In 2014 the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health (FSPH) Alumni Association created two awards to recognize alumni for significant contributions to their field and the promotion of the mission of the FSPH.
The Distinguished Alumni Award is given to a seasoned alumni who has made significant impact throughout their career and the Early Careerist Award is presented to an alumni who earned their degree within the past 15 years.
To make up for lost time caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, these awards will be presented twice in 2022! In the spring, Elizabeth Walker (MHA, JD’99) received the Distinguished Alumni Award and Patricia “Trish” Nguyen Ellis (MHA, MBA‘14) received the Early Careerist Award.
Elizabeth currently serves as VP of Strategy at Syneos Health, the only fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization purpose-built to accelerate customer success. Trish currently works for Tegria Services, a company dedicated to making sure that everyone, from patients to providers to payers, is heard, respected, and treated like a human being throughout the healthcare delivery process.
Trish not only contributes to healthcare in her professional life but is a dedicated volunteer to many organizations focused on improving the public’s health. She actively contributes to a number of charitable and professional institutions—including the Fairbanks School of Public Health Alumni Board.
Trish and Elizabeth are not only wonderful examples of outstanding alumni from the Fairbanks School of Public Health, they are also close friends because of FSPH. What began as a mentor relationship quickly morphed into a friendship—Elizabeth even traveled to Las Vegas to celebrate Trish’s wedding this year!
The Fairbanks School of Public Health will also present the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Early Careerist Award to Gregory Rozelle and Connor Norwood, respectively, this fall. Greg, who received his MHA in 1974, is a proud IU and public health alumni who has had a long career aimed at improving the health of his community and state. He is also committed to educating the next generation of healthcare professionals as an adjunct clinical assistant professor, department of community medicine, at Wright State University.
Connor Norwood (MHA’13, PhD’17) served as the first chief data officer at Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) and is now the founder and chief executive officer at Delineate Consulting. In addition to his work, Dr. Norwood teaches and mentors students at FSPH.
Specifically, Dr. Norwood teaches a public health finance course, which was developed in response to stakeholder feedback that such a course was necessary in the MPH concentration in health policy and management.
These awardees are leaders in their professional fields who make significant contributions benefiting their community, state, nation, and the university. Congratulations to Elizabeth, Trish, Greg, and Connor for their leadership, passion, and dedication to the Fairbanks School of Public Health and the health of Indiana Hoosiers and beyond!
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