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.

Raising awareness about maternal health

By |2022-01-28T12:04:00-07:00January 28th, 2022|Prevention|

Every year in Arizona, about 70 women die within a year of a pregnancy, and another 900 women experience unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant short- or long-term consequences to their health. More than 80% of those complications are considered preventable with proper care, according to the Arizona Maternal Mortality Review [...]

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Being physically active is a path to better health

By |2022-01-24T15:06:55-07:00January 24th, 2022|Prevention|

There are many reasons to be active, such as better sleep, lower blood pressure, improved blood sugar levels, prevention of chronic disease, lower risk of depression and anxiety, time for self-care, and increased energy.  According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), three-quarters of Arizona adults participated in physical [...]

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ADHS launches ‘Count the Kicks’ to improve birth outcomes

By |2022-01-06T12:57:51-07:00January 6th, 2022|Prevention|

How excited did you feel the first time you felt your baby move? What begins like a small flutter in the early stages of pregnancy often progresses to full blown kicks (and punches!) by the third trimester. While it can be great fun for parents to feel or see their baby moving around, paying close [...]

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National news about overdose deaths is a call to action for all Arizonans

By |2021-11-17T13:41:07-07:00November 17th, 2021|Prevention|

Today’s grim national news about overdose deaths amid the pandemic strikes a chord in Arizona, where opioid overdose deaths have continued to rise amid increased illegal use of counterfeit fentanyl.  The National Center for Health Statistics released provisional figures showing that U.S. overdose deaths exceeded 100,000 for the first time in a 12-month period that [...]

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The benefits of quitting smoking begin almost immediately

By |2021-11-17T12:11:47-07:00November 17th, 2021|Prevention|

In the 15 years since voters approved the Smoke Free AZ Act, Arizona has made significant progress in the battle to reduce smoking and improve public health in our state. When the measure passed in 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 18.6 percent of Arizonans smoked. Today, that number is [...]

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An Important Anniversary for a National Screening Program Helping Women

By |2021-10-28T12:54:29-07:00October 28th, 2021|Prevention|

Every year around the world, the month of October is dedicated to highlighting the importance of breast cancer prevention, awareness, education, and research. Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the U.S. and the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Arizona.  Sadly, female breast cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer death [...]

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Domestic violence affects thousands across Arizona every year

By |2021-10-06T12:36:55-07:00October 6th, 2021|Prevention|

When you see the color purple during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October – whether that’s on a friend’s shirt or the dome of the State Capitol in Phoenix – keep in mind this shocking fact: Since the start of 2020, an average of two Arizonans have died every week from causes directly related to [...]

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September Is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

By |2021-09-21T13:58:15-07:00September 21st, 2021|Prevention|

With Arizona marking September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we recognize the COVID-19 pandemic has brought on many stressors, including emotional hardships, that can impact the overall health and mental well-being of Arizonans. It has never been more important for us to stay connected to the people we care about. ADHS recently launched a campaign [...]

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Hear Her: Learn the urgent maternal warning signs to help save women’s lives

By |2021-09-20T09:35:44-07:00September 20th, 2021|Prevention|

Any mom’s life lost is one too many. Over the years, maternal deaths and other complications that occur during and after pregnancy have been on the rise nationwide and in Arizona.  In our state, about 70 women die each year, and about a third of these die from pregnancy-related complications, with the largest burden being [...]

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