Christine C. Edwards, M.P.H.

With over 20 years experience in community and behavioral health, Christine has designed and implemented a variety of  projects ranging from an internet-based teen smoking cessation program for continuation high school students to a breast cancer survivor advocacy project.  Understanding the importance of measuring success regardless of the size the project, Christine has developed evaluations that complement both small and large-scale programs.  She is committed to working with communities and organizations to advocate for policy and environmental changes to promote healthy communities.  Christine’s work has focused on collaborative efforts and bringing diverse groups together around a common goal.

Prior to partnering with Leslie Linton in creating the Health Policy Consulting Group, Christine was a Project Director for the Center for Behavioral & Community Health Studies through the Graduate School of Public Health at San Diego State University.  Christine has extensive experience in grant writing and grant procurement, and has worked with local foundations, private corporations, state and federal agencies such as the California Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.   Christine has a Masters degree in Public Health from San Diego State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Redlands.  She has served on several national advisory boards and published in peer-reviewed journals.

Publications List

Leslie S. Linton, J.D., M.P.H

Leslie’s career progression from litigation attorney to public health professional was driven by her desire to tackle and solve complex problems facing organizations, communities, and individuals.  She was inspired to pursue a career in public health by the health disparities and insurance inadequacies she witnessed.  Leslie’s passion for advocacy, her experience working with public agencies, and her creative consensus-building skills are integral to her research, practice, and evaluation career in public health.    

Prior to partnering with Christine Edwards to create Health Policy Consulting Group, Leslie was the Deputy Director of the Active Living Research National Program Office located at San Diego State University and funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation .  Working with Dr. James Sallis, she developed the organization from its inception in 2001, creating a research agenda and Calls for Proposals, coordinating grant making activities (funding of $12.5 million in research grants) and overseeing technical assistance to more than 85 grantees of the program.  She also developed special programs for Active Living Research including a Seminar Program to encourage transdisciplinary education across fields, a Diversity Supplement grant making program to enhance careers of research scientists, and yearly active living themed issues of scientific journals.  Prior to her work with Active Living Research, Leslie managed a CDC funded policy evaluation of changes in school immunization laws and worked with a community coalition promoting adolescent health.

Leslie earned her Masters Degree in Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health, a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont.

Publications List