Kahler W. Stone

Dr. Kahler W. Stone is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance at Middle Tennessee State University's College of Behavioral and Health Sciences. He serves as the coordinator for the B.S. in Public Health degree program and co-leads the Public Health Assessment, Surveillance, and Epidemiology (PHASE) Lab.

Education:

• Doctor of Public Health (DPH), Texas A&M University (2018)
• Master of Public Health (MPH), Texas A&M University (2010)
• Bachelor of Science (BS), Texas A&M University (2008)

Dr. Stone's research focuses on disaster epidemiology, public health surveillance, and environmental epidemiology with a strong emphasis on spatial analysis and population health assessment. His work includes examining stigma toward opioid users in rural communities, quantifying public health workforce burnout during COVID-19, and analyzing environmental contamination post-disasters like Hurricane Harvey. He has led CDC- and HRSA-funded initiatives targeting opioid response and public health infrastructure.

His publications reflect a consistent trajectory in public health surveillance, workforce resilience, environmental justice, and community health assessments, particularly in rural and underserved populations. Recent work emphasizes mental health impacts on public health workers and spatial epidemiology to address health disparities.

Scientific Awards:

• Texas A&M School of Public Health’s Student Achievement Award (2018)
• Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society (2014)
• National Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health Fellow (2014)
• Texas Department of State Health Services 2013 Texas Preparedness Leadership Award (2013)

Dr. Stone has secured significant federal funding from CDC and HRSA, including projects on opioid response and public health workforce capacity. He advises students and manages research teams within the PHASE Lab, focusing on applied epidemiology and public health system strengthening.

He co-leads the Public Health Assessment, Surveillance, and Epidemiology (PHASE) Lab at MTSU, which serves as a hub for collaborative research on public health assessment, surveillance system validation, and community health improvement strategies.