School Work
The UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Alumni Hall of Fame was established in 2002 to honor alumni with outstanding career accomplishments in public health, as well as those who have volunteered time and talent in their communities in support of public health activities.
Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Named FSPH’s 2019 Commencement Speaker
BERNARD J. TYSON, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF KAISER PERMANENTE, will deliver the keynote address at the Fielding School’s commencement ceremony June 14 in UCLA’s Royce Hall.
Tyson leads Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Hospitals — known as Kaiser Permanente — one of the nation’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. He advocates for high-quality affordable health care as well as the elimination of health care disparities. Tyson has overseen efforts to increase patients’ access to mental health and wellness services and has announced plans for Kaiser Permanente to invest $200 million in initiatives aimed at creating more affordable housing and reducing homelessness in areas where its members live.
2019 LA Marathon and LA Big 5K
Team FSPH ran in the LA Marathon and LA Big 5k this spring and raised nearly $38,000, which will support more than 2,500 hours of student fieldwork. To support FSPH student fieldwork, please visit bit.ly/FSPH-give.
45th Annual Lester Breslow Distinguished Lecture
BARBARA FERRER, DIRECTOR OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (LADPH), delivered the 45th Annual Lester Breslow Lecture with a presentation titled, “A Pathway to Equity: Key Issues and Implications for Practice.” LADPH protects health, prevents disease, and promotes equity and well-being among L.A. County’s more than 10 million residents. The evening also featured a video produced by 2019 Lester Breslow Impact Fellowship awardee James Huynh, and recognized Impact fellows Dr. Yelba Castellon-Lopez (MPH ’18) and Lamar Hayes.
The annual event, held in honor of the late Dr. Lester Breslow — former Fielding School dean, professor and public health visionary — unveiled documents from the recently completed UCLA Library archive of Breslow’s numerous influential works over the course of his career.
2019 Ruth Roemer Social Justice Symposium and Alumni Hall of Fame Induction
L.A. County Supervisor representing the first district Hilda L. Solis, FSPH’S 2019 Ruth Roemer Social Justice Leadership award winner; FSPH Alumni Hall of Fame inductees Goleen Samari, Ludlow B. Creary & Sander Greenland; & Ron Brookmeyer, Dean.
HILDA L. SOLIS, LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERVISOR REPRESENTING THE FIRST DISTRICT, received the Fielding School’s 2019 Ruth Roemer Social Justice Leadership Award in April. The award is named after the late FSPH professor, who advocated for the importance of human rights in public health. Solis, county supervisor since 2014, was recognized for her contributions to improving the health and well-being of her constituents and reducing health disparities across the county.
The event included induction of three new members into the UCLA Fielding School Alumni Hall of Fame. This year’s honorees are Ludlow B. Creary (MPH ’73), co-founder and chairman of the Creary Family Foundation and former medical director of Visiting Angels - Beverly Hills/Los Angeles; Sander Greenland (MPH ’76, DrPH ’78), professor emeritus of epidemiology at the Fielding School; and Goleen Samari (MPH ’10, PhD ’15), public health demographer and an assistant professor at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
Welcoming New Faculty
LIWEI CHEN, associate professor of epidemiology
Chen’s primary research focus is on identifying effective dietary and lifestyle approaches to prevent and manage obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other cardiometabolic diseases. She also studies maternal and child health, with a particular focus on those at high risk for developing cardiometabolic diseases. Chen serves as grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health, National Medical Research Council (Singapore) and Diabetes UK (United Kingdom), as well as reviewer for top journals including JAMA, Circulation, Diabetes Care and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
DVORA JOSEPH DAVEY, adjunct assistant professor of epidemiology
Joseph Davey applies her expertise in study design and use of epidemiological methods to inform interventions aimed at reducing the burden of HIV and related diseases on women, children and families. Her research focuses on the prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in peri-conception, pregnant women and couples, and other vulnerable populations.
National Public Health Week
FSPH’S STUDENTS OF COLOR FOR PUBLIC HEALTH organized lectures and activities to celebrate National Public Health Week in April. This year’s theme was “Rooted,” which highlighted grassroots initiatives that aim to empower and improve the health and well-being of communities of color.
Left: LADPH Director Barbara Ferrer. Right: Devra Breslow, longtime friend and supporter of the Fielding School and wife of Dr. Lester Breslow, with 2019 Lester Breslow Impact Fellowship awardee James Huynh.