USF College of Public Health (COPH) alum Marie Denis-Luque, who was born and raised in Haiti, came to the U.S. with her family just before she turned 17, settling in Tallahassee, Fla., where she resides today.

“I learned English in high school and was the first in my family to even entertain the idea of going to a university,” she recalled. “It was because of a teacher in high school who wanted me to go to college. I didn’t know what college was, but she helped me to get into a university.”

Denis-Luque visited other campuses, but felt they weren’t her place. When she got to USF’s campus,  she fell in love with it. “USF felt like home.” she said. “I felt comfortable being in the company of other Haitian students.”

Initially inclined toward medical school, Denis-Luque soon discovered her true passion was public health. Her involvement in the Haitian Club Creole on USF’s campus and learning about public health from a fellow club member played a significant role in this shift.

Denis-Luque realized that public health was aligned with her aspirations and what she wanted to achieve in her life.

“I did not have a perfect GPA, but the COPH made room for me, and in return I was able to help others through the work I’ve ultimately been able to accomplish.”

Despite facing challenges, including the responsibility of caring for her sister and the need to work multiple jobs, Denis-Luque’s enthusiasm for public health never waned.

“When I found public health, it was exciting. I think some of my classmates thought I was a total nerd because every semester I was in awe of everything I learned. I took my first course, then I took another, then I applied to the college,” she said.

Denis-Luque credited her mentors and the welcoming nature of the college as invaluable in her educational and career path.

”When I see Dean Petersen, I still say, ‘Oh, that’s my dean.’ When I see Natalie Preston, director of the Office of Engagement and Constituent Relations, I say, ‘Those are my people.’ “

Denis-Luque’s journey wasn’t confined to the classroom. Her commitment to public health extended to her homeland, Haiti.

Her perspective on Haiti was transformed during a health education trip with USF. She was challenged by her mentor to view Haiti through the eyes of a public health official, prompting her to see her home country in a new light. She said this experience fundamentally changed the way she approached her work in Haiti, making her more attuned to public health hazards and necessary interventions.

“I viewed everything through that lens,” commented Denis-Luque. “As I got off the plane, I noticed several unworking planes on the runway, some rusted. Getting off the plane was borderline dangerous for those not strong enough. As we headed to our hotel from the airport, there was garbage on almost every street corner. Of course, watching the dangers of public transportation, people hanging from bus doors, and sitting on top of vehicles drove me crazy, too.”

Now Denis-Luque said she wants to be someone who helps challenge students’ thinking, just like her mentor challenged her to think through that lens.

Denis-Luque said it was during her visit to Haiti as a graduate student when she met a little girl with HIV that led her to become the founder of the nonprofit organization Caring for Haitian Orphans with AIDS .

“The little girl was living in the hospital courtyard with no one caring for or loving her,” she said.” I decided I could do something to express love for her. Though acting on this feeling to help this child was more significant than anything I had ever done, I had no idea what I was signing up for. Engaging in this work has been more fulfilling than anything I have ever done.”

She said the work of the organization has touched the lives of nearly 70 children, providing them with opportunities and support they might not have otherwise had.

“My nonprofit assumes the role of parents for these children,” Denis-Luque said. “We provide food and shelter, cover the cost of hospital care, recreation, and education, including vocational training. At this time, close to 50% of our staff were once our residents. Since unemployment is very high in Haiti (estimates ranging from 50-80%), locating employment for our young adults is unattainable. Once they get to a certain age, we make sure they receive the education needed to work for us for them to be able to sustain themselves. Then we hire the women to play the role of mothers to the children.”

“December will be 20 years since we started,” she said. “Many lives have been impacted. Children who would otherwise not be here. Women who are positive who work for us, whose life–God knows what it would be today–if it were not for being in the program.”

Denis-Luque graduated in 2005 from the COPH with a MSPH with a concentration in epidemiology and an MPH in community and family health.

Now Denis-Luque is working on her PhD from Florida State University Askew School of Public Administration and Policy. “I’m in the dissertation phase at the moment, and I am looking at how to improve non- governmental organizations that work in Haiti,” she said.

Looking ahead, Denis-Luque envisions staying in academia and said she is hopeful to eventually return to the COPH. “That would be a dream come true. A professor. I want to put it out into the universe,” she said.

In the future, Denis-Luque aspires to work on grant-funded projects and to involve students in her work. She said she believes in challenging students to step out of their comfort zone and discover their passions.

Fast Five

What did you dream of becoming when you were young?
Working as a medical doctor in a small hospital in a little province in France where I’d be the only doctor in town and everybody would come to me.

Where would we find you on the weekend?
Probably at Costco.

What’s the last book that you read?

“Just Another Emperor? The Myth and Realities of Philanthrocapitalism,” by Michael Edwards.

What superpower would you like to have?
Invisibility.

What’s your all-time favorite movie?
“Dirty Dancing.” I love Patrick Swayze.

Story by: Liz Bannon, USF College of Public Health

The post Finding a home away from home in public health appeared first on College of Public Health News.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Looking for a career that would provide job growth and allow her to help people in need, Pam Kelsky decided to pursue an MHA after receiving her bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Florida.

And she decided to pursue that degree at the USF College of Public Health (COPH) because of its highly regarded program.

“I began my master’s program right after college,” Kelsky said. “I had the academic background and was learning the ins and outs of the industry through my first job post-college [handling insurance receivables at a medical clinic]. But the COPH supplemented my college education with advanced classes and exposed me to people in the field who had far more experience than I did. So many of the students were experienced professionals and executives, and their collaboration in group projects provided me with the critical insight I needed as a young professional. Having access to that experience was invaluable, especially through the group projects required as part of the curriculum.”

After she graduated the COPH in 2000, Kelsky spent nearly 10 years with Cigna Dental, ultimately serving as director of risk management, designing, implementing and managing the company’s HIPAA privacy plan. “It was very rewarding to execute a company-wide policy throughout the entire organization as a young professional,” Kelsky said. “I now manage my husband’s boutique civil litigation law firm and, in the course of that work, have been exposed to numerous instances of health access deficiencies.”

One of Kelsky’s proudest accomplishments to date is co-founding the nonprofit charity bcalmed. In 2019, Kelsky had surgery for breast cancer and found the surgical drains used during the post-op period cumbersome and hard to disguise. She and her best friend, Gaby Mann, a distribution specialist, developed the bcalmed bag, a bag with four mesh pockets to conceal drains. Using an adjustable strap, the bag hangs comfortably around the neck. Provided free of charge to any patient needing it, the bcalmed bag is marketed directly to surgeons, hospitals and other health care providers.

“Running a nonprofit utilizes many of the same skills learned in the MHA program,” Kelsky commented. “We had to maneuver many legal and operational challenges within the health care industry to fulfill the purpose of our charity, which is to help patients manage post-operative drains after surgical procedures such as mastectomies and lumpectomies.”

And according to Kelsky, the bcalmed bag is getting rave reviews from both surgeons and the patients they operate on.

“Receiving positive feedback from breast surgeons about the bcalmed bag and knowing that we are easing the journey for breast cancer patients is so fulfilling,” she said. “Patients have told us that the bag is comfortable and has provided them with dignity in the healing process. The bcalmed bag satisfied an identifiable need for breast cancer patients with surgical drains. At the suggestion of breast surgeons, bcalmed just designed and manufactured smaller bags for those requiring fewer drains. As a breast cancer patient myself, I wish I had the bcalmed bag when I was recovering.”

Kelsky’s next project is expanding the marketing of the bcalmed bag.

“At this point, we have distributed more than 800 bags to surgeons and hospitals throughout Florida, the Northeast and even Alaska,” she noted. “We hope to exhibit the bag at the American Society of Breast Surgeons annual meeting in Boston in 2023. We hope to bring the bcalmed bag to as many patients as possible throughout the U.S., and the world.”

Alumni Fast Five

What did you dream of becoming when you were young?

A doctor.

Where can we find you on the weekends?

Walking in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

What is the last book you read?

“Ragtime.”

What superpower would you like to have?

To heal.

What is your all-time favorite movie?

“Forrest Gump.”

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

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When USF College of Public Health alumna Kristen Lewis graduated from Purdue University in 2010, she had her heart set on becoming a medical doctor—a neonatologist, in fact. Never mind that she didn’t really like science and didn’t do well in her science courses.

“I wanted to impact the health of communities in need,” said Lewis, a Detroit native. “I thought, at the time, the only way to do that was to become a medical doctor. At no point in my undergraduate career did anyone ever tell me about public health.”

Switching gears

It wasn’t until Lewis had graduated and she was shadowing an MD that the words public health came up in conversation. 

“The doctor asked me why I wanted to get into medicine, and I told him because I want to help people prevent disease, live healthy lives and have access to quality medical care. He said, ‘Oh, it sounds like you’re interested in public health.’ “

Suddenly, Lewis had her calling. She did some networking and became a public health intern with Detroit Wayne County Health Authority.

One of her first public health experiences was volunteering at a local health fair. 

“There were tents and tons of people and just this great community environment,” Lewis recounted. “There were all these opportunities for people to access the things that could keep them healthy. I just remember walking through the fair and saying to myself, ‘Where has public health been all my life?’ ”

From a rocky beginning to a solid finish

In 2012, lured by Tampa’s warm weather and a desire to further her public health career, Lewis started at the COPH, where she concentrated in health policy management. She also began working full time as an outreach specialist for the Drug Abuse Comprehensive Coordinating Office, Inc. (DACCO), one of Florida’s largest community-based providers of behavioral health services. Six months in, she was promoted to program supervisor of DACCO’s Disease Intervention Services, supervising the facilitation of six concurrent HIV and substance-abuse prevention programs.

But the high-stress, demanding job was taking its toll on Lewis’ studies, and she began to wonder if she’d ever get her degree.

“It was really very challenging to perform at my job and school,” Lewis said. “There was actually a point where I was asked to withdraw from the university because my grades were so low.”

Lewis switched to a non-degree-seeking track and over the next few months brought up her GPA to a point where she was back in good standing with the college. 

“I had to realign my priorities,” said Lewis, who graduated with her MPH in 2015. “I put 90 percent of my energy into my schoolwork. I probably wasn’t the best employee during that time, but I knew I needed this degree to get where I wanted in my career. I did everything possible to get the highest grades I could. I went to my professors’ office hours, I took the extra webinar, I built relationships with the faculty. They saw me working really, really hard. I always tell people you never know where your work ethic will take you. Maybe you’re not the best biostatistician student. But if you try your hardest and build those relationships, your professors will work with you.”

Supporting the underdog

Today, Lewis runs CBK Consulting Group, which provides career transition and development support for public health, health care administration and social service professionals.

She’s also a vice president of health strategies for the American Heart Association, where she’s currently working on the National Hypertension Control Initiative, evaluating how well the program is reducing rates of hypertension in African American and Latino communities. In addition, she’s an evaluation consultant with American Bone Health’s Healthy Bones Educational Initiatives.

But what Lewis finds particularly rewarding is her work training public health professionals in small, community-based organizations to build their evaluation resources and capabilities so they can perform their own program evaluations and increase their funding.

“I love that I’m able to support the underdog and get these small organizations to be self-sufficient,” Lewis said. “I’m providing them with resources and tools to empower them to do their best work. I develop a data-driven set of proof that shows this program is working. And if it’s not, here’s what we can do to improve it. My goal is to expand the number of organizations we work with and help them continue to do the great work they do.”

Alumni Fast Five

What did you want to be when you were young?

The president

Where can we find you on the weekends?

Doing pretty much anything that my two-year-old twins are screaming at me to do, like playing on the splash pad or hanging at the pool!

What’s the last book you read?

“Parable of the Sower,” by Octavia E. Butler

What superpower would you like to have?

Time travel and flying

What’s your all-time favorite movie?

“Cabin in the Sky”

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health

The post An underdog…fighting for the underdog appeared first on College of Public Health News.

Originally from Ponce, Puerto Rico, USF College of Public Health alumna Adelmarie Bones started practicing industrial hygiene after graduating with her bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus in 2007.

After working in the field for five years, Bones wanted to gain more expertise in the area of industrial hygiene by obtaining her MSPH at the COPH, where many of her superiors and mentors earned their degrees.

“I have a very specific interest in environmental health and how the environment plays an important role in health overall,” she said. “I enjoy reaching out to the public and educating on conservation to the planet and at the same time prevent disease that could arise from the environment.”

Alumna Adelmarie Bones, MSPH (Photo courtesy of Bones).

Bones said that she has had an excellent experience during her time as a student and enjoyed the opportunity to learn.

One of her favorite memories at the COPH was when she went to Puerto Rico for an educational exchange with the University of Puerto Rico Medical Campus.

“I was able to show our interest in public relations about industrial hygiene and was able to show off my beautiful country to my peer students and faculty members!” Bones said.

A member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association student member, Bones was also able to cross train in the field of environmental risk.

Bones was inspired by Dr. Thomas Bernard, professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH).

“His contributions to industrial hygiene have been tremendous,” she said. “Thanks to him we have better knowledge and experience into how to promote occupational health, specifically in heat stress.”

Bones’ hard work and drive to learn made a lasting impression on those around her in the COPH.

“Adelmarie was always willing to work very hard. Throughout the program she showed intense effort – she was always prepared and always had questions,” said Dr. Steven Mlynarek, professor in EOH. “The knowledge and skills she learned in the program gave her the confidence and tools to start her own environmental consulting company.  We are very proud of Ms. Bones and wish her continued success.”

Outside of the COPH, Bones is a group fitness instructor. She teaches two or three classes per week in different formats including zumba, body works and boot camp.

“It is another way of promoting health using my skills,” she said.

After graduation, Bones will take her industrial hygiene skills to a new level by partnering with a Tampa Bay consulting firm. The firm, Air Analytics, LLC was founded by Edward Nuñez. In September 2017, Bones went into as partnership with him to expand the business with the new Tampa location.

In this new role, Bones offers professional services in the expertise of industrial hygiene. The company focuses on asbestos, mold, chemical fumes, water sample testing and recommendations based on OSHA and EPA regulatory limits of exposure. She also helps clients comply with OSHA and EPA regulation so that they can have a safe work environment for their employees.

“I feel both excitement and fear. It is very exciting to see what I am able to create,” she said. “I want to create jobs and become a respected firm where people call us when they need our help.”

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health

The post Adelmarie Bones’ new titles, alumna and firm partner appeared first on College of Public Health News.

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  

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This is the case for USF’s Fast 56 nominees for 2016.  Sponsored by the USF Alumni Association, the program recognizes the 56 fastest-growing businesses owned or operated by USF alumni.

Last year’s nominees included College of Public Health alumna Catherine Burney, MPH. She’s president of Scar Heal Inc., an advanced skin therapy company based in Largo.

From left: Dr. Judy Genshaft, USF system president, Catherine Burney and Monty Weigel, chair of the USF Alumni Board of Directors.

The nomination criteria include:

• Business must have been in operation for a minimum of 36 months

• Business must have verifiable revenues of at least $250,000 for the most recent 12-month period

• Business must be owned or operated by a former USF student who meets one of the following:

-A former USF student or group of former students must have owned 50% or more of the company through the eligible period; OR

-A former USF student must have served as the company’s chief executive (for example chairman, CEO, president, or managing partner) through the eligible period; OR

-A former USF student must have founded the company and been active as a member of the most senior management team during the eligible period.

The deadline for 2016 nominations is Jan. 29.  An official ranking of the 56 companies will be announced at a dinner and reception on April 29.

For more information on the nomination process or to nominate a Bull-owned business, visit www.USFfast56.com.

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“I honestly chose USF/COPH for convenience,” said USF College of Public Health alumnus Anthony Barone. “It wasn’t until after joining the USF/COPH family that I fully realized what a great decision I had made.”

Anthony Barone

Originally from Southwest Ohio, Barone learned about the USF/COPH after relocating to the Tampa Bay area. He found USF to be affordable and in a good location, and while Barone is the only member of his family in public health, his mother, brother and niece all live in the area, too.

Barone received his bachelor’s degree in zoology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and then went on to receive both a graduate certificate in disaster management and a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in toxicology and risk assessment from USF’s COPH. Additionally, he holds an entire alphabet soup of certifications, including Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP), Certified in Homeland Security -Level V (CHS-V), Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), Firefighter I/II and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

Barone (far left) instructs hospital nursing staff on how to properly don and take off personal protective equipment during a hazardous materials incident.

Prior to applying for the MPH program, Barone first joined USF/COPH staff supporting clinical research where he worked in the Breath Lab, an environmental and occupational medicine laboratory. This is where his interest in public health was sparked as he quickly learned he could apply his first responder training to the field of public health.

“Joining USF/COPH as staff and later a student marked my entry into the field of public health,” he said.

As a student, Barone says he was heavily involved with both internal and external activities and that he was even able to work full time for the college throughout his program.

“I found the program staff and faculty to be supportive, invested, and personally committed to the success of knowledge-hungry and curious minds,” he said.

In addition, he became very involved with community organizations, such as Hillsborough County Emergency Management, Tampa Fire Rescue, and the Hillsborough County Health Department, where he volunteered to support local emergency management and public health preparedness efforts.

Barone (far right) on deployment with the National Disaster Medical System. He’s pictured with colleague Erik Schobitz, MD

While he says he found inspiration throughout the entire COPH community, Barone especially recognizes Drs. Stuart Brooks, Ray Harbison and Wayne Westhoff for their leadership and expertise.

Overall, he is very proud of the progress that COPH has made since he was here.

“This is a product of strong leadership, hard work and a commitment to higher education on all fronts: faculty, staff, students and alumni,” he said. “The result is exciting – USF/COPH has really put itself on the map as a leading institution.”

Since leaving the COPH, he has gone on to be the founder and CEO of his own consulting company, Emergility, LLC. He is also an intermittent Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive Safety Officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Disaster Medical System.

On top of that, Barone is actively serving as the secretary for the Citizens Corps Council in Alexandria, Va., to help advise city council on preparedness related issues, such as those related to public health. He is also an operational volunteer firefighter and EMT with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, and an active volunteer consultant to the Alexandria Medical Reserve Corps for the Alexandria Health Department. His other interests include spending time with friends and family, volunteering, staying active outdoors, and traveling.

Barone teaches fire safety to children at his department’s open house.

“I am where I am today because of USF,” he said. “And I believe the world could use a few more Bulls.”

Story by Annamarie Koehler-Shepley, College of Public Health. Photos courtesy of Anthony Barone.

The post From preparedness to safety to EMT, Anthony Barone does it all appeared first on College of Public Health News.

The USF Alumni Association announces the top 56 fastest-growing Bull-owned and Bull-led businesses during a celebration on April 24 at the USF Marshall Student Center. The Fast 56 Awards recognize Bulls’ outstanding achievements and provide a means for sharing knowledge among current business owners and passing it along to the next generation.

This year’s list of nominees includes COPH alumna Catherine Burney. She earned a master’s degree in health education and is president of Scar Heal, Inc., an advanced skin therapy company based in Largo.

(l,r) Dr. Judy Genshaft, USF system president, Catherine Burney, and Monty Weigel, chair of the USF Alumni Board of Directors at USF’s Fast 56 event in 2014.

The festivities begin at 5:45pm and Rhea F. Law is the keynote speaker. Click here to join Ms. Burney and other Bulls for this year’s Fast 56 Awards celebration.

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The #usfcophrocks tour is headed to the Dean’s Lecture Series for a conversation with Dr. Richard Hartman. He’s an entrepreneur, a finalist for USF’s Fast 56 Award and a graduate of the USF College of Public Health.

Join us.

This event is part of the USF College of Public Health’s yearlong 30th anniversary celebration. To learn more about this event, contact Peggy Smith at msmith3@health.usf.edu.

Related story:
Cranking crisis into catalyst cleared new paths for Dr. Richard Hartman

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