The University of New Mexico (UNM) announced that School of Public Administration (SPA) Associate Professor Kate Cartwright has played a significant role in enhancing UNM's standing within the American Public Health Association (APHA). Her contributions include participating in the election of the APHA president and voting on the adoption of APHA policy statements. She has dedicated her career to public health, making an impact on a national level through her work with APHA.
Kate Cartwright's significant role at the American Public Health Association has spanned over several years. In various capacities, Cartwright has demonstrated leadership within the American Public Health Association (APHA) over the past five years. She has led health administration programs and served as the program planning chair, she has organized presentations for more than 150 research teams, addressing topics such as rural New Mexican perspectives on the COVID-19 vaccine and breast cancer prevention in Zuni Pueblo. Recently completing her two-year term as a governing councilor, Cartwright is now starting a three-year term as chair-elect of the Health Administration Section after returning from the APHA annual meeting, according to a press release by UNM.
Cartwright's influence also extends to setting policies for the organization. "We vote on APHA member-developed policies that inform the advocacy positions of APHA as an organization. Policies range from workforce-specific ones, such as an effort to address and prevent violence targeted at public health officers for doing their job, to priority population efforts, such as supporting efforts to include women more equitably in HIV-related clinical research," said Cartwright, according to a press release by UNM. "They articulate APHA’s position on public health issues to impact federal, state, and local legislation and regulation."
On top of her duties at the APHA, she is also committed to educating students on emerging research and policies in public health. "I have a front row seat to emerging research and policies which impact health care leaders. I bring this knowledge to our health administration students and community through my classes," said Cartwright, according to a press release by UNM. "APHA is an organization which celebrates practitioners and researchers, which greatly benefits the students of SPA as our students are primarily seeking to make a difference through work in the healthcare industry and the public sector."
