Gurka to Serve as New Director of Education at HOP

Matthew Gurka, Ph.D., is the new director of education and training for the Department of Health Outcomes & Policy (HOP).  Gurka joined UF in 2015 as early childhood preeminent professor with a dual appointment in the Department of Health Outcomes & Policy and the Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies. He is also the associate director for the Institute for Child Health Policy.

Before coming to UF, Gurka was the founding chair of the Department of Biostatistics in the School of Public Health (SPH) at West Virginia University, where he also led the Clinical Research Design, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics Program of the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute (WVCTSI). In his role as founding chair, Gurka started new degree programs in biostatistics, including a master of public health (MPH) and a master of science (MS) in biostatistics.  He also led the development of an applied biostatistics online certificate program, and was part of the SPH leadership team responsible for the accreditation of the school by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

“There is a great deal of excitement and potential for the department’s educational programs,” Gurka said.  “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead these programs and to interact more closely with the department’s faculty and students in this role.”