Sheila Sjolander

About Sheila Sjolander

Sheila Sjolander is the Deputy Director of Public Health Services at the Arizona Department of Health Services. Sheila oversees the divisions of Prevention, Preparedness and Licensing, a team of more than 700 people working toward the vision of health and wellness for all Arizonans. Prior to her appointment as deputy director, she served as Assistant Director for Prevention Services for more than a decade. In her 22 years at ADHS, Sheila has been a dedicated leader in health improvement, strategic planning, and the state’s work to reduce opioid overdoses. She earned a Master of Social Work degree from Temple University, and received the Outstanding Achievement in Rural Women’s Health from the Arizona Rural Women’s Health Association in 2016, and the CHW Champion Award from the Arizona Community Health Worker Association in 2017.

Health Start program wins approval for community health worker training curriculum

By |2022-08-30T12:21:31-07:00August 30th, 2022|Prevention|

Health Start, an ADHS program that educates pregnant and postpartum women about the benefits of prenatal care and childhood immunizations, will now be able to help even more Arizona babies get a healthier start. A curriculum developed by the ADHS Health Start team has been approved for use in training community health workers, who will [...]

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National Cancer Survivors Day: Join the fight

By |2022-06-06T12:50:09-07:00June 6th, 2022|Prevention|

Chances are you or someone you know has been touched by cancer. From patients and providers to caregivers and survivors, the impact of this life-altering disease is felt in every corner of Arizona.  Monday, June 6, is National Cancer Survivors Day. A cancer survivor includes those who are being treated for cancer, who are free [...]

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Water Safety: Take steps to prevent child drownings

By |2022-06-03T09:25:26-07:00June 3rd, 2022|Preparedness|

Arizona experienced the tragic deaths of 22 children due to drowning in 2020, according to the Arizona Child Fatality Review Program. Nearly all of them were children ages 1 to 4.  Every one of those drowning deaths was preventable.  To promote water safety, ADHS joins organizations around the country urging adults to help reduce drownings [...]

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Loan repayment program open to those working in underserved areas

By |2022-05-16T12:02:01-07:00May 16th, 2022|Prevention|

Are you a primary care health professional serving in an underserved Arizona community? If so, you may be eligible for the Arizona State Loan Repayment Program.  To promote the availability of health care in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas of Arizona, this program provides loan repayment assistance to professionals who provide outpatient primary care services [...]

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Celebrating National Women’s Health Week: Prioritizing your health

By |2022-05-11T12:49:43-07:00May 11th, 2022|Prevention|

This week we celebrate National Women's Health Week. This annual celebration begins on Mother’s Day every year to encourage women to make their health a priority. Women are so often in the role of caring for others; it’s critical for us to focus on our own health, and National Women's Health Week nudges us to [...]

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New campaigns and ASHLine.org update focus on positives of ending tobacco use

By |2022-05-02T12:17:26-07:00May 3rd, 2022|Prevention|

A recent ADHS news release featured our joint effort to reduce tobacco use among members of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) through ASHLine.org, the Arizona Smokers’ HelpLine.  It features three campaigns stemming from focus group research with AHCCCS members. Their message was clear: Positive, supportive messages are the most effective way to [...]

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Get to know the Unvape Generation

By |2022-04-14T14:10:18-07:00April 19th, 2022|Prevention|

ADHS invites you to meet Xander, Mia, and other young people unafraid of a future without nicotine. They are members of the Unvape Generation.  Built around videos featured on the ADHS YouTube channel and in social media posts, this new campaign encourages young people to share their healthy hobbies and why these don’t mix with [...]

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Improving health outcomes for Black mothers in Arizona

By |2022-04-15T11:04:50-07:00April 15th, 2022|Prevention|

For Black women, the risk of morbidity and death during pregnancy, delivery, or postpartum is up to three times greater than for white women. That’s why the ADHS is working to educate health care providers and family members during National Black Maternal Health Week, from April 11-17. The health issues for Black women during and [...]

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Start small, live big: Make heart health a priority

By |2022-02-14T10:17:30-07:00February 14th, 2022|Prevention|

Understandably, as most people made a concerted effort to stay safe from COVID-19, some other important health concerns may have received less attention during the past two years. As we mark American Heart Month, now is the perfect time to increase your focus on cardiovascular health.  The Start Small, Live Big campaign from the Alliance [...]

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ADHS program helps mothers, babies get off to a healthier start, comprehensive study finds

By |2022-02-10T13:04:37-07:00February 10th, 2022|Prevention|

An ADHS program to educate pregnant and postpartum women about the benefits of prenatal care and childhood immunizations is resulting in healthier babies across Arizona.  A comprehensive evaluation covering 2006-2016 found that participation in Arizona’s Health Start Program improved low birthweight and preterm birth outcomes, prenatal care attendance, and on-time child immunizations. The report, which [...]

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