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2010 SHA Charles Jordan Award Presented to Kasey Decosimo
Kasey Poole Decosimo, Research Associate, North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness, was presented the SHA Jordan Award at the annual meeting in Franklin, Tennessee. This award is named in memory of a past President of SHA and recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a potential for achievement in the field of public health and has been employed in a public health capacity for less than ten years.
Kasey's public health career started shortly after receiving her MPH from the Gillings School of Global Public Health, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2006, when she was employed as the Public Information Officer (PIO) at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department (CHCHD). Becky Barnes, Director of the CHCHD, states in the letter of nomination that "her learning curve was unbelievably short, and she literally hit the ground running. It was very unusual to see such a high degree of dedication, professionalism, strong work ethics, respect, initiative, and leadership in a young person right out of school."
Her accomplishments as the PIO were many, including developing and executing a crisis/emergency risk communication plan for potential health threats which was a major need of the health department.
After two years of trail blazing PIO work, Kasey was promoted to Program Manager of Assessment and Planning for CHCHD, a role in which she could further use her leadership and educational skills.
Not only did the Health Department recognize her great potential, she was recognized county wide by being selected to "Leadership Chattanooga" in 2008. Leadership Chattanooga selects a few upcoming potential leaders and provides the class with instruction from and interaction with high ranking public and private sector leaders.
In July of this year, Kasey returned to North Carolina to continue her public health career as a research associate for the North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness. Among her responsibilities, she will coordinate the North Carolina Electronic Disease Surveillance System Communicable Disease training to local public health practitioners across North Carolina.
SHA is proud to recognize Casey Decosimo for her accomplishments in public health in Tennessee and for the potential for great leadership in North Carolina.
