Areas of Expertise
Skin cancer, risky Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) behaviors, appearance-related health motivations, Health Education and Community-University partnerships.
Education
MSH in Health Promotion and Education - 2005
University of North Florida
Department of Public Health
BA in Psychology and Public Relations - 2002
University of North Florida
CERTIFICATION
2011 - present Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) #12402
2005 - 2010 Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)
The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing
University of North Florida Certified Online Instructor - 2011
Biography
Julie directs the undergraduate Community Health Internship program and teaches Women’s Health. She served as Faculty Sponsor for Eta Sigma Gamma for seven years and received the national Faculty Sponsor of the Year Award in 2011. She serves on the Board of Association Editors for the American Journal of Health Education and is currently working with undergraduate students on a Transformational Learning Opportunity (TLO) funded research project, Our Campus, Our Health: A College Health Assessment analyzing the health risk behaviors of the UNF student body. Additional collaborations include the Florida Institute of Education developing community resource guides and the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions examining cancer screenings among the disabled. She was the 2008 recipient of the Brooks College of Health Teaching Award and received a 2010 Community Scholar Award through the Center for Community-Based Learning.
Awards
2012 Girls, Inc Rising Leader Society
2012 Jacksonville Business Journal 40 Under 40
2011 Eta Sigma Gamma National Faculty Sponsor of the Year Award
2011 University of Florida Linton E. Grinter Fellowship
2011 University of Florida Emergency Medicine Recognition of Academic Partnership Award
2010 Community Scholar Award
2008 Brooks College of Health Outstanding Teaching Award
2007 Professional Development Award
2005 Graduate Scholarship
2005 Eta Sigma Gamma Health Education Honor Society Inductee
2001 Honors Program Scholar
Affiliations
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
2012 - present Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, Florida Department of Health
2010 – present Board of Associate Editors, American Association of Health Education
2010 – present MAPP Core Planning Team, Duval County Health Department
2009 – present Member, American College Health Association
2009 – present Board of Directors, Us Group Women and Girls Health Initiative
2006 – 2009 Education Committee, Us Group Women and Girls Health Initiative
2008 – present Member/Volunteer, First Coast Worksite Wellness Council
2008 – 2009 Member, American School Health Association
2007 – 2009 Resolutions Committee, Society of Public Health Education
2005 – 2008 Member, Florida Public Health Association
UNIVERSITY SERVICE
University of North Florida
2012 - present Chair, Professional Development Leave Committee
2011 External Review Team, Career Services
2007 – present Steering Committee, Healthy Osprey Initiative
2010 Award Committee, Academic Advising
2006 – 2009 Body Image Task Force, Department of Health Promotion
Brooks College of Health
2005 – present Co-Chair, Faculty Development Committee
2005 – 2011 Chapter Sponsor, Eta Sigma Gamma National Health Science Honorary
2008 Search Committee, Academic Advisor
2007 Search Committee, Career Coordinator
Grants and Contracts Awarded
Transformational Learning Opportunity “Our Campus, Our Health: A Student-led Campus Health Assessment” University of North Florida, 1/1/12 – 12/31/13. $7,500
Transformational Learning Opportunity “Our Campus, Our Health: A Campus Health Assessment” University of North Florida, 1/1/11 – 12/31/11. $6,000
“Student Travel and Professional Development Funding” University of North Florida, 2011: $3,400 2010: $2,300 2008: $2,900 2007: $3,200 2006: $2,800
Florida Institute of Education. Development of resource guide for Arlington full service schools. (2011)
University of North Florida, Center for Community Based Learning. Rate artifacts and evaluate effectiveness of Quality Enhancement Plan benchmarks. (2011)
University of Florida College of Medicine. Educate allied health professionals on Brief Intervention Training Tobacco Cessation for their patients. (2010)
University of North Florida, Academic Center for Excellence. Advise incoming freshman on course selection. (2010 - 2011)
Department of Elder Affairs, Brain Injury Association of Florida, Coordinate implementation of Walking Buddies traumatic brain injury education program. (2006)
Publications & Presentations
Merten, J.W., Higgins, S. & Pomeranz, J.L. (2013, March). Sun safety attitudes, knowledge and behaviors among beach-going adolescents. Poster presented at the University of Florida Cancer Center Research Day, Gainesville, FL
Merten, J.W. (2013, April). Our campus, our health: A model for media campaigns. Poster presented at the Research Consortium at American Association of Health Education Annual Meeting, Charlotte, NC
Pomeranz, J., Merten, J.W., Hinson, W.P., & Moorhouse, M. (2012, October). Barriers to cancer screening for individuals with disabilities: A literature review. Oral presentation at the Association of Public Health Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA
Merten, J.W., Walsh-Childers, K.B., & Rodman, L. (2012, August). Breast cancer patients and survivors’ perspectives using online health resources. Poster presented at Florida Public Health Association Annual Education Conference, Orlando, FL
Merten, J.W. (2012, March). Our campus, our health: Implementing a student-led health assessment. Poster presented at the Research Consortium at American Association of Health Education Annual Meeting, Boston, MA
Merten, J.W. (2012, March). Our campus, our health: Implementing a student-led health assessment. Poster presented at the Research Consortium at American Association of Health Education Annual Meeting, Boston, MA
Merten, J.W. (2011, June). Grow great citizens through community-based learning. Poster presented at International Institute on Partnerships, Portland, OR
Merten, J.W. (2011, April). Grow great health educators through community-based learning. Poster presented at Annual Meeting of American Association of Health Education, San Diego, CA
Merten, J.W. (2010, June). Implement an interactive campus health fair through a multidisciplinary course. Poster presented at Annual Meeting of American College Health Association, Philadelphia, PA
Wilburn, S.T., Wilburn, K. T., Webb, M.C., Weaver, D.M., & Merten, J.W. (2005). A two-year evaluation of an abstinence-only program in a large urban school setting [Abstract]. Proceedings of the Abstinence Education Evaluation Conference: Strengthening Abstinence Education Programs through Scientific Evaluation, Baltimore,152-155.
Wilburn, S.T., Wilburn, K. T., Merten, J.W., Weaver, D.M., & Webb, M.C. (2005). Evaluation of a rural county community abstinence-only education program [Abstract]. Proceedings of the Abstinence Education Evaluation Conference: Strengthening Abstinence Education Programs through Scientific Evaluation, Baltimore,155-157.
