The Weekly SPHere April 27, 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
Are you ready to take the Public Health Certification Exam? A new course at the 2009 Public Health Institute reviews the five basic core competencies of public health practice included on the certification exam: biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences. The course is geared for graduates of Council on Education for Public Health-accredited schools of public health, such as the SPH, or anyone preparing to take the exam. It includes test-taking strategies and other support tools and services to help you prepare.
• More on the course
• More on the institute
The SPH Cares About Cures Team became the number one top fundraising team during Relay for Life according to Colleges Against Cancer, the event host. About $5,700 was collected by the SPH team. Among the 194 teams participating for the University, $196,000 has been raised so far. All donations will go to the fight against cancer and the American Cancer Society.
• More information about SPH and Relay for Life
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Student News
Make plans to attend an informal meeting hosted by Professor William Toscano to help develop ideas for a symposium lecture series that will begin in the fall. The meeting will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, in 1250 Mayo. Lunch will be provided. All students in the division are invited to attend to help generate lecture topic ideas. Those interested in attending should e-mail Katie Hall at hall1303@umn.edu by Friday, May 1.
Student Services needs your ideas and feedback. Students received an e-mail asking them to complete the annual End-of-Year Student Survey. Please take six to eight minutes and share your thoughts with Student Services. The survey results are shared with the SPH dean, division heads, program directors, and student senate. With your feedback the school can be a better place.
Thanks to the SPH students who helped the school celebrate National Public Health Week (NPHW). Whether you e-mailed your friends and family about events, distributed posters and fliers, popped popcorn, volunteered at a registration table, or participated in Research Day, thank you for engaging in the celebration. Almost 600 people attended the school's NPHW events. Special recognition goes to:
| Oluwakayode Adejoro |
Liz Barajas |
| Katherine Bauer |
Wobo Bekwelem |
| Dave Bell |
Lisa Calhoun |
| Imee Cambronero |
Amy Cowell |
| Liz Donahue |
Nicholas M Edwards |
| Kristen Godfrey |
Casey Gradick |
| Akshay Gupte |
Allison Hawley |
| Stephanie Hengst |
Liz Hoelsher |
| Tran Huynh |
Elizabeth Jacobson |
| Jee-Ae Kim |
Carrie Klumb |
| John Li |
Amy Linabery |
| Alyssa Olson |
Susan Puumala |
| SPH Student Senate |
Ania Urban |
| Emily Wang |
Jason Weaver |
| Brandi White |
Ping Ping Yang |
Epidemiology and Community Health students won a rootbeer float social with Dean John Finnegan for volunteering and participating the most (based on percentage) at National Public Health Week events. All Epidemiology and Community Health students are welcome to enjoy free rootbeer floats, light refreshments, and music on Tuesday, May 5, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the A301 conference room. (Go to the Mayo Memorial Building SPH Main Office A302). Register by Friday, May 1. If you have questions, contact Nichole Axtman at mart1047@umn.edu or 6-9303.
• Register for the rootbeer social
Jennifer Breen, an incoming student in the public health nutrition program, was named a Bush Fellow by the Bush Leadership Program. She is among a class of 18 who received this prestigious award. Breen is interested in creating a coalition of local food organizations that can promote a nutritional, sustainable food system and influence local and national food policy. In addition to working as a caterer, she is an educator at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
The winners for the 2009 SPH Art Competition are:
1st place: Helen Parson's "Nation at a Crossroads"
2nd place: Tyler Weber's "Tanzanian Children at a Street Camp"
3rd place: Sarah Sevcik's "Balancing Act"
Viewer's Choice: Sarah Sevcik's "Balancing Act"
Jump Start Your Job Search! Join Barb Laporte, director of Career Services for a career conversation on networking—what is it, and why is it important in the job search. The discussion will cover various networking situations, including using online social networking tools as part of your job search strategy. The event will be at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29, in the Career Resource Center (D305 Mayo).
Students are invited to join the SPH team supporting the MS Society of Minnesota. On Sunday, May 3, the SPH team will walk 6.5 miles in support of the MS Society. There is no obligation to raise funds and the only time commitment is on the day of the walk. For questions, contact the SPH team captain Catherine Hinz at hinzx037@umn.edu. To register follow the link below, click "Join Team" and select the team name "U of MN School of Public Health."
• Register here
Apply for the Carol E. Macpherson Memorial Scholarship until Thursday, April 30. The scholarship is available to female students 28 years or older who have had five-year or longer breaks in their post-secondary education and have a demonstrated financial need. For questions call the Women's Center at 5-9837 or e-mail women@umn.edu.
• More information/Application materials
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. Direct questions to Trumanue Lindsey at Lind1078@umn.edu.
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School News
Nearly 600 people participated in the 5th annual National Public Health Week film festival (April 6-11), sponsored by the SPH. Besides offering thought-provoking films to anchor the week, the "It's Global" Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest highlighted talented filmmakers while the a coloring contest showed off the skills of kids 12 and under. Thanks to all who participated and helped the SPH draw a record-breaking crowd.
• See photos NPHW activities on the SPH flickr page
"The Changing Competitive Position of Public Research Universities," will be discussed on Thursday, April 30. M. Peter McPherson, president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities is the keynote speaker. SPH Dean John Finnegan will serve as a reactor on a panel. The discussion will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey Center. This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required at 5-5002. This is one in a series of programs designed to bring together experts to talk about the current state of the economy.
The Division of Environmental Health Sciences sponsored a team for the 5th Annual Colon Cancer Coalition's "Get Your Rear in Gear" 5K walk/run. Forty-two "Team Polyp Patrol—EnHS" members (a new division record) joined thousands of other GYRIG participants. Through registration fees, donations, and fundraising events, EnHS contributed approximately $2,500 to help raise awareness of this disease and other colorectal disorders.
The Office of Diversity and Engagement is encouraging you to participate in the 2009 Minnesota AIDS Walk, "Every Step You Take Makes a Difference." Volunteers are needed on Saturday, May 16 in the evening to set up and for various shifts on Sunday, May 17 at Minnehaha Park.
• More information
Save the date for the 38th Annual Workshops in Clinical Hypnosis scheduled for June 4-6. The event will be held at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Plymouth, Minn. The workshop is a skill-development based training for health care clinicians to enrich their therapeutic communication abilities. For more information contact the Office of Continuing Medical Education at 6-7600 or by following the link below.
• More about Clinical Hypnosis Workshops
"Economics of Sex, Drugs, and Risky Behaviors" (PubH 6780) is a new 3-credit course offered summer session on Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:10 to 11:25 a.m. Faculty members are: Pinar Karaca-Mandic, John Nyman, and Bob Town from the Division of Health Policy and Management.
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SPH Events
The Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety Seminar, "Integrating Safety and Smoking Cessation in Small Manufacturing Businesses," will be held from 2:30 to 4 p.m. today (April 27) in Mayo 3-125. SPH professors Lisa Brosseau and Deborah Hennrikus will describe the results (to date) of a pilot intervention in two small manufacturing businesses aimed at integrating workplace safety and health promotion (smoking cessation) activities. This project is a collaborative effort of the SPH and the Carver County Department of Public Health.
The Division of Health Policy and Management Work in Progress Seminar Series continues with "Part 5: Implementation." SPH professor Robert Kane is the presenter and the discussants are SPH professors Bryan Dowd, Jeffrey McCullough, and Beth Virnig. The forum on causality in the health sciences will be held from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29 in room D325-327 Mayo. Attendees are encouraged to read the following article before the session: Berwick, D.M. "The Science of Improvement." JAMA, 2008, 299(10):1182-1184. If you cannot locate the article online, contact Ann Reilly at areilly@umn.edu to request a copy.
"Generalizability of the results of randomized trials" will be discussed during the Epidemiology and Community Health Division Seminar on Friday, May 1. Noel Weiss, professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center at University of Washington, is the speaker. The seminar will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. in room 364 of WBOB. For more information, contact Carol Raichert at 5-1836.
"The Unknown-Unknowns of Confounding and Selection Bias, or, what you never wanted but needed to know about confounding and didn't even know to ask" will be discussed on Friday, May 8, during the Epidemiology and Community Health Division seminar. Ian Shrier, associate professor, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, is the speaker. The seminar will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. in room 364 of WBOB. For more information, contact Carol Raichert at 5-1836.
The SPH Roundtable, Public Health 2050: The Impact of Technology on the Field of Public Health, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., on Thursday, June 4, in the Union Theater at Coffman. SPH professors Julie Jacko and B.R. Simon Rosser will serve as moderators for the event.
• More information and registration
2009 Summer Public Health Institute May 26-June 12. This year's Public Health Institute features 45 courses emphasizing theory to application across practice and interest areas in public health. Participants can build or expand professional knowledge and expertise; learn best practices; broaden career options; network with experts and colleagues; and explore new areas of interests. Courses are available for graduate credit or professional continuing education hours.
• More information online
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Other Events
April 27-29
"Discovery Research Programme on Rare/Orphan Diseases: An Indo-US Bilateral Workshop, "Scientific, Educational and Societal Frontiers"
May 11, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"State and Local Policy Initiatives to Reduce Health Disparities"
For more events, go to the SPH Online Calendar
Subscribe to SPH calendar updates by e-mail
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Last modified on Sunday Apr 26, 2009