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Story written by: Matthew Schmidt

South ��ֱ���� State University student Heidi Schultz has been named to a 10-member Student Leaders in Public Health cohort by the Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center. Schultz, from Rapid City, has been awarded a $3,500 stipend to assist with her public health field placement this spring semester.

Schultz is completing a Master of Public Health degree through the combined SDSU/USD MPH Program. Her field placement is with the SDSU College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions and South ��ֱ���� Department of Health collaborative project named “Improving the Health of South ��ֱ����ns through the Prevention and Management of Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke” funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The five-year project will identify barriers and develop viable solutions to improve the care of South ��ֱ����ns with diabetes, heart disease, and stroke as it relates to medication therapy management and pharmacy’s role in patient care. The principal investigator is Sharrel Pinto, the SDSU Hoch Family Endowed Professor for Community Pharmacy Practice.

The goal of the SLPH is to enhance the public health workforce in the Rocky Mountain region, specifically in underserved communities and populations. It supports students conducting applied health projects and faculty-student collaborative projects and provides opportunities for mentoring and professional development. This program is funded by Health Resources and Services Administration through the Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center.

SLPH requirements include completion of at least 200 hours in a project addressing public health issues in rural, medically underserved and/or disadvantaged communities; enrollment in a higher education program in Colorado, Montana, North ��ֱ����, South ��ֱ����, Utah or Wyoming; and completion of three deliverables, a paper or poster, an abstract describing the project and its impact, and a final online evaluation.