresch, C. (2021). Enhancing the Capacity of Local Health Departments to Address Birth Equity: The Institute for Equity in Birth Outcomes. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 1-9.
• Maloney, S. I., Abresch, C., Grimm, B., Lyons, K., & Tibbits, M. (2021). Factors associated with giving birth at advanced maternal age in the United States. Midwifery, 102975.
• Tibbits, M., Lyons, K. & Abresch, C. The ‘A’ is the Weakest Link: What Local Health Departments are Doing to Improve Adolescent Health. Maternal Child Health J (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-03078-z
• Abresch, C. (2020). Paradox of Etiology: An editorial reply on the origins of modern pandemic disease. The Lacanian Review, issue 9/Spring, 136.
• Landry, S., Collie-Akers, V., Foster, K., Pecha, D., Abresch, C. (2020). Assessing the Development of Collective Impact Initiatives Addressing Maternal and Child Health. Maternal and Child Health Journal. DOI: 10.1007/s10995-020-02894-7
• Allen, D., & Abresch, C. (2018). Confronting Adversity: MCH Responds to ACEs. Maternal and child health journal, 22(3), 283-287.
  
  

Professional Affiliations

• 2021 – Present   UNMC Interprofessional Academy of Educators
• 2011 – Present   National Association of County and City Health Officials
• 2010 – 2015       American Society of Association Executives
• 2010 – Present   American Public Health Association, subcommittee member Maternal and Child Health Section
• 2008 – Present   Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
• 2006 – Present   National Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health Teaching