Christopher M. Shea

Christopher M. Shea, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management and Adjunct Associate Professor in Social Medicine at the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. He serves as the PhD Program Director, leading interdisciplinary training in public health policy and management. His work focuses on implementation science, organizational readiness for change, and telehealth adoption, with expertise in mixed-methods research.

Dr. Shea holds a PhD in Public Administration (2008) from North Carolina State University, an MPA (2004) and MA in English (1998), and a BBA in Finance and English (1995). His research bridges organizational behavior, health informatics, and quality improvement, particularly in healthcare innovation adoption.

His research interests include assessing organizational preparedness for change, telehealth policy, and strategies to support 'innovation champions.' Key projects involve evaluating telehealth utilization in rural settings and analyzing how financial factors influence telemedicine adoption for critical care in hospitals.

Dr. Shea’s recent work explores maternal telehealth access disparities, opioid use disorder treatment policies, and the role of social needs screening in primary care. His articles often address implementation barriers and strategies in healthcare systems, with a focus on translating research into practice through mixed-methods approaches.

He has contributed to initiatives like the Gillings Innovation Labs, emphasizing practical solutions for public health challenges. His grants and collaborations focus on improving healthcare equity through evidence-based strategies, such as community resource referral systems for cardiovascular disease in rural North Carolina.