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

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To date, the USF College of Public Health has recognized dozens of alumni with significant impact in public health. Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis.

“During the process of soliciting and reviewing nominations for 2015 it became clear that the Outstanding Alumni Awards should be an annual event recognizing our more than 11,000 alumni doing great things in various places,” said Dr. Heather Stockwell, emeritus professor from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

To be considered for an Outstanding Alumni Award, nominees must have earned an academic degree (BS, MHA, MPH, MSPH, PhD or DrPH) from the COPH.

“Our alumni are doing wonderful things locally, statewide and internationally and this award is one way that the college can acknowledge their success,” said Dr. Karen Liller, COPH professor.

The Outstanding Alumni Awards are presented in Tampa during National Public Health Week, which is typically during the first week in April.

Complete details on eligibility and the nomination process are on the  alumni awards website. The deadline for all materials to be received is 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 1.

“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.

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

“USF was chosen as the place for Florida’s College of Public Health,” Dr. Peter Levin, the college’s first dean wrote in 1984, “because of the broad base of knowledge found in the many colleges of the University and the unique Tampa location.”

Three decades of growth and innumerable success stories later, former Fla. Rep. Samuel P. Bell, III shed more light on the founding of COPH. It all started with one person’s idea and another person’s decision to act on it.

The idea person was Robert Hamlin, a graduate of the Harvard University College of Public Health. He brought his idea to Bell, dubbed “the godfather of the college” by Charles Mahan, another founder and COPH dean from 1995 to 2002.

“He had realized that there was not a college of public health in Florida,” Bell recalled of Hamlin. “He contacted my staff director, John Phelps, with the idea, and John and I discussed the idea and decided that we should pursue the project.”

Since the COPH’s founding, the college has provided excellence in public health education, leadership, advocacy, research and service.

This July, the COPH is celebrating 35 years of educating public health professionals. Make plans now to participate in events in Tampa, around the nation and online that recognize this historic milestone.

Read more about the founding of the COPH here.

Upcoming events:

Festivities are planned for the next 12 months! Here’s a sample of offerings for the 35th anniversary.

• COPH Birthday Party—On July 12, faculty, staff and students are invited to celebrate the COPH’s 35th birthday! Like most birthday parties, we will have cake, punch, giveaways, and sing “Happy Birthday!” Complimentary, 5-minute chair massages will be the icing on the cake!

• 7@7 Dinner with Alums—On Sept. 19, here’s your chance to not only meet an alum but have dinner with him or her and ask up-close-and-personal questions about how to make your degree work for you or get involved on campus. Alumni can also help you decide what path you should choose if you’re unsure. Open to all COPH students.
• USF Health Homecoming Tailgate—Mark your calendar for Oct. 12 and plan to connect with fellow Bulls as we cheer on our football team! Enjoy food and beverage, swag, and family fun! Ticket information to come.
• In Your Neighborhood Series— The COPH is coming to St. Petersburg, Washington D.C., Atlanta and Chicago! Connect with COPH alumni over dinner and visit with current faculty.
• Gasparilla Distance Classic—Run, walk, jog and do whatever it takes to cross the finish line! There are multiple distances to choose from, and Team #usfcophrocks will have participants represented in all of them. Save the date for Feb. 22-23 and prepare to kick asphalt!
• Talent Show—Do you have the music within you? Do you have movement? Want to let you comedic side out? The college is filled with talent and we want to celebrate it. Stay tuned for more information and start practicing now!
• Alumni Awards Ceremony—The college is home to a plethora of awesome graduates. Make plans to nominate one (or two, or more) for a COPH alumni award.

Stay up-to-date on the festivities by vising the 35th anniversary website. It’s one-stop shopping for events, news, giving and more.

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.

For additional information or to help plan 35th anniversary events, contact Caitlin Keough at caitlinkeough@health.usf.edu.

The post COPH turns 35 years young! appeared first on College of Public Health News.

To date, the USF College of Public Health has recognized 33 alumni with significant impact in public health. Nominations are currently being accepted for the Class of 2019.

“During the process of soliciting and reviewing nominations for 2015 it became clear that the Outstanding Alumni Awards should be an annual event recognizing our more than 6,000 alumni doing great things in various places,” said Dr. Heather Stockwell, emeritus professor from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

And so, the nomination period for 2019 is officially open.

To be considered for the 2019 Outstanding Alumni Award, nominees must have earned an academic degree (BS, MHA, MPH, MSPH, PhD or DrPH) from the COPH and not be currently employed by the college. Additionally, nominees must have significant domestic or global impact in two or more of the following areas:

• Leadership
• Research
• Teaching, scholarship and mentorship of health professionals
• Impact on the community, college, university or society

“Our alumni are doing wonderful things locally, statewide and internationally and this award is one way that the college can acknowledge their success,” said Dr. Karen Liller, COPH professor of community and family health.  “We look forward to receiving many nominations!”

The 2019 Outstanding Alumni Awards will be presented in Tampa during National Public Health Week, April 1-7. Complete details on the nomination process are on the alumni awards website. The deadline for all materials to be received is 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1.

“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.

Related stories:
Class of 2015 COPH Outstanding Alumni Award recipients [VIDEO]
Our past is our future: College recognizes distinguished alumni
Dr. Michael Pentella receives 2016 COPH Outstanding Alumni Award
Drs. Zuber D. Mulla and Jason Salemi are recipients of the 2017 COPH Outstanding Alumni Award
Candace Webb honored with 2018 Outstanding Alumni Award
Dr. Sharad Malavade receives 2018 COPH Outstanding Alumni Award

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The College of Public Health is part of a national effort to create the healthiest nation in one generation. USF Bulls and members of the local community are invited to join the movement and get involved today!

In 1995, the American Public Health Association declared the first week of April as National Public Health Week. This year’s observance falls on April 2-8. Of course, USF is bullish! The COPH is offering so many activities that NPHW kicks off on March 27.

In keeping with the national theme, the 2018 festivities are structured around “Changing Our Future Together” to become the healthiest nation. According to nphw.org, “We’re celebrating the power of prevention, advocating for healthy and fair policies, sharing strategies for successful partnerships and championing the role of a strong public health system.” Check out the college’s offerings, bring a friend along and join the movement. There’s something for everyone!

Integrating Cultural Competency and Diversity in Health, March 27
This inter-professional lunch and learn seminar is co-sponsored by the Public Health Student Association and The WELL.

Give Life and Save Lives, April 3
Make a positive difference in someone’s life by donating blood and registering for the National Marrow Donor Program and Donate Florida. More info here.

Peace Corps Info Session, April 4
Learn about USF’s Peace Corps Prep Program, designed to prepare students for international development fieldwork and potential Peace Corps service.

Public Health Awards Ceremony, April 4
Celebrating the next generation of public health practitioners and embracing foot soldiers who make huge strides in advancing the public’s health is what the National Public Health Awards Ceremony is all about. The event features awards for student research, Excellence in Teaching, Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health, and Outstanding Alumni; plus, recognizes Delta Omega inductees and academic scholarship recipients.

This is Public Health!, April 4
Not sure what public health is all about? Well, make plans now to attend the USF Bull Market. Get the 411 from current students, speak with academic recruiters and learn how the COPH is making life better in Tampa Bay and around the world.

Healthy Bites, April 4 and 5
This month’s brown bag series features the 2018 Outstanding Alumni Award winners. Attendees should bring lunch and a drink. The awardees will provide stimulating conversation!

Design + Health, April 5
On World Health Day, join experts from the field to explore how addressing health disparities needs to be done across sectors including urban planning, transportation, food and agriculture, public health, and education in an effort to minimize the burden of disease

Achieving Health Equity, April 6
The Annual Chiles Lecture and Symposium features Dr. Paula Braveman addressing “To achieve health equity, we must go (even farther) upstream,” as well as research presenations.

We are Family, April 7
COPH faculty, staff, students and their family members are invited to a fun afternoon of food, games and fellowship. It’s a potluck. Sign-up here.

Be sure to view the full schedule of National Public Health Week events that includes a student organization expo, service opportunities, book drive, and a host of other activities.

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

The post Join the Movement, it’s National Public Health Week appeared first on College of Public Health News.

It’s official!

The 2016 Florida Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting was a huge success! The theme for this year’s meeting was “Challenges and Strategies for a New Age of Public Health.” It was held July 27-29 in Orlando, Fla.

On Wednesday, July 27, the USF College of Public Health hosted its annual luncheon with more than 150 attendees. COPH 2015 Outstanding Alumni Awardee Rachel Nuzum was the guest speaker. Nuzum is vice president of federal and state health policy for The Commonwealth Fund in Washington, D.C. She engaged the audience in a conversation about national health policy and the role of local and state government.

Rachel Nuzum was the keynote speaker at the college’s annual luncheon. She participated in a health policy dialogue with Dr. John Petrila, COPH professor and department chair. (Photo by Natalie Preston)

Nuzum was joined at the annual meeting by a cadre of Bull alumni, students and retired faculty. Some presented their research, while others were recognized with an FPHA award. All united under the common theme of sharing knowledge and resources in an effort to advance the health of Floridians and visitors to the state.

COPH alumna Alyssa Moffitt, MPH, received the 2016 Homer D. Venters Award from fellow COPH alumnus and FPHA president Dr. Rick France. She was recognized for her professional achievements in a public health laboratory. (Photo courtesy of FPHA Facebook)

Alumni Maureen Guthke, MPH, CHES, CHWC, and Paul March, BSPH, were conference exhibitors representing Tobacco Free Florida’s AHEC Cessation Program. (Photo by Natalie Preston)

COPH alumna Dr. Nancy Lashway presented “Major food sources of vitamin D in home food inventories of seniors receiving home-delivered meals in S. Carolina.” (Photo by Natalie Preston)

Graduates of the COPH’s Public Health Leadership Institute of Florida were also well represented at the annual meeting.

Emeritus Associate Professor Dr. Michael Reid reported visiting with more than a dozen graduates of the program. For 12 years, he directed the COPH-based institute in addition to teaching in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health.  Reid also noted that of FPHA’s 19 past-presidents, nine of them (plus himself) are graduates of the Public Health Leadership Institute of Florida.

FPHA leadership took time out for a USF COPH photo shoot. (from left) FPHA president Shannon Hughes, past-president Dr. Greg Danyluk and president-elect Dr. Richard France. Ms. Hughes is a current COPH graduate student and Drs. Danyluk and France are COPH alumni. At the conclusion of the annual meeting, France assumed the presidency for 2016-17. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Danyluk)

Reid wasn’t the only former faculty member in attendance. Dr. Robert J. McDermott, retired community and family health professor, was presented with the 2016 Meritorious Service Award. According to the FPHA website, this honor is presented “annually to a FPHA member who has a record of outstanding contributions to FPHA in the field of public health for several years.”

Student presenters and attendees strike a bullish pose during a conference break. (Photo by Natalie Preston)

Several public health students shared their practice and their passion via poster presentations at the annual meeting. Accepted posters included:

Shana Geary, BS, MPH student— “Decision tree analysis of intimate partner violence amongst Florida Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program participants.”

Kimberly Hailey, BS, MPH student— “Measuring perceived neighborhood safety among participants enrolled in the Florida MIECHV program.”

Jessica Ryan, BA, doctoral candidate— “Evaluating changes in emergency department visits for concussion among youth following Florida’s Return to Play Law.”

Humberto López Castillo, MD, MEd, MSc, CPH, doctoral candidate— “Without 15 tortillas for breakfast, I will have no energy!  Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding of diet and physical activity of adult Hispanics living and working in a rural community in Florida.”

Pamela Birriel, MPH, CHES, doctoral candidate— “Measuring perceived neighborhood safety among participants enrolled in the Florida Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program,” and “Association between sociodemographic characteristics and breastfeeding among participants in the Florida Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.”

(far right) Dr. Humberto López Castillo exchanges business cards with interested listeners after a successful poster presentation. (Photo by Natalie Preston)

To learn more about FPHA and their efforts to advance the health of Floridians, visit www.fpha.org.

Related media:
Photo gallery on Facebook

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

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USF College of Public Health alumna Catherine Burney is a four-time recipient of the USF Alumni Association Fast 56 Award, which recognizes and celebrates fast-growing businesses that are Bull-owned or led.

“Scar Heal is one of only three four-time recipients,” said Bill McCausland, executive director of the USF Alumni Association. “Very impressive!”

Burney, who received both her undergraduate degree in psychology and her master’s degree in public health from USF, joined the team at Scar Heal, Inc. in 1999, and was promoted to president of the company in 2007.

Burney says that her experience studying Community and Family Health and social marketing at USF’s COPH has been particularly invaluable for her career and that her MPH and CHES certification have helped give the Scar Heal brand even more credibility.

“I attribute much of the success of Scar Heal to my background with the college,” she said.

Catherine Burney with one her international sales manager and Scar Heal products. (Photo courtesy of Burney)

Scar Heal, Inc. is a company dedicated to the creation of products that help with both the surgical and cosmetic appearance of scars. When the company first started in 1988, they had just one product for the cosmetic improvement of scars, whether traumatic or surgical: their trademarked silicone sheeting. The sheeting works like a bandage in the way that it forms to the scar, resulting in the improved appearance of scars that are less red and not as raised.

Over the years the company’s products have expanded to include not only Class 1 U.S. Food and Drug Administration medical device products, but cosmetic devices, too. From the company’s location in Largo, Fla., the business has expanded and now has a wide reach, from social media to international distributors.

“During the time I’ve worked with the company we’ve worked on increasing web presence and social marketing, and thanks to the College of Public Health that was my area of expertise,” she said.

Recently, Burney said that she’s been working on increasing the company’s product portfolio and has initiated product approval in the European Union.

As the name of the Fast 56 Award implies, she doesn’t see Scar Heal slowing down anytime soon.

“The sky is the limit for Scar Heal,” Burney said.

Burney said that her elective introduction to public health course was her first introduction to the field, and that her own inquisitive nature alongside her work with Distinguished USF Health Professor Dr. Carol Bryant helped cultivate her interest.

“Her guidance and experience and commitment to the College of Public Health and social marketing is really what sparked my interest in the area of social marketing, and I was able to apply that to my work with Scar Heal,” Burney said.

(From left) Betty Otter-Nickerson, Burney, and USF System President Judy Genshaft at the Fast 56 Awards Presentation on April 29. At the time of the presentation, Otter-Nickerson was chair of the Alumni Association. (Photo courtesy of the USF Alumni Association)

Burney said that it’s an honor for her work with Scar Heal to be awarded the Fast 56 Award and that she attributes her success to the success of all of the company’s employees.

“We are so thrilled that USF recognizes the achievement of Scar Heal as a Florida company,” she said.  “It’s not easy in this economy for small companies to attain this level of sales and growth consistently four years in a row.”

The native New Yorker said if she had chosen her path differently, she might have found herself working in risk management, but that she thinks her career has played out well.

“I’m a better employee, a more focused individual, and I have USF to thank for that,” she said.

For more information on Burney’s business, visit the Scar Heal on the web.

Fast Five for COPH Alumni:

What did you dream of becoming when you were young?

I dreamed of having some sort of a job in an educational capacity.

Where would we find you on the weekend?

On the tennis courts in the morning, and at work in the afternoon

What was the last book you read?

“The Nightingale,” by Kristin Hannah

What superpower would you like to have?

To see into the future

What’s your all-time favorite movie? 

“The Wizard of Oz”

Story by AnnaMarie Koehler-Shepley, USF College of Public Health

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In the time since he’s left USF, College of Public Health alumnus Dr. Richard Hartman has been on the move.

From left, Betty Otter-Nickerson, Hartman, and USF Systems President Judy Genshaft at the Fast 56 Awards Ceremony on April 29. At the time of the presentation, Otter-Nickerson was chair of the Alumni Association. (Photo courtesy of USF Alumni Association)

As one of his most recent accomplishments, Hartman received USF’s Fast 56 Award in April for his role as a member on the board of directors for the company Synoptos.

Each year, the USF Alumni Association honors the fastest growing USF Bull-led or Bull-owned businesses with the Fast 56 Award. Hartman received both his undergraduate and doctoral degrees from USF and has received this award three times since 2013.

While Hartman was awarded this year’s Fast 56 Award for his role with Synoptos, that’s just a small piece of the work he’s been doing.

Since leaving USF, Hartman has had a long and diverse career. Not one to stay idle, Hartman has thrown himself into a variety of big projects over the years, from developing applications for the military to co-developing his own company.

After earning his master’s degree at the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology, Hartman left to pursue his doctorate from the COPH’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health.

Throughout his career, he’s worked in varying capacities with the government at the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and from there he went out on a limb and co-created his own company. After seeing his company through a successful merger and acquisition and serving on multiple executive boards, Hartman is now an experienced consultant for all things policy.

In the last 20 years, Hartman has focused mainly on helping innovate health care. He’s found his entrepreneurial work to be one of the most engaging aspects of his career, and his public health background has helped make him an authority.

“My public health experience basically built a foundation, amongst other things that I’ve done, to help develop my credibility within the health care arena and to create insights into my business acumen from an entrepreneurial perspective,” he said.

Hartman said that USF was right for him because it was the most convenient way to get the degree he wanted.

“It gave me the opportunity to pursue a hybrid degree that other universities might not have offered at the time,” he said.

As a part of his dissertation, Hartman created one of his most notable products in 2001: the first application to collect medical information at the point of contact for the military’s special operations forces.

After seeing how business opportunities could potentially play out outside of the Department of Defense, he took a risk and cofounded the company OhMyGov, Inc., which has since become Synoptos, Inc.

Currently, Hartman spends most of his time working as a senior-level executive consultant to the Department of Defense developing a new delivery method of health care called Total Exposure Healthcare (TEH), which he says revolutionizes the way we think of health care and places an emphasis on primary prevention.

TEH will provide benefits not just for military members, but for their beneficiaries and their family members, as well.

Citing Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg as examples, Hartman’s career is an example of how calculated risks can have big rewards.

“If you’re young and you have ideas, take those risks,” he said. “But if you’re older, maybe just take a step back and see what would happen if you don’t make it. No matter what your age is, though, if you believe in something, and you’re passionate about it, and it’s yours, you should pursue it.”

He said that most people, rightfully so, choose the safe route, but that the timing is important and that he’s fortunate it worked out for him.

“I gave up a career path for a dream, and I was fortunate enough that things worked out well,” said Hartman. “All in all, I have to say it enriched me professionally, enriched me emotionally. It enriched me in many ways, and it enriched me financially.”

USF Distinguished Service Professor for Public Health Dr. Jay Wolfson, Hartman’s doctoral advisor, and Hartman. (Photo courtesy of Hartman)

Hartman’s career hasn’t followed any set path, and he said he’s still trying to figure out how it compares to his expectations.

So, what happens next then?

“I don’t know,” he said. “My brain tells me that I’m not going to be able to settle down and that I’m going to need to be busy.”

Hartman said that he’s the type of person who gets passionate about whatever project they throw themselves into and that his career choices have rarely been financially driven, so it’s really just a matter of whether or not he wants to keep inserting himself into new projects.

As someone who’s taken his fair share of risks, Hartman advises anyone interested in pursuing entrepreneurial dreams to keep at it.

“It’s not an easy task, but if you believe in it, and you’re persistent, and your idea that you’re presenting has value, you should be fairly successful,” he said.

USF COPH Alumni Fun Facts:

Where would we find you on the weekend?

Home or exploring the D.C. metro area

What was the last book you read?

“Genetics for Dummies”

What’s your all-time favorite movie?

“Dune”

Story by AnnaMarie Koehler-Shepley, USF College of Public Health  

The post Alumnus Richard Hartman receives third Fast 56 Award appeared first on College of Public Health News.

“Every day I use information I gained from my studies at University of South Florida College of Public Health and put my knowledge into action,” said Dr. Michael Pentella, director of the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory, “I get to help others learn about diseases that they are encountering for the first time which I had to opportunity to learn about when I was at USF.”

On April 6, Pentella received the 2016 Outstanding Alumni Award. Presented during the annual National Public Health Week ceremony, this award recognizes COPH graduates who improve the public’s health and do it exceedingly well.

Dr. Michael Pentella, PhD, D(ABMM) (Photo courtesy of Michael Pentella)

Pentella graduated from USF with his PhD in environmental health in 2000 after earning his BS from The Ohio State University in 1972 and his MS from Thomas Jefferson University in 1980.

He was first introduced to public health after reading in a newspaper that USF was starting a college for public health. He investigated further and decided to take a couple courses.

It was during these courses that he realized his deep interest in the prevention of infectious diseases.

“I chose to attend USF for my public health degree because of my experience in the first couple courses that I took, I became very interested in public health and wanted to work in the field,” said Pentella, “It was very exciting for me because I felt a real connection to the field and could see the good that you can do by working in this area.”

During his time at USF he said that he was given many opportunities to expand his knowledge and abilities and that the professors were outstanding and treated the students well.

One professor who inspired him was Dr. Boo H. Kwa, professor of global health and associate dean for International Programs.

Dr. Michael Pentella (center) receives his Outstanding Alumni Award from Drs. Boo Kwa and COPH Dean Donna Petersen. (Photo courtesy of Eric Younghans)

“He has such a passion for disease prevention. His courses had so much information and he is so well traveled that he could tell you not only about the disease but the culture and geography of the region where the disease had originated,” said Pentella, “He made his classes so exciting and memorable that it inspired me to try to do the same in the classes that I have taught.”

Likewise, Kwa thinks highly of Pentella. In his award nomination letter Kwa said, “Mike is one of the most distinguished and outstanding graduates of the College in the nearly 30 years that I have been teaching in the US.”

While working full time and earning his degree had its challenges, he was still able to be involved in the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health and travel abroad to Thailand and Singapore.

Pentella’s first public health experience after graduating was as an associate professor at USF.

Recalling his time teaching at USF, Dr. Jill Roberts, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, admired his influence on students.

“It has been nearly 17 years since I participated in his course but I still remember Dr. Pentella’s cautionary tale of Streptococcus B in pregnant women,” Roberts said, “He encouraged us to engage in the study of emerging infectious agents and become involved in as many experiences as possible.”

After leaving USF, he served as the associate director of the Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory and an associate professor at the University of Iowa College of Public Health.

As director of the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory he leads a 150-person staff and runs over 250,000 tests per year.

Dr. Michael Pentella with former Massachusetts Governor Duval Patrick (photo courtesy of Michael Pentella)

He was most attracted to his current position because of the challenge of working in a large laboratory with the opportunity to see new and emerging pathogens.

“I love that every day something is happening with many scientific challenges,” Pentella said, “I get to work with wonderful professionals and speak with legislators on a regular basis.”

As for his plans in the future, he wants to continue what he loves to do in public health for as long as possible.

***

Fast Five for COPH Alumni:

What did you dream of becoming when you were young?
A lawyer.

Where would we find you on the weekend?
I do a lot of volunteer work for the Association of Public Health Laboratories and the American Society for Microbiology.

What is the last book you read?
Almost a Miracle (a history of the revolutionary war).

What superpower would you like to have?
Microscopic vision at the molecular level would be cool.

What’s your all-time favorite movie?
All the President’s Men.

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health

The post Dr. Michael Pentella receives 2016 COPH Outstanding Alumni Award appeared first on College of Public Health News.

Clean air and water, disaster management, health policy and disease prevention—it’s all public health and it’s all at the University of South Florida.

In 1995, the American Public Health Association declared the first week of April as National Public Health Week. This year’s observance falls on April 4-10. Of course, USF is bullish! The College of Public Health is offering so many activities that National Public Health Week has exploded into “This is Public Health Month!”

The 2016 festivities are structured around the theme “Changing our health means ensuring conditions that give everyone the opportunity to be healthy.” Check out the offerings, bring a friend and join in. There’s something for everyone!

Help all young people graduate from high school
According to the NPHW website, “Education is the leading indicator of good health, giving people access to better jobs, incomes and neighborhoods.” On April 2, members of the USF Health Service Corps do their part by leading educational activities and offering health screenings for children at Mort Elementary School.

COPH student Susan Tyler (center) advocates being tobacco free at a USF Health Service Corps event

Social justice and health
College students are the driving force behind social justice reform and USF Bulls are part of this movement. Speak with current students and recruiters to learn how public health is advancing human rights at home and abroad. April 6. Bull Market. Be there—This is Public Health!

Give everyone a choice of healthy food
Make life better for others by donating healthy food. Boxed and canned food items will be given to the Feed-a-Bull Food Pantry. The drive lasts from April 1-11. Receptacles are in the COPH Lobby.

Preparing for the health effects of climate change
Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika are emerging vector-borne diseases. On World Health Day, April 7, USF Health and local experts lead a discussion on the epidemiology, transmission and prevention of diseases associated with the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Provide quality health care for everyone
Celebrating the next generation of public health practitioners and embracing foot soldiers who make huge strides in advancing the public’s health is what the National Public Health Awards Ceremony is all about. The April 6^th event features awards for student research, Excellence in Teaching, Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health, and Outstanding Alumni; plus, recognizes Delta Omega inductees and academic scholarship recipients.

Strengthen public health infrastructure and capacity
Still not sure what public health is all about? Well, make plans to attend the This is Public Health Graduate Fair on April 23 at The WELL. It’s an open house for public health, pharmacy, medicine, nursing and physical therapy.

• Get the 411 from current students
• Speak with academic recruiters
• Learn how USF Health is making life better in Tampa Bay and around the world

Explore today. Apply tomorrow. Practice your public health passion forever. Click here for more information on the graduate fair.

Be sure to view the full schedule of “This is Public Health Month!” events that includes student service opportunities, health fairs, drives that give life to those in need, and a host of other activities.

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

The post Forget the week. This is Public Health Month! appeared first on College of Public Health News.