John Packham, PhD, is the director of health policy research at UNR School of Medicine. He administers the Nevada Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex) and Nevada Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) that support technical assistance to Nevadas rural and frontier hospitals administered by the Nevada Office of Rural Health based at the School of Medicine. John oversees health workforce research, applied health services research, and policy analysis undertaken by the UNSOM Office of Statewide Initiatives.  Dr. Packhams areas of expertise include health workforce planning, social determinants of health, health policy analysis, health services research, program evaluation, community health needs assessments, and health program administration.  Dr. Packham currently serves on the board of directors for the Nevada Public Health Association and the Nevada Public Health Foundation, and is Nevadas Affiliate Representative to the American Public Health Associations Governing Council.