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About Mary Hearst, PhD

My public health experience ranges from local to international, community to academic. I spent several years working at a local health department in a very challenged community. My role included internal functions of grant writing and assessment and external functions of community board and intervention participation related to reducing the effects of racism and social inequities on health. I received my PhD in Epidemiology in 2007, with an emphasis in Social Epidemiology. I spent five years focused on research before joining St. Catherine University.

Vision
Equitable and true opportunity for all.

Mission
I am committed to address the mechanisms by which social, political and economic factors negatively impact health outcomes in order to promote a just society, challenging injustice and valuing diversity.
The mission is accomplished by:
  1. Efforts to change or develop policies and programs aimed at eliminating racial and economic disparities;
  2. Advancing methodologies to accurately, ethically and respectfully assess conditions;
  3. Equipping a diverse and talented student body with the tools to become change agents for the world’s most pressing issues.

Positions

2012 - Present Professor, St. Catherine University ‐ Public Health Department
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Curriculum Vitae

Disciplines

Research Interests

Grants

2020 - Present Innovations in Measurement for Diet-Related Disease Research: Optimizing Utility and Reach to Reduce Health Disparities
NIH
Role: Co-I; PI of subcontract
$3,600,000
2020 - Present Mi Pequeno Mundo
MN Department of Health
Role: Evaluator
$84,976
2020 - 2021 The Impact of COVID response on immigrant and refugee populations
St Catherine University GHR Funds
Role: PI
$15,000
2020 - 2021 The Impact of COVID response on immigrant and refugee populations
APDC
$10,000
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Honors and Awards

  • Faculty mentor recognition by All-University Student Leadership Awardees (2016)
  • Faculty mentor recognition by All-University Student Leadership Awardees (2015)
  • Faculty mentor recognition by All-University Student Leadership Awardee (2014)
  • Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer Career Training Award (2008–2010)
  • Children, Youth and Families Consortium: 2007-2008 Advancing Interdisciplinary Research and Action on Health and Education Disparities (2008)
  • Travel Scholarship and invitation to Methodological Workshop, Society for Epidemiologic Research (2007)
  • Graduate School Dissertation Fellowship, University of MN Graduate School (2006–2007)
  • Faculty mentor recognition by All-University Student Leadership Awardees, Undergraduate Research and Teaching Excellence (2017)
  • Nominated Sr. Amata Miller Catholic Mission in Action Award, Faculty mentor recognition (2018)
  • Bonnie Jean Kelly and Joan Kelly Faculty Excellence Award (2019)

Education

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2007 PhD, Epidemiology, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
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1999 Master of Public Health, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
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1990 BS, Occupational Therapy, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
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Contact Information

St. Catherine University  
2004 Randolph Ave             
St. Paul, MN

651-690-6157

Email: