James N. Burdine, DrPH

Biography

Dr. James N. Burdine is a Regents Professor with the Department of Health Behavior (DHB) and was the Director of the Center for Community Health and Aging (CCHA), at the School of Public Health (SPH), Texas A&M University (TAMU) from its inception in 2001 through April of 2024. In addition to his teaching and research activities, he has served in numerous administrative roles including as the interim department head for the DHB (2019-21), Dean (interim) of the SPH (2013-15) Associate Dean for Public Health Practice (2012-14), Assistant Dean for Public Health Practice (2009-12) and Head, Department of Social and Behavioral Health (2002-05).

Dr. Burdine is an internationally recognized expert in community health status assessment and community health development. His area of expertise is working in and with rural communities across the United States to develop local problem-solving capacity. His experience also includes the development of highly sophisticated cost-effective community health assessment techniques as well as a number of national “model” programs for community-based health improvement including the National Community Health Worker Training Center and the Telebehavioral Health Care Program at Texas A&M. 

To this point in his career Dr. Burdine has been awarded more than $29.5 million in grants and contracts from funders including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Health Services and Resources Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others.  

Dr. Burdine’s professional publications include co-editing 5 special issues of journals, co-authoring 5 book chapters, authoring/co-authoring 122 professional documents (67 articles in peer-reviewed publications, and 55 technical reports and papers).  He has also authored/co-authored 277  presentations (174 for refereed conference presentations, 47 invited presentations and testimonies, and 56 continuing education programs).

Dr. Burdine has also held offices with national professional organizations including President of the Society for Public Health Education (1993), is a member of the Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society, has received awards for Excellence in Practice from the School of Rural Public Health (2006) and the Faculty Recognition Award from his department (2004, 2005, 2006). He also has served as an advisor to numerous national health-related organizations, federal and state agencies and as a reviewer for major public health professional journals. In 2018, Dr. Burdine celebrated his 25^th year of teaching for the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Prior to joining the faculty of the School of Rural Public Health in 2001, Dr. Burdine spent 10 years as the President and Senior Scientist at Felix, Burdine and Associates, a nationally recognized health care consulting firm.  Before that, Dr. Burdine spend 9 years in health system management at Seton Medical Center and Scott & White in Texas, and HealthEast/Lehigh Valley Health Network in Pennsylvania. 

Dr. Burdine lives on Red Boot Ranch, near College Station, Texas with his wife of 53 years, Dawn DeFore Burdine; has 4 sons, and 13 grandchildren.