Robert Hines is an experienced facilitator, quality improvement (QI) specialist, and public health professional with over 13 years of practice in various aspects of governmental public health. His interests include coaching and mentoring emerging public health professionals, community engagement, and helping organizations improve their internal processes.

A native of Houston, TX, Robert completed his educational training in New Orleans, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Master of Science in Public Health from the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He returned to Houston to join the Houston Health Department (HHD) in 2008, serving as a lead Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) in the HIV/STD prevention program, as an HIV epidemiologist, and as Accreditation Coordinator/Performance Improvement Manager. In his role as coordinator, Robert was tasked with leading HHD efforts towards accreditation and QI. In December 2014, HHD became the first department in Texas, and the second largest city health department in the United States, to receive national accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board.

Having worked to advance public health practice in his hometown, Robert recently returned to his second home, New Orleans, for the opportunity to leverage his experience to have a positive impact on the health and well-being of Louisiana residents. He currently serves as the Deputy Director for Planning and Performance at the Louisiana Department of Health, where his work is focused on process improvement, accreditation, and strategic and community health improvement planning.​