SPH News Feb. 16, 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
I always welcome comments that people send me in response to these columns, even the negative ones. It is one way for me to keep tabs on the climate at the School of Public Health. Today’s subject is one that is certain to elicit some reaction. I’m writing today to encourage our students and alumni to strongly consider taking the Public Health Credentialing Exam. It will be offered for only the second time this August.
Here are a few reasons I think the credentialing exam is important:
- It adds a level of professionalism to the field, and is akin to the certification undertaken by colleagues in other health professions
- It gives those who are certified a competitive edge over those who are not
- Public health agencies at all levels are considering becoming accredited, and that accreditation may hinge on how many “CPHs” (“certified in public health”) they have on staff
- Only graduates of accredited programs and schools are eligible to take it
For the second year, the SPH is offering a weeklong Public Health Credentialing Exam prep course at our annual spring Public Health Institute. I am making some scholarship support available to students and alumni who wish to take the course, as a way to encourage them to take the exam later this summer and become certified.
You can find out more about the exam by visiting www.publichealthexam.org.
—John R. Finnegan, Jr., Ph.D.
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Faculty News
SPH professors Lynn Blewett and Ira Moscovice delivered a presentation to U.S. legislative committees on the effect of the economic downturn on the health care delivery system in Minnesota. The hearing was Tuesday, Feb. 10, and was a joint meeting of the Health Care and Human Services Finance and Policy Committees.
The first in a series of SPH e-Learning Faculty Development Seminars will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25, in Mayo D 325/327. The seminar, "Fundamentals of Sound Instructional Design, Course Development from a Learning Outcomes Standpoint,"will be presented by the Digital Media Center. Lunch will be provided.
• Register online
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
Call for Nominations for SPH Faculty and P&A Awards. The SPH Recognition, Awards, and Honors (RAH) Committee now welcomes nominations for the following awards: the Leonard M. Shuman Award for Excellence in Teaching, The SPH Community Services Award, the Charles N. Hewitt Creative Teaching Award, the SPH Award for Excellence in Advising, and the SPH P&A Excellence Award. Nominations and supporting documentation are due Friday, April 10, and should be sent to Recognition, Awards and Honors Committee, c/o Stefannie Anderson (stef@umn.edu), MMC 197, A302 Mayo. Go to the SPH awards page for details about each award.
Public health research grants up to $15,000 are available through the University of Minnesota: Simulations and Exercises for Educational Effectiveness (U-SEEE), through its U-SEEE Pilot Research Program. Research should relate to enhancing the usefulness of education and training that build the capacity of the public health preparedness system. Applications are due Monday, March 9.
• More inforamation/application
ClearWay Minnesota is releasing a new Request for Proposals (RFP) entitled, Regional Grants to Reduce the Harm Tobacco Causes Minnesotans through Coalition Building, Policy Advocacy and Public Education. Under this funding opportunity, ClearWay Minnesota will award new funding to three or four applicants in Greater Minnesota. Letters of intent are due Monday, Feb. 23, 4:30 p.m. Full applications are due on Monday, March 23, 4:30 p.m. Questions about this funding opportunity should be submitted to Molly Moilanen at mmoilanen@clearwaymn.org or by calling 952-767-1421.
• Access the RFP and related forms from ClearWay Minnesota
A memorial service will be held Feb. 19 for SPH student Justin Goodhue, who passed away on Christmas morning. Goodhue was a fourth-year surgery resident working toward an M.S. degree in Health Services Research, Policy and Administration in the Division of Health Policy and Management. Friends are invited to participate in the memorial service program by sharing a memory, poem, or contribution of their choice. If you wish to do this, please contact event organizers Andrea Abbott (burb0047@umn.edu) or Natasha Rueth, (ruet0012@umn.edu). The memorial will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, at the Loring Pasta Bar in Dinkytown.
HPM student Shi-Yi Wang will discuss the, "Health Care System in Taiwan," on Friday, Feb. 20, noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Mississippi Room of Coffman Union. The discussion is sponsored by the International Student and Scholar Service Global Network Association of Minnesota. The event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be served. Register to gnam@umn.edu.
• More at Global Network Association of Minnesota or e-mail lcnieh@gmail.com
SPH students Michel Boudreaux, Annie Mach, Nathan Hunkins, and Juliet Massie wrote an article for Minnesota Medicine with the support of SPH professor Donna McAlpine. The magazine solicited ideas on how to improve the health system and published responses in the February issue. SPH faculty member James Hart also authored an article for the same piece.
•Visit Minnesota Medicine to read the article
EpiCH Ph.D. student Mandy Stahre discusses her study, Binge Drinking in the Military, on Public Health Scene, one of SPH's podcast channels. The study was in the March issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
• Listen to the podcast interview
• Read the news release
Senior Vice President for Health Sciences Frank Cerra will present his annual State of the Academic Health Center address on Thursday, Feb. 19, 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.
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
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SPH Events
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
SPH Professor Darin Erickson will discuss his research during the Epidemiology and Community Health division seminar on Friday, Feb. 20. 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.
SPH Professor Lyn Steffen will discuss her research during the Epidemiology and Community Health division seminar on Friday, Feb. 27, 10 to 11 a.m., in room 364 of WBOB. For more information contact Carol Raichert at 5-1836.
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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
Comprehensive Industrial Hygiene Review
Feb. 16-20
Additional Information
Emerging Issues and Controversies in Occupational Health and Safety
Feb. 26
Additional Information
8-Hour Emergency Response Refresher
March 12
Additonal Information
Designing and Conducting Focus Groups Interviews
March 16-17 and 18-19
More details online
Global Health Institute—India
March 16-24
More details online
Incident Management Systems Awareness
Monday, March 23
Training descriptions
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Other Events
For more events, go to the SPH Online Calendar
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Events on the AHC Web Site
Events on the SPH Web Site
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Last modified on Sunday Feb 15, 2009