Lindsey Borleske [Intern]

How are you involved in the Fellowship?

I hold a student help position within the Fellowship. I work with Stephanie, Lesley, Marion, and Shor and assist with whatever tasks they need completed in the office ranging from preparing materials for Site Visits to organizing notes, etc.

What's your educational background?

I am currently a sophomore here at University of Wisconsin-Madison. My major is International Studies and I am also pursuing a certificate in Middle East Studies.

What are your long-term plans, in terms of your career?

I think human connection is key to making a difference. I would love to live abroad for some time after graduation to live and learn about different cultures. The area I am most interested in policy between the United States and the Middle East. Career wise I want to discover methods through which the United States and Middle Eastern governments can implement better policies to alleviate tension and human rights violations in that region of the world and teach how gaining appreciation for other cultures can lead to more effective policy making.

What are your favorite things about living in Madison?

Being raised in Madison, I've gotten to experience much that this city has to offer. My favorite thing about Madison is going to the Memorial Union on a summer evening with friends and dancing to the many different bands they have performing during the summer season. I also love the fact that Madison has many parks and paths throughout the city so that you can stay active outside all seasons of the year.

What do you like to do for fun?

In my free time I am a choreographer for the Madison Metropolitan School District for Madison East High School's Show Choir. I love being able to dance and share that passion with younger students at my Alma Mater. I love traveling, working out and spending time with my family here in town. 

Stephanie Richards, MPH [Program Coordinator]

What are your current positions?

Stephanie showing off her aerial skills!

I am the program coordinator for both the Wisconsin Population Health Service Fellowship and the Healthy Wisconsin Leadership Institute (HWLI). In addition to trying to be super organized, I've really enjoyed developing a social media plan for HWLI, helping to revise HWLI's evaluation plan, and participating in the Fellowship monthly meetings.

What is your educational background?

I earned my Bachelors of Social Work in 2009 from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 2012, I finished my Master’s of Public Health at UW-Madison. I really value all the jobs I’ve had during my education and believe those are how I’ve learned the most.

Throughout the last 10 years, I’ve lived and worked at a homeless shelter, evaluated substance abuse treatment programs for mothers at risk of losing custody of their children and folks experiencing chronic homelessness, trained and coached process improvement collaboratives in 8 states, studied apps designed to support folks in recovery, worked with communities to help older adults stay in their place of choice safer and longer, and helped state departments of behavioral health change policies to make better use of technology in treatment. So, I am really excited to work with the Fellowship program because it is designed to help Fellows develop skills while doing super awesome work!

What are your long-term plans, career-wise?

Long-term, my dream job would maximize all of my passions and skills, i.e., using technology, quality improvement, and research to spread circus communities all over the world! In the shorter term, I’m really excited to dig deeper into the HWLI work and hone my skills with coaching communities.

What are your favorite things about living in Madison?

My favorite things about living in Madison are: 1) the Madison Circus Space (my second home) and my circus community, 2) bike-ability (I recently got rid of my car), 3) access to water and nature, 4) really good food and coffee (Johnson Public House, Sal’s pizza, Weary Traveler, Natt Spil, Forequarter, etc. etc.), and 5) outdoor events—summer music festivals, rooftop cinema, concerts on the square, etc. I moved here intending to stay for a year or two; it’s been 7, and I think you can see why! 

What do you like to do for fun?

Fly! I spend most of my spare time at the Madison Circus Space doing aerial silks, trapeze, rings, and pole. I practice yoga regularly and really love acroyoga or partner yoga. I also run a small business designing custom apparel for aerialists and other movers. When I’m not upside down or in my studio, I’m finding ways to eat my CSA veggies, enjoying a sunset at my secret sunset spot, or cruising around town on my super awesome pink bike. Never a dull moment!

Tom Oliver, PhD, MHA [Faculty]

Tom Oliver is a professor of Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. He serves as director of the UW Master of Public Health program and the Wisconsin Center for Public Health Education and Training and is a faculty affiliate with the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs. He provides faculty direction to the Wisconsin Population Health Service Fellowship Program.

Tom graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor's degree in human biology. He received a master's degree in health administration from Duke University and received master's and doctoral degrees in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Pew Health Policy Program at the University of California, San Francisco. Before coming to Wisconsin, he taught at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University. Tom's research examines critical issues in health policy, politics, and system reform. His recent work includes studies of state and national health care reforms; intersectoral leadership and governance for population health improvement; and comparative analysis of health policies in the US, the European Union, and other countries.

Todd Stanley [Program Coordinator]

Todd Stanley is the program coordinator for the Wisconsin Population Health Service Fellowship.




P.S. His name is Moose. We are best buds. He is so soft!

Todd graduated in May 2013 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He hopes to someday pursue a career in occupational therapy. However, working with the Fellows has inspired him to consider public health as well.  

In addition to the Fellowship, Todd is the program coordinator for the UW/MCW Healthy Wisconsin Leadership Institute (HWLI) team, working alongside Fellowship and HWLI program director Marion Ceraso.

With cold winter days ahead, Todd looks forward to spending time on the ski hills and cross-country ski trails in the area. He keeps himself busy playing volleyball on multiple recreational teams with friends and by serving as an adult leader and guitarist for Young Life College-Madison, a faith-based ministry for college-age students.

Marion Ceraso, MHS, MA [Program Director]

Marion Ceraso is the program director for the Wisconsin Population Health Service Fellowship and the Healthy Wisconsin Leadership Institute in the UW Population Health Institute.

Before joining the UWPHI in 2002, Marion’s professional experience included serving as the Assistant Director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Global Tobacco Control and directing two statewide tobacco control programs in the State of Maryland. During this time, she was involved in teaching and international research projects related to capacity building in tobacco control. She’s also developed professional education programs in public health, translated cancer-related research information for the public at the US Environmental Protection Agency, and worked as a community organizer in Newark, New Jersey.

Marion was trained in Behavioral Sciences and Health Promotion at the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, and completed a Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research and program interests focus on the impact of public policies on health, as well as the use of journalistic tools in the investigation and communication of public health issues.

In addition to working with Fellows, Marion and the UW/MCW Healthy Wisconsin Leadership Institute team (including former Fellowship coordinator Lesley Wolf and current Fellowship coordinator Todd Stanley) work with communities around the state who are mobilizing to address local priorities and improve population health.

Marion considers herself lucky to live in a community with great accessibility to open space and community gardens where her family, including dog Luna, can get their hands/paws into the earth.

Geof Swain, MD, MPH [Preceptor and Co-Founder]

Geof has been involved in the Fellowship since the first call for potential placement sites came out. In his view, the Fellowship program is an excellent example of the commitment of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UW SMPH) to community-academic partnerships that strengthen the public health workforce, help eliminate health disparities, and improve the health of Wisconsin communities (not to mention effectively develop the future public health workforce). He considers this program to be one of the finest examples of true partnerships between the University and the people of Wisconsin, in the fine tradition of the Wisconsin Idea.