Our Expertise

The COA360° was developed by Dr. Thomas LaVeist, Director of the Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions and the William C. and Nancy F. Richardson Professor in Health Policy in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. LaVeist is a health services researcher with doctoral training in medical sociology from the University of Michigan, and a baccalaureate from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He also completed his postdoctoral training in public health policy and administration at the University of Michigan, School of Public Health.

Dr. LaVeist has worked in the field of public health for nineteen years and has extensive experience teaching, training, and conducting research within in the area of health disparities and minority health. Along with teaching several courses related to this topic area at Johns Hopkins University, he is a frequent visiting lecturer at other universities, professional conferences, and workshops. Dr. LaVeist also often acts as a consultant to federal agencies and healthcare organizations on racial disparities and cultural competency issues. He has published numerous research articles,and is author of a text book on minority health, "Minority Populations and Health: An Introduction to Health Disparities in the United States," published in 2005. His edited volume, "Race, Ethnicity, and Health: A Public Health Reader", was published fall 2002.

Dr. LaVeist was recognized as the inaugural recipient of the U.S. Department Health and Health Services, Office of Minority Health "Knowledge Award" for "substantial research that advances knowledge about minority health and the elimination of health disparities." He has also been featured in Newsweek, CNN, Newsday, National Public Radio, Black Enterprise, and the Baltimore Sun, among other national media outlets.

COA360° - Cultural Competency Organizational Assessment © 2009 The Johns Hopkins University