Modernization Efforts to Improve Data Accessibility and Analyses with the Arizona Department of Health Services
About the presenters
Matt Roach, MPH
Matt Roach is the Vital Statistics Manager at the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and has been with ADHS since 2012. Mr. Roach holds a MPH degree in epidemiology from the University of South Florida. He oversees the dissemination of statistics on births, deaths, and hospitalizations. Mr. Roach is also the solution owner for the Public Health Data Portal (PHDP), one of the major data modernization initiatives at the department. PHDP aims to create a set of informatics tools that allows ADHS data to be easily accessible by internal and external staff in one place instead of in multiple siloed systems. Mr. Roach is the principal investigator (PI) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) grant in Arizona. Previously, he led ADHS epidemiology programs in Climate and Health and Environmental Toxicology.
Nicole Eiden
Nicole Eiden is the GIS Manager at the Arizona Department of Health Services, where she leads the integration of geospatial technology into public health programs. With over 25 years of GIS experience, she has developed expertise in spatial analysis, spatial data quality improvement, and mapping solutions that make complex health information more accessible and actionable. Ms. Eiden spearheaded the creation of the department’s Esri Open GIS Data Portal, which provides public access to authoritative health data and interactive mapping tools, supporting transparency and community engagement. Along with her team, she collaborates with programs across the department to deliver innovative GIS solutions. Known for her ability to translate technical GIS tools into practical solutions, Ms. Eiden fosters innovation and creativity in applying geospatial technology to public health challenges. Before joining ADHS in 2019, Ms. Eiden worked in state wildlife and fisheries management and federal environmental regulation.
Wesley Kortuem
Wesley Kortuem is the Data Analytics Section Lead within the Business Intelligence Office at the Arizona Department of Health Services. He is the Project Sponsor for the Public Health Data Portal (PHDP) and he oversees multiple programs at ADHS including, Visual Analytics, Geographic Information Systems, Statistics, Hospital Data Systems, Licensing Data Analytics and Syndromic Surveillance. Wesley has been with the State Health Department since 2002. He spent his first 20 years building and managing the agency’s GIS program and has been in the role of Data Analytics Section lead for the past year and a half.
Kathryn Claypool
With over 20 years of experience as a Business Analyst and Project Manager, Kathryn brings deep expertise in public health and big data management. She holds a master’s degree in Epidemiology and a graduate certificate in Clinical Research Management. Kathryn has led initiatives across diverse industries, including the Florida Department of Health, where she played a key role in designing and implementing MERLIN—a statewide, web-based system for integrated laboratory and communicable disease reporting.
Christine Kirby, MPH, PhD
Christine Kirby, MA, PhD, is a Research Coordinator Senior at Northern Arizona University’s Center for Community Health Engaged Research. Her work focuses on culturally grounded, community-based participatory research. Dr. Kirby participates in qualitative research design, REDCap data system development, and culturally and linguistically tailored communication tools. Trained as a linguistic anthropologist, her research bridges communication, motivation, and health behavior change, emphasizing how community context shapes the success of public health interventions.