Dede K. Teteh, DrPH, MPH, CHES
Assistant Professor of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences, Chapman University
Highlights
Dede K. Teteh, DrPH, MPH, CHES, (she/her) is a public health professional boasting 15 years of experience encompassing academia, research, policy development, and strategic communications. Throughout her journey, including pivotal roles at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she has honed her expertise in sustainable public health infrastructure and the cultivation of healthier communities, with a specific focus on under-resourced populations.
With her foundation in community advocacy and prevention, Dr. Teteh's dedication has flourished, prompting her to establish a distinct research program. This initiative, generously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is devoted to scrutinizing disparities in cancer survivorship through the lens of social determinants of health. Concurrently, she spearheads the creation of community-based interventions designed to enhance the quality of life for survivors and their families.
In addition to her academic endeavors, Dr. Teteh is the visionary behind the Bench to Community Initiative. This community-based participatory research project delves into endocrine-disrupting chemical exposures in personal care products and their correlation with breast cancer risk, with an emphasis on Black women. Further amplifying her influence, she is an awardee of the NIH/National Cancer Institute diversity supplement, delving into the impact of social determinants of health on lung cancer surgery family caregivers and patients.
Presently, she holds the esteemed position of assistant professor of public health within the Department of Health Sciences at Chapman University, located in Orange, CA. Additionally, she serves as an adjunct assistant professor in the Division of Nursing Research at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, CA.
Although originally hailing from Togo, Dr. Teteh's journey has taken her across the United States. Born in Lomé, she grew up in both Bronx, New York, and Atlanta, Georgia. Currently finding her home in southern California, she shares her life with her spouse, Lieutenant Brooks of the United States Navy. Dr. Teteh's profound motivations lie within her close circle of friends and family, especially her nieces and nephews, as they remain the driving forces behind her unwavering commitment to addressing health disparities among Black individuals throughout the African diaspora.