Dr. Paul C. Erwin, is Professor and Head of the Department of Public Health at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Prior to his academic appointment, Dr. Erwin served with the Tennessee Department of Health for sixteen years, twelve of those as regional director for county health departments throughout Appalachia. Board certified in internal medicine, and public health and preventive medicine, his research centers on applied public health systems and services, with a particular interest in Academic Health Departments.