Health Research & Evaluation
You may need guidance to boost your project or take it in a new direction. You may wonder if you are getting the most for the dollars spent, or if your program is making a real impact.
We specialize in these data collection activities:
- Focus groups
- In-depth interviews
- Media monitoring
- Observation
- Surveys
ORAU evaluation specialists can help move projects forward in an efficient, data-driven manner that matches the specific need and audience. They have experience in setting up projects with clear and measurable goals and objectives, identifying the best approaches to gather data for your evaluation, and utilizing cost-effective data collection methods to measure short-term, intermediate and long-term outcomes. ORAU evaluation specialists use this data to demonstrate research findings, lessons learned and best practices for clients.
Our team can tailor a plan that is right for your evaluation needs. Surveys, interviews, message testing and other data collection efforts are designed thoughtfully and conducted skillfully to obtain credible results. Our experienced team will collaborate with you to develop the evidence-based insights you need.
What we offer
- Highly educated and experience staff with expertise in a broad range of subject areas
- Flexible evaluation plans based on timeline, budget and needs
- Expertise in navigating time-consuming federal research regulations, including a track record of success in obtaining Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approvals
Our Experts
Karen Werner Carera, Ph.D.
Expertise: Health education, formative and summative evaluation, research methods, structuring qualitative research, needs assessments
Carera has developed research protocols and instruments for a wide range of populations, from healthcare professionals and public health officials to diverse subsets of the general public. The topics of these research projects vary from emergency preparedness for radiation emergencies to appropriate use of antibiotics.
Certifications: Human Subjects Protection Training, Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative
Julie Crumly, Ph.D.
Expertise: Health and education program evaluation, research methods and data analysis, multicultural and social psychology, evaluation of health interventions and programs, and outcome evaluations for continuing medical education
Co-author: “Non-pharmaceutical interventions for pandemic influenza: An assessment of communication, training, and guidance needs of state, tribal, local, and territorial public health officials,” 2018
Certification: Master Certified Health Education Specialist
Betsy Smither, M.P.H.
Expertise: Program evaluation and formative research, including designing, conducting, and analyzing projects using mixed-methods data collection. Facilitates interviews and focus groups with a variety of audience segments, including healthcare providers and public health experts; and conducts large-scale surveys to better understand target audiences.
Publications:
- Young women’s perceptions regarding communication with healthcare providers about breast cancer, risk, and prevention
- Diabetes detachment: How cultural, contextual, and personal barriers influence low-income young women with diabetes in Appalachia
- Pilot program trains nurse navigators to implement survivorship education series for young women diagnosed with breast cancer
Certification: Certified Health Education Specialist
Contact us
For information about ORAU’s health communication, preparedness and response needs, contact Freddy Gray, director, Health Communication and Preparedness programs, at 865.576.0029 or freddy.gray@orau.org.