Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute welcomes 25 new scholars, graduates 19

The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute welcomed its fifth class of scholars recently – a class of 18 Nebraskans, six Iowans, and one South Dakotan. It also graduated 19 from the class of 2008-09.

The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute, one of 14 institutes funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has become a professional development program of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health. The year-long program is designed to build and enhance leadership skills for established and emerging leaders in the region’s public health systems.

Participants come from public and private sector organizations whose primary mission is to improve the health and well-being of populations and communities.

Since 2005, the institute has trained more than 90 Leadership Scholars serving the states of Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota, and is on track for meeting its goal of having more than 100 leaders trained by 2010.

“Having skilled leaders in public health is essential for safeguarding and promoting optimal health and well-being in every community,” said Magda Peck, Sc.D., director of the institute and associate dean for community engagement and public health practice in the UNMC’s College of Public Health. “At this time of persistent and new threats to human health – emerging epidemics, increasing levels of chronic diseases, and persistent geographic, gender and racial disparities in health care – effective leadership is required to keep everyone safe and sound.”

Leadership Scholars in the new class of 2009-2010 are listed below by their place of residence and business affiliation:

Burwell, NE – – Angela Redman, Loup Basin Public Health Department;

Crete, NE – – Laura Wooters, Public Health Solutions County Health Department;

Lincoln, NE – – Cindy Jeffrey, Health Education Incorporated; Judy Martin and Ming Qu, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services;

Omaha, NE – – Carol  Allensworth, Douglas County Health Department; Dell Gines, Omaha Urban Area Health Education Center; Emily    Hawkins and Caryn Kusleika, Alegent Health; Dr. Patrick Johansson, Lea Pounds and Sara Roberts, UNMC College of Public Health; Dr. Kari Simonsen, UNMC Department of Pediatrics; Andrea Skolkin, One World Community Health Center;

O’Neill, NE – – Stephanie Bunner, North Central District Health Department;  

Wisner, NE – – Julia Escobar and Greg Moser, Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department;

Des Moines, IA – – Julie Baker and Patti Habel, Visiting Nurse Services;

Iowa City, IA – – Molly Guard, University of Iowa AHEC;

Muscatine, IA – – Claudine Martine, Iowa Region 6 Public Health;

Sioux City, IA – – Sara Wester, Siouxland District Health Department;  

Webster City, IA – – Mona Everson, Hamilton County Public Health and Hospice;

Rapid City, SD – – Leah Frerichs, Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairman’s Health Board.

Graduating Scholars from the fourth class expressed high satisfaction in the program at the recent graduation in Nebraska City on Sept. 17.

Andrea Mason, from Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department said, “Over the last year, I became increasingly aware of how passionate I am about ending racial disparities in health.  What I’ve learned over the last year, will help build the accountability in my organization to all populations served.  Progress is possible!  I’m recharged and I feel more prepared to take the lead on this issue!”

Recent graduates of the fourth class of 2008-2009 are listed below by place and business affiliation:

Auburn NE— Lisa Bloss, Southeast District Health Department;

Burwell NE– Lynette Larsen, Loup Basin Public Health Department;

Holdrege NE— Amy Elwood, Two Rivers Public Health Department;

Lincoln NE–Christine Funk, Planned Parenthood of Nebraska and Council Bluffs; Andrea Mason, Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department; Holly Dingman, June Ryan, Jennifer Severe-Oforah, and Rene Tiedt, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services;

Omaha NE— Lina Lander, UNMC College of Public Health;

Wisner NE– Gina Uhing, Elkhorn Logan Valley County Health Department;

York NE— Margaret Brink, Four Corners District Health Department Board of Health; and Laura McDougall, Four Corners District Health Department;

 Des Moines, IA — Catherine Lillehoj, Lindsay Miller, Sarah Taylor and Polly Carver-Kimm, Iowa Department of Public Health; Karen Sullivan, Visiting Nurse Services;

Garner, Iowa — Elizabeth Faber, Hancock County Iowa Public Health.

The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute, which was started in 2004 as a program of the Nebraska Educational Alliance for Public Health Impact (NEAPHI), recently became a program of the UNMC College of Public Health.

It is supported in part by funding from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration though the Upper Midwest Public Health Training Center at the University of Iowa, Nebraska Health and Human Services System, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNMC.

Additional in-kind support comes from CityMatCH and other NEAPHI member organizations.

Application deadline for the 2010-2011 class is June 1. For more information, contact Brandon Grimm at (402) 561-7562, or go to www.greatplainsleadership.org.