The Weekly SPHere Sept. 8, 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 Sept. 14 edition of the Weekly SPHere, please send an e-mail to sphnews@umn.edu by Wednesday, Sept. 9.
>From the Dean
>SPHere Spotlight
>Student News
>School News
>SPH Events
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From the Dean 
Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. I hope you agree that this is an inspiring time of year, full of momentum and promise.
For those of you who are new to the SPH, I encourage you to take advantage of all our school has to offer outside of the classroom. We have a world class mentor program, robust schedule of public lectures, variety of blogs and podcasts, and a faculty and staff that are exceptionally connected to the public health practice community.
Between discussions of health care reform and H1N1 planning, public health issues are on the minds of many beyond our school. By now you should have received email messages from the University and the SPH on what you need to know about H1N1 in the coming semester. I encourage you to read these important updates and to check out the resources at the University’s H1N1 site.
I continue to maintain my open door policy as dean. And I attend as many school events as my schedule allows. I hope our paths will cross at some point this year, and I encourage you to share any ideas you may have on how we can build upon our three-pronged mission of research, education, and outreach.
Best of luck in the coming year.
—John R. Finnegan, Jr., Ph.D.
Dean and Professor
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SPHere Spotlight
H1N1: Lessons from the Southern Hemisphere and Minnesota’s Preparedness The School of Public Health, in conjunction with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars’ Global Health Initiative, will conduct a panel discussion on the novel H1N1 flu virus and how various sectors of society will and should respond to a potential pandemic. Michael Osterholm, SPH professor and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) will be joined by John Finnegan, dean of the School of Public Health, as well as Minnesota health commissioner Sanne Magnan and Abbott Northwestern emergency medicine physician Dan O’Laughlin to discuss H1N1. This discussion is scheduled for 9:00-11:00 a.m., Sept. 10, at Coffman Memorial Union Theater. Admission is free and the event is open to the public, but attendees must RSVP to Steven Guzowski at steven.guzowski@wilsoncenter.org, or (202) 691-4342.
• Additional Information
Sign up for the SPH Mentor Program by Sept. 17. All first year students, including certificate students, are encouraged to apply. Your commitment to a mentor relationship will require about 1-2 hours per month of your time from Oct. to May. The benefits can be numerous, including:
- Network with public health professionals
- Discover career opportunities available in public health
- Share ideas about linking academic work to career objectives
- Explore the challenges and rewards of working in public health
• Sign up at the mentor program website
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Student News
Del Doherty has won the Young Voices in Research for Health international essay contest. His essay, “Never Let A Disaster Go to Waste: Opportunities Presented by the Swine Flu Epidemic for Innovation in Global Public Health Emergency Response,” will be published in Nov., in the Young Voices in Research for Health 2009 anthology. The contest is sponsored by The Global Forum for Health Research and the scientific journal Lancet.
• Read more about Young Voices in Research for Health
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has hired six SPH students to work on Team Diarrhea (AKA “TEAM D”), an epidemiological unit that investigates foodborne illnesses. Four of the new students will be starting their MPH programs this week. Since 1999, MDH has worked with a total of 90 SPH students, with at least 42 of the 90 using MDH data for their Master’s projects.
• Watch Team D
The first 2009-2010 School of Public Health Student Senate Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 5 p.m., in the SPHere, located on the first floor the Mayo Building. All SPH Students are invited to attend to learn about Student Senate and how to get involved in this year’s activities! Contact sphstudentsenate@gmail.com with any questions.
The Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars (FICRS) program is now accepting applications for clinical research training fellowships for doctoral-level U.S. students in the health professions. The one-year program is for highly motivated individuals to experience mentored research training at top-ranked, NIH-funded research centers in developing countries throughout Africa, Asia, South America, and the Caribbean.
• Read more and download an application online
Enter the 4th annual “It’s Global” PSA Contest for a chance to win up to $500. The deadline to enter is March 5, 2010. The top 15 PSAs will be screened and the cash prizes will be awarded on Monday, April 5. All PSAs will be showcase throughout National Public Health Week (April 5-9, 2010).
• Read more at the SPH website
• View past winners
Present your research poster at the First Annual University of Minnesota Student Scholar and Public Engagement Showcase. The event will be held in the new TCF Bank Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Current students and 2009 graduates are both welcome to present and should register by Sept. 18.
• Read more and download the registration form online
SPHere Gets Greener!
In an effort to reduce costs and to save our forests, the school has established a limit on the amount of free printing each student will receive from the printers located in the SPHere. Beginning this fall, each SPH student will receive 1,000 free sheets of printing annually. If a student exceeds this limit, the costs of printing will be drawn from funds that the student has deposited in his or her Ucard account. When students use the SPHere printers, they will be notified of their printing account balance.
Farm to Table Study Program: Uruguay will occur on Oct. 25-31. The program will explore the food system from farm-to-table while considering aspects of animal welfare and health, food safety, and public health. Facilitated discussions with key government and private sector leaders and site visits along the food supply chain are designed to integrate knowledge and skills in food safety, animal health, and public health. Registration is on a first-come first-serve basis and is limited to 20 participants.
• Read program information and register online
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School News
Tiny Tim and Friends: Information Session will occur on Monday, Sept. 14, 11:15 a.m.-noon, in Mayo D325/D327. Learn about the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as field experience, internship, and volunteer opportunities with Tiny Tim and Friends, an organization that provides medical, educational, vocational, and nutritional support for HIV positive orphans, vulnerable children, and pregnant women in Zambia.
• Read about Tiny Tim and Friends
U of M Alumni Association will host an etiquette dinner on Sunday, Oct. 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Memorial Hall, McNamara Alumni Center. From salad forks to telling someone whether they have food in their teeth, opportunities to try out new skills will arise during the three-course meal by D’Amico Catering. Cost: $20 for students, $30 for alumni association members, and $35 for the general public.
• Read more information online
Seeking enthusiastic and energetic participants to join the SPH in the University of Minnesota Homecoming Parade. March alongside fellow students, faculty, staff, and alumni on Friday, Oct. 9 in the evening. Joining the public health parade unit will be Dean Finnegan driving a donated ZENN electric car along University Avenue. The first 50 registered participants will receive a complimentary long-sleeved SPH Homecoming shirt.
• Space is limited, so sign up today
The Center for Public Health Preparedness announces its latest online module, Crisis Intervention During Disaster. The goal of this module is to help learners identify reactions to trauma and take appropriate and effective action to assist individuals in crisis. Participants are eligible to receive up to 0.05 CEUs (0.5 contact hours) for completion of training including pre-test, post test and evaluation.
• Register online and learn more about our Public Health Emergency Training (PHET) Series
New Group Facilitator’s Guide for Disaster in Franklin County Now Available. The simulation can be projected in a classroom setting where participants engage in a group discussion about the problems presented, learning from each other in addition to learning from the online simulation.
• Learn more about the guide
This month’s issue of Research Brief discusses alcohol use, eating patterns, and weight behaviors in a university population. The brief comes from SPH assistant professor Melissa Nelson.
• Read the Research Brief online
“All in the Family: Fetal Effects of Maternal Overweight and Obesity,” presented by the National Children’s Study Speakers’ Series, will be held on Sept. 9 from 3-4 p.m., at the Wilder Center in St. Paul. This event is free and open to all but seating is limited. Please RSVP to Laurie Ukestad at ukest001@umn.edu.
The Deborah E. Powell Center will present the Sixth Annual Women’s Health Research conference on Monday, Sept. 21 at the McNamara Alumni Center. This year’s theme is “A Focus on Women’s Mental Health and Neurosciences.”
• Register online
The First Annual Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives Symposium: Critical Issues in Research and Public Policy will occur on Sept. 21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cowles Auditorium, Hubert H Humphrey Center. Nationally and internationally renowned speakers will present state-of-the art science on four highly controversial topics related to the effects of food consumption on human health: food processing, consumption of organic foods, high fructose corn syrup, and antibiotic use in animals.
• Read more and register online
The EpiCH Shuttle resumes service today, Tuesday, Sept. 8.
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SPH Events
Pits, Pitfalls, and Health Issues in Minnesota’s Iron Ore Industry will be presented by Jeffrey Mandel on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 1-2 p.m., Mayo A301.
• Additional Information
Jay Kaufman, associate professor in the department of epidemiology, biostatistics, and occupational health at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, will discuss “Mechanistic Inference from Observational Data: Defining and Estimating Direct and Indirect Effects” on Friday, Sept. 18, 11 a.m.-noon, at the West Bank Office Building, 1300 South 2nd St., 3rd floor, Room 364.
• Additional Information
The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota is convening an international summit on the H1N1 influenza pandemic and critical business preparedness. “Keeping the World Working During the H1N1 Pandemic: Protecting Employee Health, Critical Operations, and Customer Relations” is a two-day conference featuring a variety of pandemic response experts from public and private sectors. The conference will occur Sept. 22, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sept. 23, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Marriott City Center, 30 South 7th St.
• Read more and register online
Media Production for Public Health seminar series will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 10 a.m., in 2-110 Weaver-Densford. SPH media producer Paul Bernhardt will lead a series of discussions designed for SPH students on using basic media production tools to craft and communicate effective public health messages and conduct cutting-edge research. Faculty and staff are welcome.
• Read about the program and register online
Breakfast Briefing: Respiratory Protection for Healthcare Workers, Risk Assessment and Fit Testing for Novel Influenza A(H1N1) will occur on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 7:30-9:30 a.m., at the University Office Plaza (2221 University Ave SE). The learning activity will focus on respiratory protection and respirator fit testing for health care workers.
• More information and register online
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Other Events
American Association for the History of Nursing Conference 2009 will occur on Friday, Sept. 25 and feature keynote speaker Steven Berlin Johnson, a best-selling author of six books on the intersection of science, technology, and personal experience.
• Read more and register online
Learn to access free social science and health data. The Minnesota Population Center (MPC), a developer of demographic data, will hold workshops on data training on Friday, Sept. 25, noon-1:30 p.m., at Wilson Library. The MPC provides population data to thousands of researchers, policymakers, teachers, and students. The workshops are free but limited to 30 people. E-mail training@pop.umn.edu to register.
Thea Lee will host two information sessions on a project concerning women of color. The project will introduce a new way of understanding and addressing the effects of oppression to marginalized communities in the Twin Cities. Lee has presented on topics including body-focused therapy, post-traumatic stress disorder, cultural competency in health care and mental health, as well as social, collective, and historical. The sessions will occur on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 6-7 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 19, 4-5 p.m., at 500 University Ave W, Suite F-5, St. Paul. Contact Thea Lee at 651-319-2110 or lee.theam@gmail.com for more information.
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 St., S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455.
Last modified on Sunday Aug 02, 2009