Kendra Baldridge, BA KDHE

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1 Kendra Baldridge, BA KDHE Personal, Educational, and Work History My name is Kendra Baldridge. I recently noticed that my career journey is a true path instead of just random job-hopping. My first significant employment that I held that greatly influenced my life was my time as a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador in During this time I developed my passion for the Latino population and culture, as well as a passion for public health, although I did not know that is what it was called at the time. The most time-consuming and fulfilling portion of my work in El Salvador was working alongside a health promoter. We would walk the countryside and talk with families about health issues. And the issues were many: vaccines, breastfeeding, pregnancy, emergency care, family planning, nutrition, chronic disease, health care access, as well as others. From that health promoter, I learned how to speak with individuals about health issues on their level without making them feel that I was talking down to them just because I had access to more information. And I learned how the health of one individual can potentially affect many others in their family and community. I also learned from members of a community in El Salvador how one person can start a change by being a leader and a positive influence on those around him or her. And that person does not need a title to be a leader. Kendra Baldridge Regional Case Manager KDHE 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 340 Topeka, KS Phone: 785/ kbaldridge@kdheks.gov Upon returning to the United States, I continued working in positions to develop my Spanish as well as my passion for the community at a couple of different non-profit organizations in the area. It was when I accepted my current job that public health became intertwined with my passion for the Latino population again. I am now a Regional Case Manager for the Kansas Statewide Farmworker Health Program at KDHE. In this position, I help an underserved population receive access to health care. I work with health providers throughout the state to assure that migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families receive the health care that they need. Leadership Positions/Training/Certificates

2 My leadership role is increasing in my current position. I was naturally starting to take some leadership responsibilities and my supervisor is giving me more responsibility with our program staff, providers, and grants. I plan to stay at KDHE long-term and hope for the leadership roles and my responsibilities to increase as time passes. I am a certified master trainer in the Spanish version of the Chronic Disease Self Management Program. I also have received training in Medical and Social Service Interpreting. I have attending various conferences with focuses on public health, agriculture workers, and health disparities. I am also a graduate of the Kansas Core Public Health Program. Statement of Interest I am interested in public health as a field, and that interest is increasing as I learn more about what various public health agencies do throughout the state, country, and world. It is good to have a name for something that I have been interested and involved in off and on for the past ten years, and now on a daily basis. I look forward to learning more about leadership within the public health sector and learning from other professionals in the field. The Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute will put me in a good place for me to increase that knowledge and learn from others around me.

3 Ginny Barnard, MH K-State Research and Extension ersonal, Education and Work History PMy name is Virginia Barnard, but my friends and family call me Ginny. I grew up near Paola, Kansas with my parents and two younger sisters. One of our favorite family activities was volkswalks, noncompetitive walking events that we did one or two times each month. I think this got me started down the public health path. After high school, I attended Kansas State University and received my bachelor s and master s degree in public health with an emphasis in nutrition. In October 2006, I began working as the Riley County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences. My main areas of expertise are: health, nutrition, food safety, and physical activity. Program emphasis is placed on: Healthy lifestyles for all ages and abilities of the lifespan Providing nutrition information and improving food preparation skills Encouraging families to eat meals together and be physically active Teaching safe food handling techniques Promoting disease prevention Currently, I live in Manhattan, KS, with my husband, Jim, and our three daughters, ages 6, 3, and 5 months. Leadership Positions/Training/Certificates In college and as a young professional, I have taken on many different leadership roles. I was a member of the K-State Rotaract Club, a service-based organization, and was elected president in 2001 and the district representative in Between my undergraduate and graduate studies, I worked as a research assistant on a study to better understand the attitudes and barriers of food stamp-eligible older adults receiving food assistance. Through this work, I developed an interest in poverty/hunger issues and soon began coordinating activities to promote World Food Day. I was selected to attend a national conference in 2006 Universities Fighting Hunger hosted by Auburn University.

4 Currently, I am serving on the state committee to promote Family Day, a national movement that informs parents that frequent family dinners are an effective tool to help keep their kids substance-free. I am also a member of the American Public Health Association. Statement of Interest As a highly-motivated and creative individual, I enjoy the challenge of communicating information to all ages of the life span. K-State Research and Extension has inspired me with their strong commitment to improving the health of communities and families through research-based education. I would like to expand my leadership skills in public health because I believe I can make a significant contribution to improving the health of Kansans. Alex Blecha, BS KDHE

5 P ersonal, Educational, and Work History I have lived in Kansas all my life. My parents both instilled in me the ideas that the Earth is a limited resource and must be protected. I remember my father purchasing insulation to make our house more efficient. He once brought home a solar heating panel so that he could work with renewable energy. Gardening was always a big thing for my family. The satisfaction of eating our own food was the greatest reward. My parent s ethics helped me to choose a profession that protects the natural environment and allows humans to properly use nature s resources. I went to Kansas State University and graduated with a Bachelor s degree in Park Management and Conservation. I had intended to become a park ranger with the State of Kansas, with an eventual plan of working of the National Park Service. That changed when I saw an opening with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) in the area of environmental compliance. During high school, I worked for the dairy farmer down the road. I learned what it takes to plant and harvest crops, how to properly take care of cattle from birth into adulthood, and how much work it takes to produce a quality product for the public. I witnessed how the cycle of nutrients and water worked on a daily basis. At K-State, I also worked at their dairy farm. The larger operation showed me the challenges that proper waste management can pose. This experience and education lead to me to the KDHE. I was able to see the issues that confront those that produce our food, and at the same time protect our environment. Working with those in the food production industry, I have been able to help protect our resources and assure that they are available for appropriate use. To help further my passion for environmental protection, I applied for and was accepted to Wichita State University for the Master s in Earth, Environmental and Physical Sciences. I plan to graduate in May 2012 and will use my degree to better help the citizens of Kansas. My wife and I live in Wichita. Both of us are working on furthering our education. She plans to complete her Bachelor s degree in Criminal Justice in May We

6 both enjoy gardening in our backyard and attracting birds and insects to the feeders and flower garden. Leadership Positions/Training/Certificates At K-State dairy, I was a supervisor that shared responsibility over 25+ student employees. I have attended EPA Basic Inspector training and have attended the EPA Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) roundtable. During my time in the area of park management I obtained certification as a Certified Interpretive Guide and passed the test to become a member of the National Recreation and Parks Association. Statement of Interest I was born in Kansas and have lived here all my life. I have been able to experience the many different types of ecosystems that our great state has to offer. I have lived in Belleville where the area is filled with rolling hills and trees in the bottom lands. I have lived in Wichita with areas of sand bordered by trees and fertile land. I have lived in Manhattan with areas that are arguably forests. Also, all the way out West in Ulysses where trees only grow if watered and grass is the dominant form of life. All the areas of Kansas have one thing in common: water. Water is life and protecting the water not only protects nature, but it is integral to human health. No society can prosper without clean and abundant water. Clean water is necessary to feed the world and to continue the advances that have allowed mankind to double our life expectancy in the last century. It is my passion to protect the State s resources so that they are available for use now and in the future.

7 Carrie Boettcher, BS, MS Lyon County Health Department P ersonal, Educational, and Work History My name is Carrie Boettcher. I am an Emporia, KS, native and have spent most of my professional career right here in my hometown. During my undergraduate days at Emporia State University, I developed an overarching interest in helping people. I am fascinated with human processes and development, which is why a Bachelor of Science in Sociology was a natural fit for me. To further my skill development and refine my subject of expertise, I chose to pursue graduate education and was accepted to the Rehabilitation Counseling program at ESU. Since graduation with my Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling, I have spent almost 15 years in the field of helping people. My vocational interests are diverse, and I have had the opportunity to be a part of a vast array of direct service experiences throughout my career. It has been my pleasure to work directly with individuals within rehabilitation settings such as vocational rehabilitation, juvenile community corrections, benefits counseling, independent living, and, most recently, in the capacity of public health emergency preparedness as a regional coordinator for an eight-county public health region. Carrie Boettcher Emergency Preparedness Coordinator/Regional Coordinator Lyon County Health Department 420 W 15 th Ave. Emporia, KS Phone: 620/ cboettcher@flinthillshealth.org Leadership Positions/Training/Certificates I have strived to include leadership opportunities in my professional and personal experiences. My professional experience includes leadership positions such as Manager for the South Central Kansas Rehabilitation Services Region as well as a Director of Community Outreach in independent living. Rehabilitation Counseling is a diverse field and requires leadership skills, initiative, and advocacy regardless of the position title held by an individual. In my personal time I have served as Chair and Vice Chair for the Accessibility Advisory Committee for the City of Emporia, provided support and assistance to multiple organizations as a Board of Directors member, and Co- Chaired Disability Mentoring Day activities in Emporia for four years. I am a graduate of the Kansas Core Public Health Program and hold counseling credentials as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.

8 Statement of Interest I am always interested in developing my leadership skills and abilities and would like to participate in the next cycle of the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute. I believe public health crosses multiple fields, and I am interested in continuing the opportunity to merge my background and experience with my current capacity focus of emergency preparedness by learning more about the crisis and response efforts of mental health teams in Kansas. I look forward to the opportunity to network with my public health peers across Kansas. Bryan Brady, BS First Care Clinic, Inc. P ersonal, Educational, and Work History My name is Bryan Brady. I was born in a small town in southwest Kansas: Johnson, KS. I grew up in an agricultural family and worked for my family until I graduated from high school and went off to college. My first two years of college were spent at Neosho County Community College, where I received a scholarship to play collegiate golf. After these two years, I transferred to Emporia State University to major in business. I eventually decided to major in accounting. While attending ESU, I received my first taste of public health. I was hired to assist a grant writing company that wrote grants for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). These organizations have been my passion ever since. I graduated from ESU in December 2004 with a degree in accounting. Shortly after graduating, I

9 moved to Springfield, MO, to work for BKD, LLP, a public accounting firm that specialized in FQHCs. During my four years at BKD, LLP, I traveled from coast to coast and worked with hundreds of FQHCs. When my wife and I decided to start a family, we discovered that my travels were just too much. We decided to move back to Kansas, and I took a job with the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved, the organization that represents the 40-plus safety net clinics in the state. In this role I was charged with providing technical assistance to the entire membership. I worked there for a year, when the CEO position for First Care Clinic in Hays, KS, became available. I was hired for the position in October I continue to serve as the CEO of the organization, which last year served over 5,000 patients. Recently I have been elected to the Board of Directors of the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved (KAMU) and also serve on the legislative committee. Any free time is spent with my wife and two kids or hunting and golfing. Leadership Positions/Training/Certificates I have held two leadership positions in my career. The first is the position at KAMU as the Chief Resource Officer for the organization. I was responsible for all technical assistance to member clinics along with maintenance of the CEO/CFO network. In my current role as CEO of First Care Clinic, I am responsible for working closely with the Board of Directors to further the organization while fulfilling our mission. Statement of Interest I am extremely interested in the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute because of the chance to integrate more public health into the leadership of the First Care Clinic. Certain areas that interest me are the vulnerable populations not being served by mainstream health care and the unique challenges they present to public health.

10 Molly Brown, BA Wichita State University Molly Brown Senior Administrative Assistant Wichita State University 1845 Fairmount Wichita, KS Phone: 316/ M y name is Molly Brown and I was born in Eureka, Kansas. Growing up in a small, Midwest town, I had the urge to move to a big city at a young age. In high school, we moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and after graduation, I received my EMT license. I worked in a trauma emergency room for many years; however, in 2000, I had an opportunity to own a small business and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. The business had to close following the events of September 11. I took advantage of this negative situation and enrolled in school at UNLV. I had planned on studying nursing, but met someone who turned me on to art. I decided to finish my degree in art history. It was through this discipline that I found my passion for HIV prevention and research: I studied Aids Activist Art of the 80 s and 90 s, and in order for me to fully understand the politics of this genre of art, I had to understand the disease. During this time, I began working for the Wellness Promotion department on campus. I worked with young students, and we developed on-campus programs for events like Alcohol Awareness Week and Sexual Responsibility. I was also the co-advisor for the student organization Healthy Rebels, which works to promote healthy lifestyles through peer-to-peer events. The most significant achievement, however, involves HIV. Working with the Southern Nevada Health Department, I assisted in bringing free rapid HIV testing (oral swab) to the Student Wellness Center. It was a collaboration between three departments and involved heavy planning and research. We had to develop a creative way to maintain confidentiality during testing. On September 4, 2007, we launched the monthly program. Out of 16 patients, one tested positive, and we were able to link that person to counseling and medical referral. Statement of Interest I am currently a Master of Public Health student at KUSM-Wichita. I believe my experience at the Kansas Public Health Institute Leadership will enhance the leadership skills I developed at UNLV and contribute tremendously to my studies. I am excited at the opportunity to share my newly acquired public health experiences with peers on the community. I also

11 believe the leadership skills learned would improve my research on HIV in Kansas and help me share that knowledge with the community.

12 Susan Dickman, MPM KDHE Susan Dickman KS-EDSS Coordinator KDHE 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 210 Topeka, KS 6612 Phone: 785/ P ersonal, Educational, and Work History I was born in Nuremburg, Germany, the second daughter of a career military man. For years, I have in one way or another been interested in public health, usually by volunteering at various public health events. Having moved multiple times during my father s career, I was always interested in the community around me, whether it was in various German towns or bases, or in Florida, Oklahoma, or Kansas. My father retired in Junction City, KS, so I have always considered Kansas to be my home state. I graduated from Junction City High School, but because of raising my family, it took me quite a few years to reach my educational goals. I have just finished my Masters in Information Technology with a specialization in Project Management. My family moved to Colorado in 1991 and returned to Kansas in 2007 to be closer to our families. In December 2007, I found a temp position with the Kansas Immunization Registry s Help Desk. In February 2008, my position became a full-time position helping the providers throughout the state of Kansas who use the Kansas Immunization Registry (KSWebIZ) on a daily basis. Working with the providers who access the Immunization Registry gave me a new insight into public health. It was gratifying to see how much the providers care about their patients and the work that local health departments did to ensure that their communities were safe. I was promoted to Registry Trainer in 2009, which gave me the opportunity to travel the state of Kansas bringing the Immunization Registry to not only health departments, but to private providers around the state. During my work with KSWebIZ, director Sue Bowden asked me to take on the added responsibility of working with local health departments with regards to ARRA money that was to be used for varicella vaccine, helping them disperse the funds through vaccination clinics and promoting the vaccine. I now work as the KS-EDSS Coordinator in the capacity of assisting local health departments access the Electronic Disease Surveillance System. This has given me a new understanding of epidemiology and working with not only the health departments, but the public as well.

13 My children have benefited from my working in public health. I have eight children, and they have gained a better understanding of the function of local health departments, as well as how public health is in everything we do. In my spare time I love to read, knit, and sew. I am currently learning to spin yarn, which will lead me to running my own small sheep farm so that I can go from shear to shawl and provide educational opportunities for children and families in my rural area. Leadership Positions/Training/Certificates I think one thing that I enjoy most is learning from others. This need for learning has given me many leadership opportunities from being state leaders in various organizations such as Phi Theta Kappa and Phi Beta Lambda. I have become interested in HL7, and from that interest have joined the PHER (Public Health Emergency Response) work group as a volunteer member on HL7.org. I have also taken it upon myself to learn more about epidemiology by taking some online classes through the University of North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness. Statement of Interest While looking over the curriculum goals and objectives for the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute, I have found that the curriculum goals and objectives match what I have been trying to learn since I began working at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. I have been looking for mentors who would take an interest in my quest for knowledge of public health and I believe that the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute will give me the foundation that I desire, as well as an outlet to meet with my peers and learn from them their views on public health and how public health can impact not only our generation, but the generations to come.

14 Nicole Green, BA, MBA City of Wichita P ersonal, Educational and Work History My name is Nicole Green. I was born in New Orleans and lived in various states as a young child of a military parent. I have resided in Wichita, Kansas, for over 20 years. I am a graduate of Webster University and Wichita State University where I received a Master s degree in Business Administration and an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences, respectively. I became interested in public health while attending college. I enjoyed learning about how the environment could have an impact on the public s health and well-being and what could be done to protect the public s health. After graduating from college, I obtained a job with the City of Wichita s Environmental Health Department. I have worked in the Food Protection and Tobacco Control Program as a Public Health Sanitarian for over 9 years. What I enjoy most about working in public service is having a part in protecting the public and improving their quality of life. Nicole Green Public Health Sanitarian City of Wichita 1900 E. 9 th St Wichita, KS Phone: 316/ ngreen@wichita.gov Leadership and Training In my current position, I have displayed my leadership abilities by taking the initiative to develop and design food safety handouts and brochures for my department. I have also attended various training workshops and seminars throughout my career to enhance my skills. These trainings include environmental health training in emergency response with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) training, and foodborne illness and outbreak investigation training. Statement of Interest I am very interested in being a part of the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute Cycle IX. I welcome the opportunity to network with others in the field of public health and share the knowledge I have gained in my position in environmental health. Furthermore, I am

15 excited about the opportunity to enhance my leadership knowledge and skills. Misty Jimerson, BS, MS Community Resource Council

16 P ersonal, Educational, and Work History My name is Misty Jimerson and I am addicted to fun. I was born, graduated high school, and married in Russell, Kansas. I have been married to my husband Rich for 16 years and have a spoiled cat named Poopus Lee who rules the house. We love to be outdoors hiking, kayaking, ghost town hunting, and traveling the history of the United States. I attended Fort Hays State University, receiving a Bachelor degree in Physical Education and a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology. I found my love for helping others while in undergraduate school. I was asked by one of my professors if I would be interested in working with a group of Phase IV cardiac rehab patients that he had started at the university. I did, and I have been addicted to helping others across the state. I went on to teach at Fort Hays State University in public health, then went to work for the American Heart Association, and now I work for the State of Kansas in the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program. Professional Network I have the privilege of being part of a great network of partners nationally, regionally, and statewide. I enjoy networking with and learning from my partners. I am a problem solver, so when I am looking for an answer, I work very closely with my partners and together we work towards the common goal. I have learned from my partners and I believe they have learned from me. At the state level, I serve as the program manager of the Kansas Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program. In that role, I lead the Heart and Stroke Alliance of Kansas to develop and implement the Cardiovascular Health State Plan. I also play a leadership role in the Mid-America Coalition on HealthCare, a business coalition working to help employers provide healthy workplaces with adequate health benefits. I am also a member of several other chronic disease prevention coalitions serving the state, recognizing that the risk factors cut across many disease states. I therefore work closely with the diabetes, arthritis, tobacco prevention, worksite wellness and disability programs. Through my role in the state, I have also developed relationships with state- and region-wide partners, especially in the American Heart Association. I have served on several AHA-sponsored workgroups,

17 including the Bi-State Stroke Consortium with the state of Missouri. At the national level, I have built a broad network by serving first as Chair of both the Capacity Building and Data Committees, then in my role as Chair of the Cardiovascular Health Council, part of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. These leadership positions allowed me to work with CVH program managers and staff from across the country, building relationships and important partnerships and learning what works and what doesn t in heart disease and stroke prevention. Statement of Interest Working at this higher level in public health requires specific skills, which I need to hone. Although I am a very organized manager, true leadership calls for vision and courage. Attending the Leadership Institute will inspire me to set the bar high for my staff and myself and to bring systems thinking to the association of states I work with. I want to have the confidence in myself to provide leadership at the state and national level. I am passionate about fighting heart disease and stroke; I see the big picture and understand that we need to change systems and develop policies to make it easier to prevent these leading causes of death. I need the KPHLI to teach me how to work at the highest level possible to get the job done.

18 Sarah Johnston, MD KU School of Medicine-Wichita P ersonal, Educational, and Work History My name is Sarah Johnston. I have lived and worked in Kansas all of my life, except for my grade school years, when my family lived in Massachusetts, and my undergraduate years, when I attended Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. I attended medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, and did my residency in Internal Medicine at Wesley Medical Center, now part of WCGME, in Wichita. After completing my residency, I joined an Internal Medicine practice in El Dorado, Kansas, in My earliest involvement with public health was being appointed the Butler/Greenwood County Health Officer from Since then, I have practiced at the Wichita VAMC, the University of Kansas School of Medicine- Wichita in the Department of Internal Medicine, and as Medical Director at Via Christi Hope in Wichita. I have applied the lessons I learned about the public health perspective in the 1980s to all of my subsequent positions. My interest in and knowledge about public health issues was also increased by serving on the Kansas State Child Death Review Board since 1999 and on the El Dorado Board of Education for sixteen years. In the fall of 2009, I became a full-time Masters in Public Health student at KUSM-Wichita in order to learn more about public health issues and to develop muchneeded skills to pursue research projects in which I am interested. As of this writing, I have completed 32 of 42 credit hours in the MPH program. My husband of 35 years and I have two grown sons and one grandson. My husband has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer s disease, which is most likely genetic in etiology. I love spending time with family and friends, participating in activities at the YMCA and reading. Leadership Positions and Experience Although I have not had much formal training in leadership, as a faculty physician, Medical Director, and County Health Officer, I have had to provide leadership for the organizations in which I worked. I have a reputation as a servant leader. Although I

19 really am not formally trained in leadership, I am proud of what I have accomplished as a leader and look forward to developing additional knowledge and skills in public health leadership. Statement of Interest The more I learn about public health in Kansas, the more I recognize that it is a very collaborative process. From my review of the goals, curriculum, mentors, and partners in the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute, I see that my participation would be of benefit as I would have the chance to collaborate with public health practitioners across the state. Particular interests of mine include performing research projects using the Kansas State Child Death Review Board database, finding a way to make this database more usable to a larger number of researchers, establishing a registry of Kansas families with hereditary Alzheimer s disease, and educating myself and others about the public health impacts of climate change.

20 Ty Kane, BS, MPH Sedgwick County Health Dept. T y Kane is a Community Health Analyst at the Sedgwick County Health Department, where he has been involved in a number of organizational development projects, including: facilitation of an accreditation selfassessment, involvement in the Kansas Accreditation Pilot and other accreditation readiness efforts, development of an all-staff quality improvement training and agency Quality Improvement Plan, and facilitation of the agency s Q-Team and A-Team. Ty also provides assistance to the Sedgwick County Healthy Babies Program (a Federal Healthy Start grantee), where he supports the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Project and collaborates with internal and external partners to evaluate program outcomes. Previously, Ty worked with the department s Tobacco Use Prevention Program, where he was engaged in coalition building and led community health education and policy campaigns. Before coming to Sedgwick County, Ty was a Food, Drug and Lodging Surveyor for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. In the past, Ty was an instructor in the fitness industry as an exercise specialist at 24 Hour Fitness in Shawnee, Kansas, and strength and conditioning coach at Center for Athletic Performance in Overland Park, Kansas. Ty holds a Master s Degree in Public Health and a Bachelor s Degree in Kinesiology, both from Kansas State University.

21 Jamie Klenklen, BPA, CIMI KDHE P ersonal, Educational, and Work History I was born and raised in Kansas. I began my career with the State of Kansas in 1975 as a clerk-typist. After my second child was born, I started attending classes at Washburn University. I received my Bachelor of Public Administration degree in A year later, I began my public health career in 2003 in my current position as Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Administrative Consultant. In this job, I have traveled across Kansas many times providing training or technical assistance during site visits. On December 13, 2006, I received my Kansas Public Health Certificate. I am also a Notary Public and a Loving Touch Certified Infant Massage Instructor. I serve on the following committees: Accreditation Team, Emergency Operation Procedures Committee, Governor s Public Health Conference Committee (as well as serving as a speaker and moderator), Health Literacy Advisory Council, Kansas Home Visiting Task Force, attend Regional Billing meetings, Safe Havens for Newborns Coalition of Greater Kansas City Committee, and the SIDS Network of Kansas. I am a member of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, the Kansas Public Health Association, and the Maternal and Child Health Coalition. For fun, I enjoy knitting baby afghans and spending time with my family, especially my grandchildren. I am the middle child of 5 and my husband is the oldest of 6, so family is important to us. We have two children that have graduated from college and are married. My daughter graduated from KSU and works for KDOT. She and her husband have two children. My son is working on his Master s degree at Baker University while employed by Westar, and his wife is a dental hygienist. Leadership Positions/Training/Certificates My leadership ability began when I was in 4-H. Then I became a 4-H Community Leader. I am also a past president of the saddle club and other community organizations. I created the Healthy Start Home Visitor of the Year award in 2006 to recognize the outstanding work that they do. I have presented the award every year since during the Governor s Public Health

22 Conference. This year I was able to provide A Safe Haven for Newborns sign to every county health department in Kansas. The goal is to educate Kansans about the 2006 Safe Haven law to help save babies lives. I provided the HSHV Fall Regional Training for the last two years. This year, I plan to teach infant massage to the HSHVs. I have completed the Business Case for Breastfeeding Training. I have completed Kansas Emergency Management (KDEM) training including the Incident Command System ICS-300 course. Statement of Interest I would gladly accept the challenge to participate in the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute training. I know I would grow and learn exciting new things that would benefit our public health systems. Education is a valuable asset, and throughout the years, I ve learned that the world keeps changing and I have to change along with it. I m proud to serve the mothers, babies, children, and families in Kansas through our Maternal and Child Health Program and the Healthy Start Home Visitor services. I would be honored to become a member of the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute. Thank you for considering me for this wonderful opportunity.

23 Misty Kruger, MPA Shawnee County Health Agency P ersonal, Educational, and Work History Growing up, I don t know where I thought I would be at age 27, but here I am with a career I love, two children who are my pride and joy, and married to my best friend and high school sweetheart. I always knew I would have a job working with people and where I was able to communicate and be creative. I attended college at Washburn University, where I majored in Mass Media. While in college I was the president of the Washburn Advertising Federation club, which gave me a chance to really put my leadership skills to the test. After college I worked in fundraising for a couple of years, where communication was key to success. In 2009, I joined the Shawnee County Health Agency as their Community Relations Specialist/Public Information Officer. My skills were put to the test from the beginning, as my second day on the job involved our county s first case of H1N1. I quickly became known as the H1N1 lady around town. Leadership Positions/Training/Certificates I currently serve on the board of directors for the Topeka Downtown Optimist Club, a group dedicated to empowering youth. I am also serving as vice-president for the Kansas Association of Public Information Officers (KAPIO), an organization formed to allow PIOs from across the state to gather to share resources and talents in the event of an emergency or disaster response. I have completed FEMA s Incident Command System training courses 100, 300, 400, and 700. I plan on attending FEMA s advanced PIO course in September I served several years on the planning committee for our local Relay For Life to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Positions held include public relations chair, activities chair, and two years as event chair. Statement of Interest I look forward to expanding my role in public health as a Public Information Officer. I believe attending the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute will allow me to develop a better understanding of the role public health plays in our communities, as well as where it is

24 going in the future. I think public information is a critical component of public health, and this opportunity would serve as an educational aspect of the role public information could play. Of course, I also look forward to meeting new people through the program.

25 Jose Martinez, BS MPH Student Jose Martinez MPH Student KU School of Medicine-Wichita Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health 1010 N. Kansas Wichita, KS Phone: 316/

26 P ersonal, Educational, and Work History My name is Jose Martinez. I was born in Mexico City in I developed an interest in public health while volunteering in safety net clinics in the Wichita area. I began volunteering in clinics as a way to learn more about the practice of medicine. I believed that health was simply following doctor s orders and annual checkups, but soon I realized the complex nature of a healthy status. I graduated from Wichita State University in 2009 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Health Services Management and Community Development. This program allowed me to learn about the administrative aspects of healthcare and develop a connection to public health. I am currently enrolled in the University of Kansas Master of Public Health Program. I enjoy music, sports, and films. During my spare time I like to play my acoustic guitar and watch soccer games. Leadership I have had the opportunity to hold leadership positions in different organizations. I was part of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) for four years of high school. I was able to participate in leadership camps and retreats while in the JROTC program. The most important lesson I gained from this experience was teamwork and accountability. During my time at WSU, I was able to hold leadership position in three different student organizations. I held the position of brotherhood development and recruitment for one semester in a fraternal organization. I held the position of vice president and special event coordinator in a health professions focus group. I also served as sergeant at arms, and later held the position of president, for the Hispanic student organization. Participating in student organizations helped me gain knowledge about how to plan and execute events, work with a governing body (the university), and even gave me a limited exposure to politics. Statement of Interest I am interested in working with minority populations and in improving the health status of the Hispanic community, especially the Spanish-speaking segment of the community. Participation in the program will provide me with the opportunity to interact with other area public health leaders. It is my opinion that my

27 interests align with the values and vision of the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute.

28 Henri Ménager, RN, BSN KDHE H enri Ménager received a degree of Doctor in Medicine from the State University of Haiti, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, in He then joined the Save The Children-USA team as the Child Survival Project Director in Maissade, Haiti. In 1990, he completed a postgraduate course in Management Methods for International Health at the Public Health School of Boston University in Massachusetts. He returned to Haiti later that year to work at Hospital Albert Schweitzer, Deschapelles, Haiti, as the Director of the Community Health and Development Program. In 1997, he received a Master s Degree in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He also completed several postgraduate courses in epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He joined the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) in 1998 as the Community Health Evaluation Coordinator. His duties included technical assistance to local communities, evaluation of grants, coalition building, data training, and chronic disease surveillance. Henri Ménager Epidemiologist KDHE 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 330 Topeka, KS Phone: 785/ In January 2005, he joined the team of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at KDHE where he spent the next five years working as an epidemiologist providing epidemiological support to the Early Detection Works Program and the Comprehensive Cancer Program. In January 2010, he transferred to the Bureau of Surveillance and Epidemiology at KDHE to work as the lead epidemiologist for the Kansas Environmental Public Health Tracking Program. Henri Ménager has published in the Health Policy and Planning journal and the American Journal of Public Health, and he has contributed to a book entitled Prospective Community Studies in Developing Countries. He is a faculty member at Kaplan University and Highland Community College. hmenager@kdheks.gov

29 Jo Miller, RN, BSN Harvey County Health Department I graduated from high school in May I went back to school at Northeast Missouri University (now Truman U.) in My youngest son was in first grade, and I had four teenagers in the house as well. I graduated with my BSN in I was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the USAF during my pinning ceremony. I went on active duty and served for nine years. During that time I was an officer as well as an RN. My humanitarian assignments taught me a lot about primitive health care. I have done every kind of nursing from medical to perioperative (O.R.) care to critical care to Emergency care. After separating from the military in 1999, I began a long run in critical care (from neurosurgery to heart transplants). I also had the opportunity to serve as Critical Resource Coordinator for St. Mary s Medical Center in Tucson, AZ. Being the first hospital north of the Mexican border on I-29 made for a fascinating patient mix. My job involved covering a 400-bed hospital and a 65-bed Emergency Department, dealing with acutely critical patients who needed immediate care and/or access to care in various parts of the hospital. It was INTENSE and frustrating and rewarding and some of the best nursing I have ever done. Jo Miller Director Harvey County Health Dept. 316 Oak Street Newton, KS Phone: 316/ jmiller@harveycounty.com Coming home to Newton, I headed for the familiar: clinical emergency medicine, but at a reduced intensity. I was the Nurse Manager for Emergency Services at Newton Medical Center for 18 months. One day a friend called and said, are you interested in being a Public Health Director? I missed the regimen and orderliness of military nursing, so I thought, why not? In the ten months I have been here it has been nonstop! Leadership at this level is an awesome responsibility. I am 10 months into this and I have to say, I love it. I feel like I have come home. Granted, these are crazy times for public service, but it s challenging, provoking, and I feel involved at a social level like

30 never before. Thanks for this chance to continue to evolve and participate in history-making.

31 Heather Moore, MPH KDHE I have worked in the health care field in some capacity since I was 16 years old, beginning as office support staff in a family physician office in North Kansas City, MO. While working at Cornerstone Family Care, I played an integral role in the set up and implementation of their electronic health records system. I also served as a receptionist, insurance specialist, and nurse assistant. Throughout undergraduate school at Missouri State University, I worked multiple health care jobs including: a Unit Secretary in a hospital outpatient surgery unit at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, MO; a Certified Nurse Assistant with Access Home Health; and a Certified Nurse Assistant with St. John s Medical Center in Springfield, MO. I was a member of a sorority, Alpha Sigma Alpha, and philanthropic club, Circle K, in which I held leadership and chairman positions. My experiences in these organizations also provided me a passion for not only health care, but also for philanthropy and charitable organizations. Throughout my undergraduate years, my major changed a number of times, as I was trying to find my fit or niche in my career path. I always knew I wanted to work in health care and with children; however, it was not clear until after I graduated that the public health sector is where I would find that fit. I graduated from Missouri State with a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development and still had an idea that I may want to pursue nursing. Upon completion of my undergraduate internship, I began working at Children s Miracle Network in Springfield, MO as a Development Manager and then quickly transitioned into the position of Director of Special Projects, where I was responsible for planning and implementing fundraising events and projects for the charity. After a year and a half, I moved into the Director of Children s Services position, becoming the liaison between the families and the organization and providing direction assistance and support to families of children with special medical needs.

32 It wasn t long after graduation that I realized that, although I loved helping the children I worked with and loved the organization I had grown to be a part of, I really wanted to do something to help before people got sick and needed medical care. I really valued preventative measures and supporting wellness rather than treating the illness or condition. A colleague of mine shared with me the Masters of Public Health Program at Missouri State, and it was like something clicked. The more I looked into the program, the more I realized that public health was where I needed to be. I began graduate school in the fall of 2006 while working full time with Children s Miracle Network. It was clear that I wanted to do something with health education and continue to work with children and families in that role. Many of the projects and presentations I took part in throughout graduate school focused on childhood obesity, juvenile diabetes, and children with special health needs and the barriers they face in receiving services. I also worked with the local Women, Infant and Children s (WIC) office in an independent study class. Although I was extremely interested in health education and child health, I ended up completing my graduate internship with the Kansas City, MO Health Department in their Community Environmental Health Division. I worked with the Air Quality Program, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Food Protection and Community Service Inspections. This was an amazing experience and a great opportunity to learn about other areas of public health that I had not been exposed to. Although this internship was a tremendous learning experience, my passion remained with children with special health needs or disabilities and health education. I graduated with my Master s in Public Health in July 2009 and began working in September with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment within the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program; this opportunity has been like a dream come true. I have truly found that fit that I was looking for and I firmly believe that I have something to offer public health in this area. I currently coordinate an Integrated Community Systems for Youth with Special Health Care Needs grant project and am working with many great partners and public health leaders. This grant is currently in the second funding year (of a three year cycle) and we have made great strides in integrating youth with special health care needs and health care transition into other services systems. We have partnered with many organizations and agencies to accomplish our activities, which, I believe, is key to our success. A couple of these activities include: the development of a Youth Advisory Council to allow opportunities for youth to express their needs and let their voices be heard; development of resources and tools for health care transition, which is currently being reviewed to include in training for the adolescent health residency curriculum in Wichita; the creation of a curriculum for the KU Medical Center graduate nursing program on

33 caring for people with disabilities, in partnership with KUMC and the Disability and Health Program at KDHE; and much more. As I read through the application materials, this portion of the vision of KPHLI really resonated with me: public health leaders dedicated to improving the health of all Kansans, which is exactly why I wanted to get into public health. I do believe that I have what s necessary to be a strong public health leader in Kansas, and I feel that with this program I can gain the knowledge and further develop my skills to build successful partnerships, identify effective collaborations, and assist in moving the State of Kansas into the future of public health. I have had opportunities to experience public health from both the city and state perspective, and have gotten a chance to experience some from a national standpoint. At this point, I can wholeheartedly say that public health is where my passion lies, and I cannot wait to see where this path will take me.

34 Linda Ochs, LMSW Shawnee County Health Agency Personal, Educational, and Work History In 1979, I graduated from Kansas State University with dual degrees in Social Work and Family Life and Human Development. I began my career working in a residential facility for developmentally disabled adults, followed by a two-year period of serving as a chemical dependency counselor. In 1990, I was hired by the Salina/Saline County Health Department as the Maternal and Infant Care Social Worker. The department was awarded a grant to begin a Healthy Families program in 1995, and I became the program coordinator. Heartland Healthy Families was formed as a collaborative with Heartland Programs Early Head Start, also funded in 1995, and I helped develop that program. I completed a Master of Social Work degree in 2001 at Washburn University. One week after graduating, I joined the staff of the Shawnee County Health Agency, working as a Social Worker, Team Leader, and Family Services Division Manager (my present position). During the H1N1 outbreak and mass dispensing clinics, I served as Logistics Section Chief and have completed all ICS coursework. I currently oversee WIC, Immunizations, and the Local Health Department Billing Office. Linda Ochs Division Manager Shawnee County Health Agency 1615 SW 8 th St Topeka, KS Phone: 785/ linda.ochs@snco.us Leadership Positions/Training/Certificates As stated above, I have worked in supervisory positions since I have also served in leadership positions in community collaborations and councils. In 2003, I was a founding member and first chairperson of the Shawnee County Hoarding Task Force. As part of this task force, I organized a community workshop in 2005 on compulsive hoarding and arranged to have a national expert, Dr. Randy Frost, present. In 2008 I served as chairperson of the Shawnee County Interagency Coordinating Council. Presentations: National Rural Life Conference, 1996 Annual Governor s Conference for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, 1997 Annual Governor s Conference on Aging Services, 2005

35 Annual Governor s Conference on Public Health, 2006 Annual Governor s Conference on Aging Services, 2006 Compulsive Hoarding Workshop, 2008 Award: Jane Addams Award for Social Work-Kansas Public Health Association, 2004 hard to achieve. Statement of Interest I have been fortunate in working with a wide spectrum of programs and diverse populations during my 20- year career in public health. My goal in participating in the Leadership Institute is not only to improve my leadership skills, but also to explore new areas in public health. I am especially interested in promoting a healthy lifestyle through exercise and nutrition, and finding ways to improve immunization rates. Pamela O Neal, MA Wichita State University P ersonal, Educational, and Employment History Growing up on a farm in Kansas, I used to think my mother and father worked so hard because they had to. I now understand they wanted to show my siblings and me, rather than tell us, how important hard work is. While I admired them for the long hours they worked, I developed a passion for research and academia rather than farming. My parents encouraged me to choose my own path but constantly reminded me that no matter what I chose, always to work hard.

36 During my time as a master's student at the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University (WSU), my love for public health developed. For three years, I researched the topic of childhood obesity and the media. This research led to my master s thesis: Childhood Obesity Campaigns: A Comparative Analysis of Media Campaigns Targeting General and Specific Audiences, as well as presentations to the Kansas Health Foundation; the National Communication Association; the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language and Gender; the Kansas Public Health Association; Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects; and the Capitol Research Forum, as well as several grant proposals. Most recently, I chaired a panel and presented my research on cyber-bullying and the mental health consequences on teenagers at the Southwest Texas Popular Culture Conference. Currently, I am employed by the Communication Upward Bound program at WSU. The aim of the program is to give children who are low-income and first-generation college students opportunities to excel in high school and to continue on to college. I enjoy teaching college preparation workshops and mentoring these young individuals. When I am not researching or working, I enjoy spending time with my family, especially my ten nieces and nephews. I spend any other spare time gardening, baking, and reading. Leadership Positions/Achievements/Volunteering During my time as a student, I learned the importance of leadership skills by being involved in many aspects of the university. In 2007, I received the Snowy Owl Award, the Elliott School of Communication s top award honoring the student who has demonstrated the most significant accomplishments in academic and professional activities. In , I served as president for the local chapter of the National Communication Association's Honor Society, Lambda Pi Eta. During that time, the organization enjoyed its most active and best recruitment year in the chapter's history. As a graduate teaching assistant I taught public speaking classes at Wichita State, and during my final semester, I was named outstanding GTA. I was honored with the award, but found no greater thrill than when my students succeeded. Every semester, the Elliott School holds a competition; one representative from each public speaking class competes to win the Shocker Speakout. In the 2010 spring semester, students from both of my classes made it to the final

37 round. The competition, which features more than 25 students from the public speaking classes, is highly competitive. I found no greater sense of accomplishment than when one of my students won the Shocker Speakout. I also find great satisfaction in volunteering. In 2010 I, along with five other graduate students and my adviser, organized WSU Feeds Haiti. In three weeks our team developed, produced and hosted a three-day event that enabled the Wichita community to pack more than 640,000 meals for hurricane victims in Haiti. Statement of Interest As someone who is fervent about the mental and physical health of children, I am extremely interested in the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute. When my niece was diagnosed in September 2008 with acute lymphocytic leukemia, I became particularly interested in the role public health plays in a diagnosis like hers. I wish to pursue that area of research and would be delighted with the opportunity to work with public health leaders who share my passion for research and positively influencing the lives of others.

38 Amanda Reichard, PhD KU Research and Training Center Amanda Reichard Research Director University of Kansas, RTC/IL 1000 Sunnyside Ave, Suite 4089 Lawrence, KS Phone: 785/ P ersonal, Educational, and Work History I have a passion for addressing the public health interests of people with disabilities. My desire to help people with disabilities become and/or stay healthy began when I was in college and worked at a summer camp for people with a wide range of disabilities. To fulfill this desire, I chose to obtain a Masters degree in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health. From there I obtained a PhD in Families and Disability from the University of Kansas. Since then, I have worked to analyze and effect policy change and improve health promotion for people with disabilities in Kansas and nationally. Leadership Positions/Training/Certificates I currently serve as the research director for the University of Kansas Research and Training Center on Independent Living, overseeing all of the research projects of our center. Additionally, I am the Principal Investigator for several research projects examining health care costs and utilization among individuals with disabilities, and I co-lead a project to support individuals with physical disabilities in losing weight. Toward this end, I combine the knowledge I have gained from my academic and governmental work experience with my research findings to serve as a basis for collaboration with staff at KDHE, state officials, and policy makers to create policy and health promotion changes. I also serve on the Kansas Diabetes Action Council, the Kansas Disability Advisory Council, an advisory board for a research and training center, and I am a reviewer for three peer-reviewed journals. At the same time, however, I strive to gain new leadership skills and have attended both state and national trainings toward that end. Statement of Interest I am passionate about and dedicated to ensuring that my research gets translated into practical outcomes in

39 health promotion and policy change for people with disabilities, especially in Kansas. I believe that the goals and objectives of the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute align well with my values and goals, and that becoming a scholar would further my public health leadership skills and transformational knowledge to be able to strengthen the Kansas public health system.

40 Marla Rhoden, BS KDHE P ersonal, Educational, and Work History My name is Marla Rhoden. I was born in Topeka, Kansas, at Forbes Air Force Base; my father was career Air Force and met my mother when stationed at Forbes. During our Air Force years my family lived in several locations -- Fairchild AFB, Spokane, Washington; Yokohama AFB, Japan; and Perrin AFB, Sherman, Texas -- before my father retired in Topeka, when I was in high school. My college experience was non-traditional and was completed almost entirely after I became employed by the State of Kansas; a degree in public administration seemed logical. Early professional experience centered on the business/administrative aspects of state government. My first venture into public health involved providing safety/health services, such as ergonomic assessments, to state employees. Since 1997, I have served in the Health Occupations Credentialing (HOC) Program, the last nine years as director. This program is responsible for certification of paraprofessional health care personnel (nurse aides, medication aides, home health aides), licensure of professional health care workers (dietitians, adult care home administrators, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists), and development and/or approval of various other health care training curricula; administration of the federally mandated Kansas Nurse Aide Registry; coordinating credentialing review activities in accordance with the Health Occupations Credentialing Act; and administration of the criminal record check program for employees of adult care facilities and home health agencies. Marla Rhoden Director, Health Occupations Credentialing KDHE, Division of Health 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 200 Topeka, KS Phone: 785/ mrhoden@kdheks.gov My interest in health issues stretches into my personal activities. I am an avid marathon runner, as is my husband, and our children and grandchildren are very active in athletic pursuits. Between us, my husband and I have four children and eight grandchildren. Individual and environmental health issues are highlighted when they pertain to our private lives as well as professional. Leadership Positions/Training/Certificates I have held leadership positions in several areas throughout my career, as well as in personal activities.

41 While it was admittedly a small program, I was assigned to implement the state employee safety/health initiatives when first established by the legislature. In my current position as director of Health Occupations Credentialing, I am responsible either directly or indirectly for all aspects of our program. I am always interested in expanding my knowledge base and becoming more skilled as a leader, and I take advantage of educational/training opportunities when available. In December 2004, I completed the Public Health Certificate Program. I also participate in the Public Health Grand Rounds workshops as applicable and when possible. Statement of Interest Improving the health of Kansas citizens is a monumental task with many facets. I am already involved in that effort as a member of KDHE s Accreditation Team, or A Team as we call it, which is seeking to achieve PHAB accreditation. I feel that the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute would afford me an opportunity to develop skills, characteristics, and relationships that will allow me to contribute more effectively in my job and other public health-related endeavors.

42 Cherie Sage, MSM KDHE P ersonal, Educational, and Work History I am an accidental public health educator. I began my journey when I took a position in public affairs and public relations for AAA Kansas, shortly after graduating from Washburn University with a BA in Mass Media. I was born and raised in northeast Kansas and had aspirations of working in the for profit arena doing exciting and creative things in public relations and marketing. Little did I know that this information would be so helpful in selling safety and public health messages in my future. Cherie Sage State Director, Safe Kids Kansas KDHE, Bureau of Health Promotion 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 230 Phone: 785/ csage@kdheks.gov AAA is certainly about roadside assistance and all things travel, but it also focuses on roadway safety, and this was one task assigned to me. AAA Kansas (now AAA Allied Group) was, and still is, a member organization of the Safe Kids Kansas coalition. The CEO asked me to attend a meeting and find out what our business could do to support their mission. Soon after, I was organizing car seat check lanes in our parking lot. That led to becoming a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST), and a year after, a CPST Instructor. During this time I also went back to school to get my Masters degree in Management, again thinking I would eventually be in the for profit business world. Not long after, our AAA club began the process of merging with additional clubs, and jobs were guaranteed to shift both in responsibility and geographically. At the same time, the Outreach Coordinator for Safe Kids Kansas mentioned she was taking a new position. In 2002, I became the new Outreach Coordinator for the organization. At Safe Kids Kansas, I not only enjoyed my work, but was excited about it. We expanded from only 11 local coalitions to 28 in just a few short years. I had the opportunity to work with a large and varied group of incredible individuals in health promotion and prevention and feel great about the work we were doing. Because of my role in helping communities build local Safe Kids coalitions, I found great satisfaction in knowing Kansas kids were safer because of the programs we were able to implement. Families shared stories with me about how their newly installed car seats kept their children protected during vehicle

43 crashes, or how a bicycle helmet protected their child from a brain injury. With this reinforcement that the work we were doing made a difference, I became even more passionate about the technical aspects of injury prevention such as data, program building, behavior change, and evaluation. I wanted to share that excitement and to inspire others to take action. I wanted to explore the possibilities with local coalitions to impact the lives of our Kansas families. Now many local Safe Kids coalition leaders are also excited about what injury prevention programs can do to impact their communities. In 2009, our long time State Director retired, and I was honored to be chosen as her successor. This new role entailed a more advanced knowledge of strategic planning, public policy development, and program evaluation. It required development of new skills such as accounting, budgeting, fundraising and grant writing, plus learning the requirements of a 501(c)(3). The position also put me in touch with several new networks, where I have been able to seek out knowledge and mentors. A year into my new position, in 2010, I was recognized as the State Coalition Coordinator of the Year by Safe Kids USA. My other leadership roles have included serving on the Board of a Topeka child care center, University Child Development, from where I served as Vice President and Fundraising Chair. Through fundraisers, we were able to purchase playground equipment for the center. I also served on the Topeka March of Dimes Board as their Communications Chair from , writing and distributing news releases to Kansas media outlets and providing interviews to print, radio and television media. I joined the American Business Women s Association, Topeka Career Chapter, in 2010 and currently serve as the Hospitality Chair. I enjoy reading, cooking, and travel. I also believe leadership takes many forms, including community capacity building, which is why I love to volunteer on the production team at our local public television station during their fundraisers, particularly running camera, audio, or Chyron. My husband and I also enjoy spending time with our 5 year old daughter and seeing the world through her eyes. Statement of Interest If I d only known that my professional path would lead me into public health, I would have focused my graduate education toward a MPH. Because I have a husband and young child at home, I have shelved the idea of going back to school in this capacity for a while. Instead I am focusing on learning through other channels, which is why I feel KPHLI would be so beneficial to me as both a public health educator and in a leadership role of a statewide organization. I hope to fine tune my strengths and overcome or minimize my weaknesses. I want to learn how to be a more effective leader so I can cultivate other leaders in injury prevention, and also to make a greater impact in the health and safety of Kansas families. The success of Safe Kids is reliant upon collaboration and leadership development. The Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute will allow me the opportunity to further develop those skills in myself and show me how to play a supportive role in the development of leadership competencies of others within

44 our local coalitions and partnerships. It will provide me with the tools to assess our programmatic needs and set priorities for the state coalition, as well as provide information on effective evaluation for quality assurance, which will assist in determining program and policy direction. I am excited to participate in KPHLI, and look forward learning from my mentor and public health peers. Stacey Sandstrom, MS KDHE

45 M y name is Stacey Sandstrom and I have been serving the citizens of Kansas in public health for the past nine years. I was born in Wichita, KS, and have lived in Topeka, KS, since I was five years old. I received my B.S. in Chemistry at Benedictine College in 1999 and went on to Kansas State University where I earned my M.S. in Chemistry. At this time in my life I had two major passions: a love for my young family and a love for science! I began working for the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories in 2002 in the radiation chemistry unit. Soon after, I joined the inorganic chemistry unit and helped develop a new method of testing for blood lead levels in children and expectant mothers. By utilizing this new methodology, the laboratory increased blood lead screening from 3,500 specimens per year to 14,000 specimens per year. In 2004, I was asked to lead the chemical terrorism laboratory by implementing new instrumentation and technology for emergency preparedness incidents. For the past three years, I have served as the health chemistry unit manager overseeing neonatal screening, blood lead testing, and biomonitoring activities. The laboratory testing my unit performs touches the lives of every Kansan! Stacey Sandstrom Health Chemistry Unit Manager KDHE Laboratories 6700 SW Topeka Blvd Forbes Field, Building 740 Topeka, KS Phone: 785/ ssandstrom@kdheks.gov During this time at the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL), my husband and I have been busy raising a family. I have three children ages 10, 7, and 4. I spend my spare time attending soccer, basketball, baseball, and tennis events. I enjoy family time and running when I get a chance. Leadership opportunities have always interested me. I enjoy taking on responsible roles and ensuring projects are successfully completed. As a high school senior, I was named one of the Topeka YWCA Future Leaders. Throughout my educational years, I served as president of the National Honors Society and vice president of the Benedictine College Chemistry Club. At KHEL, I entered a management role within three years of starting employment. I was nominated and chosen to be a member of the Association of Public Health Laboratories Emerging Leaders Cohort in I have presented my work in public health at local, national, and international conferences. I continue to serve in leadership roles on various committees in the field of public health and public health laboratories.

46 I hold a strong interest in recruiting and maintaining qualified technical experts in the field of chemistry, biochemistry, and microbiology for public health benefit. Laboratory analysis continues to develop and expand. At times, the public health laboratories struggle to keep up with new technologies and scientific advances. Public health laboratories need to find creative ways to support staff while the workforce and budgets continue to decrease. Public health laboratories play a key role in the detection and response of infectious disease, environmental toxins, and other health threats. Public health laboratories need dedicated leaders to continue these important functions into the future. Betty Smith-Campbell, BSN, MN, PhD I began my career as a person who wanted to make a difference in the lives of individuals and selected nursing as a career to help people. My experience as a community health nurse led to expanding my concept of helping individuals to communities and populations with involvement in a multiple community organizations. I recently served as president/board member of the advocacy group: Kansas Health Consumer Coalition, whose mission is to advocate for affordable, accessible, and quality health care in Kansas. In Sedgwick County, I was a member of the Community Coverage Initiative that included business owners, health care agencies, and others in exploring ideas for affordable health coverage in the county. Other activities have included participation on county health assessment committees, a pandemic influenza county work group, board of directors of home health organizations, immunization and primary care work task forces, and health and social committees. Internationally, I have participated in two health mission teams to Haiti.

47 In Douglas County, I personally brought together community leaders to assess the health needs of the medically indigent. From this group of task force members, I led the community in the formation of a not-for-profit organization to provide health care to individuals with limited incomes. As President, I helped create Health Care Access, Inc., a state-funded primary health care clinic. This clinic had continued to serve those in need for over 20 years. With over 30 years of experience in nursing, I have had the opportunity to serve in several leadership positions at the local, state, and national level. At the national level, I was an elected board member of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, and I have held appointments on the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the ANA-PAC. In Kansas, I have served as the elected President and Board member of the State Nurses Association. As a researcher, I study the influence policy has on access to health care, particularly how community health centers influence the health of the medically underserved. I write and teach on issues related to policy and politics and have served as a legislative intern to the chairperson of the state senate s public health and welfare committee. I also teach a collaborative course in the graduate certificate Public Health program and Doctorate of Nursing Practice program on Population and Social Health Determinants. I am very interested in expanding my leadership skills and knowledge through the KHPLI. It is my desire to build more collaborative relationships within the state. I have a particular in interest in two topics of Healthy People 2020: 1) Access to Health Services and 2) Social Determinants of Health. I would like to address the goal to improve access to comprehensive, quality health care services through Patient Centered Primary Care Models. Specifically, I am interesting in working on removing barriers to increase the number of primary care providers in our state through collaborative relationships and policy changes. I live in Andover with my husband. My favorite hobbies are working in the garden, running and hiking in the mountains. Jennifer VandeVelde, BSE, CHES KDHE

48 P ersonal, Educational, and Work History My name is Jennifer VandeVelde. I was born in Topeka, KS, in I attended Kansas State University, then transferred in the second semester of my freshman year to the University of Kansas in Lawrence. By this time, I had decided I wanted to be in public health, and K-State did not offer a public health degree. While attending KU seeking my BSE in Community (Public) Health, I worked full-time at a local answering service, where my interest in communicable diseases was piqued by the physicians we worked for. I graduated in May 1999 after serving as a public health intern for the Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Section at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. My internship with the STD Section solidified my desire to work in communicable diseases, specifically STDs. I began working full-time for the STD Section as a Disease Intervention Specialist in October After 4 years, I joined the Tuberculosis Section to assist with their contact investigations, then eventually moved back to the STD Section, although in a managerial capacity this time. I was married in March 2000, shortly after beginning my service with the STD Section. My husband and I have two children. Our daughter Gracie is four years old, and our son Cole is nine years old. Leadership Positions/Training/Certificates In my current position as the Deputy Director for the STD Section, I have the privilege of serving a leadership role to the eleven distinguished Disease Intervention Specialists throughout Kansas. The STD Section is one of the oldest programs at KDHE, and as such requires significant adaptation to survive changing times. Previous leaders for our section have demonstrated the ability to adapt and thrive in difficult times, and I strive to do so as well. To that end, I seek out all opportunities to broaden my scope of knowledge, and to broaden my horizons beyond just STDs. I have attended every National STD Prevention Conference since 2004, and I have been invited to speak numerous times on the innovative changes being implemented in our program in Kansas. I have been a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) since my graduation from KU in My CHES certification allows me the opportunity to take a leadership role when our section provides adult and adolescent education opportunities.

49 Statement of Interest I am extremely interested in any training opportunity that would allow me the opportunity to provide my Section with improved leadership and capacity. In reviewing the materials for the KPHLI program, and in speaking with graduates from the program, it is clear that this program would provide an excellent opportunity to increase knowledge of public health and improve leadership capabilities.

50 Linda Williams, BA, MT(ASCP) KDHE P ersonal, Educational, and Work History My name is Linda Williams. I am originally from Minnesota, where I lived for most of my life until 2002, when I moved to Salt Lake City for four years, then Kansas City, MO, for one year, and finally to Topeka to work for the State of Kansas. I have worked at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) in the Bureau of Family Health, Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs section, as a Newborn Screening Follow up Coordinator since April My duties include broad newborn screening program issues, such as development of newsletters, education and training of interested stakeholders, publishing an annual report, maintaining communication with birthing facilities, helping with quality improvement efforts, and facilitating advisory council meetings. In addition, I supervise our two talented administrative assistants, who keep things running smoothly. I am lucky to work with a great coworker who has the same title, but who does more of the day-to-day activities such as contacting physicians regarding infants in their care who have an abnormal newborn screen and following up on that infant to make sure that proper diagnosis and treatment was done. In her absence, I fulfill those day-to-day duties. Linda Williams Newborn Screening Follow-up Coordinator KDHE, Bureau of Family Health 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 220 Topeka, KS Phone: 785/ lwilliams@kdheks.gov I received a bachelor s degree in biology from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. I am a registered medical technologist and did my training at Sioux Valley Hospital, also in Sioux Falls. I ve spent the bulk of my career working in community blood centers, both in Minnesota and Kansas City. I ve also worked as a donor center coordinator with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), facilitating bone marrow transplants between unrelated donors. I managed the Parentage Testing Laboratory at Memorial Blood Centers of Minnesota (MBCM) for four years, having worked in that lab for the previous ten years. I also managed the Product Testing Laboratory at Community Blood Center in Kansas City. Both the NMDP and the paternity lab gave me an extensive background in genetics, which is extremely useful in my current position with KDHE.

51 I feel like my position at KDHE is the culmination of all of my past positions genetics, bone marrow transplants, working in various facilities that are part of the public health system, as well as my management and leadership roles. I m currently involved with two workgroups (Newborn Screening and Transition) within the Heartland Genetics Consortium, which serves eight states in the Midwest. Through these groups, I have established networks to other NBS coordinators and learned so much from other professionals in the field of newborn screening. I have not always considered myself a leader, but at some point I was thrown into that position. At MBCM, the CEO saw in me some leadership abilities, and he mentored me through weekly meetings regarding leadership, effective management, and fiscal responsibility. I learned that I am a capable, intelligent, and strong person who has the interest and talents to be a good leader. Statement of Interest I am very interested in attending the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute. I feel this is another step in my education, particularly in public health. I completed the Kansas Core Public Health Program, which provided me with an excellent background in public health. I feel that KPHLI will provide me with the opportunity to interact with other public health leaders, who I can also learn from throughout the process. To me a sign of good leadership is knowing when and who to contact when assistance is needed. A good leader inspires those around them, and I want to be in that category while fulfilling my duties for the State of Kansas and the infants and families that I serve through Newborn Screening.

52 Lisa Wineinger, RN Unified Greeley County Health M y name is Lisa Wineinger. I was born in Tribune, Kansas, to Alan Wineinger, a third-generation farmer, and Lynn Schroeder Wineinger, a transplant from central Kansas who taught Home Economics for 29 years and has started a second career as a Dietetic Technician Registered and Certified Dietary Manager. While in high school, my mother encouraged me to apply to the Greeley County Hospital as a nurse aide. It was then I found my life's passion: nursing. After graduating from Greeley County High School in May 1999, I attended Hutchinson Community College. For my first year at HCC, I took general study courses, then began the nursing program in fall 2000, graduating in May While at HCC, I ran cross country and track, my greatest accomplishment being a 9th place finish in Division II at NJCAA Regional Cross Country meet in Colby, Kansas, and a 3rd place team finish at the National NJCAA Cross Country Championships in Lansing, Michigan, in the fall of My sophomore year, I was voted by my teammates as Most Inspirational. I began my registered nursing career at Mercy Regional Hospital in Manhattan, Kansas, in summer I worked on the Medical/Surgical floor for 9 months before transferring to the Joint Replacement Unit, where I worked nights for the next 15 months, taking care of post-op hip and knee replacement patients. Growing up, I had dreams of the big city and was determined NOT to return to Tribune when I was an adult. I knew that if I were to ever return to Tribune, I would have a difficult time working in such a smalltown hospital, as the areas of cardiac, emergency room, and labor & delivery are not my idea of fun. During summer 2004, the school nurse/public health nurse position became available when my aunt, Stephanie Wineinger, who had held the position for 12 years, was moving with her family. On a whim, I applied for the position. Everything fell into place, almost too well, and it seemed I was destined for this job. I began my public health journey on September 1st, 2004.

53 The Greeley County Health Department is located on the school property of Greeley County Schools, USD 200. I provide all school nursing services and screenings for the school. As the health department nurse, we provide WIC, the maternal child health program, immunizations, and public health emergency preparedness. I co-teach a prenatal class to expectant mothers and give monthly Health Moments presentations to the school staff. No two days are alike and I have become a professional multi-tasker. I may be in the middle of a well-child exam, immunizations, or WIC, and have a sick or injured child from the school walk into the office that needs immediate attention. Over the course of the past six and half years, I have become a certified breastfeeding educator, I have attended the 40-Hour SANE / SART Course and Finding Words class, and I am a 2006 graduate of the Public Health Certificate program. I have completed the IS-100, 130, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800. I have also taken courses on Basic Disaster Life Support and Pediatric Basic Disaster Life Support. I am a Level 2 Certified Audiometric Technician. Both our immunization and breastfeeding rates have increased in Greeley County since I am a member of the local multi-disciplinary team, Coordinated School Health Committee, the mental health grant local advisory council, and have served as a member of the Health Community Action Team. I am instrumental in planning and carrying out the annual Greeley County Health Fair. I am the race director for the annual Full Moon in June 5K and 10K, which is held the first Saturday in June. The race is a partnership between the Community Recreation Board, Coordinated School Health, and health department. An added benefit to the job and moving home is that I was able to attend my siblings school activities. My sister is 7 years younger than me and my brother 10 years younger. Had I not lived in Tribune, I would have missed out on so much of their lives and we would probably not be as close as we are now. My sister will begin nursing school at Baker in the fall of 2011, following in the health care footsteps of myself, 2 grandmas, 3 aunts, and 2 cousins who are RNs and 3 cousins who are doctors. My brother is following his dream, serving our country as a United States Marine, stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. My hobbies include distance running, reading (biographies and non-fiction are my favorites), eating (I ll try anything once), and exploring (road trips, hikes). I have a 160- pound English Mastiff, who has no idea she is a dog and not a person. I am interested in the opportunity to be a part of Cycle IX of the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute, since it will provide invaluable connections to other public health leaders across the state. I hope to provide others a glimpse into public health in rural Kansas. I have particular interest in immunizations, breastfeeding, promoting physical activity, and recycling.

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55 Jennifer Zeller, MA, BA, BFA Shawnee County Health Agency M y name is Jennifer Zeller. I was born in Hutchinson, Kansas, spent my early professional career in Lawrence, Kansas, and then moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, to head the Education & Community Outreach Department of the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art. Recently, I moved back to Kansas for my current position in public health as the Emergency Preparedness & Community Outreach Specialist for the Shawnee County Health Agency. I have always had an interest in developing a vibrant and healthy community through the creation of strong partnerships and collaborative projects that enhance the quality of life of a community s citizens. For example, when I worked at the Spencer Museum of Art in Lawrence, I helped to establish the University in the Art Museum program, which taught university professors how to integrate the museum s resources into their classroom. One of our initial programs involved training pharmacy students in a process called Aesthetic Scanning, which is used to objectively view unfamiliar artworks. Jennifer Zeller Emergency Preparedness & Community Outreach Specialist Shawnee County Health Agency SW 8 th St Topeka, KS Phone: 785/ jennifer.zeller@snco.us We then demonstrated to the students how this skill of objective observation and scientific analysis could be transferrable to their profession in both pill recognition and patient diagnosis. My educational background is diverse, having completed undergraduate degrees in History, Design, and Art History. Additionally, I have a Master s Degree in Museum Education and recently completed 21 hours in Business Management. My employment and service record is equally varied. In addition to my work as an educator, I have worked as a pharmacist s assistant in two pharmacies, as a Safety & Security Officer for the University of Kansas, and in my youth served my local 4-H in multiple positions ranging from recreation leader to president. Throughout my career as a museum professional and educator, I have held numerous leadership positions. At the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, I was the coordinator for the first international symposium hosted by the museum. In this position, I led project meetings with senior staff and arranged all details of the symposium. In 2000, I assisted in the planning and