FORMER UA STUDENT RECRUITED TO PRODUCE TEXTBOOK

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Tanya Morgan, University of Arkansas graduate and Ph.D. candidate at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been recently recruited to produce a textbook on public health, Geographical Information Systems in Public Health.

The forthcoming book, to be published by Aspen Press, will be marketed to public health departments, health practitioners and academia.

"We're extremely proud of Tanya's latest accomplishment," said Dr. Sharon Hunt, head of the department of health science, kinesiology, recreation and dance. "The quality of her research is outstanding and makes her a natural candidate for textbook research and writing. We are extremely pleased that she's been recognized as a leading professional in the field of geographic information systems and public health."

"I've always wanted to produce a book," Morgan said, "but thought that would be about 10 years from this point in my life. I'm extremely honored to have been selected by Aspen Press to create Geographical Information Systems in Public Health and plan to begin working immediately."

Morgan's interest in and experience with geographic information systems (GIS) is highlighted in her dissertation research, which examines why women travel beyond the nearest hospital to their place of residence to receive obstetrical services. The study allowed her to utilize techniques to map market areas for hospitals, research that initially attracted Aspen Press.

Morgan received her B.A. in psychology and her M.S. in rural sociology and rural health from the University of Arkansas. After successfully defending her dissertation proposal, she accepted a position in the department of health science, kinesiology, recreation and dance in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas, and will become an assistant professor upon completion of her doctorate later next month.

Morgan is originally from Benton Harbor, Michigan.