Bettina M. Beech, Dr.P.H, M.P.H.
Associate Professor of Medicine
Associate Professor of Surgery
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Research Specialty:
Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Obesity, Health Disparities
Research, and Adolescent Health
Research Description:
Dr. Bettina beech has a unique interdisciplinary background that
integrates public health, cancer prevention and control, health
disparities, nutrition, obesity prevention and treatment,
epidemiology, and children’s health issues. A native of Los
Angeles, California, Dr. Beech holds a B.A. from Temple University,
master of public health from Temple University, and a Dr.P.H. in
community health from University of Texas Health Science Center,
School of Public Health. She also completed a postdoctoral
fellowship in behavioral science at the M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center. Prior to coming to Vanderbilt, she served on the faculty at
the Tulane University School of Public Health and at the University
of Memphis, Department of Psychology. Dr. Beech’s research focuses
on the role of nutritional factors in the primary and secondary
prevention of chronic diseases, with a particular focus on
childhood obesity and related problems such as diabetes and
metabolic syndrome. Her current studies involve the development and
evaluation of interventions to prevent or treat childhood obesity
in primary care and community-based settings,
particularly among African Americans. Dr. Beech is involved in
several national public-health related activities. She has been an
active member of the American Public Health Association since 1990
and currently serves on two national advisory
councils focused on the clinical management of childhood
obesity. She served as an external reviewer for the Institute
of Medicine’s recently released, WIC food packages: time for a
change report, is a member of the African American collaborative
obesity research network (AACORN), and is the lead editor of race
and research in focus: perspectives on minority participation in
health studies, published by the American Public Health
Association. Dr. Beech has served as a member of the board of
directors for the Memphis Chapter of the American Diabetes
Association and was recently appointed by Commissioner Cooper as
the chair of the Child Health and Wellness Advisory Council for the
State of Tennessee.