Becky Handforth Email & Phone Number

Usa And International

Mercy Ships is a faith-based organization that uses hospital ships to provide free specialized surgical care to individuals who lack access to safe, timely, and affordable surgeries. In each host country, Mercy Ships also partners with the local healthcare system to offer training courses and mentoring opportunities for medical personnel. - Represent Mercy Ships and its direct medical services and medical capacity building programs as part of the Country Engagement Team, which goes ahead of the Africa Mercy surgical ship to conduct initial assessments and advance preparations in future host countries. - Liaise with representatives of the Ministry of Health, the local healthcare system, and international organizations to form sustainable partnerships and facilitate successful field services.

Dakar, Senegal

- Coordinated with representatives of the Ministry of Health and Social Action and public and private medical providers to establish partnerships and facilitate efficient and effective operation of the surgical ship, the Africa Mercy, during its 10-month stay in Senegal- Supported the patient selection team during the start-up phase; inclusive of training the new Patient Selection Administrative Assistant and relevant local crew and helping with patient selection activities

Conakry, Guinea

- Assisted with patient selection activities in Conakry and the country's interior- Served as a research assistant for a study on patient transportation; inclusive of patient education and consent, data tracking, and ensuring consistency of study processes. - Supervised three locally hired crew- Performed the following administrative duties: prepared patient medical records, maintained an electronic database, called patients with appointment reminders, edited written communication, prepared daily patient arrival lists, submitted food orders, and tracked expenses.

Remote

For the following projects, all on the topic of food fortification, I collaborated with individuals at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food Fortification Initiative (FFI), the International Grains Program Institute at Kansas State University, and Helen Keller International (HKI) among others. 2018 project:Reviewed legislation published by countries that require wheat flour, maize flour, rice, vegetable oil, and/or salt fortification to assess the robustness of each program’s legal framework - taking into consideration program monitoring, penalties for non compliance, and enforcement. 2017 projects:1. Authored policy guidance document on food fortification monitoring and compliance. 2. Handled logistics for a regional flour fortification training-of-trainers event held in Kenya, presented at the event, and authored meeting report. 3. Developed the content for an online training course on the topic of rice fortification.2016 projects:1. Assisted with preparations for a regional flour fortification training-of trainers event held in Nigeria, presented at the event, and authored meeting report. 2. Developed a training manual intended for those who guide fortification stakeholders as they plan, implement, and monitor national fortification programs. This manual provided the foundation for the training-of-trainers events in Nigeria and Kenya (above).3. Produced the content for an online training course on the topic of wheat flour fortification.2015 projects: 1. Provided proofreading and content revision support for a comprehensive manual on the topic of monitoring food fortification programs. Additionally, facilitated a review process for the manual, which sought feedback from individuals representing the public, private, and civic sectors.

Brussels, Belgium

The Food Fortification Initiative is an international network of partners that advocates for the addition of critical micronutrients to industrially-milled wheat flour, maize products, and rice to improve population health. As the Europe Associate, I worked significantly with the UNICEF regional office for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States and the International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. - Collaborated with partners in the public, private, and civic sectors to advance flour fortification in the region- Authored and edited articles, reports, advocacy documents, and technical tools- Organized and attended workshops, trainings, and country visits- Gave presentations and prepared presentations for others - Maintained country profiles

Atlanta, Ga

- Collected and mapped data for landscape analyses of Africa, Asia, and Europe - Managed Global Secretariat database; tracked data related to fortification, grain industries, and health/nutrition- Authored case study-Roadblocks to Progress: A Look at Why Ireland and New Zealand Halted Mandatory Flour Fortification with Folic Acid- Provided logistical support for workshop in Reims, France

New Haven, Ct

The Rudd Center is a research and public policy organization that strives to improve eating habits, prevent obesity, and reduce weight stigma through various avenues. It was based at Yale University during my internship but is now associated with the University of Connecticut's Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy. - Acted as principal investigator for qualitative food bank study; utilized in-depth interviews (publication details below)- Supported nutrition efforts at the Connecticut Food Bank

Washington D.C. Metro Area

The Capital Area Food Bank addresses hunger by distributing food through its network of partner agencies to individuals and families in the Washington D.C. metro area. It also educates the community about the issues of hunger and nutrition. Cooking Matters is a cooking-based nutrition education program created by Share Our Strength with curricula for children, teens and adults. - Worked to alleviate food insecurity and encourage healthy eating habits through the coordination of simple, budget-friendly cooking and nutrition courses - Supervised AmeriCorps VISTAs (2007-2009)- Recruited, trained, and managed volunteers who facilitated courses- Directed special projects, such as piloting new curricula and building satellite programs- Published quarterly newsletter, "Food on the Frontline", and contributed to "A Generous Helping" blog- Note: My first year with the Capital Area Food Bank, I was part of the AmeriCorps VISTA program.

Master Of Public Health (Mph), Hubert Department Of Global Health

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), International Studies