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Division of Public Health Newsletter
Fall 2019
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 Image courtesy of the University of Utah |
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Alumni Spotlight: Kirk Benge, MPH
Kirk earned his Master's degree in Public Health in 2007. He currently serves as the Local Health Officer and CEO of the San Juan County Health Department in Blanding, where he relocated in 2017 after a thirteen-year stint with the Utah Department of Health (UDOH).
Kirk began his public health career at UDOH in 2004, serving eleven years in the infectious disease laboratory where, in his role as Section Chief of Virology & Immunology, he oversaw lab testing for a large array of infectious diseases. Prior to his work in San Juan County, Kirk also worked as an Informaticist at UDOH, where he helped rural hospitals in their efforts to move to electronic laboratory disease reporting.
Kirk currently serves on the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) Community Advisory Board, which aims to prioritize work and engage the community in cancer research, services, and prevention efforts. Previously Kirk has served as Chairman of the Lab Services Work Group of the Region 8 Infertility Prevention Regional Advisory Committee, as well as serving on the APHL STD subcommittee, Utah Hepatitis Advisory Council, Weber State University Department of Microbiology Advisory Board, Utah Integrated Testing Advisory Board, and the Utah Council of Epidemiologists and Laboratorians.
Kirk strives to facilitate the effective use of data to improve public health practice and population health outcomes, while sharing his love for fishing and the outdoors with his wife and three children.
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Education Update:
The Division of Public Health welcomed a new class of students beginning their studies this fall semester. The incoming class includes 27 MPH students, 3 MSPH students, 3 PhD students, 5 MSTAT students, and 6 MPH students at the University of Utah Asia Campus. We look forward to seeing what they accomplish in their programs!
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Inaugural UAC Mental Health Week
Atelaite Mapa and Greta Gokey, current MPH students, implemented the first UAC mental health week during the week of October 14-18 at the University Asia Campus (UAC) in Incheon, South Korea. The students coordinated with appropriate offices and partners at UAC and in the community as part of their practicum experiences to help with the events. All of the activities aimed to promote awareness and to combat the stigma surrounding mental health in Korea.
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Career Fair 2019
The Systems and Services Career Fair will take place on December 5, 2019. There will be representatives from a variety of organizations at the fair including: Hinckley Institute, HELP International, IRC, UDOH EPICC, Comunidades Unidas, University of Utah Career Center, UHHR, AUCH, Gender Studies, Army Medical Service Corps, UDOH Division of Epidemiology, Utah Women and Newborn Quality Collaborative, Utah Poison Control, Rape Recovery Center, Center for Global Surgery, SAC, American Heart Association, Public Affairs Programs, Comagine Health.
Alumni are welcome and encouraged to attend!
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Welcome to New Staff and Faculty!
Andy Rivera
Andy joins the Division of Public Health as a study coordinator for Dr. Kelly Baron’s Circadian Timing and Energy Balance study. He previously worked as a clinical research coordinator in Cardiology and brings with him clinical research certifications and experience with different patient populations. Andy earned his BS from the University of Utah and plans to apply for medical school.
Lauren Manzione, MPH
Lauren joins the Division of Public Health as a research analyst working for Dr. Azagba. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in nutrition from the University of Utah in 2013. After earning her undergraduate degree, Lauren spent several years on the Communications Team at Community Action Services and Food Bank in Provo. Lauren received her Master of Public Health at Brigham Young University this past April.
Autumn Henson
Autumn Henson joins the division as a biostatistician working with Dr. Fares Qeadan. She received her bachelor’s in statistics and economics from Utah State University in May 2019. She looks forward to starting a master’s program in Biostatistics at the University of Utah in the near future.
Fares Qeadan, PHD, MS, MES
Dr. Fares Qeadan is an Assistant Professor of Biostatistics in the Division of Public Health and serves as the biostatistician for the GI Tissue Bank at the Division of Gastroenterology. His research focuses on tribal health, health disparities, clinical and translational science. He also works on developing statistical methods for immunology data, mixed effects modeling, and distribution theory. He uses big data (EMR/EHR) to study health problems such as the opioid epidemic. Dr. Qeadan brings passion to education with rich experience in teaching biostatistics and mentoring; he enjoys connecting students to research experiences that prepares them for success
Blake Waters, PHD, MPA, LEHS
Dr. Blake Waters is an Associate Professor in the Division of Public Health. He obtained both his PhD in Public Health and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Utah. His research and teaching emphasis is in the improvement of public health agency processes and procedures, including evaluation and assessment, as a means of reducing health risk factors. He has extensive experience working with health departments in environmental health, community health and administration. He is a recipient of the Samuel J. Crumbine Award for the top food protection agency in North America and his work has been recognized nationally by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration.
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Join the Public Health Alumni Association!
All alumni association membership dues directly benefit current public health students so they may receive funding to attend events such as the American Public Health Association (APHA) annual meeting. These travel opportunities give students the chance to present their research and to network with the greater public health community.
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Events, Resources, & Announcements
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