The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health, held its annual graduation ceremony recently. The institute is beginning its 10th year.
Twenty-five scholars, the largest class in the nine years of the program, graduated. Since 2005, the institute has trained 175 people from public and private organizations who work to improve the health and well-being of people and communities in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Kansas.
The year-long institute is designed to build and enhance leadership skills for established and emerging leaders in the region’s public health systems.
The graduates were recognized for their achievement at a luncheon attended by more than 100 regional leaders, family members, alumni and supporters. Another record-setting class of 27 scholars was inducted for the 10th year of the institute.
The Leadership Institute is supported by funds from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Health Professions, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and the UNMC College of Public Health.
For more information, contact Kathleen Brandert. (kbrandert@unmc.edu)
Graduates of the class of 2013-2014 are listed below by and their hometowns and business affiliations:
Fremont – Virginia Meyer, Center for Rural Affairs
Lincoln – Franceska Cassell, Nebraska Legislative Audit Office; David Humm, Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department; Andrew Kahle, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS); Mary Lentini, NDHHS; Ashley Newmyer, NDHHS; Roy Rivera, People's Health Center Board of Directors; William Wisell, NDHHS
Omaha – Rebecca Beaudoin, Hy-Vee; Gail Brondum, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska; Renee Claborn, Building Healthy Futures; Joseph Gaube, Douglas County Health Department; Megan Gehrke, OneWorld Community Health Centers, Inc.; Dianne Harrop, NDHHS; Michele Kassmeier, UNMC College of Public Health; Aja Kneip Pelster, UNMC; Audra Losey, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension; Michelle Stenslokken, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska; David Wirka, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska
Syracuse – Kyle Ryan, Peru State College
Wayne – Mirian Aguirre, NDHHS
Des Moines, Iowa – Brandy Benedict, Iowa Department of Public Health
Beloit, Kan. – Stephanie Simmons, Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems
Ellsworth, Kan. – Doug Stefek, Ellsworth County Medical Center
Topeka, Kan. – Ashley Muninger, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Wichita, Kan. – Lisette Jacobson, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu and follow us on social media.