The executive director and CEO of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) will deliver the keynote address at the annual College of Health Sciences Scholars Day at Eastern Kentucky University on Tuesday, April 19.
Dr. David Dyjack will address “Environmental Public Health 2.0: The Future of the Profession” when he speaks at 9:15 a.m. on the main stage of the EKU Center for the Arts. The annual Scholars Day event at the center also features poster presentations by 129 students from the college, focused on the day’s theme: “Colonel Scholars – Building a Foundation for a Healthier Kentucky.” As many as 300 students, faculty and staff are expected to attend, and the event is open to the public. Registration and coffee are scheduled for 8:30-9 a.m.
“We hope to see our students learn and understand the value of scholarship within their discipline and within other health science disciplines,” said Dr. Sheila Pressley, professor and associate dean of the college. “This event demonstrates our commitment to inter-professional learning and practice, and to recognizing our students and faculty mentors for their scholarship.”
The college’s Scholars Day also highlights the University’s commitment to STEM-H.
“Graduates from the College of Health Sciences are the best candidates for STEM-H careers,” Pressley said, “because they will apply their science knowledge toward improving health in a global society.”
After Dyjack’s remarks, an awards ceremony will be held from 10:15 to 10:30 a.m., recognizing two winners from each department in the college. A poster presentation and reception will follow from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
As executive director and CEO of NEHA since 2015, Dyjack contributes to many national and international advisory committees in public health, including capacity-building initiatives related to adult continuing professional education, formal academic degrees, emergency preparedness, informatics and environmental health. Under his leadership, the association has established a presence in Washington, D.C., in support of efforts to influence national policy.
Previously, he was the associate executive director for programs at the National Association of County and City Health Officials, where he led the organization’s $28 million grant and contract portfolio and 75 health professionals in support of the nation’s 2,800 local health departments.