Alumni News

Networking Has Never Been Easier

Are you an SPH alum looking for a quick, easy way to network with School of Public Health students and other alumni? Now the information is at your fingertips - whenever you need it.

The online SPH Alumni Network helps you make connections and share your career experience with current and prospective students and other alumni. If you are relocating but aren't familiar with the new city, log on to see if an alum lives there. Or if you want to assist students with career development, join the network.

Just follow two simple steps:

1. Go to www.sph.umn.edu/alumni/network and click the link to the Alumni Network Form. Type in your interests and you'll be a new a resource for other alumni and students.
2. Use the Alumni Network Directory! Log in anytime to search for contacts around the world.

"The SPH Alumni Network is another important way we are hoping to build meaningful ties with our alumni," says Michelle Lian-Anderson, associate director of alumni relations.

Join Us in Seattle at the Second American Congress of Epidemiology

Friday, June 23, 7 p.m., Westin Seattle Hotel, Room Cascade 1C

Take a break from the conference at the SPH Alumni and Friends Reception. Your host for this informal gathering will be Bernard Harlow, the new head for the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health. Sumptuous hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served. We hope to see you there!

Get Together - With SPH - At the Fair!

Thursday, Aug. 24

Stop by the School of Public Health booth at the Minnesota State Fair. We'll be in the U of M building on Dan Patch Avenue. Learn from interactive displays about infectious diseases, nutrition and environmental health. Take a minute to tell us what the School means to you. We'll be recording thoughts of SPH alumni, and we'd love to hear from you.

Class Notes

Lt. Colonel Edward P. Horvath (M.P.H. '73) was recently called to active duty serving the U.S. Army in Iraq. He is Deputy Commander and Chief of Clinical Services for the 344th Combat Support Hospital at Camp Bucca, located south of Basrah. During his current deployment, he has also been at Abu Ghraib prison hospital caring for both detainees and coalition forces. In his civilian life, Lt. Colonel Horvath is a staff physician in primary care at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Pat Koppa (M.P.H. '79) has been active in the start-up of a new national non-profit organization known as the National Alliance for Thrombosis and Thrombophilia (NATT). The mission of NATT is to prevent venous blood clots, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary edema, and to ensure that Americans receive early diagnosis, optimal treatment and quality support. Visit www.nattinfo.org for more information.

Maureen F. Morrell (M.P.H. '76) co-authored the book ¿Parenting Across the Autism Spectrum: Unexpected Lessons We Have Learned.¿

Rebecca Sanchez (M.P.H. '05) is a quality improvement specialist/dietitian for West Side Community Health Services. She works between the East Side Family Clinic and La Clinica in St. Paul as the Diabetes Collaborative Team Leader.

Mary Sheehan (M.P.H. '84) has accepted the position as director of health and human services for Chisago County, Minn. For the past 22 years, she has worked at the Minnesota Department of Health.

Jose Suarez-Torres (Ph.D. '84) has been awarded the prestigious Distinguished Leadership Award for Internationals given by the University of Minnesota Office of International Programs. Suarez-Torres directs Minnesota Studies in International Development in Ecuador. He was nominated for his commitment to social justice work in Ecuadorian communities.

Perry A. Witkin (M.H.A. '81) has been elected to the Board of Directors of The American Refugee Committee International.