The Weekly SPHere March 23, 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 2009 SPH Commencement speaker will be Dr. Eric Whitaker, M.D., M.P.H., a nationally recognized public health leader. Whitaker is the executive vice president of strategic affiliations and associate dean of community-based research at the University of Chicago Medical Center. He leads the center’s Urban Health Initiative, which is working to reduce health disparities in Chicago. Until 2007, he served as the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. Prior to that appointment, he was an attending physician at Cook County Hospital, where his research interests included HIV/AIDS prevention and minority health. Whitaker gained national attention as founder and director of Project Brotherhood: A Black Men’s Clinic. In 1998, he developed a new clinical model for African American males that combined health care and disease prevention with vocational and spiritual guidance, all in the setting of
a barbershop. Whitaker is an advisor and friend to Barack Obama. Commencement will take place on Monday, May 18 at 5 p.m. at Northrop Memorial Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
Nominate yourself or a colleague for SPH Student Senate by Tuesday, March 24. Online elections for Student Senate Executive Board positions will be held March 28-31. Positions include: president, vice-president, and secretary. Candidates who nominate themselves or are nominated must submit a brief statement of intent. Nominations must be submitted to sphss@umn.edu or anonymously to the SPH Student Services Center mailbox (Mayo D305). Individuals will be notified of their nomination. If they wish, they can submit a candidate statement, which must include name, program, and year. The deadline for candidate statement submission is Thursday, March 26. Send questions to sphss@umn.edu.
Join SPH Dean John Finnegan for "Dialogue with the Dean" on Tuesday, March 31 from 2 to 3 p.m. in the SPHere Student Lounge. This is an opportunity for students to meet with the dean and engage in casual conversation. Discuss questions, concerns, and life as an SPH graduate student, meet other students, and enjoy light refreshments.
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Student News
The Academic Health Center Multicultural Society is sponsoring the 5th Annual Harambee talent showcase. If you or a group of friends are interested in performing a 3- to 6-minute set, sign up by March 23 by sending an e-mail to chip@umn.edu. The event will be held Wednesday, April 22, at 4:30 p.m,. with food and an art presentation. Performances begin at 6 p.m. It will be held in Coffman Union Memorial Theater. Contact chip@umn.edu for more information.
The Medtronic Interdisciplinary Healthcare Case Competition will take place April 16-18 at the Carlson School of Management. First place prize is $6,000 and second place is $3,000. Eight teams are allowed to enter the competition. Hosted by MILISA (Medical Industry Leadership Institute Student Association). MILISA will also host a networking social at the Loring Pasta Bar on Thursday, March 26, 7:30 p.m.
• Register online March 23 to April 3
Come to SPH Research Day on Monday, April 6. Academic Health Center students, faculty, and staff are invited to check out SPH student research posters in Coffman Memorial Union’s Mississippi Room between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• More information
Multicultural graduate and professional students who will graduate in Summer 2009 are invited to the 5th Annual Celebration of Achievement on Saturday, May 9. Register at the Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence by Friday, April 17. Direct questions to Trumanue Lindsey at Lind1078@umn.edu.
Share Your Ideas about the Restructuring of the Graduate School on Tuesday, March 24, at 10 a.m., and Wednesday, March 25, at 4:30 p.m. The sessions will be held in A301 Mayo (SPH Dean’s Office Conference Room). M.S. and PH.D. students are invited to meet with SPH professor Betsy Wattenberg to share ideas concerning the restructuring of the oversight and support of graduate education. Refreshments will be provided.
• Read the announcements regarding the restructuring
SPH Career Counselor Mary Dwyer will be a presenter during Career Week—Graduate and Professional Students’ Career Stimulus Package offered in collaboration with the U of M’s graduate career development network.
4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, in 275 Nicholson Hall
Identifying Job Options and Conducting a Search in a Tough Economy
• Register for the session here
4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, in 230 Anderson Hall
Identifying Job Options and Conducting a Search in a Tough Economy (Repeated)
• Register for the session here
4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26, at 101 Walter Library
CV/Resume Building and Formatting for Academia and Industry
• Register for the session here
The CV/Resume Building workshop is for graduate students planning to seek faculty positions or careers in industry and private organizations.
Help Minnesota FoodShare fight hunger by donating non-perishable food items or money to the Neighborhood House in Saint Paul. Drop off your food or non-food donations in the bright orange bins in the SPHere, CHIP Lounge and WBOB by Tuesday, March 31. Those wishing to donate money can make checks payable to the Neighborhood House Food Shelf and mail to Neighborhood House, 179 Robie Street E., St. Paul MN 55107. For questions about the FoodShare campaign contact Nancy Hoyt Taff at taff0012@umn.edu.
• More information on the Neighborhood House
Students are invited to an upcoming financial planning workshop that will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 1 in 140 Nolte Hall. No registration required. North Star Resource Group will lead the workshop.
• More details about the event
The Children, Youth, and Family Consortium (CYFC) Scholars program supports U of M faculty, research staff and graduate students from diverse disciplines to conduct research focused on the intersection of educational and health disparities. This program is open to all faculty and professional and administrative staff across the university system. The request for applications for individuals to serve as either CYFC "scholars" or "fellows" is available at the CYFC website. Applications are due Friday, April 3.
• Request an application
The Learning Abroad Center has funding of up to $500 for students participating on non-credit work, intern, volunteer or teaching programs during summer 2009. Students must complete an application and submit a 250-300 word essay illustrating their reasons for choosing the program, how it will impact their personal, professional, academic or long-term goals, and how they plan to fund the program in addition to the awarded fellowship. The deadline is 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 15 and students will be notified by May 1.
• View the list of approved programs
Photos from Pamoja 2009 can be viewed online. If you have photos from Pamoja you would like to share, please e-mail them to sphss@umn.edu.
• See the photos
Show your excitement about National Public Health Week (NPHW) by participating in the SPH Student Division Contest. The division that has the highest percentage of students volunteering and attending the NPHW Film Festival, April 6-11, and Research Day, April 6, will win a root beer float social. Floats will be served by SPH Dean John Finnegan. Ways you can participate:
- Volunteer to help promote and execute the film festival and serve on the Research Day Student Choice Committee. See the volunteer opportunities.
- Attend the NPHW Film Festival and Research Day.
The more you attend or volunteer, the more credits you will earn. For questions, contact Nichole Axtman at 6-9303 or mart1047@umn.edu.
Peace Corps Information Sessions sponsored by the Institute for Global Studies will be held Wednesday, March 25. Both sessions will be in Room 2-224 of the Carlson School of Management. The first session will be from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. and the second from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Find out about the application process, benefits of service, and speak with a recruiter. For more information contact Ryan Kattner at 612-221-5541 or rkattner@peacecorps.gov.
The SPH Student Senate volunteer committee wants you to join the fight against cancer by participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life beginning Friday, April 17. Last year the SPH relay team raised $5,000. This year’s goal is $7,000. Participate at the event, donate, or both. Donation jars are located in the following areas: Student Services Center (Mayo D305), Dean’s Office (Mayo A3rd floor), WBOB (3rd floor, reception). Please stop by and make a contribution. For more information, contact Erika Vetta at vett0066@umn.edu.
• Join or donate to the SPH Cares about Cures team
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School News
Attend the fifth annual SPH film festival the week of April 6-11. Hosted in celebration of National Public Health Week, this year’s selection of films promises to be educational, intriguing, and thought-provoking. A new addition to this year’s festival is a Family Fun Film Day on Saturday, which includes short films for kids, crafts, and pictures with Goldy Gopher. Winners of the "It’s Global" Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest will be screened Monday evening and Saturday beginning at 1:30 p.m. The evenings begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Mayo Memorial Auditorium. The film festival is free and open to the public.
• More information, including film selections, dates and times
The Bell Museum and Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy presents an Earth Day free screening of the film, A Sense of Wonder. The film will be screened at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at the Bell Museum Auditorium. Based on the life of environmentalist Rachel Carson, the documentary-style film examines Carson’s final year of life, during which she battled cancer, an unexpectedly high public profile and backlash from her critics. A panel discussion featuring SPH professor William Toscano and experts from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s Healthy Legacy campaign will follow.
The Department of Health and Human Services has released a new report, "Americans Speak on Health Reform: Report on Health Care Community Discussions," which summarizes comments from the thousands of Americans who hosted and participated in Health Care Community Discussions across the country. The report is available on a new website dedicated to health reform. The site allows users to share their thoughts about health reform with the Obama Administration and sign a statement in support of President Obama’s commitment to enacting comprehensive health reform this year.
• Visit the website
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SPH Events
"Bayesian Adaptive Methods for Clinical Trial Design and Analysis Or What I Did on My Fall Semester Leave," will be presented by SPH professor Brad Carlin on Wednesday, March 25. The seminar will be held at 3:30 p.m. in MoosT 1-450. A social tea will be held at 2:45 p.m. in A434 Mayo. All are welcome to attend.
• Details online or call
4-4655.
"The Home Environment and Adolescent Physical Activity" is the topic of SPH professor’s John Sirard’s presentation on Friday, March 27. The Division of Epidemiology and Community Health Seminar will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. in room 364 of WBOB. For more information contact Carol Raichert at 5-1836.
"Childhood Asthma: Potential Causes and Consequences" will be presented on March 26 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Wilder Center in St. Paul. SPH faculty members Charles Oberg and John Adgate will discuss trends, screening, environmental exposure, and other issues concerning childhood asthma. The event is free and open to all but seating is limited. Lunch will be provided. Register to Laurie Ukestad at ukest001@umn.edu. The Amherst center is located at 451 Lexington Parkway N., St. Paul. This event is part of the National Children’s Study Speaker’s Series.
The Law School Council, the Medical School Student Council, and the School of Public Health Student Senate invite you to the Malpractice Ball on Saturday, March 28. The event will be held from 7:30 to midnight at Blaisdell Manor, 2322 Blaisdell Ave., Minneapolis. Hors d’ouevres will be served and there will be an open bar. Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased through the Student Services Center (Mayo D305) front desk. Questions? Contact Emily Wang, wang0675@umn.edu.
The Healthcare Reform and Health Equity forum will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday, April 17, in Coffman Memorial Union Theatre. The forum will focus on models for reforming our health care system and implications of these models for reducing health disparities. Speakers include Sen. Amy Klobuchar; Jeffery Korsmo, executive director of the Mayo Clinic Health Policy Center; and SPH alumnus Michael Trujillo, health research director for the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (formerly director of the Indian Health Service and Assistant Surgeon General).
• Information and Registration
A series on "Causality in the Health Sciences" will take place on five Wednesdays in April, 12:15 -1:15 p.m. The sessions will likely be taped by the AcademyHealth as a webinar. Each session, except for the first, will have a paper that the audience will be encouraged to read before the session. Information on how to access the papers will be sent later. The first session will be held in D199 Mayo. The sessions are organized by the Division of Health Policy and Management.
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Date
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Presenter
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Title
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Discussant A
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Discussant B
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Discussant C
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April 1, 2009
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Bryan Dowd (HPM)
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Overview/Philosophy Background
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All
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All
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All
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April 8, 2009
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Michael Oakes (EPICH)
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Epidemiological Perspective
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Roger Feldman
(HPM)
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George Maldonado (EHS)
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Pinar Karaca-Mandic (HPM)
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April 15, 2009
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Bryan Dowd
(HPM)
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Econometric Perspective
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Michael Oakes (EPICH)
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James Neaton (BIOSTAT)
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Melanie Wall (BIOSTAT)
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April 22, 2009
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George Maldonado (EHS)
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Population Perspective
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Richard MacLehose (EPICH)
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Robert Kane
(HPM)
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Bryan Dowd
(HPM)
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April 29, 2009
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Gordon Mosser/ Robert Kane (HPM)
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Implementation
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Bryan Dowd
(HPM)
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Beth Virnig
(HPM)
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Jeff McCullough
(HPM)
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Other Events
March 30, 4-5:30
"I Want to do Clinical Research but the FDA Wants Me to do What?!?"
April 7, 7:30 p.m.
The Healing Forest: The Origin and Discovery of Natural Organic Medicines from the Forbidden Forests of Africa and the Amazon in Peru
April 24, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Documentary Screening of Money-Driven Medicine
For more events, go to the SPH Online Calendar
Subscribe to SPH calendar updates by e-mail
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The Weekly SPHere is sent by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware Street, S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455.
Last modified on Sunday Mar 22, 2009