Deanna Lee Kepka, PhD, MPH portrait
  • Investigator, Huntsman Cancer Institute
  • Director of Global and International Health, College Of Nursing
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, Population Health Sciences
  • Professor, College Of Nursing
801-587-4565

Current Courses

Spring 2025

  • NURS 6510-002
    Prep for Global Health

Professional Organizations

  • Research Committee. 01/2021 - present. Position : Member, Chair-elect.
  • NCI Cancer Centers HPV Vaccination Summit Planning Committee. 01/2019 - present. Position : Member.
  • Academic Program Team. 01/2018 - 01/2020. Position : Member.
  • Rural Health Working Group, Huntsman Cancer Institute. 01/2018 - present. Position : Member.
  • College Council Executive Committee. 01/2018 - 01/2019. Position : Chair.
  • Research Committee. 01/2018 - 01/2020. Position : Member, Chair-elect.
  • National Cancer Institute Rural Supplement Models of Care Working Group. 01/2018 - present. Position : Co-leader.
  • Global Health Steering Committee. 01/2018 - present. Position : Member.
  • NCI Cancer Center HPV Vaccination Meeting, June 7-8, 2018, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City. 01/2017 - 01/2018. Position : Host and Planning Chair.
  • Community Engagement Working Group. 01/2017 - present. Position : Participant.
  • College Council Executive Committee. 01/2017 - 01/2020. Position : Member.
  • Consortium for Families and Health Research (C-FAHR), University of Utah. 01/2017 - present. Position : Affiliated Member.
  • Utah Department of Health Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Advisory Committee. 01/2017 - present. Position : Voting Member.
  • American Cancer Society National HPV Vaccination Roundtable. 01/2016 - 01/2019. Position : Sub-Group Leader & Invited Member.
  • Awards and Recognition Committee. 01/2016 - 01/2018. Position : Member.
  • Utah HPV Vaccination Working Group (Utah Department of Health and American Cancer Society – Utah Chapter). 01/2016 - present. Position : Content Expert.
  • Women’s Health Synergy Group. 01/2015 - 01/2018. Position : Leader.
  • Utah Cancer Control Planning Committee - HPV Vaccination Priorities (2016-2020. 01/2015 - 12/2015. Position : Coordinator.
  • Center for Clinical and Translational Science Seed Grant Proposal Review Committee. 01/2015 - 12/2015. Position : Member.
  • Health Disparities and Cancer Prevention Interest Group, Huntsman Cancer Institute. 01/2015 - 01/2017. Position : Team Leader.
  • Utah Scientific Vaccinations Committee. 01/2015 - present. Position : Invited Non-voting Member.
  • International Papillomavirus Society. 01/2015 - present. Position : Member.
  • University of Utah Center of Excellence in Women’s Health. 01/2014 - present. Position : Advisory Board Member.
  • Intermountain West HPV Vaccination Coalition. 01/2014 - present. Position : Founder/Director.
  • Health Disparities and Cancer Prevention, Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute. 01/2014 - 01/2017. Position : Leader.
  • Utah Department of Health HPV Vaccine Campaign. 01/2013 - present. Position : Expert Consultant.
  • Utah Vaccine Advisory Committee. 01/2013 - present. Position : Invited Participant.
  • Utah Public Health Association. 01/2013 - present. Position : Member.
  • American Association for Cancer Education. 01/2012 - present. Position : Member.
  • Utah Cancer Action Network. 01/2012 - present. Position : Member.
  • Retention, Tenure, and Promotion Review Committee, Career Line & Tenure Line. 01/2012 - 01/2013. Position : Member.
  • Research Committee. 01/2012 - 01/2014. Position : Member, Chair-elect.
  • Sunshine Fund. 01/2012 - 01/2018. Position : Coordinator.
  • PhD Committee. 01/2012 - present. Position : Member.
  • University Research Committee. 01/2012 - 01/2016. Position : Member.
  • American Society of Preventive Oncology. 01/2010 - present. Position : Member.
  • US Peace Corps, Seattle, Washington Office. 01/2007 - 12/2007. Position : Returned Volunteer Speaker.
  • American Public Health Association. 01/2006 - 01/2010. Position : Member.
  • Society of Behavioral Medicine. 01/2005 - 01/2011. Position : Member.

Courses I Teach

  • NURS 7106 - Context for Advancing Science
    This course is designed to examine the current sociopolitical, economic, and technologic context for advancing knowledge. Participants will examine key public health problems and their relationship to the national research agenda and priorities. Participants will evaluate major paradigm shifts in society and discuss the influence of such shifts on the advancement of science including funding for research.
  • NURS 7510 - Social Context of Medicine
    This course will emphasize developing two interrelated issues: beyond the presense or absence of illness, what other factors predict or explain the presence or absence of health and well-being, and what do we understand about how to affect change in people and populations to enhance health. There are several core themes that will resonant throughout the course: a population-perspective, issues of vulnerability and disparities, and change. Through the course an emphasis will be placed on the application of the information to one of the following products: research, policy making and analysis, and health program planning.