Dr. Heidi Boerstler MPH ’81, DrPH ’87, is professor emeritus of health administration, law and ethics at the business school, University of Colorado, where she still teaches health law in the Executive MBA/HA program. In addition, she is a part-time graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, pursuing an MPhil in the School of Liberal and Professional Studies. Her research involves collecting and analyzing turning point narratives in a culturally and ethnically diverse sample of older Americans. She is having a ton of fun!
Dr. John Brownstein, PhD ’04, was recently named one of the Fierce 50 of 2024. The Fierce 50 honors the people who are trailblazing in health care innovation, health equity, social impact, breakthrough research, and patient advocacy. Through his work as senior vice president and chief innovation officer at Boston Children’s Hospital, his research team mines data on social media platforms, blogs and chat rooms to investigate budding health threats that could develop into full-blown pandemics. In addition to early detection, the team monitors ongoing threats and publishes seminal studies on vaccinations and masking. The group has been working together for years, building the foundational technology to support the early detection of H1N1 flu, Zika virus, Ebola, and now mpox. Brownstein co-founded HealthMap, an early detection tracking system, and was a creator of the website Global.health to focus on modeling and responses during the first 100 days of a viral outbreak. His team also collaborated with the White House to build Vaccines.gov. Brownstein leads the Innovation and Digital Health Accelerator at Boston Children’s. He helps founders launch new companies and consults for outside startups in fields such as telemedicine adoption.
Hartford HealthCare recently announced the appointment of Gina Calder, BS ’05, MPH ’08, MBA ’22, as the next president of the central region, which includes MidState Medical Center in Meriden and The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain. “Gina is uniquely qualified to lead this dynamic region,” Hartford HeathCare President and CEO Jeffrey Flaks said. “I am proud to announce this during National Women’s History Month since she will be our first Black female regional president.’’ During Calder’s career, she has advanced “safe, supportive and inclusive clinical care and work environments.”
Dr. Iona Cheng, PhD, MPH ’01, is co-leading a new study to uncover the causes of cancer in Asian Americans through a $12.45 million grant from the National Cancer Institute. Cheng received her PhD at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She currently holds several positions including professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco; head of the Cancer Epidemiology Division; and co-investigator of the SEER Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry.
Kathryn Finney, MPH ’00, recently received the Heinz Award for the Economy for disrupting the status quo in the tech field and boldly breaking down barriers that have long hindered Black and Brown women from entering the startup ecosystem. Named one of the most influential women in tech, Finney has innovated, led, advocated for, and started programs that foster economic, financial and social opportunities for BIPOC-owned businesses across the U.S. She is the founding managing partner of Genius Guild, a Chicago-based venture firm that invests in high-growth startups that are led by diverse founders using the social determinants of health framework to build market-driven solutions. Finney is the author of The Wall Street Journal bestseller “Build the Damn Thing: How to Start a Successful Business if You’re Not a Rich White Guy,” which offers a battle-tested guide to help every entrepreneur succeed. She shares her journey on her podcast, “Build the Damn Thing,” to further equip and encourage Black founders and women entrepreneurs.
National Institute of Animal Agriculture recently welcomed Dr. Heather Fowler, VMD, PhD, MPH ’11, as co-chair of the Antibiotics Council. Fowler is the director, producer and public health veterinarian at the National Pork Board where she oversees public health as well as occupational safety and health issues as they relate to swine production in the U.S. The purpose of the Antibiotics Council is to seek to enhance an animal agriculture industry that is aligned with judicious antibiotic use policies and practices.
Sarah Anne Guagliardo, MPH ’10, is an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, leading the CDC’s work on the Oropouche virus. She is the first author of a recent paper in Emerging Infectious Diseases on the virus’ reemergence in the Americas, and its risk for spread in the U.S. and its territories.
Dr. Rebecca Katz, PhD, MPH ’98 recently released her latest book, “The Outbreak Atlas.” Designed for the general public, this book provides an overview of outbreak activities alongside more than 100 engaging case studies and visuals to guide readers through the complexity involved in outbreak preparedness, response, and recovery. “The Outbreak Atlas” lifts the curtain on the rationale and interconnectedness of outbreak responses across different fields and at various levels, presenting accessible information that ensures a shared understanding of the essential activities to control an outbreak.
William J. Lee, MS ’09, was recently recognized as one of the nation’s Top 40 Under 40 Leaders in Health by the National Minority Quality Forum for his work at the intersection of epidemiology, law, and policy to reduce patient risk and advance health equity among minoritized and underserved populations. Lee leads the Scientific Practice Group of Kershaw Talley Barlow, P.C., a nationally recognized plaintiffs’ mass tort and class action firm in Sacramento, CA.
Dr. Jennifer Mandelbaum, MPH ’16, PhD, received the 2023 Early Career Award from the American Public Health Association’s Public Health Education and Health Promotion section. She was also recently named to the Boston Congress of Public Health’s 40 Under 40 in Public Health. Mandelbaum is a mixed-methods research manager at Athenahealth, where she uses data to examine ways to advance health equity and improve the business of health care. She is also a part-time faculty member in Tufts University’s Department of Community Health.
Dr. Rock G. Positano, DPM, MPH ’89, has authored the book “Street Smart: The Primer for Success in the New World.” Written for Millennials, it is compelling and relevant to anyone. He is the director of the Non-Surgical Foot and Ankle Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and is internationally renowned as a medical pioneer in the non-surgical approach for the treatment of foot and ankle disorders. He is also on staff at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Positano is a clinical associate professor at the Yale School of Public Health and an advisory member of the Yale School of Management Council of Global Advisors and the Yale School of Public Health Leadership Council.
Dr. K.C. Rondello, MD, MPH ’94, has been named chair of the board of trustees of the Hunterdon Healthcare System (“Hunterdon Health”) and the Hunterdon Medical Center. Rondello has served as a trustee of Hunterdon Health since 2016. He also has served on the board of directors of Hunterdon Healthcare Partners, Hunterdon’s Independent Practice Association, since 2020. A disaster epidemiologist deeply engaged in the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he is a clinical associate professor of public health and emergency management at Adelphi University in New York. He was elected a fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine in 2020 and earned the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM®) credential of the International Association of Emergency Managers in 2013.
Tammy Snyder, MPH ’08, president and chief operating officer (COO) of Rochester General Hospital (RGH), has been named among the nation’s “Rising stars: Healthcare Leaders Under 40” by the influential publication Becker’s Hospital Review. The Becker’s Healthcare list identifies 67 next-generation leaders whose focus on development, innovation, and improved outcomes is enabling their organizations to thrive at a time of substantial industry change. Snyder joined RGH in 2022.
Olivia Sweetnam, MPH ’11, MSN ’11, has been named the new chief executive officer at Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital in Townshend, Vermont. The chief nursing officer at Grace Cottage since February 2024, Sweetnam was vice president of hospice quality and clinical practice at Amedisys from 2021 to 2023, and held multiple leadership roles in quality, operations, and medical staff management at Ochsner Health Systems in Louisiana from 2013 to 2021. “Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital is a rare gem in the world of health care,” said Sweetnam. “It is a shining example of personal and compassionate care, and I am proud to lead this wonderful organization into the future.”
Dr. Theodore Witek, MPH ’82, DrPH, was appointed professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and the inaugural director of Canada’s first Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Program. He also serves as a senior fellow at the school’s Institute for Health Policy Management and Evaluation.
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