Assistant Professor
Dr. John Clements, PhD, is an associate professor whose research focuses on health outcomes and disparities among individuals with diabetes and multiple chronic conditions. His research interests also include rural experiences on disease progression and access to care, the influence of environmental exposures, and social determinants of health outcomes. While some of Dr. Clements' earlier research centered on environmental issues, he has expanded his focus to include how political and religious ideologies shape attitudes toward health care and medical science.
At his core, Dr. Clements is passionate about using data to address these topics. Although data has limitations and cannot express opinions or feelings, it can provide evidence that advocates for restructuring societal systems that have historically marginalized certain groups of people.
Dr. Clements teaches in the Master of Public Health (MPH) program. His courses include biostatistics, research methods, rural public health, and various elective courses. In addition to teaching, he is actively involved in academic governance, accreditation, curriculum development, and the creation of course and program evaluation systems. Dr. Clements also mentors’ students in health outcomes research and co-developed the new rural public health and data management and analytics MPH concentrations in 2024.
Before joining the MPH program in 2019, Dr. Clements served as an assistant professor at Central Michigan University’s College of Medicine, where he was a founding faculty member. His previous experience encompasses various roles in medical education, including overseeing undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education, as well as developing research and international programs for medical students and residents.
His diverse work experiences also include environmental chemistry and biology, environmental project management and engineering, grant writing and management, and health services and outcomes research.