2015 Annual Awards

COPH Faculty Research Award

Baojiang Chen, PhD

Dr. Baojiang Chen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biostatistics. Dr. Chen received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from Nankai University in China in 2002 and 2005, respectively. Afterwards, he moved to the University of Waterloo where he received his PhD in 2008. Dr. Chen was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Biostatistics at University of Washington in Seattle before he joined the Department of Biostatistics in 2010.

Dr. Chen’s current research interest focuses on both methodological development and statistical applications, such as Alzheimer’s disease studies, cancer studies.

Dr. Chen has been working on statistical methods and analyses for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC).  Dr. Chen’s research also contributes greatly to public health by examining characteristics of subgroups at greatest risk of progression to dementia.

College of Public Health Excellence in Teaching Award

Lorena Baccaglini, DDS, MS, PhD

Dr. Lorena Baccaglini is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology. She received her doctorate in epidemiology with a minor in biostatistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was selected to join the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health for outstanding performance. She also completed a clinical research fellowship at NIH and is a regular member of NIH Study Sections. Dr. Baccaglini has developed new courses in epidemiologic research, genetic epidemiology and NIH grant proposal development. Her 4-credit EPI845/CPH628 course for MPH and PhD students integrates epidemiologic methods and hands-on SAS/statistical analyses. After the course, MPH and PhD students chose to conduct one-on-one independent studies with her. Dr. Baccaglini encourages students to be vigilant of hidden bias and unsupported myths. She also encourages them to freely choose their preferred research areas.

Elizabeth Lyden, MS

Elizabeth (Liz) Lyden is an Instructor in the Department of Biostatistics.  She teaches BIOS 810/CPH 651: Introduction to SAS Programming both on line and on campus in Fall and Spring Semesters.  Liz serves on 2 to 3 MPH Capstone committees a year and in addition, provides SPSS and SAS consultation to students analyzing data for their Capstone.  Beyond COPH, she regularly provides individual consultation to students in the MS program in medical nutrition, the MSIA program and undergraduates participating in the SURP program.  In addition to working with students, Liz is involved with consultation, data analysis, and manuscript preparation for researchers on campus.   She works with a number of departments including Infectious Disease, Orthopedic Surgery, Anesthesiology, and Internal Medicine and in Allied Health, Medical Nutrition Education and Physical Therapy.  To date, she has 108 published or accepted manuscripts.  

Fred & Eve Simon Public Health “Impact” Prize

Armando De Alba Rosales, MD, MPH

Dr. Armando De Alba Rosales is an Instructor in the Department of Health Promotion, Social, and Behavioral Health. He received his medical degree from the Autonomous University of the State of Puebla, Mexico and is currently an active primary care physician in the State of Veracruz. Dr. De Alba received his Master’s degree in Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He was a national Health Disparities Fellow for the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Minority Health and worked at the Mexican Consulate as lead coordinator of the health care programs for the Mexican communities of Nebraska and Iowa. In 2014, he was appointed by the Mexican government to become the founder of the Nebraska/Iowa chapter of the Global Network of Qualified Mexicans Abroad; currently serves as Vice-President.

Brandon Grimm PhD, MPH

Dr. Brandon Grimm is the Director of the Office of Public Health Practice and Instructor in the Department of Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health.  He was the co-creator of the first ever public health leadership development program in the region and has been instrumental in its sustainability for the past ten years.  Dr. Grimm led the effort in securing funding to establish a Health Resources and Services Administration Public Health Training Center at the College of Public Health.

Dr. Grimm serves on numerous boards and committees including the Nebraska Community Health Worker Advisory Board, the Nebraska State Health Improvement Plan Implementation Committee, and the Region VII American Public Health Association Affiliate Committee. He is currently the president elect of the Public Health Association of Nebraska, President of the UNMC Chapter of Delta Omega, and is a past recipient of the Balderson Award from the National Public Health Leadership Development Network.

Carruth J. Wagner, MD, Scholarship in Public Health

Patrik Johansson, MD, MPH 

Dr. Patrik Johansson is the Director of the Rural Health Education Network and Associate Professor in the Department of Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health. A graduate of the UNMC College of Medicine and an internist by training, Dr. Johansson’s work lies in the intersection of research, policy, and public health practice with a focus on health disparities populations. He was an assistant professor at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, and the Department of Prevention and Community Health.  Dr. Johansson was an instructor of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School while completing a health disparities internship at the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health and fellowships at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. In addition he has served as a deputy chief medical officer at Greater Southeast Community Hospital. He has received a number of awards for his work with underserved communities, including the Harvard School of Public Health Albert Schweitzer Award and the Harvard Medical School Dean’s Community Service Award.  Dr. Johansson was appointed by President Barack Obama to the Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative Public Health. 

Carruth J. Wagner, MD, Scholarship in Public Health

Trisari Anggondowati
Doctoral student in Epidemiology

Trisari Anggondowati has had the opportunity to gain knowledge and work experience in cancer research. Cancer is actually a new field for her, as her previous work experience in Indonesia, her country of origin, was in maternal and child health. However, she is enthusiastically learned about cancer research, particularly lung cancer. As an international student, she has had exciting experiences studying abroad, in both academic and social life. She enjoys working in a new environment and the combination between administrative work and field work.

Sarah Aurit
Master of Public Health student in Biostatistics

Sarah Aurit was a Regents scholar and received a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  She worked for Black & Veatch as an engineering consultant in Kansas City, KS designing and assisting in the construction process of wastewater treatment plant components.  She has recently worked with Nebraska families and state legislators to advocate for and pass LB 254, a bill that provides for a specific form of treatment for children with significant gastrointestinal illness, which passed unanimously during the last week of the 2014 session. 

Aastha Chandak
Doctoral student in Health Services Research, Administration and Policy

Aastha Chandak has an undergraduate degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from India. She has worked as a graduate assistant in the Department of Health Services Research and Administration since she joined the program in Fall 2012. During this time, she has been involved in several faculty projects related to health care workforce, access to care, quality of care and outcomes research. During the last three years, she has published two policy briefs, two first-author manuscripts and co-authored three more manuscripts. She has also served as a teaching assistant for two courses where she was involved in curriculum design, preparing lecture materials and assignment grading, both in the in-class and online learning environments. Her research interests include access to care and technological innovations and her dissertation topic will focus on innovations in US hospitals.

Niodita Gupta
Doctoral student in Health Services Research, Administration and Policy

Niodita Gupta received her MD from Saratov State Medical University, Russia and her MPH in Health Policy and Management from University of Georgia. Niodita decided to pursue a career in public health after observing contrasts in the healthcare systems in India and Russia. Her research interests include maternal and child health, access to health care, improving health outcomes, quality improvement, and health disparities. After graduation, Niodita plans to pursue a career in research implementation and impact to improve access to health care and health outcomes in the US and globally.

Katelyn Jelden
Master of Public Health student in Environmental, Occupational, and Agricultural Health

Katelyn Jelden of Minden, Nebraska, graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with her degree in biological sciences. Katelyn works as Graduate Research Assistant for the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit and the Department of Environmental, Occupational, and Agricultural Health. Her research interests include environmental infection control, highly infectious patient care, outbreak response, and emergency and bioterrorism preparedness. Katelyn is involved in Bridge to Care, a UNMC refugee health project; the College of Public Health Student Response Team; UNMC Student Senate; UNMC Interprofessional Society; and the College of Public Health Student Association.

Molly McCarthy
Doctoral student in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research

Molly McCarthy earned her Master of Public Health from the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Anthropology from University of Nebraska Omaha. Molly’s decision to pursue an MPH and PhD in Public Health was inspired by an undergraduate anthropology class that focused on health disparities. Her areas of research interest include sexual and reproductive health, particularly family planning policy. Molly is looking forward to presenting at the 2015 Psychosocial Workshop prior to the Population Association of America annual conference in April.

Kate Rieke
Doctoral student in Epidemiology

Kate Rieke received her MA in counseling psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology and her MPH with a concentration in epidemiology from Loyola University Chicago before coming to UNMC. Her research interests focus on the psychological and social epidemiologic factors that influence morbidity and mortality associated with chronic illnesses. Her dissertation work surrounds the psychological aspects of head and neck cancer, specifically the role of depression in head and neck cancer diagnosis and treatment outcomes.

Raees Shaikh
Doctoral student in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research

Raees Shaikh has worked as a graduate assistant for the Service Learning Academy and as a teaching assistant for the applied research methods course. He is currently working as a research coordinator for an NIH funded research project examining effects of point of sale tobacco marketing on smoking cessation.  He is registered medical practitioner in India and has worked as a physician before coming to the US for his graduate education. He earned an MPH degree from the Missouri State University. He served as the doctoral student representative on the COPH Curriculum Committee and Evaluation Committee.

He Zhu
Doctoral student in Health Services Research, Administration and Policy

He Zhu received a bachelor’s degree of Economics and a master’s degree of Management (Social Policy Concentration) from Beijing Normal University. Her research interests are health economics, health services research and traffic safety.

Chancellor Robert D. Sparks, MD, Pre-professional/Undergraduate Student Scholarship in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Mariah Rakestraw
University of Nebraska Omaha, Biology

Mariah Rakestraw is a 2013 graduate of Blair High School in Blair, Nebraska. At the University of Nebraska Omaha, she has assisted in research related to aquatic toxicology. Mariah plans on pursuing research in environmental health. She has a passion for animals and has volunteered at the Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium for 10 years.

Chancellor Robert D. Sparks, MD, Public Health Student Research Award

Aastha Chandak
Doctoral student in Health Services Research, Administration and Policy

Aastha Chandak has an undergraduate degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from India. She has worked as a graduate assistant in the Department of Health Services Research and Administration since she joined the program in Fall 2012. During this time, she has been involved in several faculty projects related to health care workforce, access to care, quality of care and outcomes research. During the last three years, she has published two policy briefs, two first-author manuscripts and co-authored three more manuscripts. She has also served as a teaching assistant for two courses where she was involved in curriculum design, preparing lecture materials and assignment grading, both in the in-class and online learning environments. Her research interests include access to care and technological innovations and her dissertation topic will focus on innovations in US hospitals.

Chancellor Harold & Beverly Maurer “Excellence and Promise” Prize

Shane Wurdeman, PhD, MSPO, CP, FAAOP

Dr. Shane Wurdeman obtained his doctoral degree from the College of Public Health in Occupational Health-Biomechanics. During this time, he worked as a graduate research assistant at the University of Nebraska Omaha Biomechanics Research Building. His dissertation work focused on the effects of amputee rehabilitation on stride-to-stride fluctuations, culminating in 4 published manuscripts and another in review. In total, his dissertation and research efforts throughout his 4 years of doctoral studies resulted in currently 11 published manuscripts, all as first author. In this same time frame he presented 50 abstracts, mentored young graduate and undergraduate students, and taught the graduate biomechanics course series at UNO. He has written federal grants to government entities including the NIH, NIDRR, VA, and DOD.

Patte L. Martin Scholarship

Katelyn Jelden

Master of Public Health student in Environmental, Occupational, and Agricultural Health

Katelyn Jelden of Minden, Nebraska, graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with her degree in biological sciences. Katelyn works as Graduate Research Assistant for the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit and the Department of Environmental, Occupational, and Agricultural Health. Her research interests include environmental infection control, highly infectious patient care, outbreak response, and emergency and bioterrorism preparedness. Katelyn is involved in Bridge to Care, a UNMC refugee health project; the College of Public Health Student Response Team; UNMC Student Senate; UNMC Interprofessional Society; and the College of Public Health Student Association.

College of Public Health Alumni Association Spirit of Service Award

Michele Kassmeier

Michele Kassmeier is a Program Coordinator/Communications Specialist with the Center for Preparedness Education. Ms. Kassmeier is involved with the planning and development of several educational programs PrepEd offers. Ms. Kassmeier received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry with minors in Spanish, Math, and Chemistry from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She received her Master of Public Health degree, concentrating in Epidemiology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. 

Ms. Kassmeier served as a Student Association officer and serves on the College of Public Health Alumni Association Board. Through the various opportunities, she has been able to continue to enjoy serving and helping people. She currently resides in Omaha, Nebraska where she grew up, and enjoys playing volleyball, indoor or (weather permitting) sand. In the fall of 2015, she will begin school to become a Physician Assistant.

Chancellor Robert D. Sparks, MD, Award in Public Health and Preventive Medicine

Patricia Lopez, RN, MSN

Pat works with local health departments to assist them in preparing for national public health accreditation. For the past seven years this project has taken Pat to National meetings to work with peers in other states. Pat is currently a Site Visitor for the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) for local health departments in other states.

Pat was instrumental in the passage of LB692, the bill that created regional public health departments in Nebraska. Her work with the state legislature, community partners, primary care, education, and others made it possible for so many to agree on the importance of establishing a state wide local public health system with the funding from the Master Tobacco Settlement Dollars in 2001. The local public health districts cover all 93 counties of the state to assure the public health of all Nebraskans.

Pat played a major role in assisting these new health departments with examples of state and local laws, policies and procedures, human resource information and others. Still today, Pat volunteers as the Director of PHAN’s State Association of Local Boards of Health (SALBOH) Section and provides education and assistance to Board of Health members on regularly scheduled conference calls, annual meetings and one-on one dialog. Since their establishment, Ms. Lopez has focused her energy on assuring these departments and their staff are successful and continues to advocate on their behalf.

Delta Omega Inductees