Biography
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.
Research Interests
Health Policy & the Social Determinants of Health, Maternal, Child, & Family Health • Understanding the impact of policy on individual and community health • Utilizing the family as the sustaining framework for health promotion and disease prevention strategies • Defining the role of the family in addressing the health inequities resulting from the social determinants of population health • Defining the link between family health and health systems assessment and strengthening within the context of the social determinants of health • Addressing disparities in the delivery and access to health care services • Understanding the determinants, distribution, patterns, and burden of chronic diseases, particularly heart disease, diabetes and obesity in at-risk and underserved communities • Using family health history and familial risk stratification as a preventive tool in chronic diseases such as heart disease and stroke • Understanding adolescent health risk behaviors and their implications on health programs, services, and policies • Understanding the health implications of early and late age at first birthTeaching Interests
Integration of Public Health & Primary Care Social Context of Health & Disease Chronic Diseases (Non-communicable Diseases) Infectious Diseases Maternal & Child Health Social Determinants of Health Health in All Policies Gerontology: Health & Aging Grant WritingLicenses and Certifications
- Alzheimer's Association, Certificate of Completion-Approaching Alzheimer's First Responder Training (2018 - Present)
- Alzheimer's Association, Certificate of Completion-Basics of Memory Loss, Dementia, & Alzheimer's (2018 - Present)
- Alzheimer's Association, Certificate of Completion-Effective Communication Strategies (2018 - Present)
- Alzheimer's Association, Certificate of Completion-Healthy Living For Your Brain & Body (2018 - Present)
- Alzheimer's Association, Certificate of Completion-Know the 10 Signs-Early Detection Matters (2018 - Present)
- Alzheimer's Association, Certificate of Completion-Understanding & Responding to Dementia-related Behavior (2018 - Present)
Honors and Awards
- University Alumni Professorship Award, Brigham Young University (2021 - 2021)
- Excellence in Teaching Award, BYU College of Life Sciences (2019 - 2019)
- Distinguished Service to the Board of Trustees, Timpanogos Regional Hospital (2005 - 2013)
- C. Joseph Rowberyy Teaching & Learning Faculty Fellowship, Brigham Young University (2012 - 2012)
- Annual Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, Brigham Young University College of Health & Human Performance (2008 - 2008)
- Elected Member, Alpha Theta Chapter Public Health Honor Society, Department of Family & Preventive Medicine, University of Utah (2000 - 2000)
Memberships
- American Diabetes Association (2016 - Present)
Professional Citizenship
- Editor, Associate Editor, Life-Course Epidemiology and Social Inequalities in Health-Specialty Section of Frontiers in Public Health (2023 - Present)
- Committee/Council Member, Utah Public Health Association (UPHA) Academic Section-Inter-University Academic Coalition (2021 - Present)
- Board Member, Utah Poison Control Center (UPCC) Advisory Board (2014 - Present)
- Committee/Council Member, Governor's State Health Innovations Model Initiative, Prevention & Wellness Work Group (2013 - Present)
- Committee/Council Chair, UDOH- Health Disparities Advisory Council (2013 - Present)
- Committee/Council Member, Utah Health Disparities Advisory Council - Utah Department of Health (2011 - Present)
- Board Member, Thrasher Research Fund - Executive Committee (2011 - Present)
- Member, Utah Breastfeeding Coalition and Utah Department of Health WIC Program (2009 - Present)
- Committee/Council Member, American Public Health Association-International Health Section (2008 - Present)
- Other, Utah Department of Health Diabetes Program (2008 - Present)
- Editor, Associate Editor, MDPI for Societies - An international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on sociology published monthly online by MDP (2022 - 2023)
- Other, Multicultural Commission of Utah (2013 - 2023)
- Committee/Council Member, Utah Multicultural Commission - Health Subcommittee (2013 - 2023)
- Committee/Council Member, State of Utah COVID-19 Task Force-Multicultural Subcommittee (2020 - 2022)
- Other, Centro Hispano (2014 - 2014)
- Board Member, Timpanogos Regional Hospital - Bioethics Committee/Hospital Quality Control (2005 - 2013)
- Board Member, Timpanogos Regional Hospital Board of Trustees (2005 - 2013)
- Committee/Council Chair, Utah Public Health Association - Policy Unit (2010 - 2013)
- Committee/Council Chair, Policy Advocacy Summit for the Utah Public Health Association (2010 - 2013)
- Committee/Council Chair, Global Family Health Conference (2007 - 2012)
- Board Member, Academic Health Department - Utah County Health Department (2008 - 2010)
- Other, Central Utah Science & Engineering Fair (CUSEF) (2006 - 2009)
- Member, Utah Department of Health -- Chronic Disease & Genomics Program (2006 - 2008)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, Utah Department of Health - Tobacco Prevention Control Program-Community Collabora (2006 - 2006)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Nutrition Education & Behavior (2005 - 2005)