Colleagues, Students and Graduates,

I am so pleased to be writing to you today, the close of a successful academic year.  As Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health, I’ve spent the past 12 months getting to know many of you, learning about your work and studies, and helping guide a vision for our school’s future.

Dean David Goff, MD, PhD

But before we move into that future – let’s remember the success of our past year together.  The end of an academic year brings anticipation, excitement and often relief – for both students and faculty.  But the end is also a time to celebrate, as we did yesterday during the annual Convocation ceremony. Thank you all for showing up and supporting our graduates – I think that the event was a great success. And by the way, if you missed Convocation yesterday, our student speaker Danya Carroll did an excellent job, our award honorees and Delta Omega inductees were recognized, and of course we celebrated the academic achievement of our graduating class of students.

Above all I am confident that we achieved great success this year and have more success still to come. I look forward to helping our new graduates launch their careers – whether supporting expanding career advising or keeping in contact through alumni relations. I look forward to helping our faculty expand the effort of their research into Colorado and regional communities – ensuring that our work helps make meaningful change in the lives and health of our population. And I look forward to collaborating with our institutions and staff as we set an ambitious course for enhancing and improving our operations.  In all, I look forward to creating the future of our school, and all that will come with that.

Terri and I have recently returned from Egypt, visiting our daughter Katie, who is studying international development there.  We saw many amazing sites, the pyramids, temples (Karnak, Luxor, Philae, Abu Simbel), and the Nile.  We met many warm and friendly people.  They expressed fondness for Americans; visit if you can!  We saw great hope for the future as well as many pressing public health challenges, related to environmental health, maternal and child health, worker health and safety, injury, and chronic diseases.  These challenges are compounded by limitations in access to high quality health care.  Sounds familiar, doesn’t it!  In thinking about these challenges while attending commencement and convocations, I feel confident that our graduates will face these challenges, whether in Egypt, Durango, or Denver, with dedication and the knowledge they have gained through their studies.  Our graduates will create a healthier world!

From the faculty, students and staff recognized during yesterday’s and today’s Commencement and Convocations – to the individual research, educational and community projects that occupied every day of the past year – Thank you for your contributions to advancing our school’s mission.

Warmest regards,
David

David C. Goff, Jr., MD, PhD
Dean, Colorado School of Public Health

Delta Omega inductees will be recognized during the annual Convocation ceremony Thursday, May 23.

The Dean’s Special Recognition Award: Kathleen Matthews, MPH

Awarded at the discretion of the Dean, the Dean’s Special Recognition Award is presented to an individual in recognition of his or her contributions to establishing and developing the Colorado School of Public Health.  Ms. Matthews served as the Assistant Director of the Colorado School of Public Health Initiative and was instrumental in the fundraising, operational and educational development of the Colorado School of Public Health.  Ms. Matthews is currently the Director of the Office of Planning and Partnership at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment where she partners with the school and local public health agencies to improve the state’s public health infrastructure, systems and delivery of services.

Excellence in Clinical/Affiliated Faculty Teaching: Sara Miller, MPA

Given to recognize a clinical/affiliated faculty member for his or her instructional contributions to the School. This award recognizes a faculty member who acts as a preceptor for graduate students and/or residents, or offers opportunities for research collaboration to students and faculty. Nominations are accepted from students, residents, and faculty.

Outstanding Contribution by a Staff Member: Richard Sasscer, MPA and Jackie Shimamoto

Given in recognition of a staff member who demonstrates outstanding achievement, a strong work ethic, cooperation with others, and commitment to the School. Nominations are accepted from faculty, students, and staff members. State classified staff, exempt professionals, professional research assistants, and senior professional research assistants are eligible to be nominated.

Outstanding Contribution by a Student:

Audrey Baird (MPH-UNC), Dennis Beach (MPH-CSU), Dana Kennedy (MPH-CU), and Curtis Harrod (PhD)

Given to a student who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment or contribution to the School through participation on School committees and/or other volunteer services. All students (including residents and certificate students) who have served as a committee member or performed other services during the year are eligible for this award. Nominations are accepted from students, faculty, and staff.

Excellence in Faculty Research: Marci Sontag, PhD

Given to a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to research and productivity through procurement of external funding and dissemination of research findings to the public health or health sciences field.  All regular and clinical track faculty are eligible for this award.  Nominations are accepted from students, faculty, and staff.

Excellence in Faculty Mentoring: Nichole Carlson, PhD

Given to a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to student learning and professional development through advising and mentoring that have clearly contributed to the outstanding development of a school graduate.  All regular and clinical track faculty members are eligible for this award.  Nominations are accepted from students, faculty, and staff.

Excellence in Public Health Practice by an Individual: Michele Lueck

Given to an individual from the community outside the School of Public Health who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to public health practice through well-recognized activity that is exemplary provision of public health practice and service to the field of public health at the state, region, national, or international level.   Nominations are accepted from students, faculty, and staff.

Excellence in Public Health Practice by an Organization: Pinnacol Assurance

Given to a public or private organization that has significantly promoted and supported the efforts of the Colorado School of Public Health in meeting its mission, goals, and objectives.  Nominations are accepted from students, faculty, and staff.

In addition to school award recipients, university and program award recipients will be recognized during the Convocation ceremony.  For additional information on the school awards process, please contact Scholarship and Awards Committee Chair Judy Baxter, Judy.Baxter@ucdenver.edu.

Colorado School of Public Health Dean David Goff and his wife Terri challenged our alumni to increase their support of public health education by personally matching every alumni gift made to the school during the 2012-2013 academic year.

“Alumni are critical partners in our success, particularly in the areas of volunteering and philanthropy,” states Dean Goff.  “Just as the collective impact of the public health workforce increases with each new Colorado School of Public Health graduate, so too does the impact of each alumni gift. That’s why Terri and I choose to join our alumni in supporting the school through the alumni fund this year.”

The school is proud to announce that our alumni rose to the challenge and donated nearly $4,000 to the growth of public health education and scholarships.  With every dollar donated, Dr. and Mrs. Goff will make a personal contribution to the school, bringing the total value of annual gifts close to $8,000 this year.

“Each year we graduate a class of students and welcome them into our growing body of Colorado School of Public Health alumni,” states Assistant Dean for Advancement Lyndsey Crum. “And beyond the amazing contributions that these alumni make to the field of public health and the lives of our students, it is their philanthropic generosity which moves beyond inspirational to transformational.”

While many of the school’s alumni chose to donate to the John R. Moran Jr. Scholarship in Public Health, Dr. and Mrs. Goff agreed to match all alumni gifts provided to a school program or scholarship, including donations to the school’s general fund, William Marine Endowment for Preventive Medicine, and Marvin Porter Memorial Scholarship, among others.

Thank you to all of the Colorado School of Public Health alumni who support the school through their giving, volunteer time and experience. For information on alumni programs or to update an alumni record, please contact CSPH.Alumni@ucdenver.edu.

This year the school is honored to recognize the generosity of four donors whose personal contributions are building opportunities for students across the school.

Dr. Richard Hoffman, a longtime friend and supporter of the school generously pledged $100,000 to grow the Richard E. Hoffman Health Disparities Fellowship and the Hamman-Hoffman Scholarship in Epidemiology. The Hoffman Health Disparities Fellowship provides financial assistance to MPH students who demonstrate an interest in addressing health disparities.  Since 2009, nine students have been selected as Hoffman Fellows, including the 2013 Convocation student speaker Danya Carroll. In addition to the fellowship, Dr. Hoffman’s pledge will help grow the Hamman-Hoffman Scholarship in Epidemiology to provide greater financial assistance to the school’s doctoral students studying epidemiology.

Professor Dr. Lee Newman and wife Dr. Lori Szczukowski partnered with Department Chairman Dr. John Adgate to establish the Environmental and Occupational Health Scholarship Fund.  Their generosity will enable the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health to provide financial assistance to the department’s MPH students, a program the department and school aim to grow over the coming years.

Thank you to these and the many other donors who supported the Colorado School of Public Health this year.  To learn more about supporting the Colorado School of Public Health, please contact Marybeth Goodwin at Marybeth.Goodwin@cufund.org  or 303.724.6335.

Danya Carroll | 2013 Student Convocation Speaker

Danya Carroll, a Master of Public Health candidate was named the 2013 student speaker for the school’s annual Convocation ceremony Thursday, May 23.

Carroll is White Mountain Apache and Navajo from Arizona. While at the Colorado School of Public Health, her home campus has been the University of Northern Colorado’s Community Health Education MPH program. Growing up on a reservation, she saw firsthand how the health of American Indian populations was adversely affected by unhealthy behaviors, limited resources, and the lack of education. These experiences have motivated her intentions and commitment to improve the health and well-being of Native people by attaining an advanced degree in public health.

During her graduate education, Danya participated in many opportunities including the Ferguson Fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She presented posters nationwide including at the annual American Public Health Association conference. She is currently serving as a Student Representative for APHA’s American Indian, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian Caucus. She is also an American Indian Graduate Center Scholar and a recipient of the prestigious Hoffman Health Disparities Fellowship.

Carroll plans to use her education to address the prevalent health issues and disparities affecting tribal communities. She wants to integrate public health research and practice with Native communities to develop more culturally relevant programs and initiatives. Carroll also hopes to pursue a doctorate degree in the future. She would like to thank family, friends, & faculty for their continued support in her academic endeavors, and shares “May you always Walk in Beauty!”

Faculty and Master of Public Health students earned an up-close look at the safety program and protocols of the Denver VA Replacement Medical Center Project during a recent visit to the Anschutz Medical Campus construction site.

Organized by the school’s introductory occupational and environmental health course, the visit introduced students to the comprehensive safety program managed by the project’s contract team Kiewit-Turner.

As part of the $800 million dollar project, Kiewit-Turner’s safety team provides a mandatory safety orientation and daily management for the hundreds of construction staff employed on site.  With an emphasis on prevention and a culture of safety, the construction site reports zero lost-time accidents – a goal it aims to maintain throughout the completion of the project.

Students and faculty join Kiewit-Turner safety team

Thank you to Kiewit-Turner team members Andrew Orwa, RonCova, Dan Gaughn and Celeste Davis for sharing with our students your commitment to occupational safety and providing a site visit of the ongoing construction.

(Clipart.com)

New research coordinated among Colorado School of Public Health Associate Professor Elaine Morrato, DrPH, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine and the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes evaluated the oral health knowledge of adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

The research, presented to the International Association for Dental Research, evaluated the periodontal status, oral health knowledge and behavior, frequency of dental visits and the oral health perceptions 182 adolescents with and without type 1 diabetes. Although adolescents with type 1 diabetes were more knowledgeable in their increased risk of periodontitis, non-diabetic adolescents brushed their teeth significantly more often and also flossed more often.  Additionally, the research team reported that periodontitis was clinically more significant in the youth with diabetes compared to those without.

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In a continued effort to streamline administration and provide faculty leadership with increased administrative and fiscal advising, the Office of the Dean announces that Director of Finance Anthony Airhart will assume a restructured role of Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration.

Following approval from the Executive Council earlier today, Airhart’s revised position will be acting-Assistant Dean effective immediately with a permanent appointment effective July 1, 2013.

In his revised role, Airhart will oversee a restructured administrative team of finance, research administration, space and facilities, information technology, human resources, and quality improvement.  Director of Information Technology Bob Schell and Director of Human Resources Kevin Young will retain supervisory and administrative accountability for their respective portfolios, but will now report to the Assistant Dean and collaborate as a stronger administrative team.  The School will coordinate internal office moves to centrally position the administrative team for the convenience of faculty and staff.

The position and operational transition are part of an effort by Dean David Goff and leadership to position points of contact within the school’s key operations – Internal Affairs, Student Affairs and External Affairs:

• Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration Anthony Airhart will serve as the operational lead for internal affairs management;
• Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Dr. Jan Gascoigne will serve as the operational lead for student affairs management; and
• Assistant Dean for Advancement Lyndsey Crum will serve as the operational lead for external affairs management.

The three assistant deans are collectively charged with supporting Associate Deans, Department Chairs, Campus and Center Directors and Faculty Senate in fulfillment of their respective portfolios and missions.

Airhart will meet with administrative staff and faculty leadership to discuss additional process improvements and future updates to administrative services and structures.