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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Since 2008, students in the USF College of Public Health (COPH) have annually recognized outstanding instruction at the Annual National Public Health Awards Ceremony. On April 6, graduate and undergraduate students joined forces to present the Excellence in Teaching Award to COPH alumna Dr. Dinorah Martinez Tyson, associate professor.

“It has been said of this year’s winner that she, time after time, puts her whole heart and soul into her students and community,” said Natalia Vázquez Plaza, an MPH student and vice president of the USF Public Health Student Association. “She also has an outstanding mentorship record.”

“Martinez Tyson was available for consultation during class and after class—including recording classes so that I could have access to them since I was dealing with health challenges that, at times, made my class participation difficult,” said Alice Musumba, a DrPH student. “When I thought I could not make it to the end of the semester in the class, she encouraged me to stick with it and accommodated me, yet also held me accountable to produce quality work. I not only learned the course content but the compassion with which to treat my future students. She truly is my inspiration as I seek a career in academia.”

Martinez Tyson earned a BA from Florida Atlantic University in 1996 and an MA from Northern Arizona University in 1998. She attended the COPH and earned an MPH in 2003 and a PhD in anthropology in 2008. After graduating from USF, she joined the COPH in an official capacity.

Bilingual in English and Spanish, Martinez Tyson is academically trained in applied medical anthropology and epidemiology. She has extensive experience in qualitative methods and community engaged research.

Her educational and research interests are aimed at designing effective community-based education and outreach strategies to reduce health disparities among diverse and medically underserved populations.

She has worked closely with various community organizations to address health disparities among ethnic minorities and underserved populations in the Tampa Bay area and Spanish-speaking Caribbean. Her community experience has provided her with invaluable insights about partnership and coalition-building processes.

Martinez Tyson has worked in the area of Latino health and in the cultural adaptation of evidence-based interventions for Latino audiences. She is the co-founder of Latinos Unidos por Un Nuevo Amanecer, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides support to Latinos diagnosed with cancer. She also co-coordinates Campamento Alegria, a three-day integrative program for Latina cancer survivors.

She is currently working with faculty across the COPH on the Salud Latina initiative to address Latino health disparities.

“I love that I get to practice my passion, which is teaching, every day,” Martinez Tyson said. “I am honored and humbled and so happy that I get to do what I love here at the COPH.”

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health

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During the first full week of April each year, the American Public Health Association brings together communities across the United States to observe National Public Health Week (NPHW). It’s a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving our nation.

To celebrate NPHW, the USF College of Public Health (COPH) hosted an array of events throughout the weeks of March 24- April 10 in conjunction with this year’s theme, “Public Health Is Where You Are.”

Kicking off the celebrations on March 24, the Maternal and Child Health Student Organization hosted their 13th annual symposium virtually. Participants learned how a shared vision for health equity is necessary to address the unique challenges for maternal and child health globally.

Next, the USF Harrell Center hosted its annual Run Family Violence Out of Tampa Bay 5K from March 26-27. Faculty, staff, students and friends of the college ran, walked, jogged and more to raise over $10,000. One hundred percent of the funds raised benefited community-academic projects addressing family violence.

The celebration continued with the Chiles Center Synergy on March 30. In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the center hosted a special event to share the current research and practice initiatives of faculty, staff and students. Participants were able to walk around in groups to see all the amazing research happening at the center.

The COPH Annual Picnic was finally back in person at the USF Riverfront Park on April 1. COPH faculty, staff, students, alumni and their family members gathered together for an afternoon of food and fun.

Give Life Day took place in the COPH lobby on April 5. COPHers were able to make a difference in someone’s life by donating blood with OneBlood. They also learned how to keep themselves and their friends and family healthy and register with the National Marrow Donor Program and Donate Life Florida.

The college then held its annual NPWH Awards Ceremony recognizing the hardworking students, faculty, alumni, staff and other professionals in the field with awards and accolades. View the ceremony here.

Students from every corner of the college were recognized with awards and scholarships from groups as diverse as the Canada Research Grant by the Fulbright U.S. Student Program to Florida West Africa Linkage Institute Tuition Waiver Award.

Dr. Dinorah Martinez Tyson was given an Excellence in Teaching Award (you can read her story here).

“This is something we are always very excited about and look forward to each year,” COPH Dean Donna Petersen said. “This award is incredibly special because it’s given by the students.”

A great honor, as well, is to be recognized by your college for the work you’ve done post-graduation.

“We look for people who are impacting the community and serving in leadership positions,” Petersen said. “And this year we are fortunate to honor two outstanding alumni.” They are Dr. Lynette Menezes and Commander Lane Vause (click on each name to view more).

Lastly, Petersen introduced the 2022 Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health Award, given to Dr. Cynthia M. Harris (read more of her story here).

“This award was created in 1988 by Dr. Charles Mahan, who was the dean of the COPH. He believed that through his career it was the women around him who actually made things happen,” Petersen said. “We received so many nominations and it’s always heartwarming and inspiring to see how many women are out there working very hard in a variety of areas to support public health and improve the quality of life.”

For World Health Day on April 7, the COPH hosted a “This Is Public Health Student Event and World Health Day.” Students were able to stop by and meet with COPH student organizations and enjoy an ice cream social. Later, students were able to meet and have a virtual conversation with students from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador.

Other events throughout the week included several service events, an internship/career fair and capstone project presentations. View all the events here.

For more photos from NPHW, click here.

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health

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The USF College of Public Health (COPH) has named Cynthia M. Harris, PhD, the 2022 Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health.

The college bestows the award each year to a woman whose career accomplishments and leadership contribute significantly to the field of public health in Florida. Harris received the award at the USF COPH National Public Health Week Virtual Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 6.

Harris currently serves as the associate dean for public health in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health, at Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, where she is also a professor.

Harris has over 30 years of expertise, leadership and training in successfully implementing community-based participatory research with a focus on environmental health and toxicology. She is nationally known for her content expertise in environmental health and environmental toxicology.

“Through the years, I have observed her work and commitment to public health and FAMU’s public health program. Harris led the program through its inaugural accreditation in 2000 and three successive re-accreditation cycles after, all with maximum tenure and no non-compliant findings,” said Dr. Larry Robinson, president of FAMU.

A former branch chief with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry for the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS), Harris was the first African-American to serve in that position. She was also the recipient of a USPHS award for serving as program director of the First National Health Conference, with a focus on environmental justice.

Harris has been successful in receiving state and federal research funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the development of a toxicology curriculum for lay community members and development of a protocol for the reduction of eye injuries in migrant citrus workers in Apopka, Fla.

Under her leadership, more than 70 local organizations and agencies received mini-grant funding to sustain their health and wellness initiatives to combat obesity in children. In addition, Harris has more than 10 years of experience addressing racial and ethnic disparities in the health professions. She is the director of both the Florida Alliance for Health Professions Diversity and the Florida Health Equity Research Institute Education and Training Core.

Harris tackled the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic directly in Leon County, Fla., and beyond. She is responsible for the development of the FAMU-Bond Community Health Center COVID-19 Testing Site. She still serves as one of the coordinators of the site and assisted in the development of the FAMU Community Vaccine Administration Center. In addition, Harris is the principal investigator of the joint FAMU-Department of Health COVID-19 Outreach, Education and Training Program. This statewide program is tasked with addressing vaccine hesitancy in predominantly black and brown communities.

“This is such an honor!” Harris said at the NPHW Awards Ceremony. “To everyone who practices public health, no matter what you may come across, public health matters and you matter. Don’t ever doubt that. Public health is a calling, more so than a career. Also keep in mind that communities don’t care how much you know until they know how much that you care.”

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health

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The USF College of Public Health (COPH) Activist Lab received an Advocacy on Campuses that Impacts Our Nation (A.C.T.I.O.N.) grant from the American Public Health Association Student Assembly on March 8.

The Activist Lab serves as the hub of excellence in providing 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 $500 grant gave the Activist Lab the opportunity to design a grassroots advocacy project.

Activist Lab students Rolando Trejos, Carla Salazar, Rashmi Mathur and Kayla Wilson designed an educational campaign to advocate for awareness regarding sexual assault for USF students. The campaign was implemented in the spring of 2021, during National Public Health Week. 

For the campaign, the students hosted a series of events through the spring semester. On March 26, they conducted a Sexual Assault Awareness Lunch ‘N Learn with Jennifer Kovacs, victim advocate/interim assistant director for the USF Center for Victim Advocacy and Violence Prevention. Kovacs spoke about sexual violence, especially on college campuses, and the support services available at USF.

Next, the Activist Lab completed a “How to Support a Survivor Training.” Offered by the USF Center for Victim Advocacy and Violence Prevention, the students completed this training to learn how to better advocate for survivors and to prepare for their final event, a sexual assault awareness panel presentation titled “A Trauma-Informed Care Perspective” for National Public Health Week.

The panel included Jessica Pinto, advocate manager at Crisis Center of Tampa Bay; Dr. Abraham Salinas-Miranda, COPH assistant professor and director of the USF Harrell Center; Jessica Dutil, staff clinician at the USF Counseling Center; and Kovacs.

“It means a lot to have won this grant, especially since it was open to submissions from public health students across the United States,” Kayla Wilson, an Activist Lab member who worked on the campaign, said. “Millions of people are affected by sexual violence in the U.S., and it is a major public health issue, so I am glad we were given this opportunity to host an educational campaign at USF during National Public Health Week and during the month dedicated to sexual assault awareness.”

Wilson said that earning this grant allows for her and the Activist Lab to continue to practice advocacy surrounding major public health issues, such as sexual assault, and that the skills learned will be useful for any future public health careers that they pursue.

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health

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Since 2008, students in the USF College of Public Health (COPH) have annually recognized outstanding instruction at the Annual National Public Health Awards Ceremony. On April 7, graduate and undergraduate students joined forces to present the Excellence in Teaching Award to Dr. Joe Bohn, assistant professor, director of community engagement and deputy director of the DrPH program.

“Dr. Bohn is one of the most thoughtful and engaging instructors and advisors I have had. He is extremely knowledgeable, but also has such a passion for learning more about all topics, especially public health,” said an anonymous student nominator. “He is so busy but will find time to speak with students on weekends, evenings, etc. He inspires me to help others and I also hope that I show as much passion in my work as he does in his.”

Bohn joined the COPH in 2016 with a diversified background in public health education, behavioral health advocacy, healthcare and logistics. This created a practice and academic background that enabled him to coordinate and lead interdisciplinary teams and projects while teaching, supporting academic administration and filling community engagement leadership roles.

Over the past five years, Bohn has taught doctoral level teaching systems, social and complexity science topics in the DrPH practice program, community health intervention planning, implementation and evaluation at the master’s level and critical social issues at the undergraduate level.

“As a professor, one of my goals is to go beyond teaching content and to build practical and philosophical knowledge with the students, based on their level of education, so they are better equipped to address issues in their careers and lives,” Bohn said. “I aim to help students build critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills to change how they see, reflect and process some of the controversial health topics in society today. I strive to be a positive influence and inspire them to be change agents as their careers move forward.”

Bohn’s teaching methods reflect his view that students are motivated to learn and gain knowledge to apply in their careers, research and life interests. He believes that teaching at undergraduate, master’s and doctorate levels requires attention to the students’ needs and introducing topics as building blocks for strengthening competencies, opening conceptual and theoretical windows for knowledge generation and strengthening qualitative research skills.

“Dr. Bohn provided extremely comprehensive feedback to all of the students in the course. It was unbelievable how much time he spent assessing each assignment. He inspired students to learn the material and go beyond what was presented,” said an anonymous student nominator. “His passion for the material came through to the students. It was a challenging course, but I learned so much. He also treats students with respect and views them more as peers than students.”

His classes engage other faculty and feature guest speakers with subject matter expertise that deepens students’ perspective. Teamwork and team building are emphasized at all levels.

“I encourage students to participate and engage in every class, virtually and or in-person, to ask and help answer questions with classmates and encourage trans-disciplinary teaming and learning,” Bohn said. “Experiential learning has been a priority at the undergraduate level to shape those experiences and help students see how they connect to what is discussed in the classroom.”

Serving as director of community engagement, Bohn has created a portfolio of community activities and initiatives to integrate in classroom pedagogical lesson plans, presentations and class discussion on the importance of community service with case examples from field work.

“Recognizing the #1 health priority of our students in 2018, 19 and 20 was mental health (e.g., stress, anxiety and depression), my community efforts focused on behavioral health provided excellent reference examples that connected with the students’ needs,” he said.

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health

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The University of South Florida (USF) College of Public Health has named Megan Wessel, MPH, of Tampa, Fla., the 2021 Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health.

The college bestows the award each year to a woman whose career accomplishments and leadership contribute significantly to the field of public health in Florida. Wessel received the award at the USF COPH National Public Health Week Virtual Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 7.

Wessel is the vice president of regional cancer control for the American Cancer Society’s Southeast Region, which serves Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. In this role, she serves on the senior leadership team for the region and the enterprise cancer control leadership team.

Along with her team, Wessel works with priority health systems and communities to increase utilization of cancer prevention strategies and cancer screening tests. These efforts help to reduce barriers to care for cancer patients and engage partners in fighting cancer through the society’s advocacy initiatives. They strategically engage over 360 priority health systems, implementing quality improvement and evidence-based interventions.

“Megan Wessel is a consummate advocate for the needs of cancer patients and their families and caregivers,” said Dr. Celeste Phillip, a previous recipient of the award and deputy director for Non-Infectious Diseases for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “She’s a strategic partner who understands and values a systems approach to the continuum of cancer prevention and care, and that the system is strengthened by meaningful collaboration on common goals, rather than the benefits to one organization.”

Prior to joining the American Cancer Society, Wessel worked for CIGNA HealthCare of Florida, managing statewide disease management programs.

Wessel also worked for two other nonprofit organizations. At Gulf Coast South Area Health Education Center, she developed and coordinated collaborative efforts with health care providers, community organizations and academic institutions to increase access to primary health care for underserved populations. During her time at Best Start Social Marketing, she conducted qualitative and quantitative research on statewide and national social marketing projects.

Earning a master’s degree in public health from USF, focusing primarily on community and family health, Wessel has also completed two leadership programs, one at the Columbia Business School and the other at the University of California Berkeley Center for Executive Education.

She also serves on multiple public health leadership councils including: the Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council, the Florida Tobacco Advisory Council, the Florida Prostate Cancer Advisory Council and the Florida Palliative Care Coalition Steering Committee.

“Megan Wessel is a wealth of knowledge and collaboration. She has shaped the state’s cancer plan and continues to impact our statewide cancer effort by shaping our cancer plan implementation,” said Drs. Clement K. Gwede, chair of the Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council (CCRAB), and Bobbie McKee, executive director of the CCRAB.

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health

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More than twenty-five years ago, the American Public Health Association (APHA) sponsored its first National Public Health Week (NPHW) to honor those working tirelessly (and often behind the scenes) to improve the public’s health. The USF College of Public Health followed suit, recognizing their own hardworking students, faculty, alumni, staff and other professionals in the field with awards and accolades during the weeklong public health celebration.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s awards ceremony was delivered virtually. Dr. Donna Petersen, dean of the COPH, delivered her address and congratulated award winners in front of a camera instead of an audience. (To watch the ceremony, click here).

“Every year APHA identifies a theme for NPHW and this year the theme is “Building Bridges to Better Health” and each day has a different topic. Today’s topic is “strengthening communities,” Petersen said. “And I thought, “Wow, this is so appropriate for what will do today as we are recognizing many people who have contributed to our community here at USF to communities all around the world.”

Students from every corner of the college were recognized with awards and scholarships from groups as diverse as the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation to the US Marine Corps.

“This is both a recognition of their achievement and a recognition of their promise to public health,” Petersen said. “And we always like to welcome new students into our midst and see how they are going to soar and how they are going to shine.

Some of the COPH’s top students received named scholarships. “These are very special scholarships,” Petersen remarked. “They are either named for people very important to us in the college, very important to the field of public health or who simply cared enough to support the training and education of our students.”

Dr. Joe Bohn was given an Excellence in Teaching Award (you can read his story here).

“This is something we are always very excited about and look forward to each year,” Petersen said. “This award is incredibly special because it’s given by the students.”

A great honor, as well, is to be recognized by your college for the work you’ve done post-graduation.

“We look for people who are impacting the community and serving in leadership positions,” said Petersen. “And this year we are fortunate to honor three outstanding alumni.” They are Steven Chew, Thometta Cozart and Dr. Melissa Mercado (click on each name to view more).

Lastly, Petersen introduced the 2021 Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health Award, COPH alumna Megan Wessel (read more of her story here).

“This award was created in 1988 by then COPH dean Dr. Charles Mahan, who believed that through his career it was the women around him who actually made things happen, followed through and made sure things got done,” Petersen said. “We received so many nominations and its always heartwarming and inspiring to see how many women are out there working very hard in a variety of areas to support public health an improve the quality of life.”

“I congratulate all of you on your accomplishments,” Petersen said in closing, “Save the date for next year’s ceremony on April 6, 2022 and hopefully look forward to seeing you all next year—in person!

The awards ceremony ended with a surprise for Petersen. She was given a special recognition by USF President Steven Currall.

“When COVID-19 first began to impact our community in early 2020 I formed a task force to help lead the university’s response. The task force includes broad membership from across the university and I appointed the dean of USF College of Public Health, Dr. Donna Petersen, to chair the effort,” Currall said. “Dr. Petersen answered the call for USF and ever since has gone above and beyond to help USF prioritize health and safety. Today during NPHW, I’m so pleased to recognize Dr. Petersen’s extraordinary service to USF during the past year. Like a light leading us through a very dark and long tunnel, Dr. Petersen has helped USF students, faculty and staff increase our understanding of the pandemic so that we could respond in a safe and effective way.”

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health

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The USF College of Public Health (COPH) 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 (virtually) and get involved today!

Each year National Public Health Week is held during the first full week of April and is organized by the American Public Health Association (APHA), a government-based professional organization for public health professionals that prides itself on influencing federal policy and bringing together members from all fields of public health. The week is observed to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight important health issues.

This year’s observance falls on April 5-11 centering on the theme, “Building Bridges to Better Health.”

Kicking off the week, the Chiles Center will be holding the first part of their webinar series for their 25^th Anniversary on April 5. Speakers, including Dean Donna Petersen, former COPH Dean and Chiles Center Founding Director Charles Mahan and more, will be discussing the Chiles Center history and future endeavors in making a difference for women, children and families. Stay tuned for the second half of the webinar series streaming on April 20.

On April 7, the COPH will be hosting its annual Public Health Awards Ceremony. Celebrate student academic achievements, cutting-edge research and alumni movers and shakers. The COPH will also be announcing the honorees of the Outstanding Alumni Award, the Excellence in Teaching Awardee and the Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health.

The celebration continues with Give Life Day on April 14. One Blood, Be the Match and Donate Life Florida representatives will share how members of the USF Health community can give life to others. Make sure to sign up in advance 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.

All events will be held virtually and access codes to Zoom of Microsoft Teams sessions will be provided to the COPH community prior to each event.

For more information on National Public Health Week, visit www.nphw.org or contact ekent@health.usf.edu.

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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