By Brian PowellFlinn Foundation

Amember of the Arizona State University communitylast monthbecamethe first confirmed caseof the2019NovelCoronavirusinArizona and one of the first in the United Statesas theoutbreakexpanded beyond central China.

The state agency at the forefrontof thisidentificationand responseisthe Arizona Department of Health Services,whose assistant director overseeing the division of public health preparednessisFlinn-Brown FellowJessica Rigler.Rigler,who has worked at ADHS since 2008 and in her current role since 2018,is responsible for leading the states preparedness fora possibleinfectious diseaseoutbreakandsharing critical information with the public.

One of the most exciting aspects ofmy jobis the ability to work with our public health team to respond to disease outbreaks, Rigler says. Its incredibly fulfilling to have a role in protecting Arizonans from infectious diseases and to provide them with information they need to know to stay healthy.

In thismost recentinstance,shes shared informationwith the mediaabout thelocal2019NovelCoronaviruscaseand how Arizonans can help prevent the spread of all respiratory viruses.She has previouslyledpublichealthresponsesand public messagingpertainingto theZika virus, opioid prevention,the 2014 Ebola outbreak,vaccines,the West Nile virus,andthe recentHepatitis Aoutbreakin Arizona.

As a state-agency executive, Rigler serves in one of theintendeddestinations for Flinn-Brown Fellows, who arecompetitivelyselectedeach yearby the Flinn FoundationsArizona Center for Civic Leadershipfor its flagshipFlinn-Brown Academy.

My heart has been on the policy side and Im really passionate about continuing to further our policy goals to improve the health of Arizona, Rigler says. Im working to promote the fact that we needto incorporatehealth intoall of ourpoliciesandI feel working at the state levelisthe best place to do that.

As part of her role, Rigler providespublic healthinformation to the Arizona Legislature,helpsinformADHS policy direction, andchampionspublic health issues such asimproving vaccination coverage to counteractthe impact ofrisingvaccine exemptions.

Thedivision ofpublichealthpreparednessthat Rigler manages, with approximately 300 employees and an annual budget of more than $75 million,overseespublic healthemergencypreparedness,epidemiology anddisease control, state laboratory services for newborn screeningand identification of infectious diseases and chemical contaminants, the certification of first respondersand ambulance services,public healthstatistics,and the statesimmunizationprogram.

I know how Im going to start the day, but I never know how its going to end, Rigler says.

Rigler, an Arizona native, has a biochemistry degree from University of California, San Diego,and a masters degree in public health from Emory UniversityinAtlanta,and iscertifiedin infection control andprevention.Rigler considered working as a lab scientist, butinstead chose public health because shewanted to impact health while interacting with people.

Riglersaid shewas encouraged to apply forthe Flinn-Brown AcademybyDiana Gomez,theYuma Countydirector of public health.

Rigler said her selection hasled to new connectionswithhealth expertsas well asleaders oforganizations that could result in future partnerships.She alsolearnedhow the states public health agency fits intothe broader statewide policy landscape.

It was a fantastic experience for me, and I was able to get a broader view of key topics that impact policy-making in the stateand I better understood how we are competing against a number of different priorities,Rigler says.Service in an executiverole at astate agency or university, like Rigler,is one of the five destinations for Flinn-Brown Fellows as they expand theircivic leadership. The others arepublicservice asastate-level elected official, policy advisor, state board or commission member, andstatewide organization executive.More than 350 Fellows, from both urban and rural communities,are members of theFlinn-Brown Network.

The Arizona Center for Civic Leadershipat theFlinn Foundationcompetitively selectsabout 25 Fellows for each Flinn-Brown cohort. The 2020 Flinn-Brown Academy, featuring 14 full-day seminars including theannualFlinn-Brown Convention, will begin in August.

Theapplicationfor the 2020 Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy will open in early April.

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Coronavirus outbreak brings work of Flinn-Brown Fellow Jessica Rigler into the public eye - Flinn Foundation