COMMENCEMENT 2020 May 16, 2020 - University of Minnesota School of ...
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2020
COMMENCEMENT
May 16, 2020
ORDER OF CEREMONIES 2 2020 COMMENCEMENT @UMNSPH @PUBLICHEALTHUMN @UMNSPH
2020 COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
JAN MALCOLM
Commissioner
Minnesota Department of Health
Jan Malcolm was appointed in January 2018 as commissioner of the
Minnesota Department of Health.
Malcolm is responsible for directing the work of the Minnesota Department
of Health (MDH). MDH is the state’s lead public health agency and
responsible for protecting, maintaining, and improving the health of all Minnesotans.
The department has approximately 1,400 employees in the Twin Cities area and seven offices in
Greater Minnesota.
Prior to being appointed commissioner, Malcolm was an adjunct faculty member at the University
of Minnesota School of Public Health, where she co-directed a national research and leadership
development program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Earlier, Malcolm also helped
develop initiatives to strengthen the nation’s public health system as a senior program officer at the
foundation.
Malcolm previously served as chief executive officer of the Courage Center and as president of the
Courage Kenny Foundation following the merger of Courage Center and the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation
Institute. She has also worked as vice president of public affairs and philanthropy at Allina Health.
From 1999 to 2003, Malcolm served her first term as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of
Health. Throughout her career, Malcolm has been active in state and national health care, public health
associations, and government commissions on health care access and quality.
Malcolm is a graduate of Dartmouth College.
University of Minnesota School of Public Health 32020 COMMENCEMENT PARTICIPANTS
CLASS OF 2020 SPEAKER
STEFANI ALEMAN
MPH Candidate in Epidemiology
Stefani Aleman was born and raised in Oregon, where she received her B.S. in
biology and psychology with a minor in chemistry from the University of Oregon.
Aleman has dedicated her public health career to working with marginalized
populations in the areas of health promotion, screening, and harm reduction.
Prior to attending the School of Public Health, she worked in Maryland coordinating preventative health
services and programs for community members of East Baltimore. Currently, Aleman is a student in the
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health and recipient of the SPH Dean’s Scholar of Excellence and
the Community Health Initiative Award. During her time at the University, she has engaged in community
health work with the People’s Center Clinic & Services, and served as a committee member on the
UMN Student Sexual Misconduct Committee. She is the student representative for the Division Training
Committee in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, and is a graduate assistant for the
Health Equity Work Group. Aleman will be graduating with her MPH in epidemiology and plans to move
back to Oregon, where she will continue to use data for advocacy with the goal of improving the health and
living conditions of society’s most vulnerable populations.
SPH ALUMNI SOCIETY SPEAKER
KAREN WICK, MPH ’94
President, SPH Alumni Society Board of Directors
Karen Wick is the president and owner since 1994 of Stephan Research,
Inc., a clinical research consulting company, which fulfills the research needs
of companies in both the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.
Wick has 35 years of experience in the medical research field and has been
involved in multiple areas of the clinical research development process, including project management,
program development, protocol design, and regulatory submission preparation. Wick possesses specific
pharmaceutical expertise in the areas of drug delivery technologies and medical device experience that
includes bradycardia, tachycardia, heart failure, and neurological systems. She enjoys the challenge of
identifying the path to success for new products in the medical research development process. Wick
received her pharmacy degree from the University of Minnesota in 1983 and her master’s degree in public
health in 1994.
Wick’s public health passion is the opioid epidemic. She worked for two years as pharmacist-in-charge
for an opioid treatment center in addition to conducting research that helped support treatment efforts in
this affected patient population. Wick has asked the SPH Alumni Society Board to focus its efforts on the
opioid public health crisis during her tenure as president.
Wick lives in Stillwater with her husband, Steve, and Labrador Retriever, Laci. She has three adult children
who currently reside in Minnesota. Wick’s hobbies are tennis and gardening, which she has incorporated
in her life as a USTA captain of a women’s 4.0 tennis team for over 10 years. She has been a member of
the SPH Alumni Society Board since 2014 and has just completed her two-year term as president.
4 2020 COMMENCEMENT @UMNSPH @PUBLICHEALTHUMN @UMNSPHACADEMIC REGALIA
GOWN
The bachelor’s gown is untrimmed, with long pointed sleeves, and is worn closed. The master’s gown
has long crescent-shaped sleeves and may be worn open or closed. The doctor’s gown has velvet
facing down the front and three velvet bars on the bell-shaped sleeves. The velvet is either black or the
color of the major field of study. Historically, most gowns were black, but in the past two decades some
American institutions have followed the British use of red or college colors.
HOOD
The hood is the most important and distinctive feature. It was originally intended as a head cover and
shoulder cape. The color of the trim (edging) indicates the degree field, and the length of the hood and
width of the trim indicate the degree earned, with the doctor’s hood being the longest with the widest
trim. The color or colors of the hood lining indicate the degree-granting institution. The University of
Minnesota hood is symbolized with a gold background and single maroon chevron.
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEGREES HOOD COLOR
Master of Public Health and Master of Healthcare Administration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Salmon
Master of Science. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yellow
Doctor of Philosophy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dark Blue
CAP & TASSEL
The academic cap was first worn as a symbol of the master’s degree. The mortarboard style cap is an
Oxford development. European universities have variations—some caps soft, others square, and some
round with a tuft in the center. The tassel of today is an elaboration of the tuft. The Intercollegiate Code
permits the color of the graduate’s tassel to correspond to the authorized color indicating the degree field.
Pi Chapter of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Congratulations to the 2020 inductees to the Pi Chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public
Health. Membership in Delta Omega is highly selective and each inductee is chosen based on outstanding
performance and devotion to public health.
Students are chosen for academic excellence and must rank in the top 25 percent of the graduating class.
Faculty are chosen for excellence based on a review of their work in the field.
Alumni are chosen for their work in the practice of public health that serves as a model for future graduates.
2020 student inductees are identified in the Commencement Program with < symbol.
Congratulations to all our new members on your accomplishments!
University of Minnesota School of Public Health 52019-2020 Recipients of the MASTER OF HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION (MHA) Ebyan Abdisalam Ruth Gebremedhin Josie Linnae Olson Chelsea Rose Akin Robert Davis Hayes Megan Nicole Olson Haley Marie Beers Braden Rhett Hellstern Krupali Patel Nicole Carpetto Mary-Grace Hickman Ross Pickett Mckenzie Kesler Chase Hunter Hill Joshua Inkoo Rostad Samuel Forest Clark Adam Wesley Jensen Kai Thompson Michaela Emily Degrande Harington Joe Ashleigh Elizabeth Vandenbrink Michael Deguire Karin Lyn Johnson Spencer Dean Waters Julia Margot Egofske Ishvinder Parkash Kaur Sarah Weatherman Spencer Eisele Michael Labrador Cole John Wensman Eric Aaron Felderman Karin Emily Dahl Lund Logan Bryant Wood Allison Ann Fischbach Jessica Rose Maloy Meghan Patricia Flyke Ann Catherine McLaughlin Emily Nicole Friedrich Sarah Militello Taylor Marin Gansmoe Carrie Joanna O’connor-Walker MHA EXECUTIVE PROGRAM Dan Behrens Matthew Hunt Jennifer Oakes William Bekker Erin Keene Daniela Orza Matt Berggren Peter Kelly Cameron Prescott Nate Blad Emily Kornhoff Kate Shaughnessy Gregory Bodene Alexis Kotschevar Jerome Siy Jen Chung Mary Beth Lydon Bao Vang Trisha Curioz Alisha Miller Jamie Walski Ann Drvol Sehar Minhas Michael Ebbert Afrah Mohamed Tyson Frodin Samrina Naqvi Priyangani Goonathilaka Micah Niermann 6 2020 COMMENCEMENT @UMNSPH @PUBLICHEALTHUMN @UMNSPH
2019-2020 Recipients of the
MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH (MPH)
COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTION
Julia Ann Andersen Leah Guy Sami Elizabeth Quinn
Avery Isabel Bather Sierra Howard Alexa Ravetti
Meghan Elizabeth Burian Abby Kathryn Jessen Lily Suyaying Rogers-Grant
Michelle Clegg Sara Jane Kettering Lauren Amanda Scott
Nicholas Cotta Holly Kidrowski Audrey Cara Seligman
Katharyn Genevieve Cristan Ja Kyung Kim Kristin Marie Shneider
Hannah Celine Dcunha Erica Marie Lester Anne Bailey Sleeth
Eileen Delehanty < Hillary Lor Beverly Lynn Smith-Keiling
Karmen Dippmann Molly Malone Rachel Koey Yang
Carly Edson Madison Nicole Nelson Mandi Kim Zupfer
Anna Lucille Faerber Noah James Norton
Jessica Leanne Goswitz Brooklyn Petrich
Yasamin Graff Timothy Presley
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Aleksandra Alcheva Elizabeth M Johnson Sathira Wijesekara
Meredith Arpey Patrick Kuisle Katharine Mary Young
Jacqueline Cassman Amanda Markelz Cristina Zarama
Priyanka Chaduvula Paige Noelle Mushinski
Aditi Das Sandra Osei <
Nicole Marie Havel Austin Rau <
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Bradley Allen Aasen Taylor Arlene King Isabel Jade Ricke
Hamdi Said Adam Linnea Larson Gabriel Issac Saemisch
Elizabeth Albers Molly Larson Jayati Saha
Stefani Aleman Sarah Lim Emily Schroeder
Sarah Louise Bennis Erik Peter Loewen Samantha Siebman
Aaron Clark Zachary James Maino Diksha Srishyla
Rachel Rask Codden Dahlia Maxon Benjamin Michael Stroebel
Jordan Davis Ross Alexander Mooney Ann Turcotte
Joanne Marie Dehnbostel Mckenzie Alexandra Warzecha
Bree Elizabeth Friedman Davis Allen Melin Katarina Marie Wesche
Daniel Etzel Gerlach Shannon Ashley Merillat Haley Wienkes
Nicholas Hable Michelle Mumper Ziqing Xie
Emily Marie Holodnick Breanne Elaine Osborn Richie Houhong Xu <
Maggie Lynn Huettl Siobhan Kathleen OToole
Steven Johnson Abigail Paustian
Hannah Kempher Erica Rapheal
< 2020 Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health Inductee
University of Minnesota School of Public Health 72019-2020 Recipients of the MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH (MPH) (Continued) MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH Ashley Blake Ansolabehere Alexandra Marie Gowdy-Jaehnig Abhismitha Ramesh Heather Lyne Barto Teale Ana Greylord Carolina Ramirez Cassandra Jewels Bulau Liza Elianna Henry Jeungeun Seo Megan Elizabeth Coleman Hillary J Andert Hercules Jessica Breanne Servaty Morgan Elisabeth Collins Christine Heeyeong Kim Park Mai Vue Elizabeth Ann Corey Eunji Kim Bianca Satika Zarders Hannah Louise Currie Mollie Kohler Tessa Grace Currie Renee Nicole Kraus Amber Lynne Davidson Sarita Kundrod Alyssa Eberhardt Rachael Mills < Jason Regis Fredrick Komi Kouma Selomey Modji Shelbi L Giesel Ramya Palaniappan PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION & POLICY Emily Acers Beria (Rochell) Joseph Casey Rieck Kwame Akosah Anne Marie Keating Summer Robbins Andrew Alberth Madelyn Klabunde < Matthew Rundle Noof Alghamdi Yue Li Hannah Salen Rulau Alex Angie Lindstedt Arundhathi Sasikumar Jennifer Ballinger Mikala Lowe Madeline Schwartz Natassia Boening Melissa Mady Sohayla Shahsavand Hannah Brekke Emily Martin Gaybrielle Talsma Suyog (Seah) Buttar Malik Mitchell Shivani Thakker Kayla Chapman Vuong Nguyen Atticus Wolfe Jasmeen Chauhan Chukwudi Njoku Delaney Cole Alexander Peever Anusha Garimella Sarah Perez-Sanz < Heidi Glesmann Christi Perkinson Kristen Godwin Sang Phung Joseline Haizel - Cobbina Denise Quintanilla < < 2020 Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health Inductee 8 2020 COMMENCEMENT @UMNSPH @PUBLICHEALTHUMN @UMNSPH
2019-2020 Recipients of the
MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH (MPH)
(Continued)
PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION & POLICY EXECUTIVE PROGRAM
Erin Amundson Sarah Lemmage Esha Seth
Erin Appelt < Mallory Mahaffey Nicole Vegel
Aparesh Balla Titilayo Oluwabusi Megan Wren
Joanne Erspamer Kathleen Ronchi
Tim Fries < Paula Schewe
Rebekah Kroll Ashley Schneider
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION
Lucy Nicole Berman Coleton Joshua Dotson Hanson Rebecca Ann Naab
Somadee Cheam Grace M Heglund-Lohman Jessica O’Connell <
Yanyan Chen Madison Merry Holm Alexandra Pattee
Marianna Colucci Anne Janzen Allison Marie Rudnickas
Charlie Davis Samantha Jochum
Fatima Fagbenro Kristine Marie Mcintyre
PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE
Savannah Brooke Basham * Sasha Hulsey + Jessica Cheryl Mae Raines **
Nathan Blumenfeld * Scott Kibler Maria Mackenzie Regan
Auguste Brihn James Michael Kincheloe Gonzalez
Maria Bryan ^ Diana Ly ** Caroline Lee Sell ++
Hoa Ngoc Bui ** Julia Anne Mandsager Alice Hyeari Shin **
Loriann De Martini Komatsu ^ Rachel Somma *
Kristin Margit Dooley Allison Elizabeth Marsh Jennifer Stiles *
Ayah Fannoun Ledesma * Meghan Taylor
Asmaa Ferdjallah David Michael Marshall ^ Kim Thyda Uy ^
Ashley Renee Fike ** Tuesday McAuliffe Staehler ** Hannah Van Ochten **
Jennifer Ann Groetsch * Daniel Edward Mock ◆ Teagen Laikas Warrick **
Cristina Guimaraes ** Manju Nayar Janet M West
Abdifatah Aden Haji Tuyen Nguyen **
Michael Frederick Harrison Tatum Isabel Odland *
Erica Hartz * Sakulrat Pattamakaew
Susannah Haupt * Pei Yu Phua ◆
Michelle Holm Taylor Ann Picha **
< 2020 Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health Inductee
^ Candidate for dual-degree: Doctor of Medicine
* Candidate for dual degree: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
** Candidate for dual-degree: Doctor of Pharmacy
+ + Candidate for dual-degree: Juris Doctor
+ Candidate for dual-degree: Master of Public Policy
◆ Candidate for dual-degree: Master of Urban Planning
University of Minnesota School of Public Health 92019-2020 Recipients of the MASTER OF SCIENCE (MS) BIOSTATISTICS Yunxiang Bai Ajing Huang Zheng Wang Karl Brown Seonguk Jang Tianhua Wu Zachary Brown Matthew Kucera Jiemin Yang Wenhao Cao Jingxin Lei Weijie Zhang < Dillon Corrigan Jiawei (Jarvis) Liu Yuxin Guo Karan Shah Katrina Harper Torri Simon Xiang He Joe Swintek CLINICAL RESEARCH Taumoha Ghosh Byron Vaughn Chetan Shenoy Janewit Wongboonsin ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Yihua Bai Puleng Rose Moshele < Katherine Rose Harmelink Mason Kale Murdock Derek Pierce King Chantel Ranae Wang Amanda Josephine Kramer Jeffrey Wong HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, POLICY & ADMINISTRATION Christopher Frenier Xiaoyuan Jin Benjamin Nicla Dimpho Orionzi Tejaswini Phatak Anthony Tholkes < Thaddeus Unold Zhengtian Wu < 2020 Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health Inductee 10 2020 COMMENCEMENT @UMNSPH @PUBLICHEALTHUMN @UMNSPH
2019-2020 Recipients of the
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD)
BIOSTATISTICS Souvik Seal
Roland Brown Genome-Wide Association Inference and Herita-
bility Estimation with multiple traits and related
A Statistical Framework for Harnessing Human
individuals in large scale cohort studies
Activity Data to Understand Behavior, Health,
and Well-Being
Zhenxun Wang
Yangqing Deng Statistical Methods for Arm-based Bayesian
Network Meta-analysis
Genetic Testing with Conditional Analysis and
Summary Statistics
Yi Yang
Anne Eaton < Bayesian Hierarchical Models for Multi-SNP and
Multi-Trait Genome-Wide Association Studies
Non-parametric estimation of probability in
disease states, restricted mean time in disease
states, and mean cumulative marker process
Ales Kotalik ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Incorporation of Supplemental Data Into the Catherine Mary Babcanec
Design and Analysis of Randomized Trials Helping Homecare: Evaluating Injury Outcomes
in Homecare
Jun Young Park
Statistical Modeling and Inference for Melanie Firestone
Neuroimaging and Genomics Data Restaurants and Salmonella: Using surveillance
data to improve policy development for the
Jack Pattee enhancement of food safety
Leveraging summary statistics and integrative
analysis for prediction and inference in Ashley Hernandez
genome-wide association studies The Association Between Respirable Dust
with Ischemic Heart Disease and Chronic
Ross Peterson Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Mortality
Methods for validating the statistical power of Among Minnesota Taconite Workers
endpoints, participant compliance, and treat-
ment effects in clinical trials Christina Elaine Rosebush
Caring for our Caregivers: an Evaluation of the
Minnesota Safe Patient Handling Act
Joseph Lee Servadio
The burden of Yellow Fever in Brazil: Quantifying
disease severity and producing short-term
forecasts
< 2020 Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health Inductee
University of Minnesota School of Public Health 112019-2020 Recipients of the
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD)
(Continued)
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Aaron Berger Spruha Joshi
An Evaluation of the Effects of School Policies The Impact of Marijuana Legalization on Marijuana
on Child and Adolescent Health and and Alcohol Use and Traffic Fatalities
Health-Related Behavior
Steve Nguyen
Kimberly Bonner Physical Activity, Successful Aging, and Putative
What drives willingness to vaccinate and vaccina- Biomarkers of Aging
tion acceptance? Examining decision-making
for seasonal influenza vaccine in Minnesota Faye Norby
and a vaccine against an emerging pathogen
Atrial Fibrillation in Older Adults: Treatment and
in Uganda
Outcomes in Rural Versus Urban Areas, the
Relation to Proteomics, and the Development
Lama Ghazi of a Risk Prediction Model
Chronic Kidney Disease: Evaluating Area Level
Socioeconomic Characteristics, Individual Colleen Peterson
Characteristics, and Patterns of Care by
The Decision to Speed in the United States –
Census Tract in the Twin Cities Metro Area
A Mixed Methods Approach
HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, POLICY & ADMINISTRATION
Priyanka Desai Xuanzi Qin
Towards a Comprehensive Framework for Shared Generic Entry of Aromatase Inhibitors and Breast
Decision-making: Defining the Process and Cancer Treatment Decisions
Examining the Decision-making Preferences
of Millennial Women Laura Smith <
Essays on Health Care Accessibility
Tsan Yao Huang
Understanding Multi-product Health Insurance Viengneesee Thao
Marketplaces: An Advancement in Aggregated
Economic Model of Maternal Opioid Use
Demand Estimation Using Bayesian Statistics
Disorder: Projecting the Cost And Effect
of Treatment To Inform Value-based Care
Szu-Yu (Zoe) Kao and Policy
Treat your partners right: Implication of sexual
contact networks in partner management for Zhiyou Yang
sexually transmitted infections
The Effects of Medicaid Managed Care on
Long-Term Services and Supports for Seniors:
Colleen Longacre Empirical Evidence from Minnesota
Travel and Treatment among Breast Cancer
Patients: A Population-Based Study
< 2020 Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health Inductee
12 2020 COMMENCEMENT @UMNSPH @PUBLICHEALTHUMN @UMNSPH2019-2020 Recipients of the
CERTIFICATE IN PUBLIC HEALTH
APPLIED BIOSTATISTICS
Vu Huyn
CLINICAL RESEARCH
Katherine Harmelink
Zachary Maino
Anthony Parker
LeAnn Shore
GLOBAL HEALTH
Sheila Ugargol Keefe
Martha Trevey
University of Minnesota School of Public Health 13ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF
PUBLIC HEALTH
SCHOOL AT A GLANCE
Founded. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1944
Dean. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John R. Finnegan Jr., PhD
Ranking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 9 public health school, U.S. News & World Report
Divisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Biostatistics
Environmental Health Sciences
Epidemiology & Community Health
Health Policy & Management
Full-Time Faculty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Current students. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,360 from 48 different countries
Accreditation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Commission on Accreditation in Healthcare
Management Education (CAHME)
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and
Dietetics (ACEND)
Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
Alumni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,500+ living today
The School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota is home to numerous world-renowned
research and training centers. Working together, SPH faculty, staff and students are dedicated to
preventing disease, encouraging better health, and promoting the common good.
SPH faculty members are among the leading experts in public health today, regularly sought after by
national and international media to provide perspectives on some of the world’s most troubling public
health problems, such as infectious diseases, smoking, and obesity.
14 2020 COMMENCEMENT @UMNSPH @PUBLICHEALTHUMN @UMNSPHWHAT IS PUBLIC HEALTH?
Every time you drink clean tap water, buckle your seat belt, enjoy a smoke-free airplane flight, or get
a flu shot, you are part of public health in action. Public health helps us live longer, healthier lives. It’s
called “public” because it concentrates on health advances across populations, making sure every
person and every community has what they need for health and well-being. At its most basic, public
health is about prevention — stopping illnesses before they start — and about creating the right
conditions for people to thrive.
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL OF
PUBLIC HEALTH
The University of Minnesota was one of the first in the nation to offer classes in public health when
Charles Hewitt, the secretary of the Minnesota State Board of Health, began teaching personal
and community hygiene, epidemic diseases, and physiology in 1874. In the following decades,
various University departments created programs in public health disciplines, such as biostatistics,
environmental health, and epidemiology.
In 1944, the University brought all of these programs together to create the School of Public Health.
Today, our school — ranked #9 in the nation — serves more than 1,300 students to help meet the
increasing demand for a public health workforce. We were the first in the country to grant a master’s
degree in hospital administration, establish a doctoral program in epidemiology, launch a graduate
program in maternal and child health, and, in 2017, offer a graduate minor in sexual health.
The School of Public Health is proud to be one of the premier schools of public health in the world. Its
faculty, staff, and students bring innovative thinking and concrete action to emerging and persistent
challenges, including structural racism, gun violence, an expanding aging population, and a changing
climate. Located in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the U.S., it prepares some of the most
influential leaders in the field, and provides the knowledge health departments, communities, and
policymakers need to make the best decisions about population health.
University of Minnesota School of Public Health 15THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
TACKLES COVID-19
Public health is critical to confronting COVID-19 in Minnesota and beyond. During this pandemic, the
School of Public Health works side-by-side with the MN Department of Health, health systems, tribal
nations, policymakers, U of M colleagues, and others to generate solutions. Below are a few examples
of our school’s work at this unique time.
GUIDING WISE DECISION-MAKING
• Infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm (PhD ’80, MPH ’78, MS ’76) advises local, national,
and international policymakers
• Eva Enns and Shalini Kulasingam (with U of M colleagues) create mathematical models to help
guide Minnesota’s response to COVID-19
• Graduates Kris Ehresmann (MPH ’90), director of infectious disease for the Minnesota Department
of Health, and Minneapolis Health Commissioner Gretchen Musicant (MPH ’86) use their public
health education to lead during COVID-19 (52% of graduates stay in Minnesota to become part of the
public health workforce)
ADDRESSING ANXIETY AND UNCERTAINTY
Through daily insights in the news, national and local editorials, commentaries, and a new podcast
series, the school brings science-based information to a worried public
• Peter Raynor helps the public understand COVID-19 spread and ways to prevent transmission,
especially in workplaces
• Marizen Ramirez explores how at-risk children cope with stay-at-home restrictions and provides
guidance
PROTECTING ALL MINNESOTANS
• Jeff Bender works to protect farmers, farm workers, and farm families from coronavirus infection
• Alan Lifson (with U of M Extension) provides COVID-19 information to new immigrants
• Joseph Gaugler enhances safety for elders in care facilities
ADVANCING SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES
• Coordinating Centers for Biometric Research is involved in multiple studies evaluating treatments
for COVID-19
• Ruby Nguyen confronts the rise of domestic violence during the pandemic to help determine
appropriate services
• Ryan Demmer (PhD ’05, MPH ’01) conducts rapid research to identify how common the virus is in
asymptomatic health care workers
CRITICAL FUNDING IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER
Public health is critical to confronting COVID-19 in Minnesota and beyond. The medical system accounts
for only 10% of what keeps us healthy; 90% depends on prevention, public health, and other factors.
Yet, the U.S. spends approximately $11,000 per person on medical care and about $260 per person on
public health and prevention each year.
When you invest in SPH students, faculty, and life-altering research you become a part of the solution.
Help us lead through these uncertain times, discover life saving solutions and prepare our next genera-
tion of public health leaders. Join the movement toward a healthier future: sph.umn.edu/give.
16 2020 COMMENCEMENT @UMNSPH @PUBLICHEALTHUMN @UMNSPHCongratulations
Graduate!
The University of
FROM THE Minnesota Alumni
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Association proudly
AND
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
welcomes you to a
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION global community of
493,000+ alumni.
— UMNAlumni.org —
CONGRATULATIONS,
CLASS OF 2020!
Welcome to the University of Minnesota School of
Public Health Alumni Society! We are proud of your
achievements and welcome you to a community of
nearly 12,000 distinguished alumni worldwide.
STAY CONNECTED | GET INVOLVED | GIVE BACK
WEB sph.umn.edu/alumni @sphalumni
E-MAIL sph-alum@umn.edu z.umn.edu/sphlinkedin
@umnsphalumni
University of Minnesota School of Public Health 17PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS PLEDGE
As a public health professional
dedicated to enhancing the health status
and well-being of individuals and communities,
I pledge to hold the public interest
and health of populations
as my high professional goals.
MINNESOTA ROUSER
Minnesota, hats off to thee!
To thy colors true we shall ever be,
Firm and strong, united are we.
Rah, rah, rah for Ski-U-Mah
Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah!
Rah for the U of M.
[Repeat]
M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A!
Minnesota, Minnesota!
Yeah, Gophers!
Join the celebration
on Social #SPHGrad
18 2020 COMMENCEMENT @UMNSPH @PUBLICHEALTHUMN @UMNSPHTheUniversityofMinnesotaiscommittedtothepolicythatallpersonsshallhaveequalaccesstoitsprograms,facilities,and
employmentwithoutregardtorace,color,creed,religion,nationalorigin,sex,age,maritalstatus,disability,publicassistance
status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.
Thispublication/materialcanbemadeavailableinalternativeformatsforpeoplewithdisabilities.Directrequeststothe
School of Public Health, 612-624-6999.
University of Minnesota School of Public Health 1920 2020 COMMENCEMENT @UMNSPH @PUBLICHEALTHUMN @UMNSPH
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