Four Alumni Recognized for Outstanding Leadership
Four alumni were recently recognized for their extraordinary contributions to the field of public health and service to Columbia Mailman School. Kathleen Crowley, DrPH ’13, MPH ’91, PA-C, and Gail Emrick, MPH ’87, MIA ’87, received the 2024 Allan Rosenfield Distinguished Alumni Award. Sun-Ming Jessica Pan, MPH ’19, and Shahbaz Salehi, MD, MPH ’15, MSHIA, received the 2024 Outstanding Recent Alumni. The awardees were recognized at the 2024 Alumni Summit on September 27.
Kathleen Crowley is the vice president of environmental health and safety at Columbia University and is an adjunct professor at Columbia Mailman. Crowly received her MPH from Columbia Mailman in 1991 and returned to earn her DrPH in environmental health sciences in 2013. She served on the Columbia Mailman Alumni Board, including her time as president. She is an active member of the Columbia Alumni Association Board, serves as a Columbia Alumni Association Scholarship ambassador and mentor, and is the inaugural co-chair of “She Opened the Door,” a network of Columbia-affiliated women seeking to positively impact the world.
“It has been a privilege to mentor the next generation of public health leaders and to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to advancing the field,” Kathleen shared upon receiving her award. “Columbia Mailman holds a special place in my heart, and I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the school and community that have given me so much.”
Gail Emrick received a joint master’s degree in public health and international affairs from Columbia Mailman and SIPA. Emrick dedicated her professional life to promoting the well-being of individuals, families, and communities in Central America and the US-Mexico border regions. Just last month, she retired as the executive director of the Southeast Arizona Health Education Center where since 2008 she worked to improve Arizona’s rural health workforce. Emrick has hosted students for their Applied Practicum Experiences (APEx)—providing students with opportunities to address the social, psychological, and health issues of marginalized communities.
“Dr. Rosenfield was my teacher and mentor during my master’s program. He taught me so much about women’s reproductive health advocacy, tools that we need now more than ever,” Gail said. “I am honored to receive an award created to remember his legacy.”
Jessica Pan graduated with her MPH in 2019. While earning her MPH, Pan co-founded the School’s first-ever Gun Violence Action Week; this student-led effort is now an annual event and an official student club. She joined the Columbia Mailman Alumni Board in 2021. She was co-chair of the newly established FORWARD Health Equity Committee and now serves as co-chair of the Engagement Committee. She has also served on the Columbia Alumni Association’s Task Force on Belonging. Pan is vice president of marketing for the Global Board of Columbia Venture Community. In 2024, she co-founded the CAA Global Health and Wellness Network.
“It has been a true privilege to serve the institution and to continue my engagement as an alum. Columbians hold a special place in my heart, and I frequently share with fellow alumni volunteers the immense value I receive from staying connected with the Columbia community,” said Pan. “It has allowed my Columbia experience to continue.”
Shahbaz Salehi graduated with his MPH in 2015 and currently serves as the director of infection control and employee health at Foothill Regional Medical Center in California. He oversees all infectious disease and employee health initiatives for the hospital. Beyond his impressive career, Salehi has served as a judge for the Columbia Mailman Case Challenge within the Department for Health Policy and Management for nine years and has mentored many Columbia Mailman students. He is a member of the Columbia Mailman Alumni Board and the Health Policy and Management Advisory Board.
“I am honored and grateful for this acknowledgment,” Shahbaz shared. “This award is a testament to the support and guidance I have received throughout my career, and I am happy to give back to the students in return.”
The Allan Rosenfield Distinguished Alumni Award for Excellence was created in 2007 to recognize exceptional contributions to the Mailman community and distinguished leadership in the field of public health. The award is a testament to Dean Rosenfield’s legacy of leadership in public health, as well as his integrity, courage, and unwavering optimism. The Columbia Mailman Alumni Association created the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award in 2016 to celebrate the impact of recent alumni on the field of public health and on Columbia Mailman.
Award nominations are open to the public and all Columbia Mailman alumni are encouraged to submit nominations. The Outstanding Recent Alumni Award is selected by the Alumni Association, and the Allan Rosenfield Distinguished Alumni Award is selected by Dean Linda P. Fried. (Read about past award winners here.) Nominations for the 2025 alumni awards will open in the spring of 2025.