Meet the People of SPH

• Meet the Students
• Meet the Alumni
• Meet the Faculty

Site Menu

Meet the Alumni of UM SPH

Name: Neysa Dillon Brown
Title: Senior Vice President, Desir Group Executive Search Firm; current member of UM SPH Alumni Society Board of Governors
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
SPH Degree: MHSA '83, Health Management & Policy

"The transition from being a student to entering the professional world can be overwhelming and challenging. It is our role as alumni and members of the Alumni Board to share our perspective, knowledge, and insight to help make the transition as successful as possible. It is exciting meeting the future public health leaders!"

Name: Catherine Cowie
Title: Director, Diabetes Epidemiology Program, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
SPH Degree: MPH '79, PhD '88, Epidemiology

"UM SPH courses and research experience provided me with a firm foundation for a career in diabetes epidemiology. I feel that I am making some important contributions to diabetes research and program policy pertaining to the scope and impact of the disease in the U.S. Some of my collaborations are with more recent graduates of UM SPH, and their know-how reinforces what a fine epidemiology program UM SPH continues to have." More. (PDF)

Name: David Green
Title: Founder of the non-profit Project Impact, which brings high-tech, low-cost hearing aids and other services to developing countries.
Location:: Berkeley, California
SPH Degree: MPH "82, Health Behavior and Health Education

After being named a recipient of a $500,000 MacArthur award in 2004, Green explained that his organization's underlying principle is "if we can bring down the cost of key medical technologies, then these programs can become market-driven. It's a public health mentality: leveraging small efforts into big effects."

Name: David Dyjack
Title: Dean, Loma Linda School of Public Health (also pofessor of environmental and occupational health, associate professor of preventive medicine, and associate professor of global health)
Location: Loma Linda, California
SPH Degree: Dr.P.H. '96, occupational health

"UM SPH graduates hold key public health leadership positions throughout the United States. I consider it a privilege to partner with them in their efforts to protect and enhance the health of our citizens, and hope you too will consider joining us as we build on the school's legacy of excellence and innovation."

Read Dr. Dyjack's "Dream Green" educational blog on being vegetarian for a month of 2008:
http://myllu.llu.edu/blogs/sphdean/

Name: Terri D. Wright
Title: Program Director, Health Policy, W.K. Kellogg Foundation; former chair, SPH Alumni Society Board of Governors
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
SPH Degree:: MPH "83, Health Planning and Administration

"My involvement in the University of Michigan School of Public Health Alumni Society allows me to express my pride and maintain connections that are important to me, both personally and professionally. At the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, I am responsible for developing and reviewing grantmaking priorities and initiatives. Before that, I was in governmental public health. When real-world politics and challenges kick in, my connection to the School of Public Health is a breath of fresh air. It is my sacred, safe place, full of people of like mind and values."

Name: Cheryl Schott
Title:: Asthma Program Specialist, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Control, Michigan Department of Community Health
Location:: Lansing, Michigan
SPH Degree:: MPH "98, Health Behavior and Health Education

"As a Michigan student, I was able to get involved with public health initiatives in Detroit and Flint as part of my course work--conducting a needs assessment, developing materials, and participating in programs that directly contributed to public health efforts in the community. These experiences not only helped to solidify my classroom learning, but also allowed me to form personal connections with community members and organizations that I continue to cherish today."

Name: Glenn A. Fosdick
Title:: President and Chief Executive Officer, Nebraska Health System; former chair, SPH Alumni Society Board of Governors
Location:: Omaha, Nebraska
SPH Degree:: MHSA "76, Hospital Administration

"The relationship between the School of Public Health and its alumni is mutually beneficial. Those of us working in the real world of health care can offer students and researchers important exposure to ever-changing issues and challenges. Simultaneously, the many UM SPH alumni who hire and mentor Michigan graduates know they are drawing from a rich pool of well-trained individuals. I continue to be eternally appreciative of the preparation and opportunities the School of Public Health provided to me. That"s why I try to help ensure that others have these same invaluable resources."

Name: Gail Warden
Title:: President and CEO emeritus, Henry Ford Health System
Location:: Detroit, Michigan
SPH Degree:: MHA '63, Department of Health Management and Policy

"One of the most gratifying experiences of being an SPH graduate is seeing the impact that its graduates are having all over the world in health care delivery, financing, health promotion and prevention, environmental health, and health care policy. There is always a graduate of the school playing a very significant role. Strong alumni in positions of importance are one of the school's most important products."

Name: Julio Frenk
Title:: Former Minister of Health of Mexico
Location:: Mexico City, Mexico
SPH Degree:s: MPH '81, PhD '83, Department of Health Management and Policy

"Michigan taught me a holistic approach to public health, blending scholarship with problem-solving through a wealth of different disciplines. Michigan empowered me ith a way of thinking critically about health and social problems. The relationships that I established there with mentors and colleagues count among my richest assets."
Read Dr. Frenk's thoughts on Globalization and Health in the Spring 2006 issue of Michigan Today magazine.