Karen O'Rourke joins 51小黄车Center for Community and Public Health
The University of 51小黄车 has named Karen O'Rourke as deputy director for program development at UNE's Center for Community and Public Health, located at UNE's Portland Campus.
In her role, O'Rourke coordinates the Maine-Harvard Prevention Research Center, an obesity-related research and research translation program in partnership with the Harvard Prevention Research Center and the state health department. She also works on initiatives of the Center for Community and Public Health and with the Graduate Programs in Public Health.
Prior to her arrival at UNE, O'Rourke spent 25 years within various public health agencies and organizations including a public health institute, state and local health departments and a national voluntary health organization. Her special interest is in public health policy where she has held leadership positions in efforts to increase tobacco tax, restrict smoking in public buildings, eliminate soda and junk food in schools, prohibit advertising of junk food on school grounds, fluoridate community water supplies, and require menu labeling at chain restaurants. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of California -Berkeley and her master's in public health from San Jose State University.