Dr. Jacob Warren Named New Director of UND Center for Rural Health
Dec 16, 2024
The University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine & Health Sciences has selected Jacob C. Warren, PhD, MBA, CRA, as the new director of its Center for Rural Health (CRH). Warren comes from Wyoming, where he was most recently dean and tenured professor in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Wyoming in Laramie.
"It is an incredible honor to be selected as the next director of the Center for Rural Health," said Warren. "CRH is known throughout the country for its decades of cutting-edge work in advancing the health of rural communities in North Dakota and across the U.S. I myself have relied upon the expertise and resources of CRH throughout my career, and I look forward to working with the stellar staff and faculty of CRH, as well as partners throughout North Dakota, to continue its mission of strengthening the health of people in rural and tribal communities."
About Jacob Warren
Warren has 20 years of leadership experience and has been awarded over $28.5 million in rural health-focused funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration, state agencies, and private foundations. He has experience as a rural health researcher and academic administrator.
Prior to Wyoming, Warren spent a decade at Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia, in a variety of positions advocating for rural health, including being an endowed chair and director for the Center for Rural Health and Health Disparities. He was also the founding co-executive director for the Rural Health Research Institute at Georgia Southern University.
Warren received his doctorate in epidemiology from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. His first day at CRH is December 16, at which time he will begin working a hybrid schedule until he relocates to Grand Forks in February.
"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Warren to the University of North Dakota and the Center for Rural Health," said Dr. Marjorie Jenkins, dean of the School of Medicine & Health Sciences and vice president for Health Affairs. "Dr. Warren's exceptional track record in rural health research and leadership will undoubtedly strengthen the CRH's mission to address the unique challenges of healthcare delivery in rural communities. His vision and expertise will be instrumental in building on the center's legacy and driving innovative solutions that improve health outcomes for North Dakota and beyond."
About the Center for Rural Health
Warren will be responsible for overseeing one of the nation's most experienced rural health organizations. Since its inception in 1980, CRH has developed a full complement of programs to assist researchers, educators, policymakers, healthcare providers, and, most importantly, rural residents. CRH is designated as the North Dakota State Office of Rural Health, a federal-state partnership that helps rural communities build their healthcare services through collaborations and initiatives with a wide range of partners across the state. CRH employs 72 employees with a total budget around $10 million and operates six national programs, including two that are focused on Native American health.