Lee Sechrest, PhD
Principal Investigator
The University of Arizona HealthCare Partnership

Professor Emeritus

The University of Arizona Psychology Department
sechrest@u.arizona.edu

Dr. Lee Sechrest is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at The University of Arizona, where he served as Department Head from 1984 to 1989 and founded the Evaluation Group for Analysis of Data (EGAD). The author of over 20 books and monographs and over 200 articles, he is perhaps best known for the landmark publication Unobtrusive Measures: A Survey of Nonreactive Research in Social Science, which he co-authored in 1966 and which is still in print today. For over 50 years, his research has advanced understanding and improved practice in the areas of methodology, program evaluation, and quality and dissemination of scientific information. His special focus on health and mental health services is reflected in his leadership of the HealthCare Partnership, his consultancy for the Health Services Research and Development Office of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and his service on the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making.

Dr. Sechrest has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Society and the Myrdal Prize for Excellence in Evaluation Practice from the American Evaluation Association. His recognitions also include the Harold M. Hildreth Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Public Service Psychology from Division 18 (Psychologists in Public Service) of the American Psychological Association; the Samuel J. Messick Award for Distinguished Scientific Contribution from Division 5 (Evaluation, Measurement, and Statistics) of the American Psychological Association; and a Distinguished Contribution Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs. A passionate teacher who served on the faculty of Pennsylvania State University, Northwestern University, Florida State University, and the University of Michigan before coming to The University of Arizona, Dr. Sechrest was honored as Faculty Mentor of the Year by The University of Arizona’s Graduate and Professional School Council in 1998.

Louise J. Strayer, BSc, RN, MSc
Director

The University of Arizona HealthCare Partnership
lstrayer@u.arizona.edu

Louise J. Strayer brings over 26 years of clinical and community service experience in tobacco dependence treatment and psychiatry to her role as Director of the HealthCare Partnership, where she also served as the original principal investigator. She has held leadership positions in clinical research trials and behavioral studies for the treatment and prevention of tobacco dependence. She served as Co-Principal Investigator for the Arizona Department of Health Services Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) project and managed a large National Cancer Institute Youth Zyban study. Ms. Strayer was instrumental in establishing the Arizona Smokers’ Helpline statewide telephone counseling service. Ms. Strayer uses her clinical and adult education expertise to design, deliver, and evaluate multimodal tobacco dependence treatment programs for health and human service professionals, paraprofessionals, and lay community health workers. She successfully completed course requirements for a doctorate in Healthcare Education with an emphasis on Public Health Issues. She is committed to improving the health status of America’s communities through evidence-based strategies.

Mary Gilles, MD
Medical Director

The University of Arizona HealthCare Partnership
gillesm@u.arizona.edu

Dr. Mary Gilles is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine in The University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine and Social and Behavioral Sciences, where she teaches medical students and Internal Medicine residents. She is also the Medical Director of The University of Arizona HealthCare Partnership and an internist in clinical practice at the Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System. Dr. Gilles has served as the principal investigator for clinical trials studying the efficacy of medications for smoking cessation. She is the former Medical Director of the Arizona Program for Nicotine and Tobacco Research, as well as the Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Smoking Cessation Program. Dr. Gilles has designed and implemented physician and allied health professional educational curricula addressing tobacco dependence treatment.