Dr. Sundée Winder has over fourteen years of experience that includes emergency preparedness and response, community partnership building, policy development, research, and accreditation. She serves as the Executive Director of Public Health Preparedness within the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health. Previously, she served as the Deputy Director. Prior to these roles, she served as the lead for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response in Louisiana, Region 1. She was responsible for assessing, planning, responding, and recovering from natural disasters (hurricanes, floods, tornados, etc.), accidental and/or intentional releases of infectious agents, hazardous chemicals, and/or nuclear substances. Dr. Winder’s works have included plan development, exercise planning and implementation, staff training and responses to: Hurricane Gustav, H1N1 Pandemic, Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Mississippi River Flooding, Hurricane Isaac, Ebola, 2016 Flood, Hurricane Barry, COVID-19 Pandemic, Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Delta, Hurricane Zeta, 2021 Winter Weather Event, Hurricane Ida, and Monkeypox. She has extensive knowledge of the resources and capabilities of governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Winder earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana, Master of Science in Public Health from Tulane University, and doctorate in Science and Mathematics Education from Southern University and A&M College.

Welcome to the Region 6 South Central Public Health Training Center team, Dr. Winder!

November is National Native American Heritage Month.

This month commemorates the history, heritage, and culture of Native Americans and Alaskan Natives. The vast achievements of America’s original indigenous people are acknowledged and celebrated during November. 

Learn more about National Native American Heritage Month by visiting the resources below.

Last month, the Oklahoma Public Health Association (OPHA) hosted their annual meeting in conjunction with the Oklahoma Turning Point Council during the Oklahoma Partners in Public Health Conference. During this meeting, a new board was announced, and Emilia Hart moved into the Immediate Past-President Position.

OPHA would like to congratulate their new officers! 

• Dr. DJ McMaughan, President
• Dr. Tracy Freudenthaler, President-Elect
• Kimberly Kripps, Secretary
• Melissa Griego-Kastner, Member-at-Large
• Mareyba Fawad, Conference Planning
• McKenzie Cowlbeck, Public Health Policy

OPHA also sincerely appreciates the board members who are continuing their service:

• Kamisha Busby, Treasurer
• Yanet Trejo, ARGC Representative
• Chris North, Section/Caucus Representative

This upcoming year, OPHA is excited to focus on Oklahoma's public health policy efforts, as well as assisting Region 6 Public Health Training Center and Oklahoma Public Health Training Center on the development of the Public Health Leadership Institute.

Inspector Marcus Costonis

Health Inspector Marcus Costonis is a Tulane Learning Management System power user. With over 100 contact hours earned and 50+ trainings completed, we wanted to discover what keeps bringing the Inspector back to the Tulane LMS.

How did you hear about the Tulane Learning Management System?

I heard of the Tulane Learning Management System through a colleague from the World Health Organization (WHO). I was looking for user-friendly, content-based courses with knowledgeable subject-matter experts. My WHO colleague referred me to the Tulane Learning Management System website; I browsed the available trainings and signed up for an account.

What’s the best thing about the trainings on the Tulane LMS?

Being a boots on the ground inspector/responder, I have found your courses to be excellent references. The course content is very engaging and detailed. Also, I find it very useful to be able to take trainings at my convenience. My favorite trainings are related to hazardous materials and biological weapons.

How have the trainings been beneficial to you?

The trainings hosted on the Tulane Learning Management System have allowed me to continue my education at no cost. Taking the courses have enhances my skills and knowledge in several topics areas from leadership development to first responder preparedness . Thank you Region 6 South Central Public Health Training Center and Tulane LMS team for these wonderful resources.

Thank you for being our first Tulane LMS Learner of the Month, Inspector Marcus Costonis!

The Oklahoma Dementia Care Network (OkDCN) welcomes CHWs/CHRs from Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Arkansas to join CHWs/CHRs from Oklahoma at our online Dementia Training for CHWs/CHRs on November 17 & 18, 2022. This 7-hour, free training will provide basic information on dementia, review how CHWs/CHRs can address dementia based on the C3 Project’s CHW core roles, provide information on resources for CHWs, and conduct a training evaluation.

For more info, please see the flyer and/or click here to register. We look forward to seeing you! 

The Region 6 South Central Public Health Training Center will be closed on Thursday, November 24th and Friday, November 25th in observance of Thanksgiving.

Technical support for the Tulane PACE Learning Management System will be limited during this time. If you require assistance, please email [email protected]

We wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Course Spotlight: Food Protection

Course Description:

This course contains six modules discussing the fundamental principles of food protection, the application of rules and regulations, food safety management systems, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), plan review, integrated pest management and employee training.

Learning Objectives:

• Review principles of microbiological growth & survival
• Give examples of chemical, physical, and biological hazards found in food
• Discuss control measures used at retail to prevent bacterial, viral, and protozoan food borne illness
• Identify possible hazards associated with various foods and food preparation practices in retail and food service operations
• Identify control measures available to prevent, reduce, or eliminate the hazards 
• Apply the “process approach” to HACCP in these operations to ensure that safe food handling and holding practices are in place to reduce the occurrence of foodborne illness risk factors 
• Identify appropriate techniques and methods for applying HACCP principles to inspections
• Identify intervention strategies for controlling risk factors and offer recommendations to operators for immediate and long-term correction 

For more information about this training,

please click here.

Featured Course Bundle:

Tribal Behavioral Health



Bundle Description:

The Tribal Behavioral Health curriculum is designed to provide general guidance and understanding to increase the knowledge of behavioral health in the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) population and among tribal health departments, including issues and challenges and organizations seeking to improve AI/AN behavioral health. 

Bundle Courses:

• Tribal Behavioral Health 101: Overview of American Indian/Alaska Native Behavioral Health 

• Tribal Behavioral Health 102: Health Issues for American Indian/Alaska Native Men 

• Tribal Behavioral Health 103: The Opioid Epidemic and American Indian/Alaska Native Communities 

• Tribal Behavioral Health 104: Culture is Prevention! 

For more information about this course bundle, please click here.