The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute kicked off its fourth class of Scholars in September. The class includes 13 Nebraskans and seven Iowans.
The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute is designed for senior and emerging leaders in public and private organizations whose primary mission is to improve the health and well being of populations and communities in our region.
In addition, the institute aims to increase the value of public health within these communities through greater leadership in action. Since 2005, the Institute has trained 49 Scholars in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota.
The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute is one of 14 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded public health leadership institutes. Every state but one in the United States is covered by a Public Health Leadership Institute.
“Having competent leaders in public health is essential to advocate, protect and promote the mission of public health,” said Magda Peck, Sc.D., director of the institute and a UNMC professor of pediatrics and public health. “The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute is serving as a catalyst for better public health practice in our region.”
The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute Scholars in the Class of 2008-2009 are:
- Lisa Bloss, Southeast District Health Department, Auburn
- Margaret Brink, Four Corners District Health Department Board of Health, York
- Holly Dingman, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Lincoln
- Amy Elwood, Two Rivers Public Health Department, Holdrege
- Christine Funk, Planned Parenthood of Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Lincoln
- Lina Lander, University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health, Omaha
- Lynette Larsen, Loup Basin Public Health Department, Burwell
- Catherine Lillehoj, Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines, Iowa
- Andrea Mason, Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department, Lincoln
- Laura McDougall, Four Corners District Health Department, York
- Lindsay Miller, Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines
- June Ryan, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Lincoln
- Jennifer Severe-Oforah, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Lincoln
- Rene Tiedt, Nebraksa Department of Health and Human Services, Lincoln
- Gina Uhing, Elkhorn Logan Valley County Health Department, Wisner
- Polly Carver-Kimm, Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines
- Elizabeth Faber, Hancock County Iowa Public Health, Garner, Iowa
- Becky Simer, Visiting Nurse Services of Des Moines, Des Moines
- Karen Sullivan, Visiting Nurse Services of Des Moines, Des Moines
- Sarah Taylor, Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines
The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute is an initiative of the Nebraska Educational Alliance for Public Health Impact (NEAPHI). It is supported in part by funding from the Upper Midwest Public Health Training Center and the Upper Midwest Center for Public Health Preparedness at the University of Iowa, Nebraska Health and Human Services System, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additional in-kind support comes from UNMC, CityMatCH and other NEAPHI member organizations.
The application deadline for the 2009-2010 year is June 1, 2009. For more information contact Brandon Grimm, coordinator of The Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute at (402) 561-7562, or visit www.greatplainsleadership.org.