BRETT M. BURNHAM, EdD, Columbia University; MA, Eastern Mennonite University; MS, University of the District of Columbia/Georgetown University; MAT, University of the District of Columbia; MPH, Southern Illinois University Assistant Professor of Behavioral Sciences in Public Health, AUA Gerald and Patricia Turpanjian School of Public Health
Dr. Brett Burnham is an Assistant Professor of Behavioral Sciences in Public Health at the American University of Armenia (AUA) Gerald and Patricia Turpanjian School of Public Health (SPH). He earned his EdD from Teachers College of Columbia University in Health Education within the department of Health and Behavior Studies. Additionally, Dr. Burnham possesses four interdisciplinary master’s degrees in the fields of: [1] Conflict Transformation (MA, Eastern Mennonite University); [2] Cancer Biology, Prevention & Control (MS, University of the District of Columbia/Georgetown University); [3] Secondary Social Studies Education (MAT, University of the District of Columbia); and [4] Community Health Education (MPH, Southern Illinois University). At AUA, Dr. Burnham teaches behavioral health science courses to both undergraduate and graduate students; his research interests include bio-behavioral and biopsychosocial community health education research that aims to address both cancer and LGBT health disparities in Armenia and beyond.
Prior to his arrival at AUA, Dr. Burnham practiced over five years of multidisciplinary teaching and learning in various settings, including clinical and community health education sites, secondary social studies education, undergraduate-level allied health education, and graduate-level health education for teachers; group facilitation and conflict mediation at a federal political action committee (PAC); US nationwide grassroots community organizing to bolster lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) healthcare equity; clinical cancer prevention and control health behavior research; and lastly, HIV, STI and HPV prevention and control health behavior research and outreach activities comprising needs assessments, program planning, program implementation, program evaluation and policy analysis/reform efforts.
In the summer of 2015, Dr. Burnham was selected to participate in the prestigious Ryan White Internship for the Minnesota HIV Services Planning Council, in which he participated in HIV health disparities and epidemiological research, program planning and evaluation activities. Dr. Burnham has authored peer-reviewed journal articles and has also co-authored one book chapter.