by UAB School of Public Health
Friday, December 7, 2018
Bryn Manzella, MPH, has been selected as the 2018 Alumna of the Year for the UAB School of Public Health. She earned her Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Health Behavior in 1985. She has since held several leadership positions in quality and process improvement in local area hospitals. For the past 8 years, she has served as Director of Quality Improvement for the Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH). In this role, part of her responsibilities include: guidance of the Health Action Partnership of Jefferson County, management of the academic health department activities, development and maintenance of the Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan for Jefferson County, and accreditation support. When asked what she loves the most about her job, she replied "knowing that downstream what I do helps improve the lives of those who live, learn, and work in Jefferson County, Alabama."
Throughout her career, Bryn has stayed connected to the School in a multitude of ways; serving as a preceptor for MPH students, guest lecturing, collaborating with faculty members on academic research, and supporting school networking opportunities with the Jefferson County Department of Health. She currently serves as the inaugural Chair of the School of Public Health Alumni Advisory Board and has served for the past two years. Dr. Martha Wingate, Interim Chair of the Department of Health Care Organization and Policy, states "not only has she worked to strengthen the School’s alumni and student population, but she also has collaborated with our faculty and staff to enhance the academic-practice partnership with the School and JCDH through various presentations and publications."
As nominator, Dr. Pete Ginter, former Interim Dean and current Interim Chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, said "Bryn has been a long-time passionate supporter of the School of Public Health, has made significant contributions to the health of Jefferson County over the past 30 years, and has contributed to the public health literature."