Hello all! My name is Dawn Alayon, and I have been recruited to be the new student representative to the CHPPD Section's Communications Committee. I became a member of APHA in September 2007, and during the November 2007 Annual Meeting, I really enjoyed spending time with the students of this committee. In particular, Amy Carroll-Scott, the immediate past chair, took the time to speak with me about CHPPD and the public health field in general. Since I have only been a part of APHA for a short period of time, I am honored to have such a great opportunity to serve on the Student Committee.

Dawn and Amy at the 2007 Annual Meeting

I am entering my second year as a Master of Public Health Student at the University of Florida with a concentration in public health management and policy. In 2004, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a major in economics and a minor in history. Currently, I work for UF's Department of Urology as a grants assistant, dedicated to principal investigators who perform research on prostate cancer. Recently, I participated in public health field work in El Salvador for my spring break, and I enjoyed my hands-on experience learning about that country's health care system.

During my short time in this position, I have participated in two conference calls: one for the Communications Team and another for the Student Committee. The Communications Team, created in March 2007, focuses on the newsletter and the Web site. As with other Section committees, we want to serve the CHPPD Section. Because my focus is on students, I want to try to serve and accommodate their interests. As seen in past newsletters, we have had a "Student Perspective" piece. Are students interested in anything else in addition to the student articles? For the Web site, should we have a dedicated student section? My function for my team and the students will be a reflection of those who are vocal in providing feedback. I appreciate constructive criticism and suggestions. Please do not be afraid to speak up.

I am still learning about the organization and how all of its sections function. I have enjoyed participating in the conference calls, and I cannot wait until the Annual Meeting in San Diego. I hope that I will be a great asset for the CHPPD Section. Please feel free to send me your comments or ideas, or even just an e-mail to introduce yourself. My e-mail address is dcalayon@hotmail.com.