The Weekly SPHere Jan. 20, 2009
The Weekly SPHere is a weekly electronic publication for students in the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. To submit items for the Weekly SPHere, please send an e-mail to sphnews@umn.edu.
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SPHere Spotlight
The Office of Student Services invites students to attend a screening of the 2004 Oscar-award winning film, Crash, and a discussion about diversity on Wednesday, Jan. 28. The gathering will be held as a way to introduce students to the latest technological updates in the student SPHere lounge as well as promote diversity. The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the student SPHere. Snacks will be provided.
• Register online
Take a few minutes to weigh in on a proposed campus-wide smoking ban. The University’s Student Health Advisory Committee is seeking comments on the proposed policy that would go into effect in January 2010. A decision will be made about the policy this spring and if it is passed, incremental steps will be taken to eliminate smoking on campus through the summer and fall. Those wishing to make comments should email Katherine Himes, assistant to the provost at hime0005@umn.edu.
• View details about the proposed ban
This week Dean Finnegan writes about CoursEval and the Jim Rothenberger memorial.
• Read the column
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Student News
SPH Student Research Day 2009 is a time to honor and celebrate the research endeavors of public health students. Students in all degree programs are encouraged to submit an abstract and present a poster. All participants are eligible for prizes, including two Delta Omega (Pi Chapter) Premier Poster Awards, which offer $500 toward the expense of attending a conference of the recipient’s choice.
Save these dates:
Poster training session (you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to create a poster!): Friday, Feb. 27 from 9 to 11 a.m.
Abstract submission deadline: Monday, March 9
SPH Student Research Day: Monday, April 6
More details will be available in upcoming issues of the Weekly SPHere.
“Designing and Conducting Focus Groups Interviews” is an interactive overview of focus group procedures that can be used in public and non-profit environments. Two workshops are being offered during March that will discuss the practical approaches to determining the appropriate use of focus group studies, design options, developing questions, recruiting participants, moderating skills, and analyzing and reporting results are emphasized. The first workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 16 and 17 and the second will be held from 8:30 to 4 p.m. on March 18 and 19.
• More details online
Health Interprofessional Dinner and Discussion. Participate in the analysis of a mini-case study on Family/Pet Neglect and Abuse from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29. The session will be held in 1-450 Moos Tower. Dinner will be catered by Buca di Beppo. Tickets are $5 in advance. Register via e-mail to chip@umn.edu by Monday, Jan. 26. The discussion is sponsored by CHIP and CLARION.
Patti Gravitt will discuss, ¿Effective cervical cancer screening in peri-urban villages in Andhra Pradesh, India: Evaluating the balance of coverage and assay performance,¿ on Friday, Jan. 23. The session will be held at 10 a.m. in room 364 WBOB. Gravitt is associate professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change sponsors fellowships to support graduate students committed to the study of global change. Students interested in the fellowships should seek nomination from their department’s directors of graduate studies. Only those candidates who have been nominated by their department will be eligible. The deadline is Friday, Jan. 30. Requests for application forms can also be made by phone 4-0832 or email icgc@umn.edu.
• Guidelines for all fellowship competitions
Students who wish to apply for Field Experience Scholarships must do so by Sunday, Feb. 15.
• View details and application form
Call for proposals: the Joseph M. Juran Center for Leadership in Quality is seeking proposals for the 2009 Juran Fellowship for Ph.D. students. An information session will be held Friday, Jan. 30, 11:30 a.m., in 2-250, Hanson Hall in the Carlson School of Management. Fellowships are open to University students and are due Tuesday, March 10. For more information and to register, e-mail Jill Pearson-Wood at pears128@umn.edu or call her at 6-4555.
Enter the “It’s Global” PSA Contest for a chance to win up to $500. Want to tell the world how you feel about pollution, clean water, climate change, second-hand smoke or another global public health topic? Here’s your chance. Create a public service announcement that is 30 seconds or less and enter the 2009 “It’s Global” Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest sponsored by the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. Novice and seasoned filmmakers are encouraged to participate. The deadline to enter is March 6. Select entries will be showcased and winners of cash prizes up to $500 will be announced on April 6 during National Public Health Week.
• Learn more about the PSA contest
Vietnamese Conversation Group for Future Health Professionals. The group’s purpose is to provide a forum to practice and build professional language skills in Vietnamese as preparation to work with Vietnamese individuals and families in health care and educational settings. Graduate and undergraduate students in fields such as speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, social work, psychology, special education, and medicine are welcome. Meetings will consist of presenting and discussing topics and terminology across health-related disciplines. The goal is to speak only in Vietnamese during each meeting. The first organizational meeting will be held the last week of January. Those interested should contact Giang Pham at tangx098@umn.edu with a list of times you will be available for spring semester.
A new spring course is being offered that focuses on community mental health. The two-credit class, PubH 6804, will meet on Thursdays from 1:25 to 3:20 p.m. This course provides an overview of the social-psychological processes that shape the experience of mental health and illness and the consequences of disorders for individuals, families, and communities. It examines epidemiological research, theories of mental health and illness, and policies that effect the organization and financing of services. Students will consider the implications of thinking about these issues from a social perspective, rather than focusing on mental health or illness as attributes of individuals. SPH faculty member Donna McAlpine (mcalp004@umn.edu) teaches the class.
A new course PubH 6801: Topics in Health Services and Research Policy is being offered this spring. It is a two credit class that meets from 5:40 to 7:30 on Wednesdays. The topic of this course is global health, relief, development and religious and non-religious NGOs. Kirk Allison is the instructor. For more information contact alli0001@umn.edu.
The Health Research Training Program (HRTP) of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is accepting applications for the summer session. The program is open to undergraduate, graduate and professional school students. Since 1961, HRTP has provided students with valuable, real-life experience in public health research and practice in New York City. HRTP is now accepting electronic applications. Forms are available in the Career Resource Center, D305 Mayo. The deadline for summer session 2009 is Monday, Feb. 16.
• More information online or
call 212-788-3166
Center for Bioethics accepting applications for new master’s program. The Center for Bioethics new interdisciplinary master’s degree program is now accepting applications for its first class, enrolling fall 2009. The core of the 30-credit degree program will be made up of bioethics courses offered by Center for Bioethics faculty. Courses are open to graduate and professional students throughout the University, and the center will continue to offer the graduate minor in bioethics. For more information, contact Margie O’Neill at (612) 626-4817, or bthxed@umn.edu.
• View spring course listings (PDF)
• Learn more about the program online
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School News
Witness the historic inauguration of Barack Obama during an open viewing of the ceremony in the Dean’s Office (A-301 Mayo) and the Student SPHere Lounge on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The televisions will remain on throughout the day to air coverage of the events, including the swearing in at 11 a.m. Refreshments will be available in A-301.
• View the full inaugural schedule
A public memorial service will honor SPH professor James Rothenberger for his many contributions to students, faculty, staff, and others during a career that spanned more than three decades. The memorial will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12 in the Mayo Memorial Auditorium. As many of you know, Jim Rothenberger passed away due to complications from kidney disease and an infection on Dec. 8. In spite of his health challenges, he was a tireless and devoted instructor, teaching an average of 15 courses a year.
• View and/or post
remembrances of Rothenberger
Senior Vice President for Health Services Frank Cerra will present his annual State of the Academic Health Center address on Thursday, Feb. 19. It will be held in the Mayo Auditorium from 3 to 4 p.m. The address will be preceded by the AHC Faculty Assembly from 2 to 2:45 p.m. The presentation will be broadcast to the St. Paul, Duluth, and Rochester campuses. The assembly was originally scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 15.
Save the date for, “What’s Next in Law, Health and the Life Sciences? Debating Openness, Access and Accountability,” which will be held Friday, March 6. The daylong seminar, sponsored by the Consortium and Joint Degree Program, features SPH faculty members Michael Osterholm and Bill Toscano, and Frank Cerra, senior vice president for Health Sciences.
• More information about the seminar
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SPH Events
Patti Gravitt, associate professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health will discuss, “Effective cervical cancer screening in peri-urban villages in Andhra Pradesh, India: Evaluating the balance of coverage and assay performance,” on Friday, Jan. 23. The session will be held at 10 a.m. in room 364 WBOB. Lunch with the speaker will be at noon.
“Who Pays for Obesity,” will be discussed in a seminar held on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Jay Bhattacharya, an associate professor of medicine at Stanford University, is the keynote speaker. The seminar, sponsored by the Division of Health Policy and Management, will be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in 2-650 Moos Tower. Bhattacharya’s papers on this subject are available and electronic copies can be requested by e-mailing raasc001@umn.edu
Save the Date for the next SPH Alumni and Friends Scholarship Gala. The event will be held on Saturday evening, May 16, in the Great Hall at Coffman Memorial Union. New York Times best-selling author, Dan Buettner, will deliver the keynote. There will be a discounted rate for students. And since the gala is two days before commencement friends and family of graduates are encouraged to attend. Last year the event raised $45,000 for SPH student scholarships. For more events, go to the SPH Online Calendar
• More about Dan Buettner’s book
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Other Events
Jan. 29, 11 a.m . to 1 p.m.
EPA’s chief scientist to speak about presidential priorities
Jan. 29 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
2009 Deinard Memorial Lecture on Law & Medicine: "The Emergent Logic of Health Law"
Feb. 3 6-9 p.m.
Healthy Eating and Living Seminar featuring Brenda Langton, owner of Café Brenda and Spoonriver. Two other seminars will be held on Thursday, Feb. 5 and Tuesday, Feb. 10.
For more events, go to the SPH Online Calendar
Subscribe to SPH calendar updates by e-mail
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Last modified on Monday Jan 19, 2009