Overview
Dr. Gregory A. Hand, PhD MPH became the Dean of the College of Health Professions at Wichita State University in September 2020. He also serves as a Professor in the Departments of Public Health Sciences and Physical Therapy. Previously, Dr. Hand served as West Virginia University’s Founding Dean of the School of Public Health, Special Assistant to the Vice President for Health Sciences, and Professor of Epidemiology. Before joining the faculty at West Virginia University, he served as Associate Dean for Research, Practice and Information Technology, and Professor of Exercise Science at the Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina.
He trained in physiology, public health and exercise science at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Arizona. He was awarded a National Institutes of Health-sponsored postdoctoral fellowship at the Moss Heart Center in Dallas, where he studied the physiology and neurobiology of blood pressure regulation.
Dr. Hand is recognized internationally for his research on physical activity, lifestyle medicine and health. His work has spanned the physiology and psychobiology of exercise and stress, HIV/AIDS, physical activity and energy utilization, and practical applications of lifestyle medicine for chronic conditions. He has published over 140 refereed scientific articles and book chapters and has presented his research on five continents. Dr. Hand has trained over 40 research mentees at the postdoctoral, graduate and undergraduate levels. He has received over $20 million in research and educational funding from federal and state agencies, foundations, corporations and industry.
Dr. Hand is a regular contributor to newspapers and journals on topics related to lifestyle, health, and the impact of health on community vitality. He currently serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Clinical Medicine, and as Commentary Editor for the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Hand is an Elected Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and the European Society for Preventive Medicine.