Pavani Rangachari, Ph.D., CPH

Her early research focused on understanding the implementation of change and innovation in healthcare organizations. Through close collaboration with providers and healthcare leaders, she examined factors influencing the successful adoption of evidence-based infection prevention practices in hospital intensive care units and the meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs) across care settings. These studies contributed to the identification of evidence-based management strategies and informed policy recommendations for the successful implementation of patient-centered care practices. Her work also addressed disparities in unscheduled care use for childhood asthma and explored innovations in telehealth delivery, self-management of chronic disease, and leadership resilience during COVID-19.

Dr. Rangachari’s recent scholarship has gained momentum through a two-part systematic review of how hospitals and health systems in the U.S. are addressing SDOH. Nationally featured by OPEN MINDS, this work laid the foundation for a conceptual framework on digital health equity in learning health systems, accepted for presentation at the 2025 AOM Annual Meeting in Copenhagen. These efforts are laying the groundwork for new interdisciplinary research projects focused on digital health inclusion for vulnerable populations and related SDOH-centered healthcare innovations. Equally important, these efforts have provided a rich platform for advancing her long-standing commitment to graduate and doctoral student mentorship.

Over the course of her career, Dr. Rangachari has actively mentored graduate students in both the Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) programs on a wide range of applied research initiatives, many directly linked to externally funded projects. These mentoring relationships have supported student co-authorships, strengthened applied research skills, and helped launch successful careers in public health and healthcare leadership. In recent years, she has further expanded her mentorship through interdisciplinary collaborations spanning departments, institutions, and sectors. These efforts have created hands-on research opportunities for students while advancing scholarly work at the intersection of digital innovation, health equity, and systems transformation. For example, a collaborative, multi-phase research project on health system strategies to address SDOH resulted in peer-reviewed publications co-authored with students, internship completions, and meaningful career outcomes. One student secured a public health role focused on addressing structural barriers to nutrition access, applying skills developed under Dr. Rangachari’s guidance, while others have pursued advanced academic training or leadership positions in healthcare organizations.

In addition, Dr. Rangachari serves as a doctoral thesis committee chair and advisor in the Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) program, where she mentors students in designing, executing, and publishing applied health research. She has chaired or served on committees for doctoral projects examining topics such as financial toxicity among insured patients, the adoption of evidence-based clinical decision support tools in primary care, and strategies for the successful implementation of telehealth services. Many of these projects have led to peer-reviewed publications or working papers, underscoring her deep commitment to fostering scholarly development and dissemination among emerging healthcare leaders.

Beyond her university, Dr. Rangachari is actively engaged in national leadership and service. She currently serves as Program Co-Chair of the Health Administration Section and Section Councilor for the Health Informatics Section of the American Public Health Association. She holds editorial leadership positions as Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Healthcare Leadership and the Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare and serves on the editorial boards of BMC Health Services Research and the Journal of Hospital Management and Health Policy. She has also served on federal grant review panels for agencies such as AHRQ, NIH, NCI, and CDC/NIOSH, including a four-year term as a standing member of the AHRQ Health Information Technology Research (HITR) study section.

In addition to her research and national service, Dr. Rangachari has held nearly a decade of academic leadership roles. She previously served as Director of the CAHME-accredited MHA program at the University of New Haven, and as Director of the CEPH-accredited MPH program and Associate Dean for Practice and Community Health at Augusta University in Georgia, where she also held a joint faculty appointment in Family Medicine. In these roles, she led efforts to build academic-practice partnerships, enhance community engagement, and strengthen workforce pathways in public health and healthcare leadership.

Dr. Rangachari holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy and an M.S. in Health Management and Policy from SUNY Albany. She is Certified in Public Health (CPH) by the National Board of Public Health Examiners and is an elected member of the Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to improving health system performance, promoting equity in healthcare access and outcomes, and mentoring the next generation of public health and healthcare leaders.

Rangachari P., Thapa, A., Sherpa, D.L., Katukuri K., Ramadyani, K., Jaidi. H.M., and Goodrum, L. (2024). Characteristics of hospital and health system initiatives to address social determinants of health in the United States: a scoping review of the peer-reviewed literature. Frontiers in Public Health 12:1413205. Article Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38873294/

Rangachari P. (2023). Does healthcare consumerism serve as a barrier or facilitator to the implementation of value-based primary care? Strategies to promote synergy and success. Frontiers in Medicine, Section: Family Medicine and Primary Care; 10:1269796. PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37727762/

Rangachari P. The Untapped Potential of the Quadruple Aim of Primary Care to Foster a Culture of Health. Int J Gen Med. 2023 Jun 3; 16:2237-2243. PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37293519/

Rangachari P, Parvez I, LaFontaine AA, Mejias C, Thawer F, Chen J, Pathak N, Mehta R. Effect of Disease Severity, Age of Child, and Clinic No-Shows on Unscheduled Healthcare Use for Childhood Asthma at an Academic Medical Center. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 13;20(2):1508. PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36674266/

Rangachari P, Mushiana SS, Herbert K. (2022). A scoping review of applications of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to telehealth service implementation initiatives. BMC Health Services Research.22(1):1450. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-08871-w. PMID: 36447279.
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36447279/

Rangachari, P. (2022). A holistic framework of strategies and best practices for telehealth service design and implementation. In Service Design Practices for Healthcare Innovation: Paradigms, Principles, Prospects. Edited by Rasch, C., Brehmer, N., Pfannstiel, MA. Springer Publishing Group, New York, NY.
Book link: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87273-1
Chapter link: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-87273-1_16

Rangachari, P. (2022). EDITORIAL: Meaningful use of electronic health record (EHR) medication reconciliation technology requires a shared understanding of its value among healthcare providers; Pharmacogenomics Research and Personalized Medicine; 1(1) https://dx.doi.org/10.21037/prpm-21-25

Rangachari, P., Govindarajan, A., Seehusen, D. Mehta, R., Rethemeyer, R.K. (2022). The relationship between Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and death from cardiovascular disease or opioid use in counties across the united states (2009-2018); BMC Public Health, 22, 236; IF: 3.17.
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35120479/

Rangachari, P., Mushiana, S., Herbert, K. (2021). A narrative review of factors historically influencing telehealth use across six medical specialties in the United States. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (9): 4995. IF: 3.39.
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34066829/

Rangachari, P., Chen, J., Ahuja, N.*, Patel, A.*, Mehta, R. (2021). Demographic and risk factor differences between children with “one-time” and “repeat” visits to the emergency department for asthma. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (2): 486. IF: 3.39.
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33435304/

Rangachari, P. (2020). Understanding evidence-based practice (EBP) implementation in HCOs using the lens of organizational theory, Journal of Healthcare Leadership; 12: 35-48; PMID: 32607042; ESCI
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32607042/

Rangachari, P., Woods, J.L. (2020). Preserving organizational resilience, patient safety, and staff retention during COVID-19 requires a holistic consideration of the psychological safety of healthcare workers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(12), 4267; IF: 3.39.
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32549273/

Rangachari, P., Griffin, D.D., Ghosh, S., May, K.R. (2020). Demographic and risk-factor differences between users and non-users of unscheduled healthcare among pediatric outpatients with persistent asthma; International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; 17(8):2704; IF: 3.39.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32326397

Rangachari, P., Dellsperger, K.C, Rethemeyer, R. (2020). A health system’s pilot experience with using mobile SKN technology to enable meaningful use of EHR MedRec. 2019 American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) Annual Symposium Proceedings; eCollection 2019: 745-754; PMID:32308870.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32308870

Rangachari, P., May, K.R., Stepleman, L.M., Tingen, M.S., Looney, S. Liang, Y., Rockich-Winston, N., Rethemeyer, R.K. (2019). Measurement of key constructs in a holistic framework for assessing self- management effectiveness of pediatric asthma. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; 16, 3060; PMID: 31443605; IF: 3.39.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31443605

Rangachari, P., Dellsperger, K.C, Rethemeyer, R. (2019). A health system’s experiences with using social knowledge networking (SKN) technology to enable meaningful use of EHR medication reconciliation technology. Journal of Hospital Management and Healthcare Policy; 3: 22. PMID: 31656950.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6813792/

Rangachari, P., Dellsperger, K.C, Rethemeyer, R. (2019). Network analysis of the structure of inter-professional knowledge exchange related to electronic health record (EHR) medication reconciliation within a social knowledge networking (SKN) system; Journal of Healthcare Leadership; 11: 87-100; PMID: 31308781; SJR; ESCI.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31308781

Rangachari, P., Dellsperger, K.C, Rethemeyer, R. (2019). A qualitative study of inter-professional learning related to electronic health record (EHR) medication reconciliation within a social knowledge networking (SKN) system; Journal of Healthcare Leadership; 11: 23-41; PMID: 31114416; SJR: 0.35; ESCI.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31114416

Rangachari, P., Dellsperger, K.C, Fallaw, D., Davis, I., Sumner, M., Ray, W., Fiedler, S*. Nguyen, T*. Rethemeyer, R. (2019). A mixed-method study of practitioners’ perspectives on issues related to EHR Medication Reconciliation at a health system; Quality Management in Health Care, 28(2): 84-95 PMID: 30801417; IF: 0.89.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30801417

Rangachari, P. (2018). Implementing a Social Knowledge Networking (SKN) System to Enable Meaningful Use of an EHR Medication Reconciliation System: A Study Protocol. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy; PMID: 29618941; 11: 45-53; IF: 2.23.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29618941

Rangachari, P., Dellsperger, K.C, Fallaw, D., Davis, I., Sumner, M., Ray, W., Fiedler, S*. Nguyen, T*. Rethemeyer, R. (2018). Creating a Foundation for Implementing an EHR-Integrated Social Knowledge Networking (SKN) System on Medication Reconciliation; Journal of Hospital Administration; 7(2): 36-49. doi:10.5430/jha.v7n2p36. PMID: 29682132.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29682132

Rangachari, P. (2018). Innovation Implementation in the Context of Hospital QI: Lessons Learned and Strategies for Success. Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Health; 5: 1-14. PMID: 29546884.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29546884

Coughlin, S.S, Carbine, L.D., Heboyan, V., Hatzigeorgiou, C., Rangachari, P., De Leo, G (2017). Use of My HealtheVet patient web portal among veterans seen for diabetes mellitus at a medical center in the southeastern United States; mHealth; 3: 50.PMID: 29354642.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/29354642/

Rangachari, P. (2017). A framework for measuring self-management effectiveness and healthcare use among pediatric asthma patients & families. Journal of Asthma and Allergy, 10: 111-122. PMID: 28442924; SJR; IF: 3.43.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28442924

Rangachari, P. (2016). Role of Social Knowledge Networking Technology in facilitating meaningful use of Electronic Health Record medication reconciliation. Journal of Hospital Administration, 5(3): 98-106. https://doi.org/10.5430/jha.v5n3p98.PMID:29152023.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29152023

Rangachari, P., Madaio, M., Rethemeyer, R.K., Wagner, P., Hall, L.*, Roy, S.*, Rissing, P. (2015). Cumulative impact of periodic top-down quality improvement communications on infection prevention practices & outcomes in two units. Health Care Management Review, 40(4):324-36. PMID: 25120195; IF: 2.44.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25120195

Rangachari, P., Mehta, R., Rethemeyer, R.K., Ferrang, C., Dennis, C., Redd, V. (2015). Short or long end of the lever? Associations between provider communication of the “Asthma-Action Plan” and outpatient revisits for pediatric asthma. Journal of Hospital Administration, 4(5): 26-39. https://doi.org/10.5430/jha.v4n5p26. PMID: 29201264.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29201264

Rangachari, P. Madaio, M., Rethemeyer, R.K., Wagner, P., Hall, L*., Roy, S*., Rissing, P. (2015). The evolution of knowledge exchanges enabling successful practice change in two intensive care units. Health Care Management Review, 40(1):65-78; PMID: 24153028; IF: 2.44.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=24153028

Rangachari, P. (2014). Using social knowledge networking technology to enable meaningful use of electronic health record technology in hospitals & health systems: Journal of Hospital Administration, 3(6): 66-78. https://doi.org/10.5430/jha.v3n6p66. PMID: 29201263.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29201263

Rangachari, P. Madaio, M., Rethemeyer, R.K., Wagner, P., Hall, L*., Roy, S*., Rissing, P. (2014). Role of communication content and frequency in enabling evidence-based practices. Quality Management in Heath Care, 23(1): 43-58. PMID: 24368720; IF: 0.89.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=24368720

Rangachari, P., Rissing, P., Rethemeyer, R.K. (2013). Awareness of evidence-based practices alone does not translate to implementation: Insights from implementation research. Quality Management in Health Care, 22(2): 117-125; PMID: 23542366; IF: 0.89.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=23542366

Rangachari, P. (2013). Effective communication network structures for hospital infection prevention: A study protocol. Quality Management in Health Care, 22(1):16-24; PMID: 23271590; IF: 0.89.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=23271590

Bhat, A., DeWalt, D., Zimmer, C., Fried, B., Rangachari, P., Seol, Y., Callahan, L. (2012). Associations between low literacy and health status measures: Cross-sectional analyses of two physical activity trials. Journal of Health Communication, 17(2): 230-245; PMID: 22059652; IF: 1.89
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=22059652

Rangachari, P., Bhat, A., Seol, Y. (2011). Using the customer-service framework to successfully implement patient-and-family-centered care. Quality Management in Health Care, 20(3): 179-197; PMID: 21725217. SJR; IF: 0.89.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=21725217

Rangachari, P., Rissing, P., Wagner, P., Mani, C., Rethemeyer, K., Dillard, T., Bystrom, C., Goins, D., Gillespie, W. (2010). A baseline study of communication networks related to evidence-based infection prevention practices in an intensive care unit. Quality Management in Health Care, 19(4): 330-348; PMID: 20924254. SJR; IF: 0.89. PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=20924254

Rangachari, P. (2010). Overcoming the unintended adverse consequences of implementing health IT through human resource and knowledge management. Advances in Health Care Management, 9: 163-194; NLMID: 101090746 [Medline].
Publication Link: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/S1474-8231%282010%290000009011

Rangachari, P. (2010). Knowledge sharing and organizational learning in the context of hospital infection prevention. Quality Management in Health Care, 19(1): 34-45; PMID: 20042932; IF: 0.89.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=20042932

Rangachari, P. (2009). Knowledge sharing networks in professional complex systems. Journal of Knowledge Management, 13(3): 132-145. doi: 10.1108/13673270910962923; IF: 4.74
Publication Link: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/13673270910962923

Rangachari, P. (2008). Knowledge sharing networks related to hospital quality measurement & reporting. Health Care Management Review, 33(3): 253-263; PMID: 18580305. SJR: 0.99; IF: 2.44.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=18580305

Rangachari, P. (2008). The strategic management of organizational knowledge exchange related to hospital quality measurement & reporting. Quality Management in Health Care, 17(3): 253-270; PMID: 18641508. SJR: 0.35; IF: 0.89.
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=18641508

Rangachari, P. (2007). Coding for quality measurement: The relationship between hospital structural characteristics and coding accuracy. Perspectives in Health Information Management, 4(3), 12p. Available online: www.ahima.org/perspectives; PMID: 18066353. SJR: 0.28
PubMed Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=18066353

Rangachari, P., Hutchinson, D. (2006). A systems approach to dramatically improving core measure outcomes in a small rural facility. Journal of Healthcare Quality, 28(5): 37-43; PMID: 7518023. SJR: 0.5
Publication Link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1945-1474.2006.tb00630.x/abstract

Select Current Publication Projects

• Collaborative scoping review article on applications of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to telehealth service implementation initiatives.
• Collaborative research article on identifying individual, health system, and community-level risk factors for unscheduled healthcare use among children with asthma.

Courses Taught

• Introduction to Healthcare Delivery Systems
• Healthcare Performance Improvement
• Human Resources Management
• Health Policy and Politics
• Fundamentals of Healthcare Management
• Public Health Research Methods

High-Impact Practices

• Evidence-based management strategies for the successful implementation of catheter-related bloodstream infection prevention practices in ICUs
• Evidence-based management strategies for the meaningful use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology in health systems
• Holistic framework of strategies and best practices for the design and implementation of telehealth services
• Faculty mentorship for the formation of a Health Professions Student Association
• Administrative leadership to enable rapid growth and development of a public health academic program