University of Colorado Denver

Search:

Meet our community

Stories on our students, faculty and alumni

Throughout the Colorado School of Public Health our students, faculty and alumni are committed to improving and protecting the health of individuals and communities locally and throughout the world. Stories of their commitment to public health and their professional success highlight the standard of excellence that you will come to expect from the Colorado School of Public Health.

Learn more about these faculty, student and alumni stories.

Shenita Freeman, '10 MPH Alumna

Shenita evaluates healthcare quality improvement programs with the Colorado Foundation for Medical Care (CFMC) an organization that works with government programs, health providers and managed care companies to improve the quality of healthcare. She currently assesses the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, as well as the Advancing Excellence in Nursing Homes Campaign. As a former MPH student Shenita enjoyed courses that had a hands on 'real-world' component, such as Environmental and Occupational Health, Food Outbreak Investigation, and Cancer Epidemiology. She advises, "In addition to your concentration take courses that will strengthen you as an overall public health worker. Keep these 'gems' - you will find them useful in your work being well-rounded is appreciated in the field."

Katie Hamilton, '11 MPH Alumna

Katie manages a technlolgy-based weight management program called Weigh and Win a free program for Coloradoans age 18 and over where participants receive daily personalized coaching on healthy eating and active living via email or text message. She serves as the liasion between Kaiser Permanente (the program funders) and incentaHEALTH (the program administrators) ensuring that the program is adapting to the needs of the community via a community health persepective. Katie recommends taking CBHS 6612: Research and Evaluation Methods and CBHS 6628: Technology Based Health Promotion while also encouraging students to, "think carefully when selecting credit options." Specifically, she suggests program budgeting, grant writing, health policy, biostatistics, and epidemiology as beneficial courses for application towards any career in public health.

Melissa Hansen, '12 MPH Alumna

Melissa works for the National Conference of state Legislators (NCSL) a national bipartisan membership organization of the 50 state legislators. Her policy area includes Medicaid, primary healthcare and minority health. Melissa offers, "While I do not conduct extensive research in my position, the ability to quickly read and asses the quality of research project is essential to educating policymakers about options and best practices." Implying the significance of taking research courses as a CSPH student for gauging the “quote worthiness” of study findings in her current position.

Cynthia Somers, '12 MPH Alumna

Cynthia Somers accepted a consulting position with CGI, an information technology company contracting to build the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange a new health insurance marketplace, scheduled to open for business in October 2013, where individuals, families and small employers can shop for and buy health insurance based on quality and price. Customers will shop primarily through a website and assistance will be available by phone and in person through a network of navigators located across the state. The Exchange will also provide access to financial assistance to eligible Coloradans to reduce the cost of premiums. Cynthia shares, "I am thrilled to be working on a groundbreaking project that will expand access to healthcare and I am thankful for the HSMP program that prepared me well for this role.

Read about other stories on @theForefront.

All trademarks are registered property of the University. Used by permission only.