All five students in the USF College of Public Health (COPH) integrated MPH/dietetics internship program recently attended the Food and Nutrition Conference Expo (FNCE) in Denver in October.

The FNCE is hosted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a professional organization of nutrition and dietetics practitioners headed by Dr. Lauri Wright, director of nutrition programs at the COPH and a USF alum. It is the largest meeting of food and nutrition experts and registered dietitians in the world.

The USF COPH dietetic internship program integrates an MPH degree with a concentration in nutrition and dietetics with a supervised practice element designed to help students meet the standards of education and core competencies of registered dietitians.

This is the second time Maura Fowler, one of the five interns, has attended the FNCE.

“That first FNCE motivated me to pursue my MPH over an MS (which ultimately led me to USF) because I realized how passionate I was about advocacy in the role of a dietitian and how they are an essential part of the medical and community fields of practice,” Fowler said.

Fowler said she spent her time at the conference attending lectures and networking events and volunteering as a student liaison for the organization’s Renal Practice Group (renal dietitians are experts in nutrition and diet for people with kidney diseases).

“I loved attending FNCE, and I cannot wait to attend next year in Minnesota! This is a great learning opportunity for students,” Fowler said. “Colleges promote their internships, which was very important to me last year. They also have student learning programs and offer help with resumes. Hearing the current research is also very important—it has helped me develop a deeper passion for the things I learned about in my curriculum.”

Brianna Paul, another of the interns, said she appreciated the networking opportunities the conference provided as well as the lectures shedding light on the latest advances in nutrition.

“It was eye-opening to listen to all the latest research from around the world,” she said. “I attended many different lectures on topics I was interested in, including a lecture regarding the effects of ultra-processed foods in our diets and how the research has been changing over the past few years.”

Paul said one of the highlights for her was exploring the different booths and the products they offered.

“I enjoyed the expo the most because it was interactive and many of the booths had fun little activities such as trivia, free samples, contests to win a big prize, photo ops and networking booths with some of the social media influencer dietitians,” she noted.

Paul said one of the biggest things she took away from this year’s FNCE was inspiration.

“Overall, I loved the FNCE and I’m looking forward to attending next year’s conference,” she commented. “As a soon-to-be registered dietitian, this conference exposed me to different nutrition fields. Everyone had a passion for their work, which has inspired me to want to make a difference in future years advocating for this profession.”

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

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LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their same-age heterosexual or cisgender peers, and experts say it’s not their sexual orientation or gender identity that ups their suicide risk but the isolation and stigma they feel because of discrimination against it.

Kelli Agrawal, a USF College of Public Health (COPH) PhD student, decided to look at a form of resilience known as communicative resilience and its ability to curb suicides among LGBTQ+ communities. Her research, “Assessing Communicative Resilience in Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ+ Communities: A Qualitative Analysis of Community Conversations,” was published in July in the American Journal of Health Promotion. Co-authors include the COPH’s Drs. Joe Bohn, Abraham Salinas-Miranda and others.

Communicative resilience relies on discourse and interaction to enable and promote resilience.

“It occurs when day-to-day communication enables people to adapt or transform through difficult times,” Agrawal said. “It doesn’t just happen in response to difficult times though, it is something we can experience in our day-to-day lives that can benefit us when we inevitably experience disruptions, challenges or crises.”

Agrawal, who has helped facilitate a COPH-initiated suicide prevention program called Growing Hope, said the idea to look at communicative resilience and its role in suicide prevention among the LGBTQ+ population was almost accidental.

“Upon initially reviewing the transcripts from community conversations [defined by Agrawal as problem-solving discourse among those interested in addressing a challenge in their community], I began to recognize processes of communication resilience described in the participants’ responses,” Agrawal noted. “At the time, the Growing Hope project had only facilitated one town hall on suicide prevention, and it was for the LGBTQ+ communities in Pinellas County. We had originally planned to only utilize open coding for the analysis, but the processes were identified so clearly (and repeatedly) that we decided to explore them further.”

Agrawal and her co-authors found that communicative resilience—which included identifying strengths, sharing stories of healing and offering strategies for hope—can be an effective suicide-prevention resource.

And while using communicative resilience in suicide prevention is under-utilized and under-studied, Agrawal hopes that will change.

“Public health needs to do more to address suicide with pro-active, strengths-based, community-level strategies,” Agrawal said. “Whether face-to-face, over the phone or virtually…we are in near-constant communication with others. I think there is power and hope in being able to recognize that there are strategies and actions we can all proactively take in our day-to-day lives that can help prevent suicide in our homes, schools, workplaces and communities. The key is recognizing them, knowing how to effectively engage in them and realizing that they can make a difference. It’s not about individual resilience, it’s about collective resilience. It’s about how we interact with one another day-to-day, how we show up in our communities and how our communities show up for us.”

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

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The USF College of Public Health’s Dr. Rita DeBate won the Advancing Health Equity Award at the American College Health Association’s annual conference in June for her poster, “Examining Mental Health Among Multiply Minoritized College Students: The Need for Intersectional Approaches.” The award acknowledges her exceptional work in identifying and addressing mental health disparities among college students from an intersectionality framework.

As executive director of the USF Center for Transdisciplinary Research in College Health and Well-being, DeBate’s research study sought to address a significant gap in college health research by examining how mental health issues among college students differ when considering the intersectionality of race/ethnicity with sexual and gender identity.

“Although mental health disparities by race, ethnicity and sexual orientation have been well-documented among college students, the exploration of mental health from an intersectionality framework is lacking,” DeBate explained.

The study, which was co-authored by COPH assistant professor Dr. Jennifer Bleck and alumni Drs. Erika Thompson and Nolan Kline, highlighted the critical need for multi-level approaches centered on intersectionality as a theoretical lens for mental health research and college programming. It delved into the experiences of college students who identify as both racial/ethnic and sexual/gender minorities, shedding light on the unique challenges they face.

By incorporating an intersectionality lens into college health research, this research enables the specification of health disparities between and among sexual and racial/ethnic minorities. It emphasizes the importance of considering multiple categories of social identity rather than focusing solely on one category, paving the way for targeted and effective interventions to reduce health disparities among college students.

“I am very proud of this award as it recognizes the importance of applying an intersectional lens to identify health disparities and inform the population-specific interventions within university settings with the goal of reducing health disparities and improving the health and quality of life of college students,” she said.

Looking ahead, DeBate aims to take her research a step further. The findings of her study point to the need for additional research to fully understand the life experiences of intersectional college students and the structural systems that may contribute to their marginalization and discrimination.

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health

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In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the USF College of Public Health’s (COPH) Community Emergency Response Team (USF CERT) played a crucial role in supporting response efforts in collaboration with the Florida Department of Health and the Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management.

The volunteer organization is dedicated to promoting, training and providing education on emergency preparedness within USF and its surrounding communities.

The team’s efforts involved setting up and managing 16 site locations – general population shelters, special needs shelters and emergency pet shelters. Over a four-day period, they deployed 53 volunteers who contributed more than 800 hours of service.

Volunteer Florida, the state’s lead agency for mobilizing volunteers and coordinating donations before, during and after disasters, took notice of USF CERT’s accomplishments and dedication during Hurricane Ian. The recognition led to an invitation for Elizabeth Dunn, instructor I and director of USF CERT, and her team to speak on a panel at the Annual Emergency Management Convening in Orlando on Feb. 28 and March 1, 2023, to shed light on the CERT program and its capabilities.

On the last day of the annual meeting, Dunn and her team were surprised to be honored with Volunteer Florida’s Excellence in Volunteerism Award for their response efforts and contributions during and after Hurricane Ian.

“It was a nice surprise and special having some of my students there to accept the award as well,” Dunn said. “I think one of the biggest highlights is knowing the state and our local government recognize the hard work and dedication that we’re doing for our local community.”

Additionally, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners honored the team with a proclamation designating June 22 as CERT Day.

Reflecting on the team’s recognitions, Dunn said, “As the team celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, their contributions to hurricane responses, pandemic efforts and other emergencies have solidified their position as an essential resource for the county. The success stories of CERT program alumni, some of whom now hold prominent positions in emergency management, further highlight the program’s impact and the valuable experience it provides to students. We’ve given our students an opportunity to practice what they’re passionate about. This award serves as a reminder of the value of building relationships and continually striving to improve emergency preparedness and response efforts.”

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health

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According to the United States Department of Agriculture, foodborne illnesses are a “preventable public health challenge” causing an estimated 48,000 illnesses and 3,000 deaths each year.

And summer, with its warmer temperatures and outdoor barbeques and picnics, is a prime time for these illnesses to surface.

“Summer is a peak time for foodborne illnesses because we leave so many foods exposed to the elements during picnics, boating, beach, sporting events, etc.,” said Dr. Jill Roberts, a USF College of Public Health associate professor and food safety expert. “Some microbes cause disease simply by being present (Salmonella), while others cause disease due to the production of toxins while growing (Staphylococcus). Microbes like to multiply at higher temperatures, similar to the temperature of our bodies. So, when it is hot outside, the food heats up and any microbes that are present start multiplying.”

The first step to protecting yourself say Roberts and other food safety experts is keeping foods at the proper temperature.

• When you’re barbequing, use a meat thermometer to make sure foods are cooked to a safe temperature. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends cooking chicken, for example, to a temperature of 165 Fahrenheit degrees, ground beef to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Thaw and marinate foods in the refrigerator. Once you take raw meat out of a marinade, discard it. Using it on cooked meat can spread contaminants.
• Keep cold foods cold. “Use a cooler,” cautioned Roberts.
• Put perishable foods in the refrigerator/cooler within two hours of having them out.
• “When in doubt,” Roberts said, “throw it out.”
• Don’t cross-contaminate. For example, don’t put cooked meat onto a platter that held uncooked meat unless the dish is washed first.
• Make sure you always wash your hands after handling raw meat.

Lastly, if you’re in a high-risk group for serious complications from food illnesses, be extra vigilant. While anyone can develop food poisoning—even by eating only a minuscule amount of contaminated food—young children, those who are 65 and older and those with a weakened immune system are at particular risk.

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

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Commercial airline travel is safer than ever, and Dr. Clarence Rodrigues, a consultant with USF’s SafetyFlorida, the state’s work-related health and safety consultation program housed within the university’s College of Public Health, is playing a part in keeping it that way.

Rodrigues is one of the co-authors of the seventh edition of Commercial Aviation Safety, recently published by McGraw Hill.

The book, which has a worldwide circulation, is intended for those working in the commercial aviation industry—pilots, air traffic controllers, engineers and others— as well as schools that offer aviation programs. It covers a variety of topics including commercial aviation accident causes and investigations, aircraft, airport and air traffic safety systems and human fallibility risk mitigation.

“I have been involved with all chapters of the book, to varying extents, from the fourth to the current seventh edition,” Rodrigues said. “My focused contributions in this seventh edition were in the chapters areas relating to risk management, system safety, human factors and safety culture.”

In addition to his COPH role, Rodrigues is an adjunct professor in USF’s College of Engineering. He’s also held faculty appointments at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Embry-riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla.; the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pennsylvania in Pennsylvania. He also had an industry appointment as a worldwide engineering manager for ergonomics and system safety at Campbells, USA. He is a U.S. professional engineer (PE), a certified safety professional (CSP) and a certified professional ergonomist (CPE), who has consulted globally for both the aviation industry and government.

The book offers readers the latest in aviation regulations and practices, helping industry leaders ensure a safe flight experience for both crew and passengers.

“The risk management, system safety, human factors and safety culture concepts that are outlined and discussed in the text are being used and applied in public health systems, too,” Rodrigues noted. “Clearly, safety is a big component of public health, especially when millions use aviation as a means of transport.”

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

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Antibiotic resistance is a big problem, in the human as well as the animal world. In fact, research has indicated that up to eight percent of β-Hemolytic Streptococcus (BHS) infections in animals are resistant to antibiotics like penicillin, which is the go-to treatment for BHS infection in humans.

But veterinary microbiologists like Kelli Maddock, a USF College of Public Health DrPH student in the clinical laboratory science and practice concentration, wonder if those numbers represent true antibiotic resistance or are the result of a lack of standardized testing among labs. 

She and her colleagues explore the issue in the paper “β-Lactam resistance in veterinary β-hemolytic Streptococcus species: Are we experiencing a public health or test method crisis?” recently published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

“I personally think we’re experiencing a test-method crisis rather than a public health one because we know the test methods were being performed incorrectly across the country,” said Maddock, whose future career goals include research that considers both animal and human health as well as acting as a bridge between human and animal medicine. “Manufacturer instructions can be confusing, and the standards change periodically. We want testing to be the same across the country for every laboratory that uses a particular test method. Consistency between labs is important because if we change the way we perform a test from prescribed test methods, it may falsely make a bacterium look more or less resistant to antimicrobials. Consistency should get us closer to the truth.”

What can be done to get labs to use standardized testing methods? Communication between test manufacturers and the labs that perform the tests is key, said Maddock.

“We need to work with partners nationally to ensure that we are communicating the importance of consistently performing test methods the way the manufacturer and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute standards require,” Maddock noted. “I also think follow-up research comparing different test methods is warranted, too.”

Maddock also commented that while her research is focused on animals, the findings could potentially have human implications.

“Research such as this draws attention to the One Health nature of animal disease,” she said. (One Health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is a transdisciplinary approach to science that recognizes the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and the shared environment in which we all live.) “I hope it will further emphasize that we have to look at animal pathogens from a One Health lens and that although our testing is done on animals, results may impact humans. Differing resistance trends might suggest that we have to improve antimicrobial prescribing practices, or in our case, make sure that our test methods are being performed correctly.”

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

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When Stephanie Carraway relocated to Tampa from Florida’s East Coast 12 years ago, she took a job as a secretary in the infection prevention department at Moffitt Cancer Center.

“My time there proved to be highly influential,” said Carraway, a native of Islamorada, Fla., and a 2006 graduate of Florida State University. “I became deeply inspired by the department, prompting me to pursue a specialization in infection prevention.”

In 2013, Carraway enrolled in classes at USF to acquire a graduate certificate in infection control, which sparked an even broader interest in public health. In 2015, she received her MPH from USF’s College of Public Health with a specialization in infection control.

Carraway said what she loves about the work is her ability to have a direct impact on an individual’s health and well-being.

“Our primary objective revolves around ensuring the well-being of both patients and staff, shielding them from the risks associated with communicable diseases and infections that they might be vulnerable to during their hospital stay,” Carraway said. “It is truly gratifying to witness the positive impact my team can make by introducing projects or processes that enhance the health outcomes of our patients and the safety of our staff.”

Carraway credits her COPH training with helping her climb to the top.

“The invaluable knowledge I gained at USF has played a pivotal role in shaping my current position,” she stated. “My experience at USF has enabled me to successfully transition into the role of an infection preventionist, significantly expanding my responsibilities within my organization. I started as a secretary and today, I stand as director of infection prevention at a prominent comprehensive cancer center, a testament to the transformative power of education and personal growth.”

Infection control’s ever-changing nature keeps Carraway on her toes.

“I am dedicated to the education of health care personnel and the general public regarding infectious diseases and effective measures to contain their spread,” she said. “Through this outreach, I aim to foster awareness and empower individuals with knowledge on limiting the transmission of infectious diseases. I firmly believe that in this role, the learning process never ceases. There is an endless array of knowledge and skills to acquire, and I relish the opportunity to face and overcome such challenges.”

Carraway said one of her greatest professional accomplishments is being selected as a fellow of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). Fellows of the APIC must demonstrate exceptional expertise and leadership in the field of infection control and epidemiology, including publishing in peer-reviewed journals and exhibiting proficiency in at least three of the four domains of infection prevention (for example, operations and performance improvement, professional stewardship, etc.).

“Receiving the title of APIC fellow is an accomplishment that I am immensely proud of. It highlights my dedication to infection prevention and control, as well as my commitment to advancing the field through leadership and scholarly contributions,” Carraway said.

Carraway intends on staying put at Moffitt, at least for the time being.

“I love working at Moffitt. I feel like I have truly found my passion and I love what I do,” she said. “I am not sure what the future holds for my career, but I am along for the ride!”

Alumni Fast Five:

What did you dream of becoming when you were young?

I was always inspired by doctors and thought medicine was super cool!

Where would we find you on the weekend?

You will most likely find me spending time with my family. My weekends are when I get to have fun with my 5-year-old daughter and my husband. I look forward to different activities and watching my daughter grow and play! There is no other place I would rather be.

What is the last book you read?

I am currently pursuing my MBA, so the only books I have read lately are about finance!

What superpower would you like to have?

I would love to be able to heal people. You know…place your hand on a broken arm and fix it. There would be no better feeling!

What’s your all-time favorite movie?

This is tough, and I am not sure I could pick just one. I really loved “Mrs. Doubtfire” growing up and that’s in my top 10!

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

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In the summer of 2022, after a rash of mass shootings, the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) convened a task force on gun violence prevention made up of experts from 13 member schools.

Dr. Karen Liller, a USF College of Public Health Distinguished University Health Professor and injury-prevention researcher, was one of those experts.

The task force worked to review existing literature, identify needs and gaps and develop recommendations for strategies informed by evidence that can be used by schools and programs of public health, as well as the ASPPH as an organization, to help fight gun violence.

In January, the ASPPH’s task force released its report,  “Gun Violence Prevention: An Academic Public Health Framework.”

“It was our goal to develop recommendations that could be implemented over time so that schools and programs [of public health] and the ASPPH could develop and help lead strategies for significant change in a consistent manner,” Liller said.

The ASPPH’s recommendations center on four domains:

• Education and training
• Research
• Policy and advocacy
• Practice

Liller said some of the specific recommendations for schools and programs of public health include:

• Incorporating gun violence prevention into curricula and creating new curricula if needed.
• Providing seed funding for research on gun violence prevention.
• Actively advocating for change.
• Practicing community-based participatory research. “Students should be participating in a wide array of areas including internships and practicums related to gun violence prevention,” Liller explained.

Liller said she also hopes the ASPPH will work to develop a legislative agenda for gun violence prevention and provide a resource site for the modules and curricula on gun violence.

“It was important for me and the entire task force to make sure this report does not just sit on a shelf,” Liller noted. “We were careful to develop recommendations that are doable and include not only what schools and programs can do, but how the ASPPH can support our efforts. We will monitor our progress with real-time tracking while the ASPPH formally reevaluates the progress of the report’s recommendations in three years.”

Participating in the task force was a career highlight, Liller said.

“Working with this group of scientists was so fulfilling,” she commented. “It was exciting to hear a diversity of ideas as to how we can make change. We worked together well, and everyone did their part to review the information and develop and revise recommendations.”

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

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Frank Yiannas has devoted his career to protecting consumers from deadly bacteria and pathogens.

It’s a career that started in 1987 when the newly minted University of Central Florida grad took his BS in microbiology and began working on product safety in the private sector. It was a job that brought him into occasional contact with county health departments.

“That’s when I began to better understand the role of public health,” Yiannas said.

It was one of those health department colleagues who suggested Yiannas pursue an MPH degree and recommended the USF College of Public Health (COPH). Yiannas put the idea on the back burner for a few years while his career was taking off but finally decided to take the plunge, graduating the COPH in 2003 with an MPH degree.

“It was challenging obtaining a degree while also raising a family and working,” he said. “But it was such an important and right decision. Every day, I apply principles I learned at the COPH—principles from epidemiology, biostatistics and ethics. It’s been such a valuable degree for what I do.”

And Yiannas has done a lot.

He started out in public health shadowing a health inspector in Orange County and has since held a variety of high-profile public health jobs in both government and industry, creating a name for himself as a food-safety expert.

Yiannas recently retired from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where he served as deputy commissioner for food policy and response. He was tasked with the development and execution of the agency’s food-safety policies and advised the FDA Commissioner on things such as food-safety outbreaks, trace-back investigations and product-recall activities. He’s also been director of safety and health at Disney and vice president of food safety and health at Walmart.

Speaking of his FDA job, Yiannas said what interested him most about the position was the opportunity it gave him to serve the nation.

“I loved the scope of the job and the ability to work with such a broad group of food-system stakeholders, including state and global regulators, representatives from the food and agriculture sectors, political leaders, consumer groups and academia,” he commented. Yiannas said one of his proudest achievements was serving on a White House Food Supply Chain Disruption Task Force during the pandemic, helping to ensure that consumers had access to the food they needed.

Today Yiannas, a pioneer in blockchain technology (a tamper-proof, digitized, decentralized database that allows for the traceability of food), heads Smarter FY Solutions, a consulting firm that advises companies on food safety and supply chain issues.

“My goal,” he said, “is to create a safer, smarter and more sustainable food system. I want to protect consumers from unsafe food and help them live healthy lives.”

Alumni Fast Five

What did you dream of becoming when you were young?

I was convinced I’d be a shortstop for the New York Yankees.

Where would we find you on the weekends?

Hopefully at home with my family and not on a plane.

What is the last book you read?

“Digital Transformation: Survive and Thrive in an Era of Mass Extinction,” by Thomas M. Siebel

What superpower would you like to have?

The ability to be transported over geographical boundaries and time.

What is your all-time favorite move?

“Gladiator.” I like the idea of having the courage to stand for your freedom and for what you believe in.

To view the awards ceremony, click here.

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

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