The Weekly SPHere June 2, 2008

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.

EDITOR’S NOTE: After today, the Weekly SPHere will be published monthly during June and July and distributed on the first Monday of each month. It will resume weekly publication on Monday, Aug. 4.

>SPHere Spotlight
>Student News
>School News
>SPH Events
>Other Events

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SPHere Spotlight

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to fill more than 1,300 public health positions within the next several months to implement the FDA Amendments Act of 2007, the Food Protection Plan, and the Import Safety Action Plan. (That's nearly triple the number of people hired from 2005 to 2007.) For further information:
• The Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007
• The Food Protection Plan
• The Import Safety Action Plan

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Student News

Jessica Bilics was selected through a nationally competitive process for a two-year U.S. Presidential Management fellowship. She will serve as public health analyst in the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Evan Cole received a fellowship at the University of Wisconsin¿s Population Health Institute. Evan will be placed in the Wisconsin Department of Family Services to work on Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program policies.

Geeta Naidu will work at the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Executive Pathways Internship Program with DHS' Health Care Administration Division. Naidu will be working on legislation and budget issues for Minnesota public programs.

Katie Seitz was profiled in a Minnesota Daily article about a weight-loss program she initiated in the Minneapolis and University of Minnesota Police Departments.
• View the article

Nome Xaphakdy will work at the Minnesota Department of Human Servics in the Executive Pathways Internship Program Nursing Facility Rates and Policy Division. Nome will be working on a first-of-its-kind statewide diversity/cultural competency initiative for nursing homes in Minnesota.

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School News

SPH dean John Finnegan writes about global health and the school¿s Public Health Institute in his latest column.
• Read the column

Lisa McGuire, SPH librarian liaison, will hold summer office hours on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon during June, July and August. This is a great time to explore major project topics. Lisa can help with searching the literature and using RefWorks to organize citation data and complete bibliographies. Contact Lisa to make an appointment at: 6-3643 or via email at: lmcguire@umn.edu.

Keep up to date on your fellow students as they complete their field experiences abroad this summer by reading the Notes from the Field blog.
• Go to the blog
• SUBSCRIBE to e-mail feed

Guiding the design of computerized information tools for health care is the topic of the latest issue of Research Brief, a monthly electronic publication from the SPH. In the brief, SPH assistant professor Ayse Gurses examines how well designed information technology can improve communication during multidisciplinary rounds.
• Read the brief
• Subscribe to Research Brief by e-mail

University Dining Services began its summer schedule on May 19.
• View the schedule online

The Deborah E. Powell Center for Women¿s Health is inviting students to submit poster abstracts on any topic regarding women¿s health or gender specific research across the lifespan. The deadline is Tuesday, July 1, and Monday, Aug. 4, for all other poster abstracts. Questions? Contact wmhealth@umn.edu or 6-1125.
• Register online

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SPH Events

“Angels and Troublemakers:” A special presentation of the Colonel Patricia Greene Public Health Nursing Lectureship Series, June 5, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Free. Location TBA
• Register online

“Ethics in the Worst of Times: Rationing to Protect the Public’s Health during a Severe Influenza Pandemic,” Thursday June 5.
• More information

Tenth Annual MCH Summer Institute on Health Disparities Promoting Health Equity: Family-centered program development and advocacy. The Institute will provide an opportunity to discuss how the universal experience of family—and its diverse definitions—can be integrated into family-centered programs and policies that enhance family resilience and improve individual and population health.
• Register online

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Other Events

The Minnesota Public Health Association’s reception and annual meeting will be Thursday, June 5. The reception will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and the annual meeting is from 6:45 to 8 p.m. The gathering will be held at the Humphrey Center on the University’s West Bank campus.
• Learn more online

“Promoting Healthy Families in Uganda” will be held Wednesday, June 25, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Minnesota Church Center, 122 W. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis. Paige Anderson Bowen, the agency’s Uganda country director, will discuss community-based malaria and family planning programs. Please arrive early, as parking may fill up quickly. The event is free, but please register to Amy Miller at (612) 230-3363 or amiller@mihv.org.

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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.