Brianna Rooney

Brianna Rooney, DrPH is an Assistant Research Professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH), Department of Public Health Practice, Policy and Translational Research. Her research is driven by a commitment to address gaps in healthcare preparedness and seeks to contribute valuable insights and recommendations for enhancing the resilience of rural healthcare communities. Currently, she works with the Center for Rural Health on the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program, the Rural Hospital Flexibility program, and the Arizona Advancing Health Equity, Addressing Health Equity grant. She collaborates with local health departments, critical access hospitals, and rural health clinics to improve rural health disparities through program evaluation, community resilience, and emergency preparedness.

Prior to her work with the Center for Rural Health, Dr. Rooney worked in healthcare emergency preparedness and response for 9 years. Most recently, she worked with the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association as the Southern Region Manager for the Arizona Coalition of Healthcare Emergency Response. Additionally, she has volunteered as the Director of Member Relations for the Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Profession. In Nebraska she worked with over 60 critical access hospitals as the Hospital Preparedness Program Manager at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Ms. Rooney received a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a Doctor of Public Health degree from the University of Arizona.