Region IV Public Health Training Center

The Emotionally Intelligent Leader:  A Critical Role in Improving the Work Environment Note: This is a recording of live webinar offered on January 26, 2024 from 12:00 pm-1:30 pm ET. Participants will use Zoom to join.  Training Overview: An emotionally intelligent leader is aware of their thoughts and behaviors and how the two impact the individuals and teams they lead. The result, more productive and collaborative teams who communicate effectively. The Emotionally Intelligent Leader webinar will dispel myths about emotions’ place in the work environments and provide a foundational understanding of emotional intelligence to include an introduction to a theoretical model that guides individual and social behaviors. Participants will complete this webinar with skills and strategies to elevate their emotional intelligence for their personal and team’s success.  About the Presenter: Nina M. Johnson, EdS, LMSW, APTD has 15 consecutive years of professional experience in learning and talent development for communities, not-for-profit organizations, and government municipality.  ​​As a skilled communicator, Nina has a history of implementing innovative programs focused on learner needs and performance enhancement.  ​​Utilizing her experience as a social worker, Nina employs exceptional relationship-building skills to connect with communities and clients with honor and respect to design and implement learning and leadership initiatives that are reflective of the needs and capacity of the community. Much of Nina’s work encourages and empowers leaders and potential leaders to access vulnerability, hope, and authenticity as leadership tools.  ​ ​As a learning and leadership consultant, Nina develops, delivers, and evaluates leadership development programming and trainings for communities, organizations, and individuals. In addition to establishing transformative learning programs, Nina contributes to organizational cultures by championing initiatives to boost belonging and diversity. ​​In addition to establishing transformative learning programs, Nina contributes to organizational cultures by championing initiatives to boost belonging and diversity. ​   CERTIFICATE:  The course contains two modules: a module to access the webinar and an evaluation module. After accessing both modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion.   This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more

Note: This is a recording of a lecture held in 2011. Training Overview The Georgia Meth Project is a large-scale prevention program aimed at reducing Meth use through public service messaging, public policy, and community outreach. Central to the program is a research-based marketing campaign that graphically communicates the risks of Meth use. The Meth Project has been repeatedly cited as a powerful private-sector response to a devastating social problem and was recognized by the White House as one of the nation’s most effective prevention programs. The Georgia Meth Project activities increase awareness of the critical nature of the Meth problem, influencing and escalating public dialogue to find solutions. Coordinating closely with local, state, and federal agencies, the Georgia Meth Project organizes a broad range of community outreach programs that mobilize communities across Georgia to assist in Meth awareness and prevention activities. This lecture will focus on the current state of methamphetamine use in Georgia, the Meth Project model, strategies and partners, and insights that might be incorporated into contemporary public health practice, training and education. The course contains two modules: a content module and a resources and evaluation module. After accessing both modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. When the certificate is available, learners will see a Certificate button on their dashboard. This recording is approximately 90 minutes. There are no prerequisites. Participants will need a broadband internet connection (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred browsers) and computer speakers. For technical support, please contact [email protected]. About the Trainer Jim Langford Jim Langford, Executive Director and Co-founder of the Georgia Prevention Project (GPP, formerly the Georgia Meth Project), brings many years of business, public service and nonprofit experience to the organization. He has been appointed by five Georgia governors to a variety of commissions and boards in the state. He also is the founder of multiple other nonprofit organizations and initiatives. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more

Note: This is a recording of a webinar held on March 20, 2017. Training Overview This webinar recording introduces the audience to the national dialogue about public health and healthcare system integration. For the last several years, there has been an ongoing national dialogue about the need for improved coordination and integration between public health and the healthcare delivery system. With improved collaboration between these two entities, expectations are that population health objectives can be more effectively met, quality of care and services can be refined, and costs could decrease. In recent years, infectious diseases have been at the forefront of the public health portfolio and have helped demonstrate the significant need to strengthen the collaboration between public health and healthcare. The course contains two modules: a content module and a resources and evaluation module. After accessing both modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. When the certificate is available, learners will see a Certificate button on their dashboard. This recording is approximately 90 minutes. There are no prerequisites. Participants will need a broadband internet connection (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred browsers) and computer speakers. For technical support, please contact [email protected]. About the Trainer Previously, Dr. Montero served as VP of Population Health and Health System Integration at Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene, where he helped the healthcare system advance its population health strategy. For seven years, he served as director of the Division of Public Health Services at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. In that role, he led the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based services and prompt response to public health threats and emerging issues in the state. In New Hampshire, he also served as chief of New Hampshire’s Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, deputy director for public health emergency preparedness and response, and state epidemiologist. Dr. Montero holds a medical degree from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. He also holds an epidemiology degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia, and a master’s degree in healthcare delivery science from Dartmouth College. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more

The Prescription for Response: Hurricane Helene Emergency Coordination and Resource Management in Tennessee  Note: This is a recording of a live webinar held on May 6, 2025. Training Overview: In this presentation, you will learn about the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and its impact on Tennessee. We will highlight public health and medical response efforts, including critical deployable equipment and strike teams utilized during the disaster. Additionally, we will explore pharmacy-related planning and response topics addressed throughout the event. This session will also cover successes and lessons learned from the response, providing valuable insights to inform strategies for mitigating the impact of future disasters. About the Presenter: Paul E. Petersen, PharmD, MPH, CEM, is the Director of the Tennessee Department of Health’s Emergency Preparedness Program. Dr. Petersen serves as lead in Tennessee’s response to all public health and medical emergencies. Tennessee has experienced a wide range of threats and public health emergencies requiring decisive action by program staff, health care coalitions, and other response partners. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he also served as the interim Director for the Vaccine-Preventable Disease and Immunization Program.   Originally from California, he earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree a the University of the Pacific Thomas L. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2001. Dr. Petersen completed his PGYI Pharmacy Practice Residency at Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville where he also served as the Clinical Operating Room Pharmacist prior to his move to state government in 2005. He completed his Master of Public Health degree from East Tennessee State University in 2022. He serves on various national preparedness policy committees including work with the National Academies, National Emergency Management Association, and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. He is also an active member of several professional public health and pharmacy associations including the 2025 President of the Nashville Area Pharmacists Association.  CERTIFICATE:  The course contains two modules: a module to access the webinar and an evaluation module. After accessing the two modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. When the certificate is available, learners will see a Certificate button on their dashboard. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more

Note: This is a recording of a webinar held on January 27, 2020. Training Overview This webinar will explore the role of stigma and how it interacts with the disease of addiction. Addiction is a chronic medical condition characterized by relapses and remissions that is often misunderstood, unrecognized and seldom appropriately treated. We shall examine stigma from three perspectives. First at the level of the individual, where the shame and guilt of addiction keeps the person suffering from a substance use disorder from self-identifying as in need of treatment and appropriately accessing resources. Second, at the level of the family and friends, stigma can prevent advocating for their loved ones as well as keeps the patient in the shadows. And finally at the level of the society stigma may lead to failure in effective treatment policy, denial of services, discrimination and marginalization of our patients.  The course contains two modules: a content module and a resources and evaluation module. After accessing both modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. When the certificate is available, learners will see a Certificate button on their dashboard. This recording is approximately 90 minutes. There are no prerequisites. Participants will need a broadband internet connection (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred browsers) and computer speakers. For technical support, please contact [email protected]. About the Trainer Navjyot Bedi, MD is the Medical Director and Senior Addiction Psychiatrist at Talbott Recovery in Atlanta, Georgia. He started at Talbott back in 2006 as a Staff Addiction Psychiatrist. Since that time, he has been a valuable part of the treatment team in the addiction/co-occurring psychiatric disorders treatment programs at Talbott Recovery, and particularly with the Professionals Program. He obtained his medical degree from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi where he also completed his internship and residency. He completed psychotherapy training at the Philadelphia Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology.  He then completed a residency in Psychiatry at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where he served as Chief Resident in the Department of Psychiatry.  Subsequently he became a Fellow in Addiction Psychiatry at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.  This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more

The Story Behind the Numbers: Understanding the Art of Narrative Construction in Public Health Note: This is a live webinar on October 21, 2025, from 12:00 pm-1:30 pm ET. Participants will use Zoom to join.  Training Overview: Discover the power of storytelling as a tool for public health impact. In this interactive session, participants will explore the key elements of compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences, while learning to navigate ethical and cultural considerations such as consent, dignity, and stigma when integrating local narratives. The webinar will also guide participants in building a mini logic model to connect storytelling efforts to measurable outcomes, equipping them with practical tools to assess impact and strengthen community engagement.    About the Presenter: Lamarr Lewis, is a dedicated advocate, author, and agent of change. With a focus on community-based mental and public health, he works with diverse groups including individuals living with psychiatric disabilities, people in recovery from substance abuse, and at-hope youth (He does not use the term at-risk).  His career spans over twenty years with experience as a therapist, consultant, public speaker, facilitator, trainer, and human service professional. Lamarr integrates restorative justice principles into his work, fostering accountability, healing, and equity in the communities he serves.  He is an alumnus of Wittenberg University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with minors in Africana Studies and Religion. He later received his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Argosy University.  He has been a featured expert for such organizations as; Boeing, Region IV Public Health Training Center, Fulton County Probate Court, Mississippi Department of Health, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, ASTHO, NNPHI, and many more.  His lifelong mission is to leave the world better than how he found it. CERTIFICATE:  The course contains three modules: a module with pre-session questions, a module to access the webinar and an evaluation module. After accessing these modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more