Len Novilla

Len B. Novilla Education MPH, University of Utah, 1999 M.D., University of the City of Manila, 1990 B.S. Public Health, University of the Philippines, Institute of Public Health, 1986 Background Beneath her smiles and quiet ways was a life of struggle. Len, the fifth in a brood of seven, grew up in a rough and impoverished setting in Tondo, Manila, Philippines where education was a luxury not a right. Such condition was made even more difficult by the passing of her father when she was only six years of age. Even at that time, her mother had instilled in her and in her siblings the power of education ----the power to inspire and enlighten minds and to change lives. Having experienced such transformation in her life, Len values teaching ---believing that one’s teaching is only as powerful as the life that lives it. On this she gives thanks to the mentors she has in life whose examples of kindness, faith, humility, service, and perseverance are lessons for her to master. Len joined BYU in 2003 as an Associate Professor at the Department of Health Science. She teaches Chronic Disease Prevention and Control at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. She has also taught the Maternal and Child Health Issues and Grant Writing in the MPH Program and directed the Philippines International Internship Program for the BYU Kennedy Center. Her research interests include the role of the family in health with particular emphasis on engaging the family as the sustaining framework for health promotion and disease prevention strategies; defining the role of the family in addressing health inequities; and defining the link between the family and health systems, focusing on system assessment and strengthening within the context of the social determinants of health. Together with a group of faculty and student researchers, their study entitled, “How Can We Get the Social Determinants of Health Message on the Public Policy and Public Health Agenda? Translating Data into a Social Determinants of Health Information Tool to Inform Policy and Public Health Programs” was selected by the World Health Organization as one of the 28 case studies from around the globe intended to highlight country experiences on implementing action on the social determinants of health. These case studies are featured in the World Health Organization’s website which is accessible globally as part of the World Conference on Social Determinants of Health, held last October 19-21 2011, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Len is an elected member of the Alpha Theta Chapter of the Delta Omega National Honorary Society in Public Health. She currently serves in various boards and committees such as the Board of Trustees at Timpanogos Regional Hospital, Executive Committee of the Thrasher Research Fund, Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Health Disparities Advisory Council, and the Utah Public Health Association (UPHA) Policy Committee. She is a member of the American Public Health Association (APHA)-International Health Section and the Society of Public Health Educators (SOPHE). Prior to joining BYU, Len was a Senior Research Manager for the Thrasher Research Fund, managing several international and U.S.-based pediatric research grants. As a mom, Len enjoys reading to her two children. Together with her husband Nathan, they love spending time with their children, nephews, and nieces by reading books out loud, going on family trips, gardening, and making crafts.