Plan4Health Day Two

Mark Fenton is an adjunct associate professor at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, a nationally recognized public health, planning, and transportation consultant, an advocate for active transportation, and former host of the “America’s Walking” series on PBS television. He has consulted with the University of North … Read More

Mark Fenton is an adjunct associate professor at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, a nationally recognized public health, planning, and transportation consultant, an advocate for active transportation, and former host of the “America’s Walking” series on PBS television. He has consulted with the University of North Carolina’s National Center for Safe Routes to School and Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center, and has led training and planning processes for pedestrian, bicycle, and transit-friendly designs in communities across the US, Canada, and Australia. In the US much of this work is as a technical assistance provider to communities funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other public health and physical activity promotion programs. A central focus of Mark’s work is educational, inspiring, and inclusive community engagement to help diverse stakeholders develop consensus on policy and infrastructure approaches to create equitable transportation systems that serve all residents’ needs. He is a gifted facilitator, particularly of participatory walk, bike, and transit audits and associated educational and planning sessions. Mark studied engineering and biomechanics at the Massachusetts Institute Technology (BS & MS) and US Olympic Training Center, was manager of the Human Performance Laboratory at Reebok, and has published numerous articles and books related to exercise science, physical activity promotion, and the need for community, environmental, and public policy interventions to increase active transportation. These include the book The Complete Guide to Walking for Health, Weight Loss, and Fitness, and being editor of the Land Use, Transportation, and Community design section of Implementing Physical Activity Strategies (R.S. Pate & D.M. Buchner) on the US National Physical Activity Plan. A recent publication is Creating Built Environments That Expand Active Transportation and Active Living Across the United States; A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association (D.R. Young et.al., Circulation. 2020;142:e167–e183). He currently is serving on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition Scientific Committee supporting a mid-course update on the US National Physical Activity Guidelines, focused especially on older adults. Mark also tries to practice what he preaches, having served on and chairing his community’s planning board, and walking and cycling for as many routine trips as possible. Read Less

Bio for Melissa Oden, DHEd, LMSW-IPR, MPH, CHES® Melissa Oden is a Fort Worth, Texas native who earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Texas Wesleyan University in 1997. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2001, … Read More

Bio for Melissa Oden, DHEd, LMSW-IPR, MPH, CHES® Melissa Oden is a Fort Worth, Texas native who earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Texas Wesleyan University in 1997. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2001, a Master of Public Health in 2006 from the University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, and a Doctor of Health Education (2011) from Andrew Taylor Still University School of Health Management. Dr. Oden has been practicing social work for 21 years and a public health practitioner for 16 years. Her work experience ranges from social work in hospital and long-term care settings, to teaching and public health education and community practice, to professional development training and project management for applied social research projects. Her current fieldwork focuses on and Emergency Management and Disaster Planning and developing cross-disciplinary collaborations between urban planners and public health professionals. She is currently founding CEO of Health Education Resources Network, a public health project management and health education consulting company. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker with Independent Practice Recognition (LMSW-IPR) and a Certified Health Education Specialist® (CHES®). She is an active member of the Texas Public Health Association (TPHA), serving on that organization’s Executive Board & Governing Council and as a Past President and Fellow. She is also a charter member and Past President of the University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health Alumni Society Board. She is the recipient of the 2012 Texas Public Health Association Jessie A. Yoas Memorial Advocacy Award for continuing the important work of advocating of key public health issues. She was also recognized in 2014 by Texas Wesleyan University as an alumnus “Mover & Shaker”. Dr. Oden was recognized as an Outstanding Faculty in Research with Student Involvement in April 2018, and her Planners4Health Team was awarded the Promising Practice Award from the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) for their work in tornado recovery in Van Zandt County, Texas. Dr. Oden lives in Fort Worth, Texas with her 3-year-old orange tabby, Oliver. Read Less