News & Events

Melissa Tibbits, PhD

Faculty Highlight – Dr. Melissa Tibbits received her PhD in human development and family studies from the Pennsylvania State University. She joined the College of Public Health (COPH) faculty in 2009 as an assistant professor in the Department of Health Promotion, Social and Behavioral Health. Dr. Tibbits currently teaches Public Health Program Evaluation, a concentration course for the Health Promotion MPH track, and Child and Adolescent Growth and Development, a concentration course for the Maternal and Child Health MPH track. She also provides guest lectures… Continue Reading

Brenda Thompson, MPH Director of Career Services

Student Highlight – Though she is not a student, Brenda Thompson recently joined the College of Public Health (COPH) as director of career services, to serve the needs of students, as well as alumni. Here, Brenda gives us some insight into her role in the COPH. What services are available? I’m available to meet with students and alumni to discuss any aspect of their career development, including resume review and mock interviews; interests, strengths, and weaknesses; and action steps for career development. In 2013, we… Continue Reading

Li-Wu Chen, MHSA, PhD, Research on Public Health Services and Systems

Spotlight on Research at COPH – Dr. Li-Wu Chen’s main research interest is in public health services and systems research (PHSSR). He has directed and conducted several PHSSR projects that were funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). As the co-principal investigator of the RWJF-funded Nebraska Public Health Practice-Based Research Network, Dr. Chen has actively engaged various stakeholders from Nebraska’s public health practice and policy communities in the development, implementation, dissemination, and translation of PHSSR. Dr. Chen has systematically studied the regional public health… Continue Reading

Feeling the blues lately?

Public Health Community Advisory – The faculty and staff at the College of Public Health (COPH) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center are working with community members to explore ways to collaborate on mental health issues. Community collaborations include working with community mental health treatment professionals, community liaisons in the COPH Center for Reducing Health Disparities, and faculty involved in research opportunities such as the NIH-funded project, “A Systems Approach for Community-Linked Health Research Across the ‘Plaza.’” One area of interest includes research on… Continue Reading

Health Information Exchange Important to Public Health?

Public Health in the National News – The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) recently announced that two Nebraska health information exchange (HIE) initiatives are recognized as national leaders for their efforts to enhance the safety and quality of health care by embracing the use of health information technology. Why is the federal government interested in HIE and what’s happening in Nebraska? Federal Government Interest in HIE The ONC was created by Executive Order in 2009 and legislatively mandated by the… Continue Reading

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