Dr. Jeffrey J. Hatala is an assistant professor and program director for the WT Health Sciences program at the RELLIS campus in Bryan, Texas. He is responsible for recruiting, curricula, and student engagement in the program.

Dr. Hatala has earned a PhD in health services policy and management and a Master of Mass Communication from the University of South Carolina, and has completed graduate coursework as part of a public health certificate from the University of Colorado. His work spans multiple areas. His initial work included obesity prevention, and he is expanding his research portfolio to include increasing and strengthening public health workforce and organizations. He also participated in and led community health needs assessments with rural hospitals in Texas, and he has conducted evaluation studies for military and rural organizations.

Dr. Hatala has taught courses in public health, health quality, health policy, health management, problem solving and decision making, health systems, strategic planning, and marketing. He has run both practicum and capstone experiences, and, in doing so, has worked with state, local, and national organizations to create student projects to add value to these organizations. Dr. Hatala also serves with the Brazos County Health Coalition and has served or is serving on the boards of directors for the United Way of the Brazos Valley and the Texas Rural Health Association.