Welcome from the Division Director
Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., MBA
Division Director
The Division of Community Health is conducting research to help the residents of Arkansas, the U.S., and the world live longer, healthier lives. The Division of Community Health’s research has focused on community based primary and secondary prevention of diabetes and other cardio-metabolic disease. Research has included policy, systems, and environmental research that focuses on increasing physical activity and addressing nutrition and healthy food access.
Our researchers are national leaders in research and are focused on: diabetes prevention and management, health disparities, healthy food systems, healthy environments, and research ethics.
The Division of Community Health is home to a nationally renowned Center for Pacific Islander Health, which is the first research center in the nation that focuses solely on Pacific Islander health. The Center for Pacific Islander Health works with Pacific Islander communities across the U.S. and in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. Researchers in the Divisions of Community Health are funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and other national/international agencies and foundations.
Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., MBA
Director, Division of Community Health and Research
Phone: 479-713-8680
Email: PAMcelfish@uams.edu