Statement
Shane Reader, MA PhD
A multidisciplinary scientist promoting health through policy
Statement
Shane Reader, MA PhD
A multidisciplinary scientist promoting health through policy
Assessing and addressing the barriers to health, Dr. ReadeR bridges the divide between research and policy to improve health outcomes
Shane Reader is a policy scientist and legal epidemiologist committed to advancing health equity using a unique combination of policy and research acumen. Compounding social, economic, and political challenges have produced outsized health disparities and inequities in the United States that require comprehensive solutions. Through a combination of empirical research, coalition-building, and Texan ingenuity, Dr. Reader is promoting health in our state and nation.
PhD in Health Policy, 2022
Concentration in Biostatistics; Certificate in Public Health Law Research & Policy Surveillance
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX
MA in Psychology, 2017
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, TX
Capabilities
Capabilities
Capabilities
Capabilities
Research
The goal of Shane Reader’s research is to produce evidence that underwrites reliable, practical, equitable policy prescriptions to promote health and opportunity in Texas. His primary research discipline is legal epidemiology, the investigation of law and policy as a risk factor for downstream health outcomes. However, Dr. Reader has proficiency in a variety of research domains, including psychology, health services, neuroscience, and medicine. These diverse lines of research all approach integrative scientific questions, namely How can we use the levers of policy to make lives better for our fellow Texans? Who’s falling through the cracks? and What can we do right now to make life better for our neighbors?
Impact
The most profound studies don’t do any good stuck in a scientific journal. As such, Shane Reader emphasizes policy communication, not just policy science. To date, he has earned more than $2,000 in cash awards for science and policy presentations. Dr. Reader’s public speaking experience includes invited lectures for expert and lay audiences, service as a professor and instructor of record, and even as a public speaking coach. Additionally, Shane Reader has advanced proficiencies in data visualization to create conversation-starting graphics illustrating important policy and health topics.
Selected Publications
Review and Inventory of 911 Good Samaritan LAws in the United States. International Journal of Drug Policy
Persistent challenges in the Hepatitis C Virus care continuum for patients in a Central Texas public healthcare system. Open Forum Infectious Disease.
Cognitive reappraisal of low-calorie food predicts real-world craving and consumption of high- and low-calorie foods in daily life. Appetite
Selected Media
Research in Practice: Good Samaritan Laws and Policy Surveillance. Center for Public Health Law Research, Temple University.
Dimension Reduction of Policy Surveillance: Lessons from the Nth Dimension. University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas.
Culturally competent care for communities with chronic conditions (C6). University of texas health science center at houston
Brain: Form and Function. UTHealth Neuroscience Research Center.
Selected Projects
Houston Viral Hepatitis Task Force. (President, 2019 - 2021)
911 good Samaritan Law Inventory. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Harris Cares: A 2020 Vision of Health for Harris County. Harris County Public Health (Data Analyst)
Toolset
Toolset
Toolset
Toolset
Skills
Policy
Mapping & Surveillance
Analysis & Evaluation
Advocacy
Science
Research Management
Data Analysis & Visualization
Science Writing & Publication
Community
Public Speaking
Coalition-Building
Community Leadership
REcognitions
Communication
More than $2,000 in award money for science and policy communication
First Place, Impact of regulation of most-favored nation clauses on healthcare spending. UTHealth Student Research Day (2021)
First Place, No Cake Walk. TAMUCC 3 Minute Thesis Competition (2017)
First Place, Brain: Form and function. UTHealth Neuroscience Research Center Brain Awareness Week (2021)
Audience Choice, Healthcare Innovation Challenge (2021)
Fellowships
Archer Fellowship in Washington D.C., University of Texas (2023)
Funding & Scholarships
Outstanding New Student Scholarship, UTHealth ($1,000, 2020)
Research Enhancement Grant, TAMUCC ($5,000, 2017)
Graduate Studies Scholarship, TAMUCC ($1,000, 2016)
Presidential Scholarship, St. John's University ($100,000+, 2009)
Values
Values
Values
Values
Shane Reader’s work is scaffolded by a commitment to core values that ignite lines of research, inform the content of presentations, and determine where to spend extra energy. These values derive from Dr. Reader’s diverse life experiences: growing up overseas in a family of educators, emulating the strength and compassion of role models, and drawing from the inexhaustible well of old-fashioned Lone Star pride.
Mentorship
The most important thing we can teach students is how to teach themselves. As a professor, instructor, and mentor, Shane Reader draws from his own academic experience to train students in science literacy, critical reasoning, and a skill-focused curriculum they can draw from throughout their careers, rather than memorization and regurgitation.
Service
Lasting change must start from the ground up in order to improve the circumstances of all hard-working Texans. Shane Reader draws from years of experience as a coalition-builder, community leader, and former president of a community-based non-profit to produce actionable insights that can enhance the lives of people with fewer means.
Joy
Any truly meaningful mission will experience setbacks and frustrations, particularly in the realm of health and policy. Dr. Reader knows that the best way to stop ruminating on these obstacles is to celebrate successes, cherish our company, and spend time enjoying the simple pleasures that connect us.
Teaching & Mentorship
Houston Community College. Adjunct Professor of Psychology (2019; Read the teaching evals)
Texas Epidemic Public Health InstitutE. Instructor
I.K. Jiang. Eat Your Heart Out: Emotion regulation predicts cravings. Mentor
Community Leadership
Houston Viral Hepatitis Task Force. President (2019 - 2021)
Texas Coalition for Healthy MindS. Member
Houston Policy Initiative for Harm Reduction. Member
Houston Recovery InitiativE. member
Hobbies
Video Games
Cooking & Baking
Reading (Texas Medical History)
Dr. Miguel A. Moreno Scholarship for Hispanic and Latino/Latina Students in Psychology
Dr. Shane Reader established the scholarship to celebrate and expand on Dr. Moreno’s career promoting the personal and professional development of psychology students at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. In the interest of paying it forward, consider this the first payment. Any additional donations made to the scholarship will be disbursed directly to a graduate student of psychology at TAMUCC chosen independently by the TAMUCC Foundation.
Connect
Let’s Chat
Connect
Let’s Chat
Coffee Chats Encouraged
Shane Reader is always glad to make the acquaintance of community stakeholders, policymakers, and risk takers. If you think you may benefit from a coffee chat with Dr. Reader, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Let’s talk about
Analyses
Evaluations
Insight