First published on February 10, 2020 in observance of the COPH’s 35^th anniversary celebration.

The USF College of Public Health become one of the first public health programs in the nation to transform the core curriculum to meet 21^st century public health needs and to meet changing Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH) competency requirements in 2014.

“This curriculum was designed to reflect the true, interdisciplinary nature of public health. While, historically, schools and colleges of public health have introduced students to the core curriculum of public health in the first year of the master of public health (MPH) program from independent perspectives, this approach lacked an interdisciplinary and integrated approach required to address public health problems,” said Dr. Jaime Corvin, associate professor and director of the MPH program.

Faculty at the COPH were charged with addressing this problem, rethinking our curriculum and developing a program to prepare the next generation of public health professionals. 

Today, more than 700 students have successfully completed the new core at USF and have earned the Certified in Public Health (CPH) designation, a requirement of the new program. 

“People often ask, why change the core?” Corvin said. “Simply put, our MPH program was a strong program. But it was no longer addressing the realities of 21^st century public health problems. We deal with complex problems, we come together as multidisciplinary teams to address these issues, and we don’t act in silos. There was a need to teach traditional content but in an integrated fashion and to ensure that our students were receiving practical, hands-on-training.” 

The COPH’s MPH program now integrates rigorous public health training with broad exposure to the breadth and depth of the field, according to Corvin.

Students learn the traditional public health content but are required to apply those skills through case studies, communications assignments, and the analysis of public health data in History and Systems, Population Assessment I and Population Assessment II, as well as the development of public health promotion campaigns in Translation to Practice. 

“Students work in groups, they debate, they write – a lot – and they synthesize public health problems, coming together to develop innovative strategies to address the problems poised,” Corvin said.  

The MPH core courses are taught by a team of faculty and leaders within the college, including Dean Donna Petersen and Drs. Anna Armstrong, Jason Beckstead, Tom Bernard, Joe Bohn, Jaime Corvin, Rita Debate, Zac Pruitt, Troy Quast, Tom Unnasch, Kate Wolfe-Quintero, Ronee Wilson and Janice Zgibor.

In addition, each cohort is supported by a team of doctoral and masters level teaching assistants. Together, this team strives to provide the best experience for students as they learn and practice the foundational public health concepts. 

Corvin also shared how, as the student body changed and as CEPH competencies were revised, revisions were required to ensure students were graduating with the tools and skills needed to be successful in the workforce. 

Such revisions included a renewed focus on communication and leadership, the importance of writing and the need for enhanced professional development skills.

“In fact, Dr. Anna Armstrong, who leads the USF BullPEN initiative, recently conducted a study to assess professional development needs of our students as perceived by our students and the local workforce,” Corvin said.

Armstrong found that students felt they needed job readiness skills and employers believed students needed help with communication and professional development.

As a result, the USF BullPEN was launched and elements of professional development were incorporated in the Core curriculum. 

Corvin and Armstrong believe that the focus on professional development will help our students to be better prepared as they enter the workforce. They also hope that this will instill a culture of continuing education, lifelong learning, and professional development, all important tenants of the field.

“It’s a lot of work and it takes a commitment. A commitment to your studies and to the field. But we hear back from our graduates about how prepared they feel in their new careers. To me, there is nothing more rewarding,” Corvin said when asked how students receive the program.

The faculty often receive feedback that the strength of USF’s MPH program is its focus on integration of core subject areas and real-world application.

Hari Venkatachalam, a recent graduate of the program, shared “when I joined the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Health Science Research Specialist, I found myself initially overwhelmed with the diversity among the research staff: There were nurses, anthropologists, physical therapists, and biostatisticians. They each brought such unique skills. But that’s what the USF’s MPH program prepares its students for. It prepares us for real world public health work, whether it’s by giving us the analytical skills to perform data management, honing the investigative skills to perform reviews of literature, or the fine-tuning of our writing and oratory skills to defend a program’s implementation. The program is built in a manner that when a student joins the workforce, they find themselves jumping into the position like riding a bike; The skills have become second-nature.” 

Other students have gone on to continue their education, USF’s MPH serving as a strong foundation for the next step in their career path.

“I found that I entered the program vastly more prepared and comfortable than my peers, and have bragged about my integrated MPH on more than one occasion,” said Amina Zeidan who is now a doctoral student in a translational science program at the University of Texas. “These courses were more realistic and relate-able to real life work experiences.”

Corvin said the MPH committee will continue to evaluate and revise the core, striving for a more rigorous foundation for the next generation of public health professionals. 

“Our graduates are the future – public health professionals poised to bring people together and to be the change!” Corvin said.

Story by USF COPH Staff Writer

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First published on October 7, 2019 in observance of the COPH’s 35^th anniversary celebration.

Advocacy is as important in public health as data analyses and needs’ assessments.

But students have traditionally lacked advocacy experience.

In 2018, Dr. Karen Liller, a USF College of Public Health (COPH) professor specializing in injury prevention and health education, decided to remedy that situation by starting the Activist Lab at the COPH.

The group, which is run with the help of two research assistants and a six-student advisory board made up of graduate and undergraduate students, provides interdisciplinary advocacy, education, research and service opportunities for students to develop the skills that will promote their success as effective public health advocates and leaders.

The Activist Lab, directed by Liller, is the second such lab in the country, with the first being at Boston University’s School of Public Health.

Liller says she had been wanting to start a program like the Activist Lab at the COPH for a while, to compliment the Doctoral Student Leadership Institute she began as dean of the USF Graduate School, now known as the Office of Graduate Studies.

“I strongly believed students needed much more preparation in leadership and advocacy skills before they graduated,” Liller commented.

In just one year of its existence, hundreds of students have taken part in the Activist Lab’s educational and service opportunities, which include activism boot camps, seminars, guest speakers, journal clubs, writing groups, research efforts and public health in a minute videos. These videos—only 60 seconds long—have featured faculty and community leaders discussing pertinent public health issues, everything from the importance of voting to refugee health.

According to Liller, some of the Activist Lab’s first-year highlights include:

• work with Dr. Mark Roberts and other University of Pittsburgh researchers on a measles simulator for Florida (called FRED Florida Measles Simulator), which shows how cases of the viral infection can grow in an area with just a 10 percent drop in immunizations
• a gun violence prevention and advocacy seminar, held in partnership with USF Health and led by Parkland shooting survivors David Hogg and Emma González

Things won’t slow down for the Activist Lab anytime soon. In addition to the continuation of seminars, speakers and learning opportunities, the organization has the following things planned for the future:

• a boot camp on the prevention of firearm violence, scheduled for January
• a new program called “More Opportunities to Use Learned Advocacy” (MOULA), where students work with particular agencies, such as Moms Demand Action and the Guardian ad Litem program, on advocacy issues
• the launch of a new podcast series called “Advocation—Change It Up!” The first podcast features Dr. Jill Roberts, a COPH alumna and assistant professor of global health, discussing the importance of immunizations.
• an oral presentation on activism, to be delivered at the 2019 American Public Health Association (APHA) meeting in November

The Activist Lab serves as an exciting hub of learning and action for students to become directly involved in practicing leadership and advocacy skills, says Liller, who sees the lab’s numbers growing and its reach expanding beyond the college and university to the state, nation and world. 

“For example, with our podcast new persons will be reached and advocacy skills can be expanded and practiced,” remarked Liller. “Students can become part of our advisory board and really help shape the direction of the lab. They can participate in all of our events, and as we grow more and more opportunities will become available.”

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

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First published on December 9, 2019 in observance of the COPH’s 35^th anniversary celebration.

In 2018, the USF College of Public Health (COPH) resurrected its Public Health Executive Leadership Program, which had been dormant for 10 years.

The program aims to bring rising leaders in the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) together to “collaborate and improve upon their own as well as their agency’s effectiveness,” said Dr. Marissa Levine, a COPH professor and co-director of the program along with Dr. Anthony Masys, an associate professor and director of global disaster management, humanitarian assistance and homeland security. “We revived the program not to teach public health skills, but to bring out leadership skills.”

Last year’s program brought 28 FDOH professionals—everyone from bureau chiefs to doctors and nurses to lab executives—to the USF Tampa campus several times over the course of nine months to attend workshops and presentations. In between the sessions, the group performed online work and discussions.

“The students evaluated their own leadership skill growth at the beginning and end of the program,” explained Levine. “Based on this, we saw a significant increase in self-assessed leadership skills. In addition, each student completed a capstone project relevant to their work at their base of operations. Each project was impactful and some had the potential for state- or national-level effectiveness.”

As an added bonus, many students in the program who did not initially know each other created professional relationships. “That will not only help them personally, but it will also enhance the work and impact of the department,” noted Levine.

Hurricane season pushed back the start of this year’s program, but in November 30 FDOH workers came to campus to open the 2019 program and begin fine-tuning their leadership skills. 

“This is another dynamic group who we will meet again in person four more times between now and May. Next month we will be exploring leadership in a political context and will convene in Tallahassee where we will view committee meetings and learn about all levels of government budget and policy making,” said Levine.

The Center for Leadership in Public Health Practice, the COPH group that puts on the program, has an annual contract with the FDOH. According to Levine, the group is looking to expand its offerings to engage other public health professionals. “We’re disseminating information to our graduates and others interested in leadership so that we can create a robust resource for leaders working to collaboratively improve health and well-being,” said Levine

.Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

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On October 5, Dr. Donna Petersen, dean of the USF College of Public Health (COPH), gave her 15^th State of the College Address virtually to faculty, staff and administration through Microsoft Teams due to the COVID-19 pandemic that rocked the world at the start of the 2020 spring semester. 

“I am delighted to welcome you virtually to our State of the College Address! It’s been quite a year with the dueling pandemics of systemic racism and COVID, which I will talk about shortly,” Petersen said. “As always we use this opportunity to highlight our college and people and to recognize those who have had particular achievements, welcome new faces and wrap up with a look-ahead given the uncertain times.”

Year in Review

While the year was disrupted and had to change course many times due to COVID-19, the COPH was able to prevail and still celebrate many successes. Petersen closed out the college’s 35^th anniversary year announcing that the college and its supporters raised $233,000 throughout the year.

• During the 35^th Anniversary giving challenge, the college and its supporters raised $233,000 throughout the year.
• During the 2019-2020 year, the COPH taught 68,614 student credit hours, up 10.8% over the prior year.
• Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative celebrated its 10^th Anniversary. 
• The Nutrition and Dietetic Internship Program was accredited for eight years.

Living with COVID

“I could not be prouder of the college, from everyone in it and everyone who has stepped up to support all the of the efforts that are going on to respond to COVID-19 at the university and across our communities,” Petersen said.

• Initial calls to action resulted in more than 335 students, faculty, staff and alumni responding to help with the COVID-19 crises.
• The Florida Department of Health hired more than 90 COPH students across the state to serve as contact tracers. Drs. Jennifer Bleck, Marie Bourgeois, Ismael Hoare, Makut Makut, Stephanie Marhefka, Allison Oberne and Patrick Rodriguez served as contact tracers and in other FL DOH assignments as well.
• Through the Pandemic Response Research Network, the college submitted 28 proposals in three rounds of funding with two being awarded.
  • Dr. Thomas Unnasch, PI, COVID-19 Integrated Contagion Modeling for Community Policy and Governance​
  • Dr. Jennifer Marshall, PI, Planning for Hurricane Shelter Operations During a Pandemic​

Systemic Racism

• The COPH’s History and Systems summer reading assignment was changed to address systemic racism. Over 280 student essays indicated that something new was learned and that they were “stunned, shocked, embarrassed, dismayed, disgusted” and “motivated, inspired, humbled.”
• Faculty led by Dr. Abraham Salinas-Miranda are putting together a statement on “Racism as a Public Health Issue,” along with several helpful tools. 
• Launched COPH Comprehensive Strategy to Address Systemic by integrating it into the Academic Master Plan process.

Our People

Emphasizing that people are at the center of public health, Petersen led her presentation with the introduction of new faculty and staff. She also recognized those who have received awards or been acknowledged for achievements. 

• Welcomed ten new faculty members and promoted four faculty and tenured two faculty members and saw 14 new staff members join team #USFCOPHRocks!
• Had two COPH staffers recognized with the USF COPH Outstanding staff award and seven with the USF Outstanding Staff Award.
• Applauded 10 faculty members who received awards and recognitions, both within the college and outside of it.
• Drs. Donna Haiduven, associate professor, and Dinorah Martinez Tyson, associate professor, were awarded the Cliff Blair Award for Excellence in Teaching.
• Elizabeth Dunn, Instructor I, received the 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award.

Students and Alumni

Students are the heart and soul of the college as well as the future of public health, and Petersen proudly shared their accomplishments.

• Five student received student research awards and eight students received student honors. 
• Alumni Dr. Marlene Joannie Bewa received the USF Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Award.
• Numerous alumni received a variety awards, from the USF Outstanding Alumni Award to the COPH’s  Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health Award.

Going Forward

Going forward Petersen stated that COVID-19 and systemic racism have collided in ways that put persistent health disparities into stark relief – people of color get infected at higher rates, are hospitalized at higher rates and die at higher rates than white people.

“It is also becoming evident to everyone that the racist policies that exist in this country – policies that deny people access to health insurance or to a regular health care provider, or to affordable housing, to public transportation or to a living wage, have contributed to the problems we see in people having difficulty getting tested for COVID-19 and then getting care. We are only now starting to appreciate how many people have died of COVID or of other diseases at home because they were unable or afraid to seek care,” Petersen continued. “We are working on all of these issues, helping our students gain critical knowledge and develop valuable skills that will enable them to emerge as a new generation of public health professionals, prepared to address the root causes of both global infectious diseases, and of racism.”

Click here to view the full USF College of Public Health State of the College Address.

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health

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This past year, the USF College of Public Health celebrated 35 years of educating public health professionals with events and festivities honoring this historic milestone.

A jewel in the crown of the University of South Florida, the COPH was founded in statute by the Florida Legislature in 1984 as the first school of public health in the state.

Three decades of growth and innumerable success stories later, the college has provided excellence in public health education, leadership, advocacy, research and service.

Check out the following highlights from the yearlong celebration of all things public health.

From July 2019 through June 2020, the COPH hosted and partnered on more than 30 events. The year kicked off with the COPH Birthday Party in collaboration with the USF Faculty and Staff Campaign and featured  cake, punch, giveaways and complimentary massages!

Throughout the year the COPH co-branded and promoted several events with the 35^th Anniversary. Starting in August, the COPH hosted regional events for online students and alumni through the “In Your Neighborhood” series. COPHers gathered in St. Petersburg (Aug. 18), Atlanta (Sept. 7), and Annapolis, MD (Oct. 19).

The COPH Alumni Society partnered with the USF Student Alumni Association for the college’s first 7@7 Student Alumni Networking Dinner on Sept. 1. More than 70 coeds attended, the largest attendance for the series!

Some new events were also added, such as the COPH 7@5 Lecture Series that had a featured speaker come to the COPH each month to talk on a variety of topics.

One of the biggest events of the year was the COPH Talent Show. More than 200 COPH students, faculty, alumni, staff and friends of the college sung and swung the night away on Friday, Jan. 31, at Skipper’s Smokehouse, raising a total of $2582.50 for student scholarships. Twelve acts, performing everything from line and swing dancing to stand-up comedy to rock, jazz, classical and country music, took the stage. COPH alumnus and assistant professor Dr. Zachary Pruitt emceed the event.

In February, COPHers ran, walked and jogged their way across the finish line at the 2020 Gasparilla Classic on Feb. 22-23! More than 30 participants joined team #USFCOPHRocks with representatives in each race receiving limited edition 35^th anniversary moisture-wicking t-shirts.

Due to the unprecedented closure of the University of South Florida due to COVID-19 on March 13, many 35^th anniversary events, such as National Public Health Week, Community Jazz Night and the Science in Service: Paths to Health Equity symposium were canceled.

However, all activities did not come to a halt.

In April, Dr. Donna Petersen, dean of the COPH, recognized the hardworking students, faculty, alumni, staff and other professionals in the field with awards and accolades. This year’s annual National Public Health Week award ceremony entailed Petersen congratulating award winners in front of a camera instead of an audience.

In May, the COPH was able to honor Spring 2020 graduates with another virtual ceremony. The Class of 2020 included  145 undergraduates, 117 masters and 11 doctoral students graduated and entered the public health profession.

Wrapping up the anniversary year, the COPH just released the 35^th Anniversary cookbook, titled “Passion,” a play on the college’s tagline “Practice Your Passion.” The cookbook is a compilation of recipes, photos and stories from the COPH’s faculty, staff, students and friends of the college.

Read more about the founding of the COPH here.

Read all the news from the COPH’s 35^th anniversary here and view all event photos here.

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health

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More than 200 USF College of Public Health (COPH) students, faculty, alumni, staff and friends of the college sung and swung the night away Friday, Jan. 31, at Skipper’s Smokehouse, raising a total of $2582.50 for student scholarships. The event was held in celebration of the college’s 35^th anniversary and was made possible with support from USF Health and Dr. Charles Lockwood, senior vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

“We are doing a lot of events to mark the anniversary, but many of them are scholarly,” said Dr. Donna Petersen, dean of the COPH. “We recognized we needed to do something fun. We are a creative bunch at work and at play and I’m really delighted so many people stepped up to share their talents. This is a fabulous night to celebrate all that’s great about the College of Public Health.”

Twelve acts, performing everything from line and swing dancing to stand-up comedy to rock, jazz, classical and country music, took the stage. They were each introduced by assistant professor Dr. Zachary Pruitt.

The college will continue to celebrate its 35^th anniversary with events and giving opportunities through June. You can help support the college and its efforts to improve the health of populations in Tampa and around the world by becoming a donor.

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

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The USF College of Public Health (COPH) has been training students to become laboratory directors since 2017.

The DrPH program in clinical laboratory science and practice program was implemented because of the emerging need for more laboratory directors in the United States. Clinical laboratories are vital to the country’s public health infrastructure, but there’s a shortage of laboratory professionals who can properly run the four billion lab tests performed in the U.S. each year. The shortage is due to a variety of reasons, says the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), including the retirement of current staff to the lack of training programs for future ones.

Once this issue was recognized, the APHL, in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed competency guidelines for public health laboratory professionals that were intended to ensure a properly trained laboratory workforce.

“Members of the competency work group recognized early on that these educational programs were complimentary to the already-existing DrPH program offered at the COPH,” said Dr. Jill Roberts, a professor in the program. “All we needed to do was expand it a little further.”

In addition to the existing DrPH coursework at the COPH, the competency work group proposed eight additional courses focused on the scientific, leadership and management skills necessary for future laboratory directors. These courses will help students pass the high-complexity clinical laboratory director (HCLD) certification exam.

“Students must already have careers in laboratories to qualify for the program,” said Roberts. “Our goal is for the program to prepare students who want to advance their careers to lead the nation’s public health and clinical laboratories.”

As the program prepares to possibly graduate its first two students this spring, Roberts hopes that COPH program can be part of a nationwide replenishment of the laboratory workforce.

“We hope that this much-needed opportunity for advancement and professional training will fill that gap in the current laboratory workforce,” said Roberts. “There are also plans to expand the program to those students who require doctoral-level training for advancement but do not intend to complete the ABB examination.” 

Story by Cody Brown, USF College of Public Health

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So, you think you can dance? Sing? Tell jokes?

Whatever your talent is, the USF College of Public Health is looking to showcase your skills at our upcoming talent show in honor of our 35^th anniversary!

The talent show will be held Friday, Jan. 31, at Skipper’s Smokehouse. The doors open at 7 p.m.; the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

“We are celebrating many accomplishments during this 35^th anniversary year, but it is also important to have some fun,” said USF College of Public Health Dean Donna Petersen. “To make this the rousing success we wish it to be, we are calling for talent!”

The event includes free food during the talent show and will be followed by a special guest appearance at 10:30 p.m. by the band Bad Bad Hats, led by Tampa Prep alumna Kerry Alexander.

The group, named after a trouble-making character in the Madeline children’s books, is an indie rock band from Minneapolis. Their music honors classic pop songwriting, with nods to nineties rock simplicity and pop-punk frivolity. Bad Bad Hats have toured the country and have two albums under their belts: Psychic Reader and Lightning Round.

Other acts will feature students, faculty, alumni and staff. On tap are renditions of “Vienna,” by Billy Joel, “Rocket Man,” by Elton John, piano singalongs, poetry readings, dancing, classic country/folk musical duos and even a performance by the dean herself. Other performers include:

• Rocky Jalil
• Dr. Russell Kirby
• Dr. Claudia Parvanta
• Richard Harner
• Dr. Karen Liller
• Terry Noonan
• Rolando Trejos
• Greg Vawter
• Tammy Watson
• Stephan Villavicencio
• Sara de la Cantera
• Dr. Stephanie Marhefka
• Dr. Linsey Grove
• Dean Donna Petersen
• Dr. Joe Bohn

The event will be emceed by Assistant Professor Dr. Zachary Pruitt.

“Turns out, this event not only will showcase our talented faculty, staff and students, but it will raise funds for the college!” Dean Petersen said.

Skipper’s is contributing 75 percent of the ticket sales for the Bad Bad Hats, who will headline the show. 

“Any and all talents are welcome,” said Dr. Petersen. “It won’t be a party without you!”

To register to take part in the talent show, secure your spot here. Tickets are available through Skipper’s Smokehouse.

This initiative is part of the USF College of Public Health’s yearlong 35th anniversary celebration.  To learn more about giving to the COPH, contact Kara Steiner ’06 at ksteiner@health.usf.edu or (813) 974-3023.

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In observance of Giving Tuesday, the USF College of Public Health presents a 24-hour online giving campaign dedicated to student scholarships.  Supporters of the college can make online gifts from 12 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Strategically placed after Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and CyberMonday, Giving Tuesday coincides with the start of the holiday shopping season and serves as a reminder to give a gift during this special time of the year.

“We have a day for giving thanks.  We have three days for getting deals … This year, support a day for giving back,” says a message on the #GivingTuesday website.

Dean Donna Petersen and public health students strike a bullish pose.

Double the dollars. Multiply the impact.

An anonymous donor has offered a $35,000 challenge match for all gifts in support of the COPH that come in during the anniversary year.  All gifts are matched dollar-for-dollar up to $35,000!

Help the COPH celebrate 35 years of educating, mentoring and training the next generation of public health practitioners and allowing us to pursue “our practice, our passion” for years to come.

Can’t wait until Giving Tuesday?

No problem. Make your secure gift today. Give an amount that signifies the 35th anniversary milestone—$35, $350 or even $3,500.

Big or small, every gift will continue to provide more opportunities for students and help the COPH maintain its status as one of the best public health programs in the country!

Together, we can give more in support of student scholarships.

This initiative is part of the USF College of Public Health’s yearlong 35th anniversary celebration.  To learn more about giving to the COPH, contact Kara Steiner ’06 at ksteiner@health.usf.edu or (813) 974-3023.

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Since its inception in 2018, the USF Genomics Program has been an interdisciplinary program leveraging the diversity of USF’s faculty expertise to integrate genomic approaches to understanding global health issues.

The USF Genomics Program is a multi-college program directed by Dr. John Adams, distinguished university professor, that operates through the USF College of Public Health’s Global and Planetary Health strategic area. It includes faculty from the COPH, Morsani College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Arts and Sciences and College of Marine Science.

Genomics—the study of the structure and function of an organism’s DNA—­­is something Dr. Jenna Oberstaller, the interdisciplinary sciences liaison for the program and USF COPH research associate, says stands at the base of public health breakthroughs.

“The grand vision behind USF Genomics was to be a unifying and broadly interdisciplinary program; a highly collaborative community strengthened by leveraging our diverse expertise and resources into building a program that would attract more talent, facilitate collaboration, invest in cutting-edge technologies, and train the next generation of Omics researchers and leaders,” she said.

According to Oberstaller, prior to the program’s foundation, individual labs across USF, including medicine, nursing, marine science and arts and sciences, were well-established to perform omics research.

“But, many were toiling in isolation, or with omics data-collection and analysis outsourced to external companies or collaborators,” she said. “Though USF had the talents, we did not necessarily have the organization to facilitate collaborations at a scale to satisfy need.”

But, how do genomics and public health go hand-in-hand?

“Issues of public health are often complex problems resulting from an interplay of contributing factors,” Oberstaller said. “We have researchers focusing on using Omics data to answer questions all along the spectrum of ‘basic’ science—the building blocks for many public-health and biomedical breakthroughs—directly to translational science that informs clinical treatments or interventions, for both human and planetary health.”

The program approaches public-health complexities from many different angles, with current research focusing on topics ranging from personal genetics and the community of micro-organisms in the gut to evolutionary adaptations enabling parasites or even cancers to resist treatment; to environmental changes extending the range of disease-carrying mosquitos, or allowing invasive species or diseases to threaten food-sources; to the effects of light-pollution on birds that lengthens the window they can transmit human diseases, and beyond.

“Interdisciplinary, collaborative efforts—united by the goal of harnessing the immense power of omics research—empower USF to contribute innovative solutions to these complex problems of health and ecology,” Oberstaller said.

Currently there are 31 faculty members spanning a number of USF colleges in the program.

“We welcome any USF faculty having extramurally-funded omics research-projects to be an official part of the program,” Oberstaller said.  

According to Oberstaller, in its short time of existence, the program has managed to:

• Establish the USF Genomics facility “training core,” which houses state-of-the-art sequencing-technology, including single-cell sequencing
• Offer subsidized workshops for both laboratory and computational data-analysis training for RNA sequencing, as well as microbiome data-analysis training
• Invest in state-of-the-art high-performance computing hardware, in cooperation with USF Research Computing, that is HIPAA-compliant to allow secure storage and analysis of sensitive, human-subjects genomic data
• Establish the USF Genomics Omics Hub computational and laboratory-advisory group
• Engage in omics consulting, training-resources, and grant-application support
• Establish a master’s graduate degree program
• Establish graduate Genomics Program fellowships

To learn more about the USF Genomics Program, including research and degree programs, visit the program’s website.

The USF Genomics Fall Symposium will be held Nov. 15 at the USF Global Health and Infectious Disease Research Center. The event will feature external speakers, as well as highlight current USF Genomics faculty research. To learn more about the event, or to register, visit the event listing.

Story by Anna Mayor, USF College of Public Health

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