Our Team

Directors


Professional headshot of woman smiling

Elaine Scallan Walter PhD, MA

Professor, Director (RMPHTC), Co-Director (Colorado Integrated Food Safety CoE)
  • Colorado Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence (CoE)
  • Department of Epidemiology
  • Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center

Dr. Scallan Walter is a professor of Epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health where her research focuses on the overall human health impact of foodborne diseases and improving foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak response. She is the Co-Director of the Colorado Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence, one of five CDC-designated Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence established in 2012 to support state and local health departments to build their capacity track and investigate enteric diseases, and co-Principal Investigator for the Colorado Foodborne Disease Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), an active laboratory and population-based surveillance system to monitor the incidence of foodborne diseases and to conduct epidemiologic studies designed to help public health officials better understand the epidemiology of foodborne diseases of public health importance in the United States. She teaches several practice-based courses including Disease Outbreak Investigations (EPID 6640) and the Theory/Practice Foodborne Disease Outbreak Detection (EPID 6648). She also works with partners to strengthen the public health workforce as Co-Director of the Region VIII Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center and the Region VIII Rocky Mountains and High Plains Center for Emergency Public Health (based out of the University of Utah). 

Areas of Expertise

  • Foodborne and enteric diseases
  • Foodborne disease surveillance
  • Outbreak investigation and response
  • Source attribution and risk factors for foodborne diseases
  • Education, Licensure & Certifications

  • University College Dublin, PhD (Epidemiology), 2003
  • National University of Ireland Maynooth, MA (Sociology), 1997
  • St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, BA (Sociology and Economics), 1995
  • Awards

    • Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award, Colorado School of Public Health, 2014
    • Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health Inductee, 2015
    • Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center Team, Award for Technical Innovation in Public Health, Colorado Public Health Association, 2017
    • Rosalind Franklin Society Awards in Science, Best paper by a woman or underrepresented minority in Foodborne Pathogens and Disease for “Estimating the Number of Illnesses Caused by Agents Transmitted Commonly Through Food: A Scoping Review”, 2021
    • Faculty Excellence in Public Health Practice, Colorado School of Public Health, 2023

    Core directors and advisors


    Professional headshot of woman smiling

    Elaine Scallan Walter PhD, MA

    Professor, Director (RMPHTC), Co-Director (Colorado Integrated Food Safety CoE)
    • Colorado Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence (CoE)
    • Department of Epidemiology
    • Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center

    Dr. Scallan Walter is a professor of Epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health where her research focuses on the overall human health impact of foodborne diseases and improving foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak response. She is the Co-Director of the Colorado Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence, one of five CDC-designated Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence established in 2012 to support state and local health departments to build their capacity track and investigate enteric diseases, and co-Principal Investigator for the Colorado Foodborne Disease Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), an active laboratory and population-based surveillance system to monitor the incidence of foodborne diseases and to conduct epidemiologic studies designed to help public health officials better understand the epidemiology of foodborne diseases of public health importance in the United States. She teaches several practice-based courses including Disease Outbreak Investigations (EPID 6640) and the Theory/Practice Foodborne Disease Outbreak Detection (EPID 6648). She also works with partners to strengthen the public health workforce as Co-Director of the Region VIII Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center and the Region VIII Rocky Mountains and High Plains Center for Emergency Public Health (based out of the University of Utah). 

    Areas of Expertise

  • Foodborne and enteric diseases
  • Foodborne disease surveillance
  • Outbreak investigation and response
  • Source attribution and risk factors for foodborne diseases
  • Education, Licensure & Certifications

  • University College Dublin, PhD (Epidemiology), 2003
  • National University of Ireland Maynooth, MA (Sociology), 1997
  • St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, BA (Sociology and Economics), 1995
  • Awards

    • Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award, Colorado School of Public Health, 2014
    • Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health Inductee, 2015
    • Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center Team, Award for Technical Innovation in Public Health, Colorado Public Health Association, 2017
    • Rosalind Franklin Society Awards in Science, Best paper by a woman or underrepresented minority in Foodborne Pathogens and Disease for “Estimating the Number of Illnesses Caused by Agents Transmitted Commonly Through Food: A Scoping Review”, 2021
    • Faculty Excellence in Public Health Practice, Colorado School of Public Health, 2023

    Affiliated faculty


    Professional headshot of woman smiling

    Elaine Scallan Walter PhD, MA

    Professor, Director (RMPHTC), Co-Director (Colorado Integrated Food Safety CoE)
    • Colorado Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence (CoE)
    • Department of Epidemiology
    • Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center

    Dr. Scallan Walter is a professor of Epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health where her research focuses on the overall human health impact of foodborne diseases and improving foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak response. She is the Co-Director of the Colorado Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence, one of five CDC-designated Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence established in 2012 to support state and local health departments to build their capacity track and investigate enteric diseases, and co-Principal Investigator for the Colorado Foodborne Disease Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), an active laboratory and population-based surveillance system to monitor the incidence of foodborne diseases and to conduct epidemiologic studies designed to help public health officials better understand the epidemiology of foodborne diseases of public health importance in the United States. She teaches several practice-based courses including Disease Outbreak Investigations (EPID 6640) and the Theory/Practice Foodborne Disease Outbreak Detection (EPID 6648). She also works with partners to strengthen the public health workforce as Co-Director of the Region VIII Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center and the Region VIII Rocky Mountains and High Plains Center for Emergency Public Health (based out of the University of Utah). 

    Areas of Expertise

  • Foodborne and enteric diseases
  • Foodborne disease surveillance
  • Outbreak investigation and response
  • Source attribution and risk factors for foodborne diseases
  • Education, Licensure & Certifications

  • University College Dublin, PhD (Epidemiology), 2003
  • National University of Ireland Maynooth, MA (Sociology), 1997
  • St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, BA (Sociology and Economics), 1995
  • Awards

    • Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award, Colorado School of Public Health, 2014
    • Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health Inductee, 2015
    • Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center Team, Award for Technical Innovation in Public Health, Colorado Public Health Association, 2017
    • Rosalind Franklin Society Awards in Science, Best paper by a woman or underrepresented minority in Foodborne Pathogens and Disease for “Estimating the Number of Illnesses Caused by Agents Transmitted Commonly Through Food: A Scoping Review”, 2021
    • Faculty Excellence in Public Health Practice, Colorado School of Public Health, 2023

    Center administration and project staff


    Professional headshot of woman smiling

    Elaine Scallan Walter PhD, MA

    Professor, Director (RMPHTC), Co-Director (Colorado Integrated Food Safety CoE)
    • Colorado Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence (CoE)
    • Department of Epidemiology
    • Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center

    Dr. Scallan Walter is a professor of Epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health where her research focuses on the overall human health impact of foodborne diseases and improving foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak response. She is the Co-Director of the Colorado Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence, one of five CDC-designated Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence established in 2012 to support state and local health departments to build their capacity track and investigate enteric diseases, and co-Principal Investigator for the Colorado Foodborne Disease Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), an active laboratory and population-based surveillance system to monitor the incidence of foodborne diseases and to conduct epidemiologic studies designed to help public health officials better understand the epidemiology of foodborne diseases of public health importance in the United States. She teaches several practice-based courses including Disease Outbreak Investigations (EPID 6640) and the Theory/Practice Foodborne Disease Outbreak Detection (EPID 6648). She also works with partners to strengthen the public health workforce as Co-Director of the Region VIII Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center and the Region VIII Rocky Mountains and High Plains Center for Emergency Public Health (based out of the University of Utah). 

    Areas of Expertise

  • Foodborne and enteric diseases
  • Foodborne disease surveillance
  • Outbreak investigation and response
  • Source attribution and risk factors for foodborne diseases
  • Education, Licensure & Certifications

  • University College Dublin, PhD (Epidemiology), 2003
  • National University of Ireland Maynooth, MA (Sociology), 1997
  • St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, BA (Sociology and Economics), 1995
  • Awards

    • Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award, Colorado School of Public Health, 2014
    • Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health Inductee, 2015
    • Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center Team, Award for Technical Innovation in Public Health, Colorado Public Health Association, 2017
    • Rosalind Franklin Society Awards in Science, Best paper by a woman or underrepresented minority in Foodborne Pathogens and Disease for “Estimating the Number of Illnesses Caused by Agents Transmitted Commonly Through Food: A Scoping Review”, 2021
    • Faculty Excellence in Public Health Practice, Colorado School of Public Health, 2023

    Visit the directory for all members of our team, including affiliated staff. To find out more about our local and academic partnerships, check out our partners page

    Denver Team Member Highlight


    Charlotte Farewell
    Charlotte Farewell, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor - Research, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

    Tell me a little about your background and previous experience.

    I am an Assistant Professor with the Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center and Director of the Population Mental Health and Well-being concentration at the Colorado School of Public Health. After receiving my MPH from the Tulane School of Global Health and Tropical Medicine with a focus on maternal and child health.

    Why did you decide to work at CU and with the RMPRC?

    I started working with the RMPRC as a Professional Research Assistant because of their focus on community-based participatory research and well-being promotion.

    What are you currently working on?

    I am now a Principal Investigator/Co-Principal Investigator on intervention projects which seek to promote the well-being of low-resourced populations (e.g., pregnant and postpartum individuals, early care and education caregivers). I am currently PI of a training grant funded by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (Mothers Optimizing Resources Everyday (MORE)) where the primary research objective is to integrate advanced analytical modeling with qualitative data to inform the timing, duration, content and delivery modalities of a multi-level psychological capital intervention rooted in mindfulness-based best practices to promote perinatal well-being among specific low-resourced sub-groups. Her research experience, to date, is centered around three overarching goals: (1) to build expertise related to the analysis of developmental research questions using quantitative and qualitative methods, with specific focus on mental health (depression, stress, and anxiety) during sensitive periods (prenatal, postpartum, early childhood), (2) to investigate non-pharmacological methods (e.g. mindfulness and positive psychology interventions) that can be targeted and/or mobilized to optimize population mental health and resilience, and (3) to advance research in the field of dissemination science to identify core constructs that are most critical to enhance the uptake of evidence-based behavioral interventions into community and clinical settings. She enjoys collaborating with, and learning from, the excellent interdisciplinary researchers at the RMPRC, using mixed methods to investigate novel research questions, and partnering with local, national, and international communities.

    Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center (RMPRC)

    Colorado School of Public Health

    CU Anschutz

    Fitzsimons Building

    13001 East 17th Place

    3rd Floor East

    Mail Stop B119

    Aurora, CO 80045


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