The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute welcomed its fourth class of scholars recently – a class of 13 Nebraskans and seven Iowans. It also graduated 17 from the class of 2007-08.
The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute is one of 14 institutes funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The year-long program is designed to build and enhance leadership skills for senior and emerging leaders in public and private organizations whose primary mission is to improve the health and well-being of populations and communities in the region.
Since 2005, the institute has trained 49 scholars in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Magda Peck, Sc.D., director of the institute and University of Nebraska Medical Center professor of pediatrics and public health, said, “Having competent leaders in public health is essential to advocate, protect and promote the mission of public health. The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute is serving as a catalyst for better public health practice in our region.” Dr. Peck also is founder and senior advisor for CityMatCH, a national public health organization based at UNMC that is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of women, children and families in America’s cities.
Scholars in the new class of 2008-2009 are:
Auburn — Lisa Bloss, Southeast District Health Department;
Burwell — Lynette Larsen, Loup Basin Public Health Department;
Holdrege — Amy Elwood, Two Rivers Public Health Department;
Lincoln — Holly Dingman, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services; Christine Funk, Planned Parenthood of Nebraska and Council Bluffs; Andrea Mason, Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department; June Ryan, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services; Jennifer Severe-Oforah, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services; and Rene Tiedt, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services;
Omaha — Lina Lander, UNMC College of Public Health;
Wisner — Gina Uhing, Elkhorn Logan Valley County Health Department;
York — Margaret Brink, Four Corners District Health Department Board of Health; and Laura McDougall, Four Corners District Health Department.
Des Moines, Iowa — Catherine Lillehoj, Iowa Department of Public Health; Lindsay Miller, Iowa Department of Public Health; Polly Carver-Kimm, Iowa Department of Public Health; Becky Simer, Visiting Nurse Services of Des Moines; Karen Sullivan, Visiting Nurse Services of Des Moines; and Sarah Taylor, Iowa Department of Public Health.
Garner, Iowa — Elizabeth Faber, Hancock County Iowa Public Health
Recent graduates of the class of 2007-2008 are:
Lincoln – Joseph Acierno, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services; and Charlotte Burke, Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department;
Omaha — Liliana Bronner, UNMC College of Public Health, Rural Health Education Network; Tammie Dodge, ActiVate Omaha; Maureen Fitzgerald, CityMatCH; Brenda Thompson, CityMatCH; Kristin Watkins, UNMC College of Public Health, Center for Biopreparedness Education;
Kearney — Michelle Ellermeier, UNMC College of Nursing;
O’Neill — Ann Fritz, North Central District Health Department;
McCook — Mark Graf, Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department; and Myra Stoney, Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department;
Sioux City, Iowa — Kevin Grieme, Siouxland District Health Department;
Des Moines, Iowa — Jill Myers-Geadelmann, Iowa Department of Public Health; Jennifer Stout-Kagan, Visiting Nurse Services of Des Moines; Darby Taylor, Visiting Nurse Services of Des Moines; and Annie Wood, Visiting Nurse Services of Des Moines;
Milwaukee, Wis. — Mia Price, Milwaukee Health Services.
The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute, an initiative of the Nebraska Educational Alliance for Public Health Impact, is supported in part by funding from the Upper Midwest Public Health Training Center and the Upper Midwest Center for Public Health Preparedness at the University of Iowa, Nebraska Health and Human Services System, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additional in-kind support comes from UNMC, CityMatCH and other member organizations.
Application deadline for the 2009-2010 year is June 1. For more information, contact Brandon Grimm at (402) 561-7562, or go to www.greatplainsleadership.org.
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