Colorado State University’s College of Health and Human Sciences annual Research Day will feature keynote speaker Mary Wakefield, Ph.D., visiting professor at Georgetown University and the University of Texas at Austin, and former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Wakefield was appointed by President Barack Obama, and held the second-most senior position in the department. She was the first nurse to hold the position and was responsible for oversight of HHS, a department with a $1 trillion budget and 80,000 employees.
Wakefield will present virtually “Strengthening Health Equity through Health Care Policy: What does science have to do with it?” on Tuesday, March 2, noon – 1:30 p.m. People may register for Wakefield’s lecture on the College’s Events Calendar.
“I am excited about this year’s Research Day and building upon last year’s successful inaugural event,” said Dean Lise Youngblade. “Holding the event virtually has given us a new opportunity to spread the word about the great work we do. I’m looking forward to our keynote speaker, Mary Wakefield, the research and creative scholarship posters, and hearing talks from our wonderful faculty and Dean’s Fellows.”
More Research Day events
The College of Health and Human Sciences Research Day is held to celebrate the variety and quality of research and creative scholarship by students, faculty, and staff. This year’s event will span three days and will be 100% virtual.
CHHS Research Day Lightning Talks
The CHHS Research Day Lightning Talks will take place virtually on Wednesday, March 3, Noon – 1:30 p.m. To receive a link to join the talks, register on the College’s Events Calendar. Faculty from each academic unit, as well as two graduate student Dean’s Fellows, will give short talks highlighting their research innovation, integration, and impact.
CHHS Research Day Virtual Poster Show
Opening Monday, March 1, the virtual Poster Show will feature research posters and three-minute talks by faculty, staff, and students. The college has partnered with CSU Ventures to host posters on a virtual platform. Visitors can click “Login” in the upper right on the platform and create a profile (create account). This will allow anyone to join the community and view submissions throughout the week.
More about Wakefield
Prior to Wakefield’s role in the Department of Health and Human Services, where she was the highest ranking nurse in the U.S. government, Obama appointed her to lead the $10 billion Health Resources and Services Administration. She led program improvements to strengthen the health care workforce, build healthier communities, increase health equity, and provide health care services to geographically isolated, economically, or medically vulnerable populations. Wakefield’s public service career also includes over eight years working in the U.S. Senate.
She is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. Wakefield currently serves as the co-chair of the National Academy of Medicine’s Committee on the Future of Nursing, 2020-2030. Her prior experience includes memberships on the Medical Payment Advisory Commission and chair of the National Advisory Council for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
For more information about the College of Health and Human Sciences Research Day, visit the Research Day web page.