From receiving awards to making presentations to attending a spirited reception, USF College of Public Health (COPH) students, faculty, staff and alumni left their mark on the annual American Public Health Association (APHA) Meeting and Expo.

The theme for this year’s event, attended by more than 10,000 public health advocates and held in Atlanta from Nov. 12-15, was “Creating the Healthiest Nation: Overcoming Social and Ethical Challenges.”

Here, some highlights.

Awards

Dr. Karen Liller, a Distinguished University Health Professor and director of the college’s Activist Lab, received the Distinguished Career Award from the APHA’s Injury Control and Emergency Health Section. The award recognizes an individual for their outstanding contributions and dedication to the study of injury and violence prevention.

In her three-page nomination letter, COPH Dean Donna Petersen hailed Liller as a “tireless champion of public health in all its many forms, though injury prevention has and remains her primary focus and passion.”

Petersen went on to outline Liller’s many roles in injury prevention through her distinguished 30-year career, including receiving millions of dollars in federal, state and local funding, producing nearly 200 peer-reviewed publications, teaching thousands of students, writing a textbook on injury in children and adolescents and being a leading contributor to media outlets looking for an injury-prevention specialist.

“I felt so honored to receive this award because it is truly an award from my peers in injury prevention, which means so very much,” Liller said. “After 30 years of work in this field, I still feel there is so much more to do, and I am just getting started! I am proud of my successes, and this award signifies my passion for preventing injuries and death among children and adolescents. I could not be more thrilled and look forward to the years ahead.”

COPH Associate Professor Dr. Jennifer Marshall, who is also director of the Sunshine Education & Research Center, received the Effective Practice Award from the APHA’s Maternal Child Health Section.

The Effective Practice Award is given to those whose work has made a significant contribution to effective public health practice within maternal and child health. Dr. Marshall’s co-leadership of the CADENCE program for patients with perinatal opioid use, co-development of the public health leadership training program, PHEARLESS, and her long-standing research and evaluation collaborations with Healthy Start and the Florida Department of Health led to her nomination.

“It was truly an honor to receive the APHA MCH Section Effective Practice Award,” said Marshall, who is also an alum of the college. “I was an APHA Student Fellow and then Senior Fellow over a decade ago, and I have been actively involved in the section since then as co-chair of the Child Care and Children & Youth With Special Health Care Needs committees. It was wonderful to be nominated by my long-time mentor, Russ Kirby, and to have Dean Petersen in attendance for the award ceremony at the Martha Mae Elliot luncheon.”

Research

Doctoral student Chinyere Reid received the APHA’s Latino Caucus Student Award plus a $250 cash prize for her research abstract titled, “Weathering the COVID-19 storm: Examining the influence of general stress, pandemic-related pregnancy stress and social support on the mental health of pregnant Latina women.”

According to its website, the Latino Caucus for Public Health, affiliated with the APHA, “represents and advocates for the health interests of the Latino community, both within and outside the APHA, while providing leadership opportunities for students and young professionals to engage in research, policy and advocacy efforts.”

Reid was presented with her award at the caucus’ 50^th anniversary gala held in Atlanta during the APHA.

“I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the recognition of my research efforts, especially as the presented study was an extension of my dissertation and adds to ongoing efforts in advancing perinatal health within Latinx communities,” said Reid, whose abstract was one of more than 30 considered for the award.

Reception

With temps in the 50s, a slight breeze in the air and Edison lights providing a festive glow, it was a lovely evening for the college’s annual gathering at APHA.

The festivities kicked off early with tasty appetizers and a private bar.

As per usual, Dean Donna Petersen welcomed attendees giving a special shout-out to COPH students, faculty, alumni, staff and friends of the college. She introduced videos highlighting recent news in the college, including renaming the COPH building after the college’s founder, Sam P. Bell, III, and a $100,000 gift honoring Bell from the Florida Healthy Kid’s Corporation in support of student scholarships.

Liz Bannon, the college’s new alumni officer, invited alums to whip out their phones and scan a QR code for a quick interest engagement survey. “I’m delighted to join the college and meet all of you,” Bannon said. “I didn’t earn a public health degree, but I am a legacy Bull. Public health already feels like home to me.”

Bannon also shared exciting news.

“Your COPH alumni scholarship fund has reached endowment level of $25,000, but as Dean Petersen said, we’re not stopping there! The new goal is $50,000 so that multiple $1,000 student scholarships can be awarded,” Bannon noted.

Development Officer Beth Ahmedic challenged the group to make a gift of any amount to any account.

“As Liz said, we’ve moved the bar for the alumni scholarship fund,” Ahmedic stated. “However, I invite you to consider making a gift to the Founder’s Fund. This fund was created by Sam Bell and allows college leadership to direct the funds to the area of greatest need.”

By night’s end, more than 130 guests visited Bulls Country in Atlanta. Before everyone bid farewell, Dean Petersen had one more new development to share. After 19 years of leadership, she is stepping down as dean of the college.

“The college is stronger than ever because of you,” Petersen said. “I’m leaving the dean’s office, but not the college. I look forward to seeing you at future events because I know you love the college as much as I do.”

Story by Donna Campisano and Natalie Preston for USF College of Public Health