Jewel Kavanaugh stands in front of a banner celebrating her 47 years of service at Vanderbilt — 40 years at the Credit Union. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Colleen Conway-Welch, Ph.D., dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, was recently chosen to participate in the first meeting of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service Secretary’s Council on Public Health Preparedness, Aug. 26-27 in Washington, D.C.
The Council, formed after Secretary Tommy Thompson determined that a public health emergency exists as a consequence of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, will advise the Secretary on appropriate actions to respond to this public health emergency and similar emergencies.
Specifically, the Council will advise the Secretary on ways to improve the public health and health care infrastructure to better enable federal, state, and local governments to respond to a public health emergency and a bioterrorism event; to ensure that there are comprehensive contingency plans in place at all levels of government to such an event; and improve public health preparedness at the federal, state, and local levels.
Conway-Welch is one of 26 members appointed by Secretary Thompson. Members were selected from state and local public health agencies, the public health community, academia, and other appropriate organizations.