An Introduction to the Oklahoma Public Health Association with HAP Student Speakers, March 31st

The Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Health Association (SCBHA) would like to invite you to attend our guest lecture event on March 31st at noon. We are delighted to be joined by the Oklahoma Public Health Association (OPHA), as attendees will be able to learn about what OPHA is, what current projects are going on, the future of the organization, and opportunities for involvement. Attendees will hear from Emilia Hart (OPHA President) and current Health Administration and Policy students, Matt Reeves and McKenzie Cowlbeck. Read below to learn more about our speakers. The event will be held virtually via Zoom with the link below.

Zoom Link:

https://zoom.us/j/93912958082?pwd=RnMzRDdDQ3BkQVoySUgxUnpGNFJFZz09

About the Speakers:

Emilia Hart, OPHA President

Emilia Hart currently serves as President and Communications Chair for the Oklahoma Public Health Association Board of Directors. She runs Smart Bites Oklahoma, a wellness and nutrition coaching business in Norman. She is also an administrative and communications professional for Urban Agrarian, a local food hub dedicated to connecting consumers with locally grown and produced food. She spent eight years in communications before obtaining her nutrition certificate and launching her wellness coaching business. Throughout her time coaching nutrition and wellness clients, she became increasingly aware of the health disparities that plague Oklahomans, particularly regarding access to high quality food and healthcare. This sparked her interest in community nutrition and public health, and inspired her to begin a master's program for nutrition and dietetics. She received her BS in Agricultural Communications from Oklahoma State University in 2007 and her nutrition coaching certificate in 2014 from the Nutritional Therapy Association. She is currently pursuing her Master's in Applied Nutrition through the University of New England.

Matt Reeves, Communications and Membership Intern

Matthew Reeves is a Norman native and a current MHA candidate at the Hudson College of Public Health at the OU Health Sciences Center. In addition to his studies he is currently acting as principal investigator and lead writer for his graduate research position to investigate access to preventative healthcare in Oklahoma based Native American populations. He is also the current Healthcare Executives Student Association Vice President for his program. In his free time he volunteers at OU Physicians Cardiac center helping streamline their digital pulmonary chart system. Matt has been working to boost membership and engagement with OPHA during the Spring 2022 semester.

McKenzie Cowlbeck, Policy Intern

McKenzie Cowlbeck (she/her) was born and raised in Ardmore, Oklahoma. She attended Plainview Public Schools for her K-12 education and followed in her family’s footsteps to become a third-generation student at the University of Oklahoma - Norman (OU) beginning fall 2016. McKenzie graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Math and Science and a minor in international area studies in December 2020. After a brief but joyful time as a lab instructor in OU’s human anatomy lab, McKenzie began her Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Administration and Policy at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Hudson College of Public Health (HCOPH) in August 2021. Her professional interests revolve around improving access and equity in health and health care through policy and advocacy. In addition to pursuing her MPH, she is currently a graduate research assistant in HCOPH’s Health Administration and Policy department, researching nurse practitioners’ scope of practice in the United States. McKenzie has been working with the Oklahoma Public Health Association team during the spring 2022 semester to assist with their 2022 policy efforts.