First published on June 1, 2015 in observance of the COPH’s 30^th anniversary celebration.

It was the evening of May 2.  There was a slight chill in the air as fans gathered in Traditions Hall anxiously awaiting the event of the century.

No, not the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight.  The other event ….

The USF College of Public Health’s Inaugural Alumni Awards Ceremony.

More than 180 supporters of the college traveled from as far as Indonesia to celebrate 28 Bulls with significant impact in public health.  From research to practice to policy to teaching, the awardees have done it all and are doing it exceedingly well.

COPH 2015 alumni awardees

The celebration began with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the ceremony.  The dynamic Dr. Joette Giovinco served as mistress of ceremony for the evening.  She’s the first physician to complete the COPH’s occupational medicine residency program, but is probably best known as Dr. Joe, the medical reporter for Fox News in Tampa.

Dr. Joe shared stories and relics from her days as a graduate student in 1988.  She even dusted off some vintage overhead sheets and her carousel replete with slides!

“We were so fortunate 30 years ago that visionary leaders like Sam Bell and Dr. Robert Hamlin believed that Florida deserved to have a school of public health and created the foundation for the first one in the state at the University of South Florida,” said Dr. Donna J. Petersen, COPH dean and senior associate vice president of USF Health.

“It is only fitting on the occasion of our 30^th anniversary that we recognize some of those alumni who, through their commitment to their profession, improve the health of communities around the world and reflect back so positively on our College of Public Health.”

Nominations were accepted through January.  A selection committee comprised of retired and current faculty, staff, alumni, students and community partners in public health had the arduous task of reviewing dozens of nomination packets.

Each alumni awardee received a stunning silver bull engraved with his or her name.

After dinner, Peggy Defay shared her experiences as a public health graduate student.

“As a first generation immigrant from Haiti,” she said, “higher education in any capacity is a priority for me.”

“I discovered my passion for public health through my experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in Namibia.  Through this experience, I gained a better understanding of health issues at the grassroots level.  Being a volunteer in the Peace Corps helped me understand some of my weaknesses and the need to continue training in this field.”

“The past seven years have taken me to various corners of the world where I have been privileged to meet, live and be empowered by many people.  The last two years at the University of South Florida are no exception to that.  And, I can now say that I have once again lived and worked among amazing people!”

Then, it was time for the main event—presentation of the COPH Class of 2015 alumni awardees.  Each alumni award recipient was recognized during the ceremony, and all are listed here.  A few of their stories are included for those who weren’t present to hear them all on May 2.

Tabia Henry Akintobi, PhD, MPH
Director, Prevention Research Center
Director, Evaluation and Institutional Assessment
Associate Professor, Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine
Associate Dean, Community Health
Morehouse School of Medicine
Atlanta, Ga.

“As a graduate student, I had the opportunity not just to learn how to conduct research, but how to lead it in partnership with experts who cared,” Dr. Tabia Akintobi said.  “They recognized the importance of students as significant contributors to their research as reflected in the number of co-authored papers and abstracts I had under my belt prior to graduation.”

“Among the wonderful colleagues, mentors and leaders I met during my tenure was the love of my life, professional confidante and partner in good Dr. Adebayo Akindele Akintobi [former student and husband].”

Abdel A. Alli, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor
Department of Physiology
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta, Ga.

Philip T. Amuso, PhD, MS
Consultant
Clinical Laboratory Medicine and Public Health Preparedness

Retired Director
Bureau of Laboratories
Florida Department of Health
Tampa, Fla.

Roy W. Beck, MD, PhD
Executive Director
Jaeb Center for Health Research
Tampa, Fla.

Sherri Berger, MSPH
Chief Operating Officer
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, Ga.

“My undergraduate degree was in political science, and I didn’t know exactly what to do with it after graduation,” Sherri Berger said.

Sherri Berger and son Jacob.

“Listening to my mother’s advice to ‘get more education,’ I did what other college kids do, and I followed my boyfriend to Tampa, where he had a job offer.  I was hoping to get a master’s degree in hospital administration.  However, in my first semester at the COPH, I fell in love with epidemiology.”

Arlene Calvo, PhD, MPH
Research Assistant Professor
Depts. of Community and Family Health & Global Health
USF College of Public Health
City of Knowledge, Panama

James R. Chastain, Jr., PhD, PE, MPH
President
Chastain-Skillman, Inc.
Tampa, Fla.

“Having an undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, I found public health a perfect complement to that training,” Dr. James Chastain said.  “While engineering is much more design and nuts-and-bolts execution-oriented, public health was more about the personal impacts and generally a systems-oriented and advocacy approach.  There certainly was a great overlap, but even the way that I had to study was different.  Public health provided fresh perspectives to design problems, and I enjoyed expanding my horizons with my studies.  In a word, public health tended to address the “why” questions, and engineering focused on the “how” questions.  I’ve found that very helpful in my practice.”

The Chastain Family celebrated James accomplishments. James is pictured far left.

“The COPH also was quite progressive at the time in terms of scheduling courses that allowed working professionals to take the courses while working at the same time.”

Chastain managed a company and family with three children while earning his degree.

“The time pressures were intense,” he said, “and would not have been possible without a very understanding and supportive wife.”

Stephen R. Cole, PhD, MPH
Professor of Epidemiology
Gillings School of Global Public Health
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, N.C.

Martha L. Daviglus, MD, PhD
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research
Professor of Medicine
Director of the Institute for Minority Health Research
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, Ill.

Hanifa M. Denny, PhD, MPH, BSPH
Dean
College of Public Health
Diponegoro University
Semarang, Indonesia

“One day, we were brought to new [medical] student orientation session.  After touring a hospital ward, I was not able to eat or sleep for some days due to seeing a diabetic patient with a severe wound,” Dr. Hanifa Denny recalled.

“I asked one professor if there is a program within the college of medicine without a requirement to visit patients in a hospital ward.  I also said that I wanted to help people to live in a healthy lifestyle without necessarily suffering from sickness.  I wanted to make people healthy and able to work without a fear of being sick.  The professor explained public health and how the science would meet my expectation.  After my second year of college, I fell in love with occupational and environmental health.”

Scott Dotson, PhD, MSC, CIH
Lead Health Scientist – Senior Team Coordinator
Education and Information Division
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Cincinnati, Ohio

Anthony Escobio, MPH, FHFMA, CHAM
Vice President
Patient Financial Services
Tampa General Hospital
Tampa, Fla.

“I wanted to be an MD.  I took a few of the pre-med “weed out” courses as an undergraduate and did not do very well,” Anthony Escobio recalled. “I had an entry-level job at St. Joseph’s Hospital in 1990, and this is where I learned that there were many more opportunities in health care that did not involve practicing medicine.”

The Escobios couldn’t be more proud of Anthony (back row, second from right).

One of the more “interesting” events from Escobio’s COPH days involves a class with Dr. Alan Sear.

“I left a management position at University Community Hospital to be a senior analyst at Tampa General Hospital,” Escobio said.  “TGH was having a host of financial challenges at the time, and the leadership was being ridiculed in the press on a weekly basis.  One of my professors, Alan Sear, spent an entire lecture discussing the poor decisions that leadership at TGH was making.  I sat slouched in my chair knowing that I had just taken a job to be an analyst for these very leaders.  All I could think to myself was ‘what have I done?’  Little did I know that I would be at the center of one of the biggest hospital turnarounds in the country for this period of time.”

Ligia María Cruz Espinoza, MD, PhD, MPH
Associate Research Scientist
International Vaccine Institute
Leon, Nicaragua

Kathryn J. Gillette, MHA, FACHE
Market President and Chief Operating Officer
Bayfront Health-St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Fla.

Jan J. Gorrie, JD, MPH
Managing Partner
Ballard Partners
Tampa, Fla.

Richard T. Hartman, PhD, MS, CSP, CIH
Chief Health Strategist
PSI Inc.
Alexandria, Va.

Xiomara Zulay Hewitt, MPH
Director
Infection Prevention and Control
Adventist Health System
Altamonte Springs, Fla.

Winifred M. Holland, MPH, MA, LMHC
Administrator-Health Officer
Florida Department of Health in Clay County
Green Cove Springs, Fla.

Carol Ann Jenkins, MPH, FACHE
Director, Accreditation and Survey Readiness
All Children’s Hospital Inc.
St. Petersburg, Fla.

Claudia X. Aguado Loi, PhD, MPH, CHES
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Community and Family Health
USF College of Public Health
Tampa, Fla.

Christine McGuire-Wolfe, PhD, MPH, CPH
Firefighter/Paramedic and Infection Control Officer
Pasco County Fire Rescue

Adjunct Faculty
Department of Global Health
USF College of Public Health
Tampa, Fla.

Maj. (Dr.) James McKnight
Force Health Protection Officer
U.S. Central Command
Serving in Jordan

Maj. James McKnight’s children accepted his award since he is serving in Jordan.

Rachel Nuzum, MPH
Vice President
Federal and State Health Policy
The Commonwealth Fund
Washington, D.C.

Claudine M. Samanic, PhD, MSPH
Commander
U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

Environmental Health Scientist
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Research Region 5
Division of Community Health Investigations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Chicago, Ill.

“Since 1999, when I graduated, I’ve been impressed with the expansion and creation of new institutes and centers, the college’s increasing role in global health, and announcements of various faculty accomplishments and impact,” said Dr. Claudine Samanic.  “It was humbling to be in the room with so many accomplished fellow COPH alumni.”

Angelia Sanders, MPH
Associate Director
Trachoma Control Program
The Carter Center
Atlanta, Ga.

Natalia Vargas, MPH
Public Health Analyst
Health Resources and Services Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Rockville, Md.

Angelica C. Williams, MPH
Disease Intervention Specialist
Florida Department of Health in Broward County
Pembroke Pines, Fla.

Lauren B. Zapata, PhD, MSPH
Commander
U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

Senior Research Scientist
Division of Reproductive Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, Ga.

COPH Deans, from left: Drs. Peter Levin, Donna Petersen (current) and Charles Mahan.

Without question, the night was all about the alumni awardees, but there were a few other show-stoppers in the room. Namely, COPH Deans Drs. Peter Levin, Donna Petersen, and Charles Mahan (above) and COPH alumnus and USF Board Trustee Scott Hopes (below left).

USF Trustee Scott Hopes (on left) with Lesley and Rick Bateman.  Lesley was the college’s first public affairs and development officer.

Founded in July 1984, the USF College of Public Health is wrapping up a yearlong celebration of educating and training public health professionals.  Some of the 30^th anniversary year highlights include

• regional events in Orlando, New Orleans, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
• the Dean’s Lecture Series featuring alumni like Drs. Richard Hartman, Charlan Kroelinger and Hana Osman.
• community building activities like a tailgate and USF football game, fall networking social during homecoming, Super Bowl party and spring BBQ.
• Team #USFCOPHRocks with more than 50 public health Bulls participating in the Gasparilla Distance Classic.
• raising almost $70,000 in new commitments to student scholarships in the college.

“We are proud of the work we have done building on a solid foundation and creating an outstanding school of public health—one that just recently jumped in national rankings from 21 to 16,” Petersen said.  “In addition to our great champions and the consistent high performance of our faculty and staff, the reputation we have earned is due in no small measure to the incredible contributions of our alumni.”

The alumni awards ceremony was made possible with support from the COPH, as well as corporate sponsors USF Health and Bayfront Health-St. Petersburg, and individual sponsors Drs. Jay Wolfson and Phillip and Jean Amuso.

It takes a village to raise a family AND host an amazing alumni awards ceremony.  Salute!

Alumni awardee Dr. Abdel A. Alli (second from right) enjoyed the festivities with his family, as well as nominator and faculty mentor Dr. Donna Haiduven (center) and her husband, Michael Gronquist (far right).

Alumni awardee Dr. Arlene Calvo shares a special moment with fellow alumnus Dr. Clement Gwede.

Go, Bulls!

“I applaud the College of Public Health for recognizing alumni who not only have tremendous accomplishments, but who have made a difference in the lives of so many,” said Bill McCausland, executive director of the USF Alumni Association.

Story by Natalie D. Preston, College of Public Health.  Photos by Ashley Grant and Humberto Lopez Castillo.

Related media:
Alumni Awards photo gallery on Facebook

The post Our past is our future: College recognizes distinguished alumni appeared first on College of Public Health News.

First published on April 6, 2015 in observance of the COPH’s 30^th anniversary celebration.

Dr. Karen Liller has been a child and adolescent injury prevention researcher for a quarter of a century.  A professor in the USF College of Public Health’s Department of Community and Family Health and a member of the Florida Injury Prevention Advisory Group, she worked with a Tampa General program called More Health in the mid-1990s to help evaluate its health education programs.  One of those programs promoted bicycle helmets for children.

Dr. Karen Liller

“I evaluated their program, and I started observational studies of children’s bicycle helmet use in Hillsborough County,” Liller said.  “I was monitoring this because, as part of the Injury Group, I knew this bill had been denied two times before.  We were all part of the advocacy efforts with Tallahassee between the state of Florida program, More Health and the college to get this passed.”

A natural proponent of requiring kids to wear helmets when they rode their bikes, Liller had her interest piqued.  From casual observation alone, she surmised that few were.  Determined to put scientifically collected numbers to the problem, she and a cadre of her graduate students set about the task of collecting data.

From low expectations to high hopes, then action

“I was focused on unintentional injuries in children,” she said.  “Nationally, this was a huge issue.  I had some colleagues at Harborview Injury Prevention Program in the state of  Washington, and they were some of the early leaders nationally in helmet use.  So I naturally got very, very interested and started looking, started conducting observational studies, because I didn’t know:  What is the helmet use rate? “I developed and performed community observations,” she said.  “I would hire my grad assistants, and they would stand on corners doing observational surveys of kids in helmets.  We mapped out the whole county, and I had them on streets everywhere.  We had a whole protocol of where we wanted to be, because we wanted to capture observational surveys in many different places – in community sites, in schools, not near schools, etc., so we had a good idea of what was going on in Hillsborough County.”

As low as Liller’s expectations were, reality turned out to be even worse.

“I can tell you, it was pitifully low,” she said.  “For children under 16, it was about three percent.”

Liller set out on a concentrated campaign to get a helmet law passed.  It already had languished and died in two previous legislative sessions, and she was determined to make the third try count.

“I did many radio spots and TV spots and Good Morning Whomever promoting bicycle helmets as the law was working its way through the legislature,” she recalled.

“I wanted to get ahold of it,” she said, “because I knew this was a national issue, and I knew states were starting to pass laws.  Florida is a tough state to get a law passed for children’s injury prevention.  In fact, we just got the booster seat law done.  We were one of the last states to do that.  I knew it was going to be a battle.  So, I knew I’d better get started early.” Liller learned through focus groups that legislators weren’t the only people she needed to convince.  Some parents didn’t want a law telling them to put helmets on their kids’ heads.  After all, bicycle shops already were selling more helmets.  McDonald’s was giving out helmet discount coupons and safe rider certificates.  Why should there be a legal mandate?

“My answer to them was, ‘Do you have a driver’s license?  Yes?  Well, the government told you to do that.’

“It always surprised me when parents would argue with me on this issue.  The famous one for me was, ‘I rode a bike all the time when I was a kid, and I never got a head injury.’  I’d say, ‘When was that?  Where was that?’  And it would be some idyllic little community in some other state, and I’d say, ‘Try riding a bike in Tampa now, and get back to me on that.  The world has changed.  The roads have changed.  The danger level has changed.”

Clearly, the law’s chief proponent had taken on a daunting task, but being part of the state’s first college of public health had its rewards.  Dr. Charles Mahan, state health director under Gov. Lawton Chiles, was a valuable ally.  COPH was still the only school of public health in Florida, and COPH professors were trekking all the way to Tallahassee to teach weekly classes at the state health department office.  Through the department’s close working relationship with COPH, Mahan already had known Liller and had been supportive of her efforts.

Dr. Charles Mahan

“We knew that Karen was really focused on getting a child helmet law through, and certainly, we were very much in favor of that,” said Mahan, who was COPH dean by the time the measure was in its third incarnation.  Mahan had known Chiles since well before the latter began his two terms as governor.

When Mahan was a medical student at the University of Florida, Chiles became interested in his work on infant mortality.  Personal and professional bonds soon followed.

“When he was a senator, I would go around the country and hold hearings with him,” Mahan recalled.  “He would do all the talking, but I would help him figure out what to say, depending on what the issue was.”

Mahan knew the governor well enough to know he was predisposed to children’s health issues.

“Any issue related to children was something that Gov. and Mrs. Chiles were supportive of,” Mahan said.  “Anything that needed his support on children’s issues for safety or survival or whatever, he would tell the staff – me and everyone else – to make sure that it got supported.” With the encouragement of a popular governor, the proposal was gaining momentum.  The awareness raised by the news of the pending legislation helped engender educational outreaches that helped the ball roll faster.

“Betty Castor, who became president of USF, was head of education at the time,” Mahan said, “and the school systems jumped right in with educational efforts.”

Those collective efforts eventually generated the irresistible momentum that carried the measure over the finish line.

“With Charlie’s support and the governor’s, on the third attempt, it was successful,” Liller said.  “And I testified and did a variety of things locally, as well, for the bill.  A colleague of mine also did a cost-effectiveness study, and he also testified with that in Tallahassee.  I think it was a combination of all of these things.  We kept sending the legislators our research findings, and with all the backing, eventually, in 1996, the bill passed.”

A victory not etched in stone

“Bike helmets are an investment we should make to ensure our children’s health and safety,” Chiles declared as he signed the bill onto law.

The measure became effective on Jan. 1, 1997, and for the next 12 months, it was easy for anyone to live with.  A violator would receive a warning and a bicycle safety brochure.  As of Jan. 1, 1998, however, that brochure was delivered with a $17 citation.  It was a light fine as fines go, and even it could be circumvented.

“After the first year, you could get a fine if the child was riding, was under the age of 16 and didn’t have a helmet on,” Liller said, “but you could get around that if you could show evidence of a bicycle helmet.”

That, of course, was only when the law was enforced, which, according to Liller, wasn’t – and still isn’t – very often.

“Police are very reluctant,” she said.  “I talk to them about how many tickets they’ve given, and usually the answer is ‘none,’ at least in Hillsborough County.  They’re very reluctant to stop a child on a bike.”

Nonetheless, she said, by 1998, helmet use had risen exponentially, to 67 percent in Hillsborough County.  So even without much enforcement, the law was accomplishing its purpose.

“I think the law has been great,” Liller said.  “We did an analysis of its efficacy.  We did show that helmet use has gone up, and we showed that injuries have gone down.  And that was great.  That was the intent of the law.  Injury prevention does its best, many times, when there’s a policy change or a legislative change, because it just reaches more people.”

Mahan agreed. “Having it as law is a big awareness raiser,” he said.  “It gets all over the papers and the news again and again.  The legislature is considering this measure.  That’s news.  The legislature passed it today.  That’s news.  The governor signed it into law.  That’s news again.  It went into effect today, so that’s news, too.

“For the majority of parents, who care so much about their kids, just the awareness-raising and then seeing other kids out there with their helmets on helped, but it took time.  As with any legislation, it takes about three years to get a good idea through.  It’s very hard to take a new idea on regulation to the legislature.”

“It was a very exciting time,” Liller said, “because, the first couple of times, I would go to the injury meetings, we’d work on the language of the law, and it just kept getting defeated.  The first year we did it, I think we just put it out there and said, ‘Let’s just see how it goes.’  The second year, we didn’t have the information about the penalty.  I still don’t like the penalty.  I don’t to this day.  But it was a really exciting process, and I’m so glad I was part of it.”

Still, Liller knows that no law is etched in stone.  The state threw a scare into helmet proponents and safety advocates in general when it partially repealed its motorcycle helmet law by limiting the requirement to riders under 21. “We were very afraid that they were going to repeal the bicycle helmet law, too, but so far, so good,” Liller said.  “They haven’t touched that law.  I think that’s because it’s for children.  I think if we would have had that helmet law for all ages, we would have been in trouble.”

“When I was at the state health office,” Mahan said, “the helmet law was a big plus, but at the same time, we lost the motorcycle helmet law, and that’s had tremendous consequences.”

The work continues

“We want it to become a norm,” Liller said of bicycle helmet use.  “We want it to be that, when these children have children, there won’t be any question when you get on a bike.  And we’re starting to see that.”

Mahan concurred.  He said he and his wife live two blocks from an elementary school, and the progress is easily visible.

“A lot of the kids are riding their bikes to school,” he said, “and every one of them has a helmet on.”

Work since the law’s passage has been geared toward bicycle helmet give-away programs.

“If you don’t have a helmet, we can find you one,” Liller said.  “We can find a program – Safe Kids, Tampa General, we can find somewhere to get you a helmet.”

Liller’s work on the law continues to influence safety initiatives.

“Our work has been in world publications about helmet use, about laws, about how it’s done,” she said.  “The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation wants to know about strategies, and it seems that the strategies that were developed in the ’90s – people are still really interested in those.  We were always pleased that our work is often cited as an example, even though many years have passed.”

Liller said she also is gratified to see the lasting validation of her and her colleagues’ methodology.

“It’s interesting that the work that we did is still being used.  If you run a program, you do some observational surveys.  You look at that helmet use on those kids.  You don’t just ask them.  You actually watch them.”

In the intervening years, Liller’s focus has shifted to high school sports injuries, but she remains committed to the legislation she helped to bring about, and she remains engaged with it, most recently as a content reviewer for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Wisconsin Population Health Institute for strategies they want to propose for child safety seats – and yes, bicycle helmets. Her message for the naysayers remains the same.

“We’re not telling children they can’t ride bikes,” she said.  “We’re not telling children they can’t have fun or anything else we were accused of so often.  Basically, it’s just taking necessary precautions.  There’s been some literature that says we should let kids take more risks.  We don’t want to stop anyone from taking risks or having fun or getting exercise.  We just don’t want a child to die from a perfectly preventable head injury.  We’re smarter now.”

Story by David Brothers, College of Public Health.  Photos courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, Helmets On Heads, County Mayo and other sources.

The post COPH helped drive state’s bicycle helmet law appeared first on College of Public Health News.

Originally from the Midwest, USF College of Public Health (COPH) alum Michelle Pizarro and her family moved to Largo, Fla., when she was an infant.

After graduating with her bachelors in humanities and religious studies from USF in 2007, Pizarro said she wanted to learn more in a different field.   

“My sister was a pharmacist and came across someone with an masters in health administration (MHA) and thought it was something I would be interested in,” Pizarro said. “I wanted to work within hospitals and make a difference, but not be a physician. I did some research and saw USF had a great MHA program. It allowed me to stay local and work nearby, so I applied and haven’t looked back since!”

While earning her MHA, Pizarro’s first experience working in public health was as a student intern for James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Fla.

“I worked within various departments for a couple months at a time to learn what they did—scheduling, oncology clinic, operations and more,” she said. “It was great to see the inner workings of a hospital, but especially a veteran’s hospital which is incredibly unique. Certainly the clientele is unique, but also the staff, many of whom are veterans themselves. It was great to see how the VA system itself operates.”

VA medical centers provide a wide range of services, including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy.

“I think it’s important for anyone in a health care career to understand how different each type of hospital functions,” Pizarro said. “One methodology may work wonderfully at one institute, but that doesn’t mean it will work at another—and there are usually important reasons for that. That experience broadened my viewpoint of health care.”

Pizarro reflects fondly on her days as a Bull. She was an MHA student when the program earned its first accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. The process and ultimate reward was exciting to witness firsthand.

“I am very proud of this accomplishment for the COPH, and it is a highlight of my time in the college,” Pizarro said. “Since I was a student during that time, our work was submitted to the accrediting party. There was a lot of communication with the students during the process and we were kept updated on progress which made us feel very involved and connected with the process.”

The MHA program just recently earned reaccreditation for the next seven years.

Pizarro was also a member of the Healthcare Management Student Association (HMSA), which provides its members with real-world skills to create competent health administration professionals.

In addition, Pizarro was able to travel to Chicago and attend the American College of Health Care Executives Annual Congress (ACHE) as a student member.

“Being a part of HMSA and ‘student’ ACHE was so helpful in making connections and hearing from others in the field,” Pizarro said. “Even if I wasn’t ready to network in the formal sense, just hearing from various workers out in the community was great.”

After graduating with her MHA in health policy and management in 2011, Pizarro went on to be ACHE’s Post-Graduate Fellow in Chicago.

“That introduced me to the medical association world and my career was officially started,” she said.

Pizarro started work as a consultant at PerfectServe, a clinical communication company in Chicago.

“I had multiple roles there from meeting directly with physicians across the country, being a team lead and managing the intake of new contracts and assigning teams to their various implementations,” she said.

Then, Pizarro moved on to be a project manager at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. Northwestern Medicine is the collaboration between Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine that encompasses the research, teaching and patient care activities of the academic medical center.

“My largest project was assisting in the roll out of EPIC to our various hospitals—specifically the specialties preferences,” Pizarro said.

“EPIC is an electronic health record system that is user friendly and has a high level of customization,” Pizarro said. “My job was to get the leaders of each specialty across the system together, along with the EPIC analysts, to decide how they wanted EPIC to work for them. For example, all the orthopedic surgeons met multiple times to determine how their screens would look, what prompts they wanted, etc. Given that everyone has their own workflow, it was a great lesson in gaining consensus.”

Today, Pizarro is director of executive projects and operations at the American Academy of Dermatology, located in Rosemont, Ill.

“This is my second role in the company. I started as a senior manager within practice management, with a focus on health IT,” she said. “I then moved into my current role as director, working directly with our CEO on operations. I am essentially chief of staff. I work directly with the CEO and my focus is on the organization’s operation plan and ensuring initiatives are moving forward. I report to the board of directors on our progress.”

This role is one that Pizarro says did not previously exist and it required someone who was detail-oriented and had experience working with various teams to accomplish tasks and manage large projects.

“I oversee the program we use to monitor initiatives and progress throughout the year. I report out on the organization’s progress throughout the year to our various leadership teams and then prepare our executive director to report to the board on a quarterly basis,” she said. “When changes are needed to the plan, I bring that to the executive team to discuss. This role allows me to work with every department and multiple levels of staff.”

In 2023, Pizarro earned her certificate in nonprofit management from the Executive Education program at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. This tool will support her continuing journey in impacting public health.

“Public health affects everyone,” Pizarro said. “Any role you have within public health makes a difference. I think it’s important to remember your personal connection to the mission you are working toward to stay driven, innovate and make some positive changes.”

As for the future, Pizarro said she’d love to stay in operations. “I’m hesitant to speak too much of the future as opportunities have a funny way of coming about that you would never have expected,” she noted. “My career path has not been a straight line and I think there is something really gratifying in that.”

Fast Five:

What did you dream of becoming when you were young?

A teacher or college professor

Where would we find you on the weekend?

On the couch, reading a book

What is the last book you read?

“The Inmate,” by Freida McFadden

What superpower would you like to have?

Time travel

What’s your all-time favorite movie?

“Dirty Dancing”

Story by Liz Bannon, USF College of Public Health

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The USF College of Public Health’s (COPH) master of health administration (MHA) program held its inaugural MHA Pinning Ceremony and Reception to honor and celebrate the commitment of its students on Sept. 22. Sponsored by Tampa General Hospital and MHA Advisory Board members, the ceremony, brought together faculty, staff, alumni and health care industry leaders to recognize the dedication and promise of these future health care professionals.

The ceremony commenced with an address from Dr. Donna Petersen, COPH dean and senior associate vice president of USF Health, emphasizing the importance of preparing professionals not only with the right knowledge and skills, but also the right attitudes and character.

“Accepting this pin is a promise. We’re going to do everything in our power to prepare you to be highly effective, ethical and successful professionals,” Petersen said, “And in return, you promise us that you will honor what you learn here as you go forward and remain a part of our community.”

Next, Dr. Victor Weeden, assistant professor and director of the MHA program, spoke of the vision behind the pinning ceremony.

 “The MHA faculty wanted to do something special for the students to acknowledge an important milestone in their career,” he said. “We believe these future leaders should be publicly recognized for committing themselves to the health care profession and being competitively selected for MHA admission. We hope the ceremony will foster a heightened sense of pride and belonging for this special group of students.”

Alumni representatives played a crucial role in the ceremony, presenting the pins to second-year students. Their involvement highlighted the strong alumni engagement in the MHA program and its continued growth. First-year students were then given their pins from the newly pinned second-year students, a tradition that the program hopes to continue.

After the pinning of the students, two MHA alumni and advisory board members Seena Salyani and Steven Chew gave their remarks.

Salyani, CEO of Gastro Florida, praised the students for their commitment to a health care career and emphasized the importance of professionalism.

“Take pride in what you are doing as you enter a challenging field. It will have its ups and downs, but you will have an impact on people’s lives and making life better. Even after going through COVID-19 here, you are coming back even stronger,” Salyani said.

Sharing valuable insights about the health care field’s challenges and the need for creative problem-solving, Chew, vice president of service lines at Tampa General Hospital, urged the students to see the applicability of their knowledge and embrace the spirit of innovation.

“There are headwinds within health care that are real. You have payers wanting to pay less, patient experience, consumers and the rising cost of health care—and all of those problems need to be solved by thinking outside the box,” Chew said. “You’re going to have to apply and see what makes a difference.”

In closing, Dr. Mark Moseley, president of USF Tampa General Physician, emphasized the need for a collective effort to fix a broken health care system. He encouraged the students to consider their careers as contributing to an infinite game of improving health care, where fulfillment comes from a sense of purpose and giving back to society.

“What we need is a coalition of the willing who are committed to the infinite game of improving health care. We don’t declare a winner and a loser in health care, but you can join us in this just cause,” Moseley said. “Through your hard work and effort, you can contribute to the welfare and benefit of others. It will be all-consuming. It will be joyful. It will be challenging. But at the end of the day, when you’re done with your career, you will look back and you will be fulfilled. And if you’re lucky, you’ll get a chance to bring others along with you.”

View all photos of the ceremony here.

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health

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Save one life or save thousands of lives?
Increase your ROI with a degree in public health.

Register today for the September 13 public health graduate fair!

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The USF College of Public Health is all about pushing boundaries and for the eleven students in the Health Scholars program, that’s exactly what they are doing.

The program is offered to first-time-in-college students who want to earn a bachelor of science in public health (BSPH) degree, according to Dr. Kay Perrin, associate dean of academic and student affairs.

Health Scholars are exposed to supplemental public health experiences while earning their degree, such as taking part in service learning, USF Health faculty affiliated research and leadership development.

“It is a chance for BSPH students to get involved at a higher level,” Perrin said.

Undergraduates in the Health Scholars program at the USF College of Public Health. Front row: Rosie Mulholland, Shari Zamani, David Arango, Camryn Henry, Bridget Ben-Hayon, Monica Racy, Lindsey Thompson. Back row: Joelle Aslan, Lauren Adkins, Katelyn Agosto, Tatiyana Badal, Sara Snook, Aubrey Selamu-Bell (Photo by Anna Mayor)

Brittany Finstad, a senior undergraduate with hopes of one day becoming a surgeon, is part of the first cohort of students taking part in this new program.

“I wanted to be a health scholar because I wanted more opportunities to get interact with the professors to learn about more research opportunities around campus,” she said. “It has helped me meet new people in my major and it has helped me get closer to those that have a large impact in public health around campus.”

For senior Chedelin Apollon, being a Health Scholar has enhanced her engagement as a student.

“Being a Health Scholar has enriched my opportunities to round out my education with internships, scholarships and networking opportunities,” she said. “As a Health Scholar, you are given the opportunity to experience so much beyond the classroom about what public health looks like outside of the classroom and also, presents opportunities that otherwise we would miss.”

Apollon, who studied abroad this past summer in London upon earning her Health Scholar scholarship, plans to continue her graduate studies at the USF COPH in order to “bridge the health care gap with underrepresented populations.”

Health Scholars are eligible for scholarships to attend a professional public health conference and study abroad experience of their choice.

Current COPH undergraduate and Health Scholar Shari Zamani gives incoming undergraduates a tour of the COPH building and the WELL during orientation. (Photo by Anna Mayor)

Annette Strzelecki, assistant director of academic advising, said she’s seen students benefit in many ways as Health Scholars.“For example, we’ve had some students interested in research, so they were given the opportunity to interview for positions at the COPH, others were put in touch with those working it the field to serve as mentors,” she said. “We’re able to tailor what they are asking for and help get them the experiences they need to get to next step in life.”

To learn more about graduating with a BSPH as a Health Scholar, please contact the COPH’s Office of Undergraduate Studies at UG-PublicHealthAdvising@health.usf.edu.

Story by Anna Mayor, USF College of Public Health

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This is the semester of all things new for the USF College of Public Health.

The COPH welcomed 85 undergraduates, 213 masters and 29 doctoral students this fall semester representing more than 26 different states and 13 countries across each continent of the globe.

“It is my honor and privilege to welcome you to the best college of public health in the universe!” Dean Donna Petersen said during her address at orientation held Aug. 16 for graduate students.

Dean Donna Petersen addresses graduate students at orientation for fall 2018. (Photo by Anna Mayor)

Her advice to students this semester—take advantage.

“Take advantage of everything we offer. You are here for such a short time. If there is a speaker that’s coming here to talk, go hear them. If there is a student organization, join them. If there is an opportunity to get engaged in the community, do that,” she said. “Take advantage of the staff and faculty. We are all here to help you achieve what you want to achieve.”

Dr. Anthony Masys’, associate professor of global health, invited graduate students to stand up and warm up with some creative dance to get their ‘creativity’ flowing. (Photo by Caitlin Keough) 

Graduate students met in USF Health Center for Wellness, Engagement, Leadership and Learning (WELL) rotunda, followed by an informational expo and mixer with faculty at the COPH building.

Dr. Ellen Daley, professor and associate dean of research and practice, speaks with incoming graduate students during the faculty and student mixer portion of orientation. (Photo by Anna Mayor)

“Get to know each other, we are delighted you are here and that you have chosen the USF College of Public Health. Meet each other,” stressed Dean Petersen. “These are your colleagues, these will be your professional colleagues for the rest of your lives. We think you have made an excellent choice.”

Graduate student Haley Tolbert poses with Rocky during the COPH orientation. (Photo by Anna Mayor)

Graduate student Haley Tolbert, originally from Valdosta, Ga., earned her undergraduate degree from Florida State University in marketing and management. She said she was looking to further her education in health administration, something not offered at FSU.

“I was doing research on what programs were the best in Florida and USF constantly came up and really exceeded my expectations so far,” Tolbert said. “I chose to come here also because Tampa is such a huge location, it’s so up-and-coming and has so many job opportunities. I’m excited.”

Undergraduates met Aug. 17 for orientation and took an in-depth tour of the COPH and USF WELL.

The average GPA of the 85 incoming undergraduates was 3.02 and included students from New York, Jamaica, Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Undergraduate students show their COPH pride during orientation after a panel discussion with advisors and faculty. (Photo by Anna Mayor)

Anna Makenzie Wright, an undergraduate from Islamorada, Fla., on the Florida Keys, said it was a Google search that prompted her to apply.

“I searched for the best public health schools in Florida and USF COPH constantly came up,” she said. “I was amazed at how pretty the campus was and I was overwhelmed by how nice everyone was here.”

First cohort of Coverdell Fellows

The COPH also welcomed its first cohort of Paul D. Coverdell Fellows this semester, a graduate fellowship program awarding financial assistance to returning Peace Corps volunteers pursuing an MPH or MSPH degree. The fellowship also includes an internship in underserved communities in Tampa for two years.

Jianca Reid, a student in the global health practice concentration, served for more than two years in Thailand as a youth and development volunteer.

“I was considered exotic, so that was unique. I lived in rice patty fields and the city was within biking distance. I made friends with the locals; it was a great experience,” she said.

Reid, whose passion for service began as a member of AmeriCorps, said her service in Thailand included coding, leadership camps, teaching English and even teaching soccer.

“I love people,” she said. “I love kids and learning about different cultures. Every time I do different service work, it is so unique,” she said.

Reid, who earned her undergraduate degree from USF, credits her undergraduate professor Deidre Orriola for inspiring her to continue on in public health.

“When she was teaching my intro to public health class, I kept thinking she was so cool and after that I just dove into public health,” she said.

First cohort of Coverdell Fellows at the COPH (from left): Brian Richardson, Megan Montoya and Jianca Reid. (Photo by Anna Mayor)

For returned Peace Corps volunteer Brian Richardson, the passion for helping others began at home.

He served for some time in Mali as a water safety and hygiene volunteer and in Gambia as a health extension volunteer.

“My dad told me that before I could barely talk, I’ve always been trying to help people and I guess that’s never changed,” he said. “I grew up in Deerfield Beach in Broward County and in my neighborhood there were a lot of people from Mali. They told me about the issues in their country and communities and these were issues I studied in undergrad and I figure maybe there was a way I could go over there and help out.”

Richardson, who earned his undergraduate degree from Florida International University in recreation and sports management said he had no health knowledge before joining the Peace Corps.

“Once I was in Gambia, I saw a lot of bad issues and it killed me to see that type of stuff going on. I started to do more health work while I was there related to malaria and nutrition, and education in general, and that sparked my fire to pursue public health,” he said.

Richardson is earning his degree in the public health education concentration.

For Megan Montoya it’s mutual understanding that drove her to serve.

Montoya, who earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Utah is currently pursuing her MPH in epidemiology and global health.

She served in Cambodia for 12 months as a health extension volunteer, working out of a health center speaking to others on a variety of health topics ranging from prenatal health, vaccines and nutrition.

She also initiated a grant to build bathroom facilities in an elementary school, which inspired more water safety and hygiene projects.

“Resilience; making something out of nothing and empowering yourself and others, that’s the biggest thing I learned in the Peace Corps,” she said. “It’s mutual understanding. I can be teaching, but at the same time learning from the other culture and vice versa.”

For more information on becoming a Coverdell Fellow, students may visit the COPH’s Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows website.

Restructure of the COPH

On Aug. 8 the COPH officially adopted a new organizational structure removing the five department model and reorganizing into four strategic areas, which Dean Petersen says will allow for greater faculty collaboration.

(Photo by Anna Mayor)

“What we have created is different ways to align ourselves in the spirit of faculty and college success,” she said.

According to Petersen, in 2011 ASPPH created the Framing the Future Taskforce to rethink education in public health.

“Things were heading away from the five core disciplines model,” she said. “In fact, this college, in 2012, started reframing the core curriculum in the MPH in light of these conversations.”

Petersen said this prompted her to think about how the department structure was impacting the COPH.

“At the end of the day, I still came down to the fact that we would be a stronger faculty and college if we were just one college,” she said.

Instead of departments, there are now four strategic areas at the COPH, each with their own strategic area leads and administrative approvers:

Policy, Practice and Leadership
Dr. Karen Liller, strategic area lead
Dr. Kay Perrin, administrative approver

Population Health Sciences
Dr. Russell Kirby, strategic area lead
Dr. Tricia Pennicook, administrative approver

Global and Planetary Health
Dr. Thomas Unnasch, strategic area lead
James Evans, administrative approver

Interdisciplinary Science and Practice
Dr. Anthony Masys, strategic area lead
Dr. Ellen Daley, administrative approver

Dean Petersen said she will conduct all faculty assignments and evaluations and assure equitable distribution of resources to support faculty success.

“Students apply to concentrations and we’ve identified the faculty affiliated with each one,” Petersen said. “The goal now is  to encourage and support faculty working across disciplines and focus on strategy.”

The COPH has also moved toward a centralized service model for all administrative processes. The Business Operations Support Services team (BOSS), provides support to faculty and staff. They serve the entire COPH community and assist with a range of administrative needs from ordering office supplies to arranging travel.

BOSS staff include:
Pamela Mclean (CPH 2029)
Kristina Hamp (first floor of COPH)
Donna Rodandello (second floor of COPH)
Katherine Small (IDRB 311)
Sara de la Cantera (Chiles Center)

“We always want to be looking ahead and be as agile as we can,” Petersen said in regard to why the change was necessary. “This will enhance the student experience and facilitate faculty working strategically and working together.”

Story by Anna Mayor, USF College of Public Health

The post New semester, new fellows and new structure of the COPH appeared first on College of Public Health News.

Dr. Katherine Drabiak, a USF College of Public Health assistant professor of bioethics and genomics, recently published the article “Emerging Governance of Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy: Assessing Coherence Between Scientific Evidence and Policy Outcomes,” in the DePaul Journal of Health Care Law.

Mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) is an experimental procedure in which nuclear DNA from a mother’s egg or fertilized zygote is transferred into a donor’s egg or fertilized zygote. In theory it is used to reduce the risk of maternal transmission of mitochondrial DNA disease. (Mitochondria are cells that supply energy to the body; mitochondrial disease can have deleterious effects on those parts of the body requiring great amounts of energy—things like the heart, brain and lungs.)

“There are a lot of ethical issues here,” emphasized Drabiak, who is also an attorney.

Katherine Drabiak, JD, an attorney and assistant professor of bioethics and genomics in the USF COPH. (Photo by Anna Mayor)

For starters, the procedure is highly experimental and far from a surefire cure for inherited mitochondrial disease.

“When you take out nuclear DNA from the mom, some of the damaged mitochondrial DNA is transferred along with it,” noted Drabiak. “Those cells can take over, and they can do so in an unpredictable way.”

Drabiak points to research showing that the maternal transmission of mitochondrial disease is rare, affecting just one in 10,000 individuals. “Failing to recognize this can skew public perception.”

What’s more, MRT is expensive, costing about $100,000.

“The potential cost is high, and it might not even create the healthy baby couples are looking for,” commented Drabiak.

And those problems are just the tip of the iceberg.

Mitochondrial cells. (Photo source Google Images)

Because MRT modifies germlines (e.g., future genetic lineage) it may be illegal as well as unethical. Drabiak notes that the United Nations, the Council of Europe and some nations have laws explicitly prohibiting this practice. However, in 2016 the United Kingdom was one of the first countries to allow “cautious use” of MRT. “Right now there is a federal law in place preventing the FDA from using federal money for research that changes the germline,” said Drabiak. “But I don’t see that as a permanent barrier.”

Another emerging complication? Using MRT to treat infertility.

Drabiak notes that the unproven MRT-as-fertility-treatment is already being advertised in parts of Europe, and even one doctor here in the U.S. made headlines when he traveled to Mexico to perform the procedure for a Jordanian couple.

“Infertility is such a big issue for so many couples,” said Drabiak. “But the assisted-reproductive-technology industry is largely unregulated. There is a lot of hype and a lot of marketing to desperate couples who want a genetically related child. Many new techniques like MRT get swept into practice with not a lot of oversight. I’m concerned about the transparency. Where’s the evidence? Where’s the science? And do the laws match up? An infertile couple might see a headline about something like MRT and think it is the answer to their prayers, but is it?”

The bottom line, says Drabiak, is buyer beware. Some of the science suggests this procedure could create new serious health risks for the child, such as a risk of cancer or premature aging.

“In the future, I think MRT will be used more and more. Couples need to be cognizant of how loosely this industry is regulated. Google the terminology. See what the FDA says on its website. See what the claims are about safety and efficacy. And in the end, take whatever claims these clinics are marketing as just that—advertisements.”

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

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Last year three women from the USF College of Public of Health received awards at the Florida Public Health Association Annual Conference. This year two all-female student teams received research awards. The event was held in July 24-25 in Orlando.

When Dr. Jaime Corvin planned her Global Health Assessment Strategies course syllabus, she could not have imagined that two student projects would evolve into award-winning research. But, that is exactly what happened resulting in two teams earning “best all-around” awards for their poster presentations.

On Tuesday, Noor Zaman, Waleska Santiago-Datil and Marissa Rickloff presented “Infertility Experiences Among College Students.”

COPHers Noor Zaman, Waleska Santiago-Datil and Marissa Rickloff are one of two winning student research teams at the 2018 Florida Public Health Association Annual Conference (Photo by Ellen Kent)

The following day, Carson Bell, Ashleigh Blersch and Reatta Ram presented “Bullying Among Refugee Student Populations in Hillsborough County.”

Carson Bell, Ashleigh Blersch and Reatta Ram received a “best all-around” award for their poster presentation on “Bullying Among Refugee Student Populations in Hillsborough County.” (Photo by Ellen Kent)

In addition to the two award winners, the college had a strong showing in other areas at the conference. Recruiters were on hand to speak with interested students about the college’s nationally recognized academic programs. USF Sarasota-Manatee professor Dr. Kathy Black addressed “Public Health Alignment with Age-Friendly Communities” at the college’s annual luncheon.  A plethora of USF Bulls shared their practice and their passion. And, of course, there were lots of COPH alumni in attendance.

Neil Bleiweiss, coordinator of preadmissions and outreach for USF Health Shared Student Services, speaks with prospective students about why the #USFCOPHRocks! (Photo by Natalie Preston)

(Photo by Natalie Preston)

About 150 luncheon attendees learned about age-friendly communities from USF Sarasota-Manatee professor Dr. Kathy Black. She serves as the Age-Friendly Sarasota Initiative advisor and Hartford Geriatric Social Work faculty scholar.

(Photo by Natalie Preston)

COPH alumnae Mandy Chan and Dr. Ayesha Johnson took a break from their duties at the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County to attend the FPHA Annual Conference. (Photo by Natalie Preston)

Additional poster presentations that involved other members of the COPH and USF Health communities include:

“Assessment of Student Experiences with Intimate Partner Violence at the University of South Florida”—Jessica Garcia

“Examining Barriers and Facilitators to Sex Ed Reform in Hillsborough County”—Thomas Agrusti

Recent COPH graduate Thomas Agrusti is all smiles before his poster presentation. (Photo by Natalie Preston)

“Expanding point-of-care services to the homeless and underserved in Tampa Bay”—Niraj Gowda, Kevin Ratnasamy

“The Evaluation of Cultural Competency within Student Health Services and its Impact on International Students at the University of South Florida Tampa Campus”—Emily Walters, Nnenne Moneke, Yanti Leosari, Mary Bougoulias

Part of Team #USFCOPHRocks! (Photo by Ellen Kent)

“Suffering in Silence No More: Challenges student and volunteers encounter upon returning home from international humanitarian work”—Tessa Saturday, Blake Maihack

“Hitting the target: A geospatial analysis of chronic disease risk factors in Tampa, FL”—Krystina Johnson

Doctoral student Krys Johnson presented on chronic disease. (Photo by Ellen Kent)

Related Media:
FPHA photo gallery on Facebook

Story by Natalie D. Preston, USF College of Public Health

The post It’s the year of the woman … again! appeared first on College of Public Health News.

The USF College of Public Health graduated 122 future public health professionals on Saturday, Aug. 4. Fifty-eight students received a bachelor’s degree, 60 a master’s degree and four were awarded doctorates.

From the pinning ceremony for the undergraduates held Friday morning, Aug. 3, to the graduation celebration held for the graduate students later that afternoon, the themes of the day were passion, practice and perseverance.

Tricia Penniecook, MD, MPH, filling in for the traveling Dean Donna Petersen, addresses the graduate students in the Samuel P. Bell Auditorium. (Photo by Ellen Kent)

“If you were anything like me, public health was not something you thought existed until you started thinking not about what you wanted to be, but what you wanted to do,” said Dr. Tricia Penniecook, vice dean for education in the COPH, in her welcome remarks to the graduate students and their families. “Help people, cure disease, change the world—that’s where public health comes into the picture. I encourage you to keep this passion and enthusiasm for changing the world wherever you are.”

Guest speaker at the undergraduate ceremony was Dr. Ayesha Johnson, senior health researcher at the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County and a Fulbright scholar who received her doctorate from the USF COPH in 2016.

Ayesha Johnson, PhD, imparts words of wisdom to the undergraduates at their pinning ceremony. (Photo by Ellen Kent)

“As a public health graduate, you are well aware of barriers,” Johnson told the dozens of students and their families and friends in attendance. “Your choice to pursue this field screams that you are firmly committed to removing barriers to populations that are vulnerable. This is a great thing. But realize that things will change, and you may have to change yourself in order to overcome barriers to reach your goal.”

Siera Belcher is shown here receiving her undergraduate pin from Kay Perrin, PhD, MPH, CPH, who welcomed students on behalf of Dean Petersen. Belcher says she knows all about barriers. “I had four of them,” laughed the quality auditor at Wellcare who got her degree online while working full time. “And they are 7 months, 5, 11 and 13. But perseverance does pay off!” (Photo by Ellen Kent)

Johnson reminded the students that while they have done great work, more needs to be accomplished. “You have done well,” she said. “And your reward for that is to do what has not yet been done.”

Dr. Zachary Pruitt, an assistant professor of health policy and management, accepted his Excellence in Teaching Award at the graduate ceremony with a call for humility. “With each degree I got, the more I felt like I didn’t know. Humility is the unexpected gift of education. As you go out into the world, stay humble.”

Other graduation speakers had these words of inspiration to share:
• “Do not give up hope. Hour by hour, day by day, you will not see any change. You won’t see it in six weeks, or maybe even in 20 years. But you will eventually see it. It will happen, and not when you are expecting it.”—Dr. Kay Perrin, COPH associate dean of academic and student affairs
• “Keep your passion. This is what will get you up in the morning, what will help you work through your problems and drive you forward.”—Dr. William Sappenfield, a professor of community and family health and director of the Chiles Center
• “Keep expanding your toolbox and follow your dreams.” —Dr. Kevin Kip, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics
• “Leave the door open. Some day you will have a project land on your desk and you will ask yourself, ‘How can I do this? Where’s the manpower? Where’s the time?’ We hope you’ll come back to us, your brand new community partner.”—Dr. Jill Roberts, an assistant professor of global health

After each ceremony, students and their families mingled in the COPH lobby for congratulations and refreshments.

Rachael Renn, who just earned her bachelor’s, was joined by her mom, Kathy Renn, a 1999 graduate of the USF College of Nursing who works at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. “My mom really influenced me,” said the St. Pete native. “I knew I wanted to help people and work with children, but I didn’t want to deal with the pee or poop or blood, so … I’m pursuing a doctorate in occupational therapy at Nova Southeastern.”

Rachael Renn with her mom, Kathy, celebrating Rachael’s USF COPH pinning ceremony. “I see the trees,” said the proud mom of her daughter’s public health interest. “But she sees the forest.” (Photo by Anna Mayor)

Newly minted USF COPH summer grads get ready to hit the ground running. You’d hire them, right? (Photo by Ellen Kent)

With the festivities (and finals, papers and dissertations) over, summer graduates are embarking on new educational endeavors while others are looking for employment.

Jason Garcia, who received his doctorate in environmental and occupational health after seven long years of study, hopes to pursue industrial hygiene work with companies like Intel or Boeing. “I’m going to see what sticks.”

Joshua Hazelton, who received his master’s in epidemiology and global health, is “glad to be done with school and start my real-world application.” The dad of two—including a six-month-old, who made the spring semester particularly “crazy”—is applying for jobs in hospitals and departments of health. “It’s an exciting time,” he said.

Here are two more COPH graduation stories, one about this summer’s youngest grad, McKenzie McIntyre, and the other about Fulbright scholar Laura Collins.

In her closing remarks Dr. Penniecook told the graduates, “We hope that what you have experienced in these halls will prepare you to do great things. We are proud of all of you!”

Related media:

Undergraduate photo gallery: Summer2018UndergradPinningCeremonyPhotoGallery

Graduate photo gallery: Summer2018COPHgraduationceremony for grad students

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

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