Envisioning Population Health Student Photo Contest Winners
Creighton’s Institute for Population Health (IPH) and Kingfisher Institute are pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Envisioning Population Health Student Photo Contest. The contest challenged students across the University’s schools and colleges to find creative ways to capture various factors influencing individual and community health and well-being, resulting in 88 entries in three categories: mental health and well-being; planetary health; and social determinants of health. First- and second-place winners were chosen for each category for both the Omaha and Phoenix campuses. “The thoughtful and creative entries we received this year reflect our students’ increasing understanding of population health and views about how they can make a positive impact on factors that affect not only their own health and well-being, but the health and well-being of their friends and neighbors, people in their state and nation, and even across the globe,” said Scott Shipman, MD, MPH, IPH executive director and CyncHealth Endowed Professor of Population Health.
Scroll down for a slideshow of the winning entries.
OMAHA WINNERS
Mental Health and Well-Being
Ela Paske, Heider College of Business, submission title “Love Locks: The Lasting Power of Human Connection” — First Place
Haley Abrams, College of Professional and Continuing Education, submission title “Paws and Peace: A Sunday Tradition” — Second Place
Planetary Health
Joshua Hart, pharmacy program, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, submission title “Planetary Health vs. Our Health” — First Place
Hana Griffin, School of Medicine, submission title “Foraging for Wild Raspberries on a Foggy Day in the Black Hills of South Dakota” — Second Place
Social Determinants of Health
Steven Nguyen, College of Arts and Sciences, submission title “Las Calles de Los Higos” — First Place
Kaitlyn Hunt, College of Nursing, submission title “Beyond the Hospital: When Health Begins with a Home” — Second Place
PHOENIX WINNERS
Mental Health and Well-Being
Olivia Pasquale, School of Medicine, submission title “Pre-Meet Jitters” — First Place
Delaney Loken, School of Medicine, submission title “Laughing in Balance: Joy, Movement, and the Healing Power of Nature” — Second Place
Planetary Health
Katrina Ostrom, School of Medicine, submission title “Sustaining the Sun’s Embrace” — First Place
Second Place: Benjamin Theurer, School of Medicine, submission title “Desert Vasculature” — Second Place
Social Determinants of Health
Dillon Cardinale, School of Medicine, submission title “Obstacles Traversed Together in the Middle of the Mountainous Jungle of Panama” — First Place
Second Place: Eden Steinhilber, physician assistant program, School of Medicine, submission title “The Path to Health Begins in the Classroom” — Second Place
In addition to receiving cash prizes, each first-place winner chose a local community-based organization, in Omaha or Phoenix, to receive a matching donation in their name. Winners were celebrated at luncheons in Omaha and Phoenix.
The entries were judged by faculty, staff and community members representing a cross-section of campus. Judges included:
Jason Bartz, PhD, associate dean of academic and faculty affairs and professor of medical microbiology and immunology, School of Medicine
Richard Deming, MD’80, physician and medical director, Mercy Cancer Center
April Dixon, MPH, health educator, School of Medicine, and interim director, Creighton at Highlander, Institute for Population Health
Renae Erixon, curriculum coordinator, School of Medicine
Sangeetha Kumar, MSW, LCSW, associate director for student care and outreach, Student Counseling Services, Student Life
Kate Malott, communications specialist, University Communications and Marketing
Angel Ogbeide, DDS, assistant professor, oral and maxillofacial surgery, School of Dentistry
Danielle Okezie, MEd CommonSpirit Health LEAD Scholars program manager, Institute for Population Health, and equity, diversity and inclusion program manager, Phoenix Health Sciences Campus
Alejandra Rebolledo-Gomez, MSHP, community engagement coordinator, Creighton at Highlander, Institute for Population Health
Quinten Saathoff, co-founder and chief executive officer, Caspian Creates
Paige Stanard, social media strategist, University Communications and Marketing
Karina Kletscher, MLIS, research and instruction librarian, Phoenix Health Sciences Campus
The photos will be displayed on both campuses during the 2025-2026 academic year. For additional information about the photo contest or the IPH, visit Creighton.edu/IPH or contact pophealth@creighton.edu.
