I didn't know what I was truly capable of until I had the opportunity to step up, be creative, solve problems, and build something new.
Three words to describe me:
innovative, compassionate, tenacious
The best part of my job:
having the autonomy to develop innovative solutions, create efficiency, and increase the representation of diverse communities
Something that would surprise others about me:
I love cooking and have a recipe blog (that has been mostly neglected throughout COVID-19).
As a program manager at the Pima County Health Department in Tucson, Arizona, Kat Davis advocates for improving health equity by supporting intersectional populations that have been traditionally excluded from health and governmental systems. Kat has helped lead innovative public health efforts in Nashville, New York City, and Denver, as well as internationally in Ethiopia. In 2020 she contributed to the national public health landscape in partnership with the CDC and the U.S. Digital Service.
COVID-19 has radically altered Kat’s career. She was mobilized into the emergency response as part of the Long-Term Care team. With the opportunity to step up and showcase her innovative problem-solving skills, she answered the call and worked with the University of Arizona to build a communications platform to quickly disseminate information to other long-term care facilities through text and email. After being promoted to the lead position of the Long-Term Care Team, Kat then worked on the creation of a rapid response system that allowed for vital information to flow to and from facilities experiencing outbreaks. Thanks to Kat and her team’s work, since COVID began, COVID-19 deaths in long-term care facilities have only accounted for 21% of total deaths in Pima County, significantly lower than the 36% national rate.
Kat received an MPH from Hunter College and a BA in business administration from Belmont University.
