HPCH Department News
State health leader to discuss past, present and future of Georgia’s public health at Georgia Southern University
As deputy commissioner for the Georgia Department of Public Health, Chris Rustin, DrPH, has helped Georgia respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and the current monkeypox outbreak. These issues are a part of the past, present and future of public health in Georgia, which he will discuss on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m., in the Performing Arts Center on Georgia Southern University’s Statesboro Campus.
Rustin is the featured speaker in the 2022 Norman Fries Distinguished Lectureship Series, hosted this year by the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH). The event is free and open to the public.
Rustin’s public health career spans over two decades, ranging from working in rural and urban health departments, the state health department, to a stint in academia. He splits his time between Atlanta and Savannah, serving in a dual role as deputy commissioner for the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and the public health administrator for the Chatham County Health Department.
As the deputy commissioner, he assists the commissioner of public health with oversight of statewide public health programs, 159 county health departments and over 6,000 employees statewide. For the past two years, he has served as the incident manager coordinating DPH’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently assisting with coordination of the monkeypox response. As the Chatham County public health administrator, he directs one of the largest health departments in the state, ensuring local public health services are provided to the Savannah-Chatham community and region.
Rustin began his career as an intern with the Chatham County Mosquito Control Commission, leading to his first public health position as an environmental health specialist with the Evans County Health Department. From there, he managed and directed environmental health programs for Effingham and Chatham County health departments. In 2009, he transferred to DPH headquarters in Atlanta to assume leadership positions in environmental health and was promoted to the director of health protection overseeing DPH’s largest division. He holds adjunct faculty appointments at several universities and taught environmental health science at the JPHCOPH.
An alumnus of the JPHCOPH, he received his Doctor of Public Health with an emphasis on community health. He is a registered environmental health specialist with the Georgia Board of Registered Environmental Health Professionals, a fellow of the CDC Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute and the immediate past president of the Georgia Public Health Association.
The annual Norman Fries Distinguished Lectureship Series is sponsored by an endowment established to honor the late Norman Fries, the founder of Claxton Poultry and former senior statesman of the poultry industry in Georgia. His company continues its tradition as a privately held family business with the Fries children and grandchildren.
Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers approximately 138 different degree programs serving nearly 26,000 students through 10 colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.
Georgia Southern faculty secure $1.8 million federal grant to promote inclusive excellence in health informatics
Faculty from Georgia Southern University’s Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH) have secured a federal grant totaling more than $1.8 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to promote inclusive excellence in health informatics and health equity.
With the goal of empowering minority students through education, JPHCOPH’s Professor and Department Chair Gulzar Shah, Ph.D., as principal investigator, and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Nandi Marshall, DrPH, as co-investigator, received the grant as part of the $7.98 million award for the TRIUMPH (Training in Informatics for Underrepresented Minorities in Public Health) consortium, which included three other universities and four public health organizations.
“This initiative will help our college foster collaborations and community engagement involving influential public health agencies, academic institutions, community organizations and public health agencies,” stated Shah. “It will assist with paid practical experience for students and the practicum sites, and better prospects of job placements for the graduates. The grant will also involve health informatics capacity-building in the current public health workforce in Georgia.”
In addition, the grant will help facilitate a new fully online concentration in public health informatics within the University’s existing Master of Public Health (MPH) program. This concentration will feature new courses focused on health information systems, data analytics and public health data visualization for evidenced-based practice. The courses will also be available as elective options for students in the Doctor of Public Health program. As well, the award also provides several graduate assistant opportunities to support students enrolled in the new MPH concentration.
JPHCOPH faculty members Hani Samawi, Ph.D., Jeff Jones, Ph.D., Linda Kimsey, Ph.D., Joanne Chopak-Foss, Ph.D., Katie Mercer, DrPH, and Bobbie Jo Newell also significantly contributed to securing the grant.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT provided support for the grant. The federal award number is 90PH0005/01-00.
Georgia Southern graduate credits independent study and mentor for success in public health
Many students strive to make a significant impact on their communities before they graduate. Jordan Bordeaux is one of them.
As an undergraduate student at the University of Wyoming, Bordeaux worked in health promotion and wellness. That experience prompted her to look into graduate programs for public health.
“I enjoy public health because it is such an inclusive area of study, and really focuses on health and wellness in both a micro and macro level,” said Bordeaux, who is from Douglas, Wyoming.
She chose the Georgia Southern University Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH) based on the quality of education and affordability, and for its emphasis on project-based learning and access to graduate assistantships that could help fund her educational endeavors.
In August 2020, Bordeaux enrolled in the Master of Public Health program with a concentration in community health. As a scholar in the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars Program, she was introduced to JPHCOPH faculty member Tilicia Mayo-Gamble, Ph.D. The assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Community Health would become Bordeaux’s mentor.
The Georgia AHEC Scholars Program is a two-year multidisciplinary certificate program for health profession students that offers opportunities for hands-on training, experience in rural and underserved communities and networking with other students and professionals.
After learning about migrant farmworker clinics through the AHEC Scholars program, Jordan and Dr. Mayo-Gamble developed an independent study that would allow Jordan to gain real world experience working with this population.
As part of her independent study, Bordeaux assisted in migrant farm clinics and collaborated on a capstone presentation that focused on the mental health of migrant farmworkers. The independent study also allowed her to use Spanish to communicate health and wellness concepts.
“This class was one of the most impactful parts of my master’s program,” Bordeaux said. “Thanks to the program, I improved my Spanish-speaking and expanded my knowledge on the Latino & immigrant community and the migrant farmworker experience.”
Bordeaux said she is grateful for all the amazing opportunities Georgia Southern provided to her during her time as a student.
“Georgia Southern really provided hands-on learning experiences that have helped shape my future and endowed me with a broad range of transferable skills,” Bordeaux said. “That, I believe, will help me in a variety of concentrations.”
Mayo-Gamble noted how active Bordeaux was as a public health student.
“She was a graduate assistant in the Office of Student Wellness and Health Promotion and helped plan suicide prevention events on campus as well as recruited Wellness Ambassadors and Peer Body Project facilitators,” said Mayo-Gamble. “She also earned a mini-grant from the American College Health Association to examine COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and interned with the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential to gather support for comprehensive sex education.”
Jordan’s long list of achievements and passion for public health earned her the Graduate Student Leadership and Service Award at the 2022 Eagle Excellence Awards.
When she received her diploma during commencement ceremonies, Bordeaux reflected on her career plans.
“My plan for the future is to work in a community setting, where I can educate and empower others in topics around sexual health, healthy relationships, mental health and substance use,” Bordeaux said.
Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health establishes Development Council
Georgia Southern University’s Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH) is unveiling the list of its founding members for the newly-formed Development Council.
The Council will help guide the College’s faculty and staff in its research initiatives, promote the reputation of the College’s work and assist in fundraising efforts. However, the Council is not part of the University’s governance structure and will not have a vote on budgetary nor management decisions.
“This new Development Council is the next logical evolution in our journey to grow our funding efforts,” said Stuart Tedders, Ph.D., dean of the JPHCOPH. “I’m honored and excited that this incredible group of professionals have dedicated their time to support our mission. Their work will enhance the regional and national reputation of the College, help our students understand the value and scope of a public health degree, and secure private funds to support scholarships and priority initiatives.”
The Council will be led by Chair Kelley Chester, DrPH, who is a Triple Eagle and co-founder of a scientific and technology firm.
Other members of the council are, respectively:
- Randall Ford, D.D.S., a graduate student in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health and executive director of the Tennessee Dental Society of Anesthesiology
- Denise Kornegay, MSW, executive director of the Georgia Statewide Area Health Education Centers Network
- Sara Plaspohl, DrPH, alumna (‘10), former associate dean to the Waters College of Health Professionals and vice chair of the executive board of directors for Hospice Savannah, Inc.
- Chris Rustin, DrPH, M.S., REHS, alumnus (‘04, ‘13) and acting deputy commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health
- Andreas Sashegyi, Ph.D., senior director of statistics within the oncology business unit at Eli Lilly and Company
- Kimberly Scott, DrPH, CHES, alumna (‘09) and leader of “Live Well Lake”, which is an initiative North Carolina Human Services
The Office of Advising selects 2021-22 Outstanding Advisors
Georgia Southern University’s Office of Advising has selected Monica Brister, Kimberly Couch, and Clare Ursillo as the 2021-22 Outstanding Advisors. The trio will also represent Georgia Southern as the nominees in each of the categories at the National Academic Advising Association’s (NACADA) annual awards.
Brister, an Advising Coordinator for the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH) and the College of Education (COE), received the Outstanding Advising Administrator Award. Brister has worked at Georgia Southern since 2015 and served in an advising coordinator role since 2019. She is the graduate advisor for the JPHCOPH, supervises the undergraduate advisor, and oversees the advisors within the COE.
Couch, an advisor for the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing, received the Outstanding Advisor in a Primary Role Award. Couch has worked at Georgia Southern since 2008 and served as an advisor since 2012. She was selected for her dedication to students over the past 10 years. Couch is also active within the University community, serving on the Staff Council and the Department of Information Technology Curriculum Committee, and the larger advising community. Additionally, she is involved with NACADA and presents at conferences, serves on committees, and reviews proposals.
Ursillo, an advisor for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (CBSS), received the Outstanding New Advisor Award. She has worked at Georgia Southern since 2008 and became an academic advisor in 2020. In the short amount of time she has been advising, she has stepped up to assist with many events and programs, both within advising and throughout the University, such as Eagle Experience and the CBSS Staff Council.
The NACADA awards process began with a call to faculty, staff, and students at Georgia Southern to submit nominations for advising staff who have had a positive influence on their lives and the campus community.
Once nominations were received, the nominees, with the support of their supervisors, were asked to submit a resume, a statement of their advising philosophy, and three letters of reference. A committee then reviewed the documentation and selected the winner for each category.