Global Health Initiative Names Project Coordinator

United Methodist Communications
Office of Public Information

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2008

Contact: Diane Denton
(615) 742-5406 (office)
(615) 483-1765 (cell)

Global Health Initiative Names Project Coordinator

Nashville: United Methodist Communications announces the appointment of the Rev. Dr. Hilda R. Davis-Carroll as Project Coordinator for the Office of Global Health Initiative, effective February 18.

The 11-million member UnitedMethodistChurch is engaged in a new global health initiative aimed at combating diseases of poverty such as malaria and HIV/AIDS. As a founding partner in the Nothing But Nets malaria prevention initiative, the people of The United Methodist Church have helped raise more than $18 million for the purchase and distribution of mosquito nets to children and families in Africa since 2006.

As project coordinator of the Global Health Initiative, Davis-Carroll will oversee administrative and project management functions, assist with implementation and development of agency projects, conduct research, and act as a strategic consultant to assist in directing the vision for the future activities of the initiative. Key components of the initiative are creating awareness, health education, policy advocacy, fundraising and partnership building.

Davis-Carroll previously served as Director of the Faith-Based Health Initiative for the Tennessee Department of Health from 2004 to 2007, where she was responsible for the development and implementation of health programs in congregations across the state and worked through community organizations to increase faith and health collaborations.

Ordained as a United Methodist deacon in 1998, Davis-Carroll has also written and taught curriculum for women on spirituality and health for the MetropolitanInterdenominationalChurch in Nashville, served as chaplain and researcher for Vanderbilt Medical Center Cancer Clinic, and worked for United Methodist Publishing House as an editor and writer. She has lead workshops and spoken to congregations across the country about issues of health and spirituality. She is a contributing author to 365 Devotions for Mothers by Mothers and 365 Devotions for Women by Women, and has written a weekly health column for Nashville Pride newspaper.

Davis-Carroll earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from EasternMichiganUniversity, and a master's degree in theological studies and a Ph.D. in religion and psychology from VanderbiltUniversity in Nashville. She is married to Dr. Kevin Carroll, a professor at PayneCollege, and has a daughter, Erin Grimes, a graduate of DillardUniversity.