Season's Greetings

A Message from the Dean

Season's Greetings!

As I reflect on the past year, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and respect for our JCPH family. I feel immensely proud of the perseverance, diligence, and commitment to the mission of JCPH

demonstrated by our students and staff.

In the spirit of this season, I am really touched by the work of our MPH students and program director, Dr. Rosie Frasso in actively putting their public health education into practice:

A team of MPH students worked closely with a local high school to create a team of student COVID ambassadors which resulted in an increase of vaccinations administered.
MPH student and TJU employee Rose Milano, a certified mental health trainer, helped to facilitate a Mental Health First Aid training for JCPH. This is a very timely and impactful program of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
The leadership of MPH student Sarah Modlin, along with steady donations, has led to an increase and variety of products available at the Ramily Market on the center city campus. The market is an essential service for students experiencing food insecurity.

As our nation continues to tackle the pandemic, I am keenly aware of the challenges affecting our Jefferson community. I am also impressed with the collective humanity that I see. I feel confident knowing that JCPH will continue be at the forefront of delivering high quality educational programs. The work we do is crucial to strengthening the workforce for a healthier future.

Moving ahead to 2022, we'll be offering a number opportunities to learn more about JCPH through our Information Sessions and Open Houses. We will continue to offer our flagship professional development programs such as the Population Health Academy & Operational Excellence Bootcamp.

I look forward to seeing you and hearing from you. I wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday and fabulous New Year!

Sincerely,

Willie H. Oglesby, PhD, MBA, MSPH, FRSPH, FACHE

Interim Dean

Jefferson College of Population Health

Student & Alumni Spotlight

Shannon Mace, JD, MPH graduated from the MPH program in 2010 and Widener University School of Law in 2011. She is currently Senior Advisor at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing where she leads several initiatives funded by the CDC centered on improving care and outcomes for people who use drugs and people with substance use disorders. Shannon is a co-founder of Health Education and Legal Assistance Project: A Medical-Legal Partnership at Widener University Delaware Law School (HELP: MLP) where she assists in implementing cross-sector collaborations in the Philadelphia area that integrate civil legal aid attorneys into public health programs to reduce disparities in health outcomes.

Shannon and her team recently produced a rescource guide, Telehealth and Techology-assisted Services for People Who Use Drugs. "The COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic uptake of telehealth and technology-assisted services among providers who care for people who use drugs and people with substance use disorders. While the use of technology to deliver care undoubtedly has its benefits, challenges persist, particularly related to ensuring equitable access to care" explains Shannon.

Rebekah McCurdy, MD, MPH, PhD, FACOG, successfully defended her PhD dissertation in Population Health Sciences, "Implementation of a Screening Guideline For Multidisciplinary Care of Pregnant Women with Underlying Cardiac Disease in an Urban Academic Healthcare System." Dr. McCurdy, who is also a graduate of our MPH program, reflects on her experience, "I have immensely enjoyed to be a part of the Population Health community here at TJU. The faculty and students are a dedicated group with varied perspectives and research interests, and I found a home among them. The population health perspective has profoundly influenced how I practice clinical medicine."

Bahram Pashaee, is a student in the accelerated pathway of the MPH progam. Bahram explains, "I currently serve as the President of the JeffSAPHE club; a student-led organization aimed at promoting public health initiatives by incorporating volunteer programs and events for the students. Working with JeffSAPHE has been so much fun for me, and I enjoy getting involved with the campus and working alongside other very motivated students." Read more about Bahram.

TJU Faculty Awards

Amy Henderson Riley, DrPH, MCHES (3rd from left) was recognized with the Award for Outstanding Teaching. Dr. Riley is an assistant professor in our public health program who specializes in entertainment education.

Karen Walsh, DHSc, MBA, MS

(3rd from left) was recognized with the Award for Mentoring. Dr. Walsh is the Program Director for Health Data Science, & Assistant Director for the Health Economics & Outcomes Research Fellowship progam.

Jean Wallace, PhD, MPH

(center) was recognized with the Outstanding Adjunct Teaching Award. Dr. Wallace is a lecturer in our public health program where she teaches program planning, implementation, & evaluation.

In the News

Sharon Larson, PhD has been appointed to the new role of Associate Dean for Research at JCPH. She will serve in this capacity while maintaining her leadership of the Main Line Health Center for Population Health Research, at Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR).

Dennis Delisle, ScD, FACHE, and Shane Flickinger, MHA, FACHE, CLSSBB were recognized by the American Society of Quality (ASQ) as Rising Stars Under 40. Dennis is Assistant Program Director in our Operational Excellence Program and Shane is a lecturer. Both teach in the upcoming Operational Excellence Bootcamp.

Cierrah Doran, MPH '20 and team received a first place award for their poster, "Learning Across Borders: CES and SKMC Virtual Education Exchange Program" at Global Jefferson Day.

Andrew Kopolow, MPA, MSW, CPQH, PMP, CLSSMBB became a National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) Fellow. The NAHQ Fellowship program recognizes members who have made outstanding contributions to the healthcare quality profession. Andrew is a lecturer at JCPH with expertise in operational excellence, CQI, and change management. View the NAHQ 2021 Award Ceremony.