Staff Spotlight: Beverly Heinze-Lacey.

Collaborative work is key to developing sustainable public health solutions and improving population health outcomes. This weekly series spotlights one SPH staff member who advances public health through collaborations within the field and across sectors.

How did you come to be the director of the School Health Institute for Education and Leadership Development (SHIELD)?

I had worked as a school nurse in Newburyport for almost 10 years when I took the opportunity to work as a consultant for six months at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. I led an early initiative to deliver trainings in SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment) to school districts statewide. This program was implemented in anticipation of Governor Baker signing the first substance use and treatment law (STEP Act), which requires every school district to conduct annual verbal substance use screenings in middle and high schools. While at MDPH I learned that BU was awarded the school health institute contract and would be seeking a director. With my MPH as an SPH alum, school nurse background, and experience in training and management, I thought the role would be a good fit. Turns out my managers at SPH thought so too.

What are the ways that you facilitate collaboration between SHIELD, the Activist Lab, and any other SPH-affiliated units?

School nursing is public health nursing, so SHIELD is a perfect fit at SPH. Our sister workforce trainings in the Activist Lab, New England Public Health Training (NEPHTC) and Local Public Health Institute (LPHI), deliver trainings to their workforces that are relevant to school nurses and visa versa. For example, emergency preparedness, infectious diseases, mental health, and social determinants, are hot topics for all of us, so we work hard to share resources and make trainings available to all our learners.

SHIELD has tapped the expertise of SPH faculty, in particular Candice Belanoff and Carol Dolan, who have provided a significant training to school nurse leaders in quantitative and qualitative research, quality improvement, writing and publishing, and conducting community health needs assessments. We have also partnered with Leslie Tellalian and PHX in piloting a Nurse Leadership Institute; this is a promising program and we are thankful to Leslie for her guidance and support.

SHIELD has also provided many opportunities for student internships and practicums, ranging from data analysis, to communications, to teaching assistant positions.  We have a part time position for a DrPH student to work as an evaluation coordinator and we’re excited to be working with Trish Elliot in opening a new position for a DrPH student to work on developing a leadership curriculum.

Within the BU community, we have a partnership with the BUSM CME/CNE office, which manages our website, course registrations, training venues, and nurse continuing education accreditation. We have also collaborated with faculty at the BUSM Health Emergency Management program and Sargent College Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training.

Can you name any of the projects or collaborations that you’re most proud of, and why they stand out?

I’m most proud of how SHIELD has been able to provide high quality training that meets the continually changing educational needs of school nurses across the state. Because we have such tremendous resources at BUSPH and such talented faculty and staff, we have been able to respond quickly to all MDPH training requests. SHIELD has been successful because we have such a committed, collaborative team.

For specific projects, I’m most proud of two training programs: First, the years of high-quality training we have provided to school nurses in quantitative and qualitative research methods and community health needs assessment. These programs have filled an important gap in knowledge as most school nurses have a clinical background and don’t have this skill set.

Second, I’m most excited about our fledgling leadership institute. The school nurses who have attended our program have begun work on projects that will have a significant impact on the school nurse workforce and the students they serve. With the help of the Development Office we have secured a large private donation to support this program. I’m looking forward to developing a quality program that will help both school and public health nurses build 21^st century leadership skills.

What’s the best, most interesting or most fun thing about what you do?

I absolutely love working with so many talented people, in my office, across the school, and with MDPH. There’s always something new to learn and there’s never a dull moment. School nursing is a surprisingly challenging role and the workforce training needs are always evolving.

Perhaps the most fulfilling is that I can offer valuable learning experiences to SPH students through internships and practicums. It’s fun to watch these students grow and have the opportunity to shine.

“Bev is a Registered Nurse (and SPH alum) who came to us in June 2016 to direct a new training center funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. From day one she has excelled—in building the center basically from scratch and growing SHIELD into a truly impressive program. While high-quality, in-person, and online trainings are a key component of SHIELD, Bev has embraced MDPH’s desire to build collaboration at many levels and to advance the leadership skills of nurses in Massachusetts.”

Kathleen MacVarish, Associate Professor of the Practice, Environmental Health