College of Public Health Alumna Happy to Make an Impact in Arizona
| Charnise Moore, Dr.PH., MPH, CHC, CHRC, is making an impact in Phoenix as the chief program officer for the Foundation of Senior Living (FSL). Though her duties are demanding, knowing that her work improves the lives of seniors throughout the state gives her great joy.
“When we go into the field of public health, the ultimate reward is knowing that we’ve improved someone’s life,” Moore said. “I’m filled with gratitude to be able to fulfill the needs of people in search of assistance.”
An alumna of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, Moore manages the nearly 30 FSL programs that provide aid for seniors, families and people with an intellectual or developmental disability.
“We provide a wide range of services including adult day health programs, senior centers, food and nutrition programs, home-delivered meals, transportation, affordable housing complexes, low-income single-family housing and behavioral health services,” Moore said. “As a public health professional, I always aim to help people.”
Moore’s passion for helping others dates to her preteen years.
“I didn’t know what public health was when I was in the sixth grade,” she admitted. “But in hindsight, as a sixth grader, I knew there had to be something to help address the community-level issues that I recognized. Even though I was only in the sixth grade, I knew we had to have something available to solve certain issues.”
At that time, Moore resided in Columbia, Mississippi, a town of about 6,000 residents. Moore grew up with military parents who moved the family to Mississippi after their military retirement. Columbia is her father’s hometown.
“Columbia, Mississippi, is a great place for a family,” she said. “But there’s a lot of work needed to make it even better.
“Coming from a military family, I grew up seeing different cultures and lifestyles. That gave me a lot of unique views, which I’m grateful for.”
The state’s strong sense of culture also enhanced her viewpoints, Moore added.
“Mississippi is filled with people who love deeply and are passionate and strong. From a public health standpoint, Mississippi showed me that there are people in the U.S. who still need access to better resources. It’s jaw dropping when you see the health disparities that exist in places like Mississippi and Arkansas.”
Moore earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi, and a master’s in public health degree from Brown University. After attending the Ivy League school in Rhode Island, Moore returned to the South with a goal to get a doctorate in public health from a Southern-based institution. Ultimately, Moore enrolled in the UAMS College of Public Health.
“I spent a lot of time looking at faculty, leadership and their interest of study,” she said. “I was passionate about teen pregnancy and risky sexual behavior. There were faculty who had interest in that area as well. When I did the in-person interview, I knew the school would be a good place for me.”
She eventually completed the Doctorate in Public Health program while also working full-time as a health care compliance officer for UAMS. Moore referenced how the support of faculty, staff, classmates, and even her co-workers were phenomenal.
“I have become lifelong friends with some of the people I entered the program with,” she said. “It was the perfect environment for me. The college has exactly what most public health students are looking for regarding academic training and real world, professional networking opportunities.”
Moore’s career path to FSL and serving Arizona’s seniors was greatly influenced by her hometown and the college as well. Moore’s time in Arkansas put her in connection with service-minded people who were passionate about addressing health disparities.
“At UAMS, you’ll get the support from faculty to meet your goals,” she said. “Also, my experiences helped to further shape my character.
“When we consider some of the things we see happening in public health — Arkansas is a perfect example of a community that is ripe with opportunity and momentum. The College of Public Health has a lot to offer.”