SPH News Feb. 2, 2009
SPH News is a school-wide electronic newsletter distributed to SPH faculty and staff every other week during the school year. Please send news items to SPHNews@umn.edu.
From the Dean
As the grim economic news swirls around us daily, I’m sure we all have wondered, “How is this all going to affect me?” While the answers to this question are elusive, there is one thing that is certain: Times like this call for frequent, candid communication. It is in this spirit that I am scheduling quarterly “Coffee with the Dean” sessions at our various SPH locations.
I invite SPH faculty and staff to join me for coffee and light breakfast treats at our first session on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 8 a.m. at WBOB in room 364. (Our next session will be in May at the 2221 University Ave. location.) I am meeting with students separately to address their concerns later this month.
While I won’t promise to have all the answers or information, I will promise candor and, with your help, a lively discussion. We can discuss how the state budget (as it stands currently) may affect the University, how the leadership changes within the Academic Health Center might impact the SPH, and how we can continue to maintain excellence across our three mission areas of research, education and service during these tumultuous times. I invite you to bring your questions and concerns, as well as ideas for how we might meet the challenges before us.
I look forward to beginning this important dialogue with you next week.
—John R. Finnegan, Jr., Ph.D.
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Media News
January 2009 media coverage featured the following SPH faculty and staff:
Roger Feldman
Jill Johnson
Robert Kane
Barbara LaPorte
Nichole Larson
Leslie Lytle
Ira Moscovice
Michael Osterholm
Jamie Stang
Traci Toomey
Coverage was featured in local media as well as in the Canadian Press, Austin American Statesman, ModernMedicine.com and Reuters United Kingdom and India editions. Visit www.sph.umn.edu/about/news/media/ to read more about SPH faculty in the news.
Subscribe to Public Health Scene to get regular e-mail updates on SPH experts in the news.
Subscribe to Public Health Scene to get regular e-mail updates on SPH in the news.
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Faculty News
Lynn Blewett was the keynote speaker for the Kansas Health Institute's meeting on "The Impact of Underinsurance on Kansans" on Friday, Jan. 23 in Topeka. She provided new state-level estimates of underinsurance that will be published next month.
SPH professor Michael Davern and Cathy Fitch of the Minnesota Population Center will co-direct the new Census Bureau Research Data Center (RDC) funded by the National Science Foundation. The regional center will focus on health data and demography and provide a wide variety of confidential economic, demographic and health microdata from the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The development of the Minnesota RDC proposal was an interdisciplinary effort that included faculty from the Department of Economics, School of Public Health, and Minnesota Population Center. The Minnesota RDC will be co-located with the MPC in Willey Hall with a projected opening date of Jan 1, 2010.
SPH Student Research Day is a time to honor and celebrate the research endeavors of public health students. Please encourage students in all degree programs to submit an abstract and present a poster. All student 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. Students have been notified to save these dates:
Poster training session: Friday, February 27 from 9 to 11 a.m.
Abstract submission deadline: Monday, March 9
SPH Student Research Day: Monday, April 6
The deadlines to submit abstracts for the 2009 APHA annual meeting ranges from Feb. 9 to 13. The American Public Health Association is now accepting contributed abstracts for the 137th APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition, which will be held Nov. 7-11 in Philadelphia. The theme of the meeting is “Water and Public Health: the 21st Century Challenge.” Abstracts must be submitted online.
• More
information
The Minnesota Public Health Association is seeking nominations for its elected offices. For questions about the available positions, requirements, roles, responsibilities and to nominate someone contact Linda Olson Keller at 6-5144 or olson173@umn.edu or Erica Fishman at 651-201-5899 or Erica.fishman@state.mn.us. Nominations must be received by Sunday, March 1.
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School News
SPH professor Michael Osterholm will discuss, “Coldwater Stream and Tallgrass Prairie Restoration in the Driftless Area: Challenging Current Programs and Practices,” on Monday, Feb. 2. The seminar will be held at 2:30 p.m. in 110 Green Hall on the St. Paul Campus.
The January edition of SPH Research Brief comes from associate professor Ellen Demerath. She details a study that investigates how body fat type and distribution is related to cardiometabolic risk factors.
• Read the brief
Recent Public Health Moments have featured Pete Raynor, Katie Loth, Ellen Demerath, and Melissa Nelson. Public Health Moment is a weekly podcast featured on iTunes and iTunesU. Eight Minnesota radio stations also subscribe to Public Health Moment.
• Go to Public Health Moment
• Learn more about iTunesU
Mini Medical School Spring 2009, “New Frontiers in Medicine.” This biannual five-class endeavor will feature health topics spanning new frontiers in medicine. The series runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Mondays, Feb. 23 through March 23. Cost is $75 (includes binder and printouts of PowerPoint presentations), or $60 (paperless, with ability to download presentations). For questions, e-mail minimed@umn.edu.
• 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
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.
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SPH Events
Toben Nelson will discuss, “Understanding Overweight/Obesity among College Students in Context” on Friday, Feb. 6. The seminar, sponsored by the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. in room 364 of WBOB. For more information contact Carol Raichert at 5-1836.
A Feb. 12 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
The Health Disparities Working Group will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Attendees will hear from SPH Professor Jean Forster and Kris Rhodes about the American Indian Community Tobacco Projects. Rhodes is the senior coordinator of the program. The meeting will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. in Mayo A301. Please register to Jennie Anderson at ander422@umn.edu.
• More about the group
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CPHEO Announcements
Upcoming Courses
Tools for Managing Volunteers During and After a Disaster
These tools were developed for Medical Reserve Corps coordinators, public health agencies or any organization that may deploy volunteers to assist during or after an emergency or disaster and can be adapted to meet your agency needs.
Access tools online
8-Hour Site Worker Refresher
Feb. 5
Read the training description
24- and 40-Hour Site Worker Training
Feb. 9-13
Read the training description
Comprehensive Industrial Hygiene Review
Feb. 16-20
Additional Information
Emerging Issues and Controversies in Occupational Health and Safety Thursday
Feb. 26
Additional Information
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
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Other Events
Feb. 3, 6-9 p.m.
Healthy Eating and Living Seminar featuring Brenda Langton, owner of Cafe 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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Events on the AHC Web Site
Events on the SPH Web Site
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Last modified on Friday Jan 30, 2009