Young Alumni Professional Award Recipient for Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Each year, the Office of Alumni Affairs at the Hudson College of Public Health awards an annual Distinguished Alumni Award and Young Alumni Professional Achievement Award to outstanding alumni from each Department within the College. Recipients of these prestigious awards are recognized for achieving professional and personal successes, and demonstrating exemplary service to their community and/or the University.

The 2022 Young Alumni Professional Award recipient for the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology is Dr. Kaitlin McGrew!

Kaitlin is a three-time OUHSC graduate, having earned her bachelor of nursing in 2013, her MS in Epidemiology in 2015 and her PhD in 2019.

Kaitlin came to public health after working as a nurse at The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital and Passport Health, an immunization clinic in Oklahoma City. In this position, she traveled across the state of Oklahoma administering adolescent and adult vaccines at school and worksite clinics. Through this experience as a nurse, Kaitlin developed in-depth understanding of clinical settings and the opportunities for research. This inspired her to pursue her epidemiology degrees.

During her tenure as a student in BSE, Kaitlin worked on a number of projects, most notably a project with the Cherokee Nation to address Hepatitis C diagnosis, treatment and prevention.  She was also a field coordinator for the Youth Tobacco Survey while serving as a Graduate Research Assistant.

Kaitlin was named a Hudson Fellow in 2017 and was the recipient of numerous awards and honors while a student. In 2019 she received the Outstanding Student Award for the Hudson College of Public Health, a high honor given the large number of very worthy candidates for this recognition.

While finishing her doctorate in epidemiology, Kaitlin decided to pursue a career in applied epidemiologic practice and research, rather than academia. Upon graduation, she began working as an Epidemiologist at the Oklahoma State Department of Health managing surveillance activities related to HIV, the Ryan White Care clinics and the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. She was quickly promoted to the HIV Surveillance Manager where she presently supervises a staff of 3-4 and provides leadership to the Ryan White programs and overall HIV surveillance activities for the entire state.

With her doctorate in Epidemiology, Kaitlin contributes a strong methodological foundation to the HIV surveillance programs. She conducts outbreak investigations, analyzes data related to HIV burden and care, and prepares technical reports for stakeholders and decision-makers. She has 5 peer-reviewed publications and a number of professional presentations.

Kaitlin’s commitment to public health in Oklahoma is evidenced by her professional role at the OSDH, following her highly productive academic career in the Department. Despite the turbulence Oklahoma’s public health system has endured over the past two years, Kaitlin has maintained her dedication to public health, and ensured the continued success of the HIV surveillance and Ryan White programs for the state of Oklahoma.

Congrats, Kaitlin!