Earnestine Willis, MD, MPH  

Titles
Investigator, Children's Research Institute; professor, Pediatrics, and director, Center for the Advancement of Underserved Children, Medical College of Wisconsin.

Division
Community Health, Outcomes and Public Health

Research center/program
Center for Advancement of Urban Children

Research interests
Community health and prevention, health disparities

Study interests
Child advocacy, community-based and system-based practice, community-based participatory research, graduate medical education, health access, maternal and child health, program development and implementation, school-based health.

Education
Medical degree, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 1976; master's of Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, 1977; residency, Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University Hospitals and Clinics, Cleveland, Ohio, 1980; fellowship, General Academic Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University Hospitals and Clinics, Cleveland, Ohio, 1980-1981; fellowship, Health Policy, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., 1989-1990.

Certifications
Pediatrics licensure: Wis., Ill., Ohio; fellow, American Academy Pediatrics.        

Honors
It Takes a Whole Village Award, 25th Anniversary Celebration, Milwaukee Community Journal, 2001; Women of Distinction Award; City of Waukesha YWCA; Outstanding Women of Achievement Award, YWCA of Greater Milwaukee, 2001; April 18th Day of Remembrance Award to Wisconsin Tobacco Control and Prevention, 2002; Outstanding Dedication and Support to Milwaukee Head Start Children and Families, Social Development Commission-Head Start, 2005; Women Pioneers in Research, Milwaukee Business Journal Annual Award, Milwaukee, 2007; Black Child Development Institute-Milwaukee Affiliate, Children's Legacy Award, 2007; Professional Dimensions Sacagewea Award, 2008.

Representative publications

• Willis E, Carillo J, Reznik V. Community-Academic Partnerships: Indispensable Learning Environments for Pediatric Resident Education: The Dyson Initiative. Pediatric Research. 2003; 53(4):103A.
• Lutter SA, Glatz JA, Kastner KJ, Taylor SR, Willis E. Filling the Cavities Between Children and Oral Health. Wisconsin Medical Journal. 2004; 103(5):74-78.
• Willis E, Frazer T, Kliegman R. Value of Community Pediatrics Rotation for Residents. Journal of Pediatrics. 2006; 148(3):287-288.
• Solomon BS, Blaschke GS, West DC, Pan RJ, Sanders L, Swigonski, Willis E, Schwarz D. Pediatric Residents' Perceptions of Community Involvement Prior to Residency: Brief Report. Ambulatory Pediatrics. 2006; 6:337-341.
• Willis E, Kabler-Babbitt C, Zuckerman B. Early Literacy Interventions: Reach Out and Read. Pediatrics Clinics of North America. WB Saunders Company. 2007; (54):625-642.
• Willis E, Frazer T, Samuels R, Bragg D, Marcdante K. Pediatric Residents Address Critical Child Health Issues in the Community. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education and Action. 2007; 1(3):273-280.
• Nabrit-Stephen B, Willis E. Why is State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) a Big Deal? Journal of the National Medical Association. 2007 Jul.; (7):818-819.

Grants

• Academic Fellowship in Primary Care Research, Institutional National Research Service Award, co-project director, General Pediatrics, 1998-2008.
• The Dyson Initiative: Pediatric Training in the Community, Dyson Foundation, principal investigator, 2000-2008.
• School-based/School-linked Health Centers, Elizabeth Brinn Foundation, principal investigator, 2000-2008.
• New Ventures Fund, Wisconsin Energy Corp., principal investigator, 2005-2010.
• Community Health Improvement: Metcalfe/Concordia, National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities/National Institutes of Health, principal investigator, 2005-2008.
• National Children's Study Vanguard Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison (National Institute of Child Health and Development subcontract), co-investigator, 2005-2010.
• Healthy Teeth=Healthy Kids, Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program, principal investigator, 2006-2007.
• Reach Out and Read, Palmer Foundation, principal investigator, 2006-2007.
• Reach Out and Read, RGK Foundation, principal investigator, 2007-2008.
• Faith-based African American Health Network, Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program, principal investigator, 2007-2008.
• Outreach to the Community: Parents Teach Culturally Appropriate Health Care Delivery, Milwaukee Area Health Education Center, Inc., principal investigator, 2007-2008.
• Reach Out and Read, Wisconsin Energy Corp., principal investigator, 2007-2011.

Contact
Children's Research Institute
8701 Watertown Plank Road
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
Phone: (414) 456-4131
Fax: (414) 456-6539
E-mail: ewillis@mcw.edu