Toxicology graduate works for Ohio Department of Health

Tricia Matz (Toxicology ’11) recently received her Master’s degree in Public Health from Ohio State University with a dual specialization in Epidemiology as well as Health Behavior, Health Promotion.  Following graduation, she was hired to serve as the Adolescent Health Epidemiologist for the Ohio Department of Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health.  At ODH, she is working with data from the Youth Risk Behavioral Survey along with some surveys conducted in the state.  Her primary role is to use the data to assess the health of adolescents in Ohio to determine if any trends exist for particular behaviors (seat belt use, tobacco use, alcohol use, etc.).  Tricia will also use the data collected to compare Ohio adolescents to those in the nation to see how Ohio adolescents are doing overall, as well as some areas where more programming and policies are needed.