As 2015 comes to a close and we look ahead to new opportunities in 2016, let’s reflect on some of USF Health’s highlights and accomplishments over the past year:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=9egMmvVnUh4

THE YEAR’S TOP STORY:  USF gets green light to build new USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Health Heart Institute under one roof in downtown Tampa

The unprecedented opportunity became a reality in 2015, propelled by the alignment of a series of events — including a generous donation by steadfast USF supporters Carol and Frank Morsani, Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik’s visionary plan to develop a waterfront district in downtown Tampa, former Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford’s championing of the Heart Institute’s funding, and a new spirit of collaboration between USF and Tampa General Hospital.  A site dedication for the future home of the USF Health medical school and heart institute was held Dec. 8.

At the Dec. 8 site dedication for the future home of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute in downtown Tampa, USF Health medical students pose with USF President Judy Genshaft (left) and Dr. Charles Lockwood, senior vice president for USF Health and dean, Morsani College of Medicine (next to USF mascot Rocky D. Bull). Photo by Aimee Blodgett, USF Photographer.

The proposal to make this academic facility integrating superior medical education, translational research and clinical care a key anchor of Mr. Vinik’s downtown development project was quickly endorsed by city and county officials and virtually every segment of the Tampa Bay region.  After careful review, the USF Board of Trustees, Florida Board of Governors, state legislators and the Governor recognized the value of the project, both to advance USF’s academic and research missions and to drive innovation and economic development.

– USF dedicates downtown Tampa site of new Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute
– Governor approves funding for Morsani College of Medicine move downtown
– USF medical school on the move

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKLUYEERoJU

College of Nursing graduates first group of veterans to BSN students

The College of Nursing’s first cohort of students in the Veterans to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (VBSN) program students graduated Dec. 11 at the USF fall commencement. Bolstered by a $1.25-million Department of Health and Human Services grant, USF offers veterans and service members the opportunity to earn a bachelor of science degree in nursing through an innovative, rigorous program that builds upon their military health care training and experience.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG7M1P7bWTo

Think team: Interprofessional health training for disasters

USF Health students from nursing, medicine, public health, pharmacy and physical therapy gathered for the first critical incident and emergency preparedness simulation training Nov. 10.

Donna Petersen, ScD, dean of the USF College of Public Health, is administered a flu vaccination by a nursing student at the college’s free flu shot drive. Deans from all four USF Health colleges turned out to show their support for the community service event.

Rolling up our sleeves to protect against flu

The USF College of Public Health sponsored its 19th yearly free flu vaccination drive, in collaboration with the Hillsborough County Health Department. An interdisciplinary team of faculty and residents supervised USF nursing and medical students who administered shots Nov. 13  to adults from the university and surrounding community.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHCoE7oyckA

USF Health celebrates “10 Together as One” 

USF Health faculty, staff and students gathered beneath the oaks near Lake Behnke in October to celebrate the 10^th Anniversary of USF Health. A decade ago, USF Health was created around a mission of envisioning and implementing the future of health.  A commitment, which continues today, was made to improve the full spectrum of health, from the environment, to the community, to the individual.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKe8e19D-Jg

Physical Therapy Class of 2018 takes an oath of commitment to professionalism

The achievements of USF Health’s relatively young School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences were highlighted at this year’s Commitment to Professionalism ceremony in October.  Among them were welcoming the school’s most selective Doctoral of Physical Therapy (DPT) class ever, with 47 Class of 2018 students chosen from among 1,299 applicants.  Additionally, this year the school admitted its first student to the new PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences degree program, and USF accepted its first resident into the Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency program.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=V33zp2qf3AE

USF Health, TGH open storefront health care experience at Muma JA BizTown

Can a fifth grader be a surgeon, a nurse, a pharmacist, a hospital CEO? At the Muma Junior Achievement BizTown in September, cosponsors USF Health and Tampa General Hospital celebrated the opening of a storefront “hospital” where Hillsborough County fifth graders can take on roles in various health care careers for a day.

.

USF Health physicians earn top spots as 2015-16 Best Doctors in America

The number of USF Health physicians making the biennial Best Doctors in America® list continues to grow. This year, the local list included 129 USF Health doctors who care for patients and families throughout the Tampa Bay region. More than two-thirds of the Best Doctors at our primary teaching hospital, Tampa General Hospital, are USF Health physicians.

Navigator Philip Conti of the Hillsborough County Division of Health Care Services speaks with Jodi Ray, principal investigator of the USF Navigator grant; Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn; and Michael Smith, special assistant to the President.

USF once again wins country’s largest Navigator grant

This September, for the second consecutive year, Jodi Ray’s team at the Florida Covering Kids & Families program, USF College of Public Health, was awarded the largest Navigator grant in the country — $5.9 million. Over the last three years, USF has been awarded more than $14.5 million in federal Navigator grants to help eligible uninsured Floridians get health care coverage.  The team’s success working with consortium partners across the state on education and outreach has garnered national media attention. This year’s enrollment event at the Marshall Student Center on Nov. 1 was visited by a White House official and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

USF Health’s Dr. Charles Lockwood with Kathryn J. Gillette, Bayfront Health Market President and CEO.

Bayfront Health St. Petersburg becomes newest affiliate in Pinellas County

Bayfront Health St. Petersburg signed an affiliation agreement this fall with USF Health to help expand and strengthen the health care provided to patients in key medical and surgical specialties. Bayfront Health initially contracted with USF Health physicians who practice in the specialty areas of general and interventional cardiology and colorectal surgery.

The USF Health transitioned to the Epic electronic health records system in seven months; the typical changeover takes more than 18 months.

Epic electronic health records system launched

USF Health converted to Epic electronic health records (EHR) system at all its clinical sites Aug. 1, launching a new era of efficiency, improved patient care and safety, and a more cohesive system with Tampa General Hospital, its primary teaching hospital. Hundreds of people from various departments have participated in the process.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiEacFnKlF0

USF Public Health first in state to launch new master’s curriculum

The USF College of Public Health became the first in Florida to update the curriculum for its master’s degree program, a step in tandem with a national effort to better train the public health workforce and improve population health. The changes reflect the national push to provide today’s public health professionals with real-world concepts that meet today’s public health needs. 

Kevin Sneed, PharmD, dean of the USF College of Pharmacy, presents the good news about accreditation to his faculty.

Pharmacy earns its first full accreditation

In July, the USF College of Pharmacy earned its first full accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), marking a huge milestone for the young school and validating the innovative education experience offered to its students.

Charles Paidas, MD, (far left) professor of surgery and vice dean for Clinical Affairs and Graduate Medical Education at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, chats with otolaryngology intern Lindsey Ryan, MD, (right) as a group follows him for grand rounds at Tampa General Hospital during the first day for new residents.

First Day: USF physician residents embrace their specialty training

On July 1, the national start to residency training programs, new-to-USF residents were deployed to many clinical facilities and hospitals across the Tampa Bay area affiliated with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.  This year’s residents and fellows totaled 238 — with about 45 percent starting at Tampa General Hospital, 25 percent at James A. Haley VA Hospital, 15 percent at Moffitt Cancer Center, and the remaining at various other sites.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs1D6L7xabY

First USF Health Commencement marks milestone for 600 graduates

The first-ever USF Health commencement ceremony May 1 brought together all the undergraduate and graduate candidates from the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Public Health and Pharmacy, as well as the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences.  The ceremony in USF’s Sundome marked the graduation of the College of Pharmacy’s inaugural class and recognized the 30^th anniversary of the USF College of Public Health, the state’s first accredited school of public health.

Christiano Caldeira, MD, president and CEO of Florida Advanced Cardiothoracic Surgery, in one of the cardiac operating rooms at Tampa General Hospital, where FACT surgery performs most of their more than 600 heart and lung surgeries a year.

USF Health, Florida Advanced Cardiothoracic Surgery team up to expand education and research

The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine launched an academic partnership with one of the top heart and lung transplant surgery groups in the country to expand the university’s education and research opportunities in advanced cardiovascular care. The partnership opens the door for USF to work closely with Florida Advanced Cardiothoracic Surgery, based at Tampa General Hospital, to create accredited fellowships in cardiothoracic surgery and subspecialties such as heart and lung transplantation and heart surgery.

This year, Military Times reported USF as the #2 Best For Vets university in the country, a ranking likely influenced by #1 rankings for both the College of Nursing and the College of Public Health as “Top Veteran-Friendly Schools.”

USF Nursing and Public Health each named No. 1 in Top 10 veteran-friendly schools rankings

In May College Factual ranked the USF College of Nursing the #1 veteran-friendly school in the nation for a bachelor’s degree in nursing.  That was followed in June by a first-place ranking for USF College of Public Health’s undergraduate program in College Factual’s “Top 10 Veteran-Friendly Public Health Schools” list.  Both top spots were reported in Military Times magazine.

– College Factual names USF #1 in top 10 ranking of veteran-friendly nursing schools
– USF undergraduate public health program ranked No. 1 among nation’s best for veterans

Leadership of USF Health and Florida Hospital Tampa, as well as medical faculty and student volunteers, pose for a photo at the soft opening of the BRIDGE Clinic at Florida Hospital.

USF Health and Florida Hospital Tampa partner to expand BRIDGE clinic

Further strengthening ties between the two institutions, Florida Hospital Tampa this April committed $1.2 million in donated goods and services to the University of South Florida to help expand community-centered medical care through the USF Health BRIDGE Clinic. The partnership will increase access to specialty care for uninsured residents served by the USF Health student-run program and significantly increase the number of patients seen.

Dr. Kevin Sneed, dean of the USF College of Pharmacy, meets “Fill” (short for Refill), the small humanoid robot who made his debut at the Pharmacy Plus open house.

Pharmacy Plus Open House introduces robotic “greeter”

Faculty, staff, students and patients got a close-up look at USF Health’s “Pharmacy of the Future” when Pharmacy Plus held an open house April 22 to inform the USF community of its full range of services, including making onsite pharmacists an integral part of the entire health care team.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zb1MF-qua8

USF med students find their residencies with Match Madness

The largest Match Day class in the history of USF’s medical school — 128 students, including the charter group of SELECT students — moved their 2015 Match Day celebration from Skipper’s Smokehouse to a more spacious venue at Ulele restaurant, along the banks of the Hillsborough River and Tampa’s Riverwalk.  The new spot is closer to downtown Tampa, the future home of the Morsani College of Medicine.  March 20, 2015 was also the first time that the USF College of Pharmacy celebrated its own Match Day.

– Morsani College of Medicine graduates 128 new physicians
– Students anticipate USF’s first Pharmacy Match Day

Dr. Charles Lockwood, senior vice president for USF Health and medical school dean, with FOI President Dr. Roy Sanders.

USF Health and Florida Orthopaedic Institute sign new academic affiliation agreement

USF Health and Florida Orthopaedic Institute (FOI), Florida’s largest private orthopaedic group, forged a new academic affiliation in March, aimed at creating a pre-eminent department of orthopaedic surgery at the University of South Florida over the next decade. FOI President Dr. Roy Sanders was named chair of the USF Orthopaedics Department as part of this stronger partnership to advance clinical training and research.

USF was ranked as Florida’s top graduate nursing program by U.S. News & World Report, surpassing such schools as the University of Florida, Florida State University and the University of Miami.

U.S. News ranks USF Nursing and Public Health graduate programs among nation’s best

Graduate programs at the University of South Florida’s College of Nursing and College of Public Health ranked among the nation’s best in the latest U.S. News & World Report “America’s Best Graduate Schools” edition, appearing online in March. Last ranked by U.S. News in 2011, the College of Nursing’s graduate program ranking jumped substantially from number 64 to number 38. The College of Public Health ranked 16 — up from 21 when the school was last ranked three years ago.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sKdDU_-t_k

25th USF Health Research Day: A celebration of research and collaboration

This year’s Research Day (Feb. 20)  marked the 25th time USF Health’s emerging scientists came together to present their projects.  Inside the Marshall Center Ballroom was a celebratory buzz of activity, with rows and rows of bulletin boards holding the work of students, residents, fellows and post-doctoral researchers from across USF Health, including some collaborations with main campus researchers.

The interdisciplinary team includes, standing from left, USF Health’s Dr. Arthur Labovitz, Dr. Michael Alberts, Dr. Michael Fradley, Bernadette Shields, RN, cardio-oncology nurse coordinator at Moffitt, Dr. Roohi Ismail-Khan, and Larry Roy, administrator for the new Cardio-Oncology program.

USF Health, Moffitt Cancer Center Launch Florida’s First Cardio-Oncology Program

In January, USF Health and Moffitt Cancer Center started Florida’s first comprehensive academic Cardio-Oncology Program to reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications caused by cancer treatment. The joint effort combines the expertise of cardiologists and oncologists to provide better care for cancer patients who have a history of cardiovascular disease or have developed cardiotoxic side effects from chemotherapy.

Commanding the stage with her powerful peformance of “Someone Like You,” USF pharmacy student Bionqua Lynch was the 2015 winner of the BANDaids for BRIDGE talent show.

BANDaids for BRIDGE showcases talent for a cause

The 4th Annual BandAIDS for BRIDGE Talent show packed the hall at the Pepin Hospitality Centre on Jan. 9 — entertaining students, faculty, staff and friends of USF Health with energetic acts ranging from heartfelt singing and dancing to musical arrangements and comedy. Beyond showcasing student talent, the event benefits the USF BRIDGE Healthcare Clinic, a nationally recognized initiative of students from several colleges and schools that provides free health care to underserved residents of the University Area Community.

RELATED ARTICLE:  Top 10 most popular USF Health stories

Videos by Sandra C. Roa and photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications and Marketing
Nursing fall pinning ceremony video by Ryan Noone, USF College of Nursing

This is another installment in a series of posts over the next couple of weeks highlighting some of many events the USF College of Public Health is hosting for National Public Health Week. Some of the blogs will be written coverage, others video highlights. And be sure to check out the places within the story that provide audio and video clips.

April 9

Hillsborough County Motorcycle Unit Deputies Steve Gutierrez, David Thatcher, Dominick DeSiato and Timothy Berg gave away bike safety helmets, lights, vests, reflective wrist bands and whistles.

COPH dedicated the day to transportation safety. Tables were set up to help raise awareness that affect motorists, cyclists, passengers, and pedestrians.

“A lot of people don’t really think twice about safety,” said CPL. Deputy David Thatcher of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Campus life often means local living and short-distance travel. This means more pedestrians and more cyclists. Wearing lights, vests and helmets help the growing number of cyclists, which has nearly doubled in recent years.

The campaign is broken down into four E’s. Education, Enforcement, Engineering and EMT.

 Listen to CPL. Deputy David Thatcher talk about engineering changes made to keep pedestrians safer on Fletcher Ave.

“The turn out is absolutely amazing, a lot more than we would have thought,” said Deputy Dominck DeSiato. Within 30 minutes into the event, DeSiatos’s unit had to run back to their office and restock their supply. Over 100 bike helmets were distributed.

Cauchavius Watts, a COPH Health Policy and Management student, fitted bike safety helmets.

People were also able to experience the reality of driving while impaired under the influence of alcohol. Just outside the COPH building a mini driving course allowed cart drivers the opportunity to navigate through narrow-placed cones while wearing vision impairment goggles. The course is designed for the cart to go through without hitting any cones. Everyone who took on the challenge hit cones that represent potential crash victims.

“It’s a normal thing for these goggles,” said Deputy Jeff Ramer. “They are simulating twice the legal limit.”

Hillsborough County Sheriff Deputies Larry Morrell and Jeff Ramer set up a mini-driving course for use with impairment goggles to demonstrate the dangerous effects of driving while impaired.

Watch the video.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zb1MF-qua8

“>

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRL2lx0CaU4

See more photos by Ellen Kent here.

April 8

2015 Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health is awarded [Multimedia]

Recognizing excellence in public health was the highlight of today’s COPH Public Health Awards Ceremony as part of National Public Health Week. Nancy L. Tipps, from the Florida Department of Health-Bay County, was honored with the 2015 Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health award.

In just six years of working in the public health field, Tipps has managed to impress, inspire and succeed in making her community a better place. Her current role evolved out of her nursing career, which spanned over 25 years. This transition from patient to community was prompted by her first attempt to retire.

“The nurse in me would look at people and say, you need help,” said Tipps.

Nancy L. Tipps’s managerial responsibilities range widely from programs in infectious diseases, school health, and clinical services to managing people, money, and nurturing partnerships. Photo by Eric Younghans.

 Nancy L. Tipps.

Tipps joins a growing list of 27 impressive women who’ve been recognized by USF College of Public Health.

“We have honored woman who lead when leadership is needed,” said COPH dean Donna Peterson, ScD, as she presented the heart shaped award. “This is a woman who gets things done.”

Photo by Eric Younghans

Etienne Pracht, PhD Professor of the COPH, also received some praise with an Outstanding Professor Award.

Pracht gave some guidance during his acceptance remarks. “Try something new,” “reflect,” and “just be nice.”

In addition, many students also shared the spotlight during the event for scholarship excellence, research work, and practice.

See more photos by Ellen Kent here.

 April 7

Great supporters of COPH visit for World Health Day

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor and Sam Bell, COPH Founder came to help celebrate the 30th annivesary of USF COPH and National Public Health Week.  Students greeted them with brief introductions about their research areas and progress.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ScO_yCB2uo

” target=”_blank”>

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ScO_yCB2uo

COPH hosted an event for NPHW’s World Health Day with tables and lab tours. Student posters were set up across tables along side pamphlets about international health, and vector borne diseases.

COPH Students Kristina Harand and Jayme Coyle gave tours into their research lab areas for World Health Day.

See more photos by Ellen Kent here.

April 6

Raising the grade for NPHW

Over 100 students, faculty and staff came to the student poster contest.

See more photos by Ellen Kent here.

April 3

Donors make Give Life Day a success [Photos]

Give Life Day was one of COPH’s ongoing events to prelude next week’s  National Public Health Week. Students and faculty have been working hard to promote community engagement by offering education about exercise, CPR techniques, and public spaces, to name a few. During Give Life Day, 26 donors joined the OneBlood Bloodmobile and the National Marrow Donor registry. Donate Life Florida added seven new names to their organ and tissue registry.

See more photos by Ellen Kent here.

OneBlood Bloodmobile receieved 26 blood donations on COPH’s Give Life Day at USF’s Tampa Campus. Photo by Ellen Kent.

April 2

Today the OneBlood Bloodmobile parked outside of USF College of Public to collect much needed blood donations. COPH has been leading activities and promoting information to engage and benefit public health. Among these activities was Give Life Day, an event that encouraged much needed blood, bone marrow, and organ or tissue donation, as well as offering information about these needs.

A table hosted by COPH’s Give Life Day gave out information to potential bone marrow donors.

April 1

A march to the Bull Market for National Walking Day [Photos]

Students and staff from the USF College of Public Health walked across campus to the Student Marshall Center to promote walking as part of the National Walking Day campaign initiated by the American Heart Association.

April 1 was National Walking Day, a campaign to promote people walking a minimum of 30 minutes a day, five days a week, to help prevent cardiovascular disease.

Raven Burrell, MPH student of the College of Public Health, participates in public health activities to help educate the community to exercise daily.

 Raven Burrell.

“So many conditions today are heart related”, said Deanne Ryder, a student earning her master’s in public health. “So many deaths can be prevented just by simply exercising and eating healthy.

Deanne Ryder, MHA and MPH student from the College of Public Health uses a river metaphor to describe the role of public health.

 Deanna Ryder.

Students and staff walked across campus to the Student Marshall Center during the weekly Bull Market. They also hosted activities and distributed information including walking maps.

“A lot of people look at fitness as an all or nothing approach,” said Kristina Harand, a toxicology student who led today’s activity. Walking at least 10,000 steps a day can have many benefits that help maintain vitals, combat obesity and promote overall health.

Kristina Ryder, an MSPH student of the College of Public Health, leads the National Walking Day activities at the weekly Bull Market at the USF  Tampa campus.

 Kristina Harand.

This event is part of a larger nationwide campaign for National Public Health Week to increase awareness and engage communities with information on how people can lead their own healthier lifestyles.

See more photos by Ellen Kent here.

March 28

Keeping Hillsborough River State Park trash free with USF College of Public Health [multimedia]

Dr. Marie Bourgeois, an assistant research professor at USF with her her daughter Maya Bourgeois, Britni Tisinger, Joseph Erbrick, Stephen Burd, Levy Furere, Megan Walker, and Maria Lazalde, volunteered at the Trash Free Water Initiative at Hillsborough River State Park.

In anticipation of National Public Health Week, USF College of Public Health has scheduled an array of activities and events to create awareness. On Saturday, March 28, nearly 200 volunteers arrived at Hillsborough River State Park to clean the park. The event was part of a Trash Free Waters Initiative organized by Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful and sponsored by Zephyrhills Water.

Volunteers were asked to be scientists for the day and collect data on the categories of litter they picked up. The data will be complied with stats from the previous clean-ups and will then be submitted to groups such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the International Coastal Conservancy.

The Hillsborough River is one of the main water sources for Tampa residents.

“It’s very important to recognize that the litter items are not supposed to be there” said Tom Damico, the environmental coordinator for Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.

Most of litter found is left behind from picnics and camping activities. Bottle caps, candy wrappers, and cigarette butts contain harmful chemicals and take up to two years to biodegrade.

“No one seems to think it’s garbage,” said Marie Bourgeois, PhD, an assistant research professor at USF who came with her daughter and offered an extra credit incentive to her students. “We live in this world and we’re going to leave this world to other people.”

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8eMUKCbpS8

“>

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8eMUKCbpS8

Using interactive health activities to educate children during the Haitian Health Fair

USF Health Service Corps Health Fair had it’s second year event at the Bethanie Adventist Haitian Church on Saturday, March 28, where more than 45 adults received health screenings.

Dr. Korede Adegoke, a physician from Nigeria earning her doctoral degree in Epidemiology at USF COPH, provided personalized health education.   Photo by Ellen Kent.

Curtis Devetter, who came back from conducting his doctoral research in Costa Rica, lead kids’ activities. Photo by Ellen Kent.

Here is the link to more photos: Haitian health fair 2015   

March 27

An early start to National Public Health Week begins with thanking community partners [multimedia]

“Our strategic plan is your strategic plan,” said Dr. Donna Petersen, dean of the USF College of Public Health, as she expressed gratitude toward an audience of more than 150 familiar colleagues during today’s 30th Anniversary Community Partner Celebration. Dr. Petersen has been working on ways to help solve public health problems we face today, in days past and in years to come. Instead of publishing a report, which has finality, she invited her audience to visit the online forum to keep the conversation going.

Dr. Donna Petersen, dean of the USF College of Public Health addresses an audience of health professional who’ve collaborated with USF COPH as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations to honor community partnerships.

 Dr. Donna Petersen.

Dr. Charles Mahan, dean emeritus of USF College of Public Health, recalled earlier times, when students and faculty didn’t go out to communities.

“Things have really changed,” he said, noting one of the first goals attained was offering the master’s of public health to those already working in the field via satellite, an early version of online courses.

Community partnerships ranging in fields of cancer, senior health, behavioral health, diabetes, and many more, have been a main gateway into gaining knowledge about community health, and have been instrumental in helping place students, as well as participate in research projects for field advancement.

During the event, Jan Chester, of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, and Ellen Daley, PhD, USF alumna and professor of public health, talked about HPV research they both conducted years ago. “It’s very important to understand why our community acts as it does,” Chester said.

 Jan Chester

“Nothing happens in public health without our partners,” said Dee Jeffers, RN, MPH, who has been working in communities for many years. Through public health initiatives, the average lifespan of individuals has increase by 25 years. Among the main factors making this possible are partnerships working in 10 areas: immunizations, work-place safety, motor vehicle safety, control of infectious diseases, heart disease, safer and healthier food, healthier mothers and babies, family planning, fluoridation of drinking water, and tobacco as a health hazard. As this list was read out, members of the audience applauded or raised their hand to acknowledge the work their organization does in the area.

Manuel Fermin from Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade joined in the USF College of Public Health partnership celebration. Mr Fermin describes an important initiative to change the standard pregnancy term from 36 weeks to a full 39 weeks when the most significant brain developments occur.

 Manuel Fermin.

The celebration continued with a projected presentation acknowledging organizations who worked with USF COPH throughout the past three decades. COPH has established their ongoing relationships worldwide, from Florida, Nicaragua to Uganda and also Malaysia. Click here to see a commemoration to those partners. 

Dean Donna Petersen with Dr. Marti Coulter, professor and chair of the COPH community engagement committee, with community partners from Champions for Children, Brian McEwen and Amy Haile. “Our community partners are the foundation of our research, teaching, and practice. Without their collaboration and help we would not be a College of Public Health” said Coulter. Photo by Ellen Kent.

Photos, audio and story by Sandra C. Roa, USF Health Office of Communications.