Jeffrey Simms, MSPH
Director of Professional Development
UNC Gillings School of Public Health
Member of CCNC, Inc. Board
Jeffrey A. Simms is the Associate Chair for Alumni and External Affairs in the Department of Health Policy and Management. Simms works with students on professional development experiences, job placements, internships, and professional networking and manages alumni relations.
Before joining UNC, Simms worked at the NC Department of Health & Human Services as the deputy director of the Office of Rural Health & Community Care and assistant director of the division of Medical Assistance. He managed the department’s statewide Medicaid managed care program, Community Care of NC, and assisted with the development of the rural health care delivery system in underserved communities. He oversaw the development of the HealthNet Uninsured initiative and managed the Pharmacy Assistance programs in the safety net provider system across the state.
Simms has spoken at local, regional, and national conferences on children’s health care and public policy issues. He is a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the NC General Baptist State Convention Health and Human Services, the UNC Chapel Hill-Shaw University Faith Based Collaborative Advisory Committee, and the Duke Endowment and NCHA Sponsored Care + Share Uninsured Initiative Advisory Board. He is chairman of the Center for Health and Healing’s Board of Directors. He is an associate minister of First Baptist Church in Lucama, NC and pastor of New Vester Missionary Baptist Church in Sims, NC.