James E. Leone, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor/Author
EDUCATOR - RESEARCHER - AUTHOR - CLINICIAN
My work...
...is quite diverse! I hold many titles including educator, researcher, author, and clinician among others. Here I briefly describe my work and roles in each of these areas.
My work as an EDUCATOR...
...has spanned 15 years now in various roles. Presently, I primarily teach course work in community and school health at Bridgewater State University [MAHPLS Profile], however, I also actively teach and contribute to courses in the undergraduate and graduate athletic training programs. I also teach courses in the Physician Assistant Studies program and Master of Public Health in Urban Health program at Northeastern University. My teaching philosophy is to make learning translational and transformative for my students so that they do not just learn for the sake of getting a job, but to function as life-long critical thinkers who actively contribute to a healthy and robust society.
My work as an RESEARCHER...
...is perhaps best described as behavioral health research. I primarily have been working with what prevents males from regularly accessing healthcare, particularly when they are sick or injured. However, I have several other areas of interest and emphasis in male health including: general gender-based health disparities, masculinity, testicular cancer advocacy, and injury (concussion) concealment.
In addition to the empirical work I do in this area, I also am interested in theory that may help explain and drive future research in male health. For example, my colleague Michael Rovito, PhD, MA, CHES, FMHI and I have been working on something we call the Theory of Normative Contentment (TNC). Essentially, we are interested in studying how accepting poorer male health outcomes (i.e. morbidity and mortality) as normal in society came to be and how we can begin addressing this through policy and programming. You can view the paper here:
My work as an AUTHOR...
...has allowed me to learn and apply behavioral science to public health programming as well as instruction in the classroom. In addition to my peer-reviewed journal articles, I also have had the opportunity to contribute to several other books in the form of chapters and commentary. This is in addition to my own book published in 2012 titled, Concepts in Male Health: Perspectives Across the Lifespan (Jossey-Bass/Wiley Publishers). I am always creating and writing and have several new works in progress and on the horizon...stay tuned!
My work as an CLINICIAN...
...began in in 1996 as an athletic training student where I was assigned to men's ice hockey and tennis at Boston University. I then completed a full 1 year+ sports medicine internship with the New England Patriots football team in the NFL during late 1999-2000. Once I earned my ATC and CSCS credentials, I worked in the clinic outreach and high school setting before working with the baseball team and spirit squad at Indiana State University from 2001-2002. I also had the opportunity to work on the medical staff for the NCAA cross-country nationals. While acting as program director and clinical education coordinator for the athletic training program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale from 2002-2006, I also volunteered for many events such as the St. Louis Marathon and home football games. I also covered several sports at a local community college (Shawnee Community College) in Ullin, Illinois. Also while in Illinois/Kentucky, I covered football games for Reidland High School in Kentucky via outreach with Biokinetics, Inc. in Paducah, KY. I have always tried to incorporate my medical skills and strength and conditioning knowledge to advance patient care and improve sports performance - I continuously stress this when I am teaching athletic training students and physician assistants. Since moving into academia fulltime I have had much less time to work clinically (although I do miss it!). I try to remain relevent in the field by volunteering for sports events and per diem work, such as the 2015 BAA Boston Marathon. To me...my work as a clinician/educator/researcher are one in the same!