Fourteen Nebraskans have been selected as the first class of scholars of the Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute, a year-long program designed to strengthen leadership among those who work in public health.
Public health is focused on promoting, protecting and advocating for the public’s health. It addresses physical, mental and environmental health concerns of communities and populations at risk for disease and injury.
Magda Peck, Sc.D., director of the Institute and University of Nebraska Medical Center professor of pediatrics and associate chair for community health, said Nebraska is experiencing unprecedented growth in public health.
“Nebraska and its neighboring Great Plains states need skilled public health leaders who will champion the mission of public health — creating conditions in which all people can be healthy,” Dr. Peck said. “New state investments in Nebraska have helped establish local public health agencies statewide which cover every county.
“The new UNMC and University of Nebraska at Omaha graduate program in public health has over 100 students and 25 graduates. Continuing education and training for emergency preparedness are making sure we know how to be safe and sound when disaster strikes. What comes next is greater leadership for the public’s health,” she said.
The Institute is designed for senior and emerging leaders in organizations whose primary mission is to improve the health and well-being of populations and communities. Scholars may come from multiple states. The program includes three on-site sessions, monthly distance education, and an applied project for integrated learning.
The goals of the Institute, which is in its first year, are to: assure and enhance leadership knowledge, skills, attitudes, and competencies in the public health workforce of the Great Plains region, increase the value of public health within communities through greater leadership in action and expand relationships among public health leaders in the region.
The first group Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute scholars in the class of 2005-2006 are:
Chad Abresch, CityMatCH, Omaha
Tanya Cook, Nebraska Health and Human Services System, Omaha
Joyce Crawford, South Heartland District Health Department, Hastings
Vicki Duey, Four Corners Health Department, York
Cynthia Ellis, M.D., University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha
Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway, Ph.D., University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha
Terry Krohn, Two Rivers Public Health Department, Holdrege
John Linville, D.V.M., USDA Food Safety Inspection Service, Omaha
Sue Medinger, Nebraska Health and Human Services System, Lincoln
Cordelia Okoye, Ph.D., Lincoln-Lancaster Health Department, Lincoln
Becky Rayman, East Central District Health Department, Columbus
Josie Rodriguez, Nebraska Health and Human Services System, Lexington
Connie Schnoes, Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln
Wendy Wells, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing, Scottsbluff
The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute is an initiative of the Nebraska Educational Alliance for Public Health Impact (NEAPHI). It is supported in part by funding from the Center for Biopreparedness Education, Nebraska Health and Human Services System, Nebraska Health Care Cash Fund, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Turning Point, Nebraska), the Upper Midwest Center for Public Health Preparedness, and the Upper Midwest Pubic Health Training Center. Additional in-kind support comes from UNMC, CityMatCH, and other NEAPHI member organizations.
Application deadline for the 2006-2007 year is June 16, 2006.