The purpose of the Public Health Student Organization is to focus on the preservation, enrichment, transmission, and application of interdisciplinary knowledge in public health that emphasizes social justice, service to vulnerable populations, and excellence in public health practice.
Contact Information
The 2017-2018 Executive Board
Kaitie Badalamenti, President
Jacqueline Fegan, Vice-President
Kaycee Mendoza, Secretary
Rachel Reynolds, Treasurer
Samantha Borow, Communications Director
Sarah Wozniak, Undergraduate Representative
Alfonso Camacho, '18 Student Representative
Myles Castro, APHA Campus Liaison
Please contact the Master of Public Health Program mph@depaul.edu for more information.
PHSO members enjoying the 2015 Chicago AIDS Run & Walk
Accomplishments and Activities
- Fundraiser at Irish Eyes (raised over $400)
- Volunteer events at Lakeview Food Pantry and Erie Neighborhood House (2016)
- Color Run Chicago (2016)
- APHA Meeting in Denver, CO (2016)
- Screening and discussion of The Hunting Ground (2016)
- AIDS Run & Walk (raised over $600) (2015)
- American Heart Association's Heart Walk (raised over $500) (2013)
- Society for Public Health Education Annual Meeting (2011)
- American Public Health Association Annual Meeting (2011)
- National Public Health Week, Nutrition and Physical Activity event at Rowe Elementary (2010)
- Health Care Reform Panel (2010)
Get to Know 2017-2018 PHSO
PRESIDENT: Kaitie Badalamenti
Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Health Science and Minors in Speech and Hearing Sciences & Holistic Health
Practicum Placement: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago – Hematology/Oncology Division
Public Health Interests: Infectious Disease & Maternal and Child Wellness
Favorite aspect of the DePaul MPH program: How our cohort works together to ensure everyone’s success
Hobbies: You can find me tootling around town, performing, reading, drawing, and hanging out with my friends
Fun fact(s): I like to sing and can sing two notes at the same time by overtone singing
VICE PRESIDENT: Jacqueline (JQuellen) Fegan
%20Fegan-min.png "Jaqueline Fegan")
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelors in Nursing; Purdue University Practicum Placement: Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Public Health Interests: Infectious Disease and Prevention, Emergency and Trauma Preparedness
Hobbies: I love to travel all over, dabble in photography, pretend I’m good at yoga, binge watch TV (GAME OF THRONES), and hang out with friends
Fun fact(s): I was part of one of the youngest dance marathons (Purdue University Dance Marathon) to raise over 1 million dollars in a single year benefitting Children’s Miracle Network
SECRETARY: Kaycee Mendoza
Hometown: Chino Hills, CA
Undergraduate Degree: B.A. Public Health Policy; University of California, Irvine (UCI)
Practicum Placement: Gardeneers
Public Health Interests: Environmental Health, Built Environment, Urban & Regional Planning
Hobbies: Hiking, being out in nature, playing with my dog, Biff, DIY projects, calligraphy, and writing haikus
Fun fact(s): I did a 4-day roadtrip from California to Chicago so that I can bring my dog to live with me. He’s the messiest roommate ever, but a love bug indeed.
TREASURER: Rachel Reynolds
Hometown: Cary, IL
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Health Sciences/Biology; DePaul University
Practicum Placement: CLOCC - Evaluation
Public Health Interests: Environmental Health, Obesity, Epidemiology
Favorite aspect of the DePaul MPH program: Meeting people with similar interests and the professors
Hobbies: I enjoy cooking, trying new workout classes, breweries & beer
Fun fact(s): In college, friends and I met Dennis Rodman at a Binny’s and he invited us to get drinks with him
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Samantha Borow
Hometown: Winfield, IL
Undergraduate Degree: Community Health Education; DePaul University
Practicum Placement: Presence Health – Grant Writing
Public Health Interests: Social determinants of health, health policy, maternal and child health, mental health, environmental health
Favorite aspect of the DePaul MPH program: Small class sizes and the opportunity to get to know the professors and learn about their research and projects
Hobbies: Volunteering, reading for fun, traveling whenever I can, cooking with fresh produce from farmer’s markets, attempting to learn yoga, country music, catching up on TV shows, movies, & music from the 90’s
Fun fact(s): I was once stuck in an elevator for 10 minutes with Chris Noth (Mr. Big from Sex
& the City). I’m also the oldest of 7 kids.
UNDERGRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE: Sarah Wozniak
Hometown: North Riverside, IL
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Health Sciences with a concentration in Public Health Studies; DePaul University
Practicum Placement: Lurie Children’s Hospital – Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC) – Health Education
Public Health Interests: Adolescent Health, Pediatric Asthma, Health Education and Promotion
Hobbies: Telling and laughing at really bad Dad jokes, exploring new places, hanging with friends and family, rewatching Parks and Rec
Fun fact(s): I once was on top of a glacier in Canada around 6,500 feet tall
STUDENT REPRESNTATIVE: Alfonso Camacho
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management; Southern Illinois University
Practicum Placement: Action for Healthy Kids
Public Health Interests: Child wellness and childhood obesity
Favorite aspect of the DePaul MPH program: The program structure and the cohort design
Hobbies: Love playing golf and a craft beer connoisseur
Fun fact(s): Well-traveled, I’ve been on every continent except Africa and Antarctica. It’s impossible for me to say no to tacos.
APHA CAMPUS LIASON: Myles Castro
Hometown: Skokie, IL
Undergraduate Degree: Molecular-Cellular Biology; University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana
Practicum Placement: CORE Center
Public Health Interests: Infectious disease and violence prevention
Favorite aspect of the DePaul MPH program: The awesome staff and meeting the dopest squad this side of the Mississippi
Hobbies: Traveling, volleyball, basketball, endurance running, and coffee
Fun fact(s): I went bungee jumping in New Zealand (I’m terrified of heights!!)