About Anna Nelson, DrPH, MPH

With more than three decades of experience in public health education, community-based practice, academic leadership Dr. Anna Nelson brings a global, practice-informed perspective shaped by her prior work in the United States, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the former USSR.

Her educational leadership is grounded in a commitment to academic quality, meaningful student learning, and program innovation. She is particularly engaged in curriculum development, assessment of student learning, accreditation, program planning, and the design of flexible, high-quality educational experiences for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral learners. Her work emphasizes clear learning outcomes, supportive advising, responsive program structures, and teaching approaches that help working professionals remain connected to an academic community.

Dr. Nelson’s interests include public health education, health behavior change, lifestyle medicine, whole-person well-being, traffic safety, maternal and child health, and wellness coaching. She is especially interested in connecting evidence, educational practice, and community engagement in ways that build individual and institutional capacity.

Across her professional and academic life, Dr. Nelson remains committed to preparing and supporting future public health leaders who bring scientific rigor, compassion, cultural humility, and service to the communities they serve. Most importantly, Across her academic, research, and leadership roles, Dr. Nelson seeks to reflect Loma Linda University’s mission to extend the healing and teaching ministry of Jesus Christ and to “make man whole.”