Samuel D. Towne

Samuel D. Towne, Ph.D., MPH, CPH, FAAHB, is an Associate Professor at the University of Central Florida's School of Global Health Management and Informatics. His research emphasizes public health, focusing on social and structural determinants of health, aging populations, built environments, and global health disparities. He has authored over 90 peer-reviewed articles and received national recognition, including awards from NIH, APHA, and AAHB.

• Education: Ph.D. in Health Services Policy and Management from the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health
• Past Affiliation: Principal Investigator at the Center for Population Health and Aging (CPHA), Texas A&M University

Dr. Towne's work explores intersections of public health, urban planning, and healthcare policy, particularly in diabetes management, fall prevention, and health equity. Recent studies analyze diabetes-related costs, social determinants of A1C control, and transit interventions for obesity prevention.

His scientific awards include multiple NIH Extramural Loan Repayment Program awards, the Judy K. Black Early Career Research Award (AAHB), and Fellow status at AAHB. Internal recognition includes tenure/promotion (2023) and a Research Incentive Award (2024) at UCF.

Dr. Towne has contributed to NIH-funded projects such as NIH-R01 grants on public transportation and obesity prevention and has collaborated on initiatives addressing dementia-friendly communities. His research bridges global and U.S.-based studies, emphasizing rurality, aging, and health disparities.