Meet Brianna Rooney, PhD
Director of Vendor Relations

Brianna Rooney, DrPH is the Director of Vendor Relations for the Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals (AHEPP). She also holds the position of Assistant Research Professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH), Department of Public Health Practice, Policy and Translational Research. Her research is driven by a commitment to address gaps in healthcare preparedness and seeks to contribute valuable insights and recommendations for enhancing the resilience of rural healthcare communities. Currently, she works with the Center for Rural Health on the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program, the Rural Hospital Flexibility program, and the Arizona COVID-19 Health Disparities grant. She collaborates with local health departments, critical access hospitals, and rural health clinics to improve rural health disparities through program evaluation, community resilience strategies, healthcare workforce analysis, and emergency preparedness. Her interests include developing and implementing quality improvement tools and assessment, addressing health inequities and supporting data driven approaches to improve rural health across Arizona and the region.

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Dr. Rooney has over nine years’ experience in healthcare emergency preparedness and response and has collaborated with AHEPP since 2015.  She has attended all of the AHEPP conferences and assisted exhibitors and sponsors through the full conference process. She has also worked with the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association as the Statewide Planning/Southern Region Manager for the Arizona Coalition of Healthcare Emergency Response. In Nebraska, she worked with the public health and healthcare community as the Preparedness Epidemiologist and Hospital Preparedness Program Manager at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Ms. Rooney received a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a Doctor of Public Health degree from the University of Arizona.

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She has a vast understanding of the healthcare and public health emergency management field and needs. She would love to discuss the best ways for you to connect with your customers through AHEPP.