University News
Health Sciences Career Night
March 20, 2007
MACOMB, IL -- Three Western Illinois University health sciences alumni will discuss their respective careers and one alumna will be recognized for her career achievements at the annual Health Sciences Career Night Thursday, March 22 on the WIU-Macomb campus.
The event will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. in Horrabin Hall 78. Speakers include Kelly Shiraki, a 2001 graduate, who works as a health educator at McDonough District Hospital (MDH) in Macomb; Bri Potts, a 2005 alumna, who is an environmental health sanitarian at the McDonough County Health Department (MCHD) in Macomb; and Suzzanne Murray, a 2004 and 2006 graduate, who is an accreditation specialist at OSF HealthPlans in Peoria, IL.
In addition, 1975 and 1981 graduate Sharon Pierce, retired assistant chief of the HIV/AIDS Program for the Division of Infectious Diseases-Illinois Department of Public Health, will be recognized as the 2007 Health Sciences Distinguished Alumna.
Shiraki, who majored in community health, has worked at MDH since April 2001 and was the first certified health education specialist employed at McDonough District. Her areas of speciality include Alzheimer's, stroke and heart disease, osteoporosis and grant-writing.
Potts, an environmental health graduate, worked as an intern from December 2004 to December 2005 at the county health department through AmeriCorps. She began working fulltime at MCHD in November 2005 as an environmental health sanitarian. As a sanitarian she works with the department's food, sewage and water programs; conducts tanning salon and tattoo parlor inspections; works with West Nile Virus surveillance and radon awareness programs; and handles general public health complaints.
Murray, who focused on health services management and health education, has served and worked in a variety of settings and industries for the past 30 years. In Fall 2006, Murray completed her first national quality audit, as well as achieving the most successful quality audit in the history of OSF HealthPlans.
Pierce, who graduated with degrees in health sciences and health education, began her career as a dental hygenist in Bushnell, IL. She has worked as a public health dental hygiene adviser for the Division of Dental Health (Peoria Regional Office)-Illinois Department of Public Health and in 1980 she became the administrative assistant in the Division of Dental Health. In November 1981 Pierce was named the assistant chief for the division, and in 1985 she became the coordinator of the Experimental Organ Transplantation Program for the Illinois Department of Public Health's Division of Chronic Diseases.
She also has worked as the fiscal coordinator of the Family Planning Program and Child Health for the state, being named the administrator of this program in 1992. Pierce became the assistant chief of the HIV/AIDS Program in 1995, working in that capacity until her retirement in 2002.
"Sharon is a highly respected individual with her peers in health education throughout the state of Illinois. Although she has retired, she continues to be an advocate for the rights of individuals with disabilities," cited her nominators. "She represents Western and the department of health sciences in a truly positive manner."
The annual Health Services Career Night is open to the public. Prospective students are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact health sciences at 309/298-1076 or visit www.wiu.edu/health.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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