Current Public Health Scholars

Faith Ashivaka

Medical Surveyor, Indiana Department of Health

Manage the receipt and investigation of complaint calls, including evaluating and analyzing information in relation to federal and state rules and regulations. Provie resource information and make appropriate recommendations to the complainant. Reviewing the complaints and determines priority following the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations and State Rules when applicable.

Areas of interest: Infectious Diseases, Health Behavior, Chronic diseases

Joel M. Bazzell

Ryan White Fiscal Specialist at the Indiana Department of Health Division of HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis

Collaborate with internal fiscal staff on the administration of the HRSA HAB RWAHP Part B grant awarded to sub-recipients throughout the state of Indiana to provide low income Hoosiers living with HIV access to services that improve health outcomes.

Areas of interest: Infectious Disease Care (STI/HIV), Priority Population Health, Community Health Collaborations/Partnerships, LGBTQIA+ healthcare needs, Public Health Policy.

Stephanie Beverly

Director of Community Engagement and Systems Building - Indiana Department of Health , Maternal and Child Health

I oversee the Moms Helpline/My Healthy Baby/Help Me Grow Indiana. A state helpline dedicated to reducing Indiana's infant mortality rate and improving health services for women and children, through information and referrals. I also direct community engagement efforts for Maternal and Child Health through relationships with community and state partners.

Areas of interest: Maternal and child health, behavioral health, information and referral systems, community engagement and leadership.

Sarah Feeney

Public Health Investigator with the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH)

In my role with HIV/STI/Viral Hepatitis and Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention Divisions, I support epidemiologists in responding to disease outbreaks, as well as routine surveillance and data analysis. I am also a Disease Intervention Specialist with Indiana's Strengthening the U.S. Response to Gonorrhea (SURRG) team.

Areas of interest: Environmental health, Disaster epidemiology, Rural health, Geographic information systems.

Jennifer Healy

Public Health Educator, Vanderburgh County Health Department

I have been a Public Health Educator since 2017. Since I've been in this role, I have been able to successfully help individuals quit smoking, lower their risk of diabetes, lose weight, and learn healthy coping mechanisms through evidence-based wellness programs.

Areas of interest: Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN), rural populations, genetically inherited medical conditions.

Maddie Kozlowski

Certified Community Health Worker with the Elkhart County Health Department

As a Certified Community Health Worker, my role is to connect those who live, learn, work and play within Elkhart County to their needed health resources. Resources which bridge the gap for individuals to improve their overall wellbeing.

Areas of interest: Eating disorder/disordered eating prevention and treatment, Mental Health, Health behavior.

Kathleen Livingston

Program Director, Indiana Rural Health Association

I have contributed to the mission of the Indiana Rural Health Association to improve the health of rural Hoosiers since January 2014, working towards implementation of Electronic Health Records, Chronic Care Management, School-based telehealth programming, and am currently developing a network in the West-central region to improve transfers of care.

Areas of interest: Maternal Health, EMS, school-based health.

Deanna R. Paddack

RN, BSN Infection Preventionist at Indiana Department of Health

Providing onsite and virtual risk assessment strategies to healthcare facilities on infection control and prevention measures. Creation and dissemination of educational materials on various platforms to address transmission of infectious organisms and current evidenced based applications to prevent transmission. Increasing public health and safety across the state of Indiana.

Areas of interest: Infectious and communicable disease states, social inequalities within healthcare, promotion of justice and optimal mental and physical health to residents of Indiana.

Jessica Pinyerd, BSN, RN

Registered Nurse, Indiana State Department of Health

I am a Registered Nurse and work for the Indiana Department of Health. I work in the Local Health Service Division as the Central Region School Health Liaison. This position works to help support local health departments through the Health First Indiana initiative.