College's Returned Peace Corps Fellows Featured in Arizona Daily Star
 A page one story in the Arizona Daily Star, Nov. 21, prominently featured returned Peace Corps fellows who are attending The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health this semester.
More than one-third (14 out of 42) of the U.S. Peace Corps fellows at the UA are public health graduate students at the College.
“I think the reason for this is that people serving in the Peace Corps are attracted to public health’s major focus on community health, and one way to accomplish this is through community service,” explains John McElligott, one of the Peace Corps fellows and an MPH candidate in policy and management. “Returned Peace Corps volunteers are adept at integrating into diverse cultures and can build consensus for important issues related to health.”
To read the Arizona Daily Star story, click here.
Fall 2005 Convocation Set for Dec. 16
The Fall 2005 Convocation for the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health will honor graduates from the College's Health Education Program, the
Master of Public Health Program, and the Epidemiology Graduate Program on Friday, Dec. 16, 2 p.m., DuVal Auditorium, University Medical Center, 1501 N. Campbell Ave.
A reception will be held at Kiewit Auditorium of the Arizona Cancer Center immediately following the ceremony. An RSVP is required.
The Convocation keynote speaker will be Niki O'Keeffe, RN, Assistant Director, Division of Public Health Services at the Arizona Department of Health Services.
For more information, please contact Kathy Ott at 626-3200, ext. 107, or ottL@coph.arizona.edu.
Dr. Chen Appointed to NIH Study Section
 Zhao Chen, PhD, MPH, associate professor at the College, has been appointed to the Neurological, Aging and Musculoskeletal Epidemiology Study Section at the National Institutes of Health.
NIH study sections review grant applications submitted to the NIH, make recommendations on the applications to the appropriate NIH national advisory council or board, and survey the state of research in different fields of science.
The selection of the members for these study sections is based on a scientist's competence and achievement in his or her scientific discipline as evidenced by the quality of his/her research accomplishments, publications in scientific journals, and other sufficient scientific activities, achievements and honors. Each member is nominated by the scientific community and approved by the Director of the NIH.
Dr. Chen, who was appointed to a five-year term ending June 30, 2009, is director of the epidemiology concentration of the master of public health degree program at the College. Her research interests include the distributions and risk factors for osteoporosis, sarcopenia (low muscle mass), physical functioning decline, falls, and cancer in minority and aging populations. She has been the principal investigator in a number of epidemiologic studies. Dr. Chen also has participated in a nationwide study for women addressing heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis in clinical trials and a large observational cohort.
"This appointment to the NIH study section is an important indication that Dr. Chen has attained national recognition as a scientist," notes Dean G. Marie Swanson. "It also provides a unique opportunity for her to contribute to the national biomedical research effort at a new level as well as to increase the visibility of our College in the nationwide biomedical science community."
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College Welcomes 1st TIES Research Scholar: Hopes to Address Health and Human Rights Issues for Migrants
 The College welcomes Mercedes Gameros, MD, as its first visiting research scholar representing the Training, Internships, Exchanges and Scholarships (TIES) program funded by USAID. This collaboration with El Colegio de Sonora (COLSON) addresses complex, social, educational and development issues facing public health work forces in the border regions of Arizona and Sonora.
During her nine month visit, Dr. Gameros will conduct research on the relationship between the journey taken by many migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico Border and the effects this experience has on their health and well being. In addition, she will be documenting human rights issues affecting migrants. She will be gathering data and testimonials from migrants in the Sonoran border communities of Altar, Caborca, Nogales and Sasabe.
Prior to coming to the College, Dr. Gameros was manager of the Sexual Health Section at the General Hospital in Nogales, Sonora; chief of the Office of Binational Health (a joint collaboration between the Arizona Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health Services, and the Sonora Secretary of Public Health); and emergency physician at the General Hospital. In addition, she is medical advisor to the Mexican Consulate in Nogales, Ariz.
Her research areas have included assessing the prevalence and incidence rates for tuberculosis, hepatitis, rubella, diabetes, cancer, and children's exposure to lead along the U.S.-Mexico Border. In addition, she has made numerous presentations on the challenge of managing infectious disease in border regions, bioterrorism and binational public health preparedness.
She received her medical degree from the School of Medicine at the Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit and certificates in epidemiology, accredited by the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, from the Secretary of Public Health in Mexico City.
Funded by the Association Liaison Office for University Cooperation in Development and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the collaboration between the College and COLSON is part of a U.S.-Mexico TIES partnership.
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New Faces
 John Hannah is a senior applications systems analyst in the Office of Information Technology at the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health. His work encompasses Web application and database development projects, including maintaining the college Web site and working with the Center for Health Equality/Project EXPORT group, among other responsibilities. He looks forward to providing College members with "Web and database solutions that make their work easier and more productive."
Prior to joining the College, he was a senior applications systems analyst in the Applied Behavioral Health Division at the UA Eller College of Management.
John, who was raised in Texas but moved to Tucson from Boise, Idaho, two years ago, has a bachelor of science degree in liberal studies from Excelsior College.
In his free time, he enjoys hiking and studying ancient Roman and Greek history.
He can be reached at (520) 626-3738 or jhannah@email.arizona.edu.
 Sheryl Falgout recently joined the College as administrative associate in the Division of Environmental and Community Health, where her responsibilities will include providing administrative support to the faculty and director of the Division, with an emphasis on educational program functions. Her responsibilities also include facilitating grant application submissions.
She looks forward to interacting with the “excellent faculty, staff and students” of the College.
Originally from Southern California, Sheryl recently moved to Tucson from Baltimore, Md., where she resided for 20 years and where she completed a bachelor of liberal arts (BLA) degree in social sciences at Johns Hopkins University.
Prior to coming to Arizona, Sheryl was a senior budget analyst in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Johns Hopkins University for 12 years. She has extensive knowledge and background in preparing and administering programs funded by federal, state and local grants.
In her free time Sheryl enjoys gardening, decorating and sewing.
She can be reached at (520) 882-5852, ext. 15, or falgout@email.arizona.edu.
 Ana Nevarez recently joined the College as administrative associate for the Arizona Center for Public Health Preparedness, where her duties will include providing administrative support to the AzCPHP program director; monitoring budgets and business affairs, personnel matters, and interpreting policies and procedures; coordinating and providing oversight for project staff activities including the Student Epidemiology Response Team; organizing and preparing departmental administrative and financial reports; and serving as a liaison to faculty, staff, students and outside agencies and the public.
Prior to joining the College, she coordinated the Arizona Outreach Office of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission at the Arizona Department of Health Services and, before that, she worked at the Mariposa Community Health Center as a coordinator for the Platicamos Salud Tobacco Project.
She is originally from Rio Rico, Ariz., and has lived in Tucson for 2.5 years. She has an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts from Pima Community College and is currently finishing a bachelor’s degree at the UA, with a major in Spanish Literature and a minor in Latin American Studies.
“I am excited to be a part of the newly created Arizona Center for Public Health Preparedness and witness how it flourishes and becomes a part of the public health community,” notes Ana. She also is looking forward to continuing her education and hopes to complete a master's degree in public health.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the movies, going out with friends, reading and walking.
She can be reached at (520) 622-8971, ext. 10, or anevarez@email.arizona.edu
 Erna M. Heckele recently joined the College as administrative assistant in the Division of Environmental and Community Health, where her responsibilities will include secretarial/administrative support for the ECH office and the ECH faculty.
Before taking this position, she worked at the Arizona Clinical Research Training Program and at the UA College of Medicine Research Office. She looks forward to getting up in the morning and “another glorious day at the office (really!)” and adds that she loves her new job at the College.
Originally from Munich, Germany, Erna has lived in Tucson for about 10 years. She is happily married with two children, two miniature dachshunds and two kittens.
Self-describing herself as possessed with a “great sense of humor,” Erna says she enjoys ballroom dancing, reading, hiking, scuba diving, sailing and going to her son’s soccer games. In addition, she is a volunteer historian in the German-American Club.
Erna can be reached at (520) 882-5852, ext.10 or ernamh@u.arizona.edu.
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Dean G. Marie Swanson, PhD, MPH, was among 86 women honored for their leadership, professional achievements and contributions to the community, during the 2005 YWCA of Tucson's Women on the Move awards ceremony. 
