SPH News Oct. 29, 2007
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. The deadline for submission for the Nov. 12 issue is 9 a.m. on Nov. 7.
From the Dean
I’ve spent the past week in India with an AHC team headed by Vice President Frank Cerra. This is my third trip in as many years, but this time the theme is different. It’s about how we make our global relationships in India and elsewhere operational. That means building the "infrastructure" to make carrying out joint programs and projects normative, high quality, and of continuing mutual benefit. Things are changing rapidly to knock down international barriers. Both research and education in the health sciences are "going global" and Minnesota is one of the leaders.
In Delhi, we met with Dr. N.K. Ganguly, Director-General of the Indian Center for Medical Research (ICMR), India’s equivalent of the NIH. We formed an ICMR-Minnesota Steering Committee to vet joint research and education proposals, and will be meeting regularly via video conference and in-person in the coming years. Look for new opportunities to engage Indian colleagues in joint research and education efforts.
By the way, Dr. Ganguly informed us that he had met the previous week in Delhi with Dr. Elias Zerhouni, our own NIH Director. Both nations are seeking to lower the barriers to collaborative research.
From Delhi, we traveled to Bangalore where we met with colleagues at St. John’s University. They have an excellent and growing clinical research program and center and have already been partnering with our Minnesota faculty.
From Bangalore, we traveled to Manipal, home of Manipal University. One of the largest private universities in south Asia, Manipal rivals the AHC itself in the scope of its health professional colleges (Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Allied Health) and health care facilities. Manipal University, too, is very involved in clinical trials research and is eager to develop a closer relationship with Minnesota that, as you know, has considerable expertise in this area. And, importantly, Minnesota and Manipal are working out the operational arrangements to offer public health education to their students, and to function as a field experience site for Minnesota students.
There is so much more to tell and to keep track of, that we will be working with the AHC to create a web site. I’ll let you know when it’s ready.
--John R. Finnegan, Jr., Ph.D.
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Faculty News
Changes in the University's Course Guide system include a fix for issues with the new "media upload" function. Instructors and departmental scheduling coordinators can now upload syllabi, an instructor photo and bio, and a short video clip to course descriptions. The Course Guide is available for graduate and undergraduate courses. The new streamlined system allows instructors and/or staff to enter course information.
• View a tutorial (Log-in required)
• Access training documentation
Deadline is Oct. 29, 5 p.m. to apply for the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health program grant. The program fosters the career development of junior faculty members who are engaging in basic, clinical, translational, behavioral, or health services research in any area relevant to women's health with an emphasis on sex and gender factors.
• Learn more online Questions? Call 6-1125.
Call for papers by Nov. 1 on Ethical Considerations in Community-Based Participatory Research. This special issue of The Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics is being co-edited by CCPH senior consultant Nancy Shore, program director Kristine Wong and executive director Sarena Seifer.
• Learn more online (PDF)
Register for Learning Institutes on Community-Based Participatory Research, scheduled for Nov. 3-4 in Washington D.C. The Community-Based Public Health Caucus is sponsoring two Learning Institutes on Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) at this year's American Public Health Association conference.
• Learn more online
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School News
New Interdisciplinary Concentration Area just approved--Health Disparities. The SPH and the University of Minnesota Board of Regents recently approved a new interdisciplinary concentration area. The Health Disparities Interdisciplinary Concentration is available to Master of Public Health (MPH) students. MPH students have the option to add the concentration area to their program of study. This concentration area addresses the unequal burden of health risks, morbidity, and mortality experienced by minority cultural and social groups in the United States, as well as unequal quality of and access to health care. Achieving optimum health for all segments of society is a central goal of the federal health initiative Healthy People 2010 and also a concern in Minnesota. Despite Minnesota's ranking as one of the nation's healthiest states, it has some of the largest gaps among cultural and social groups in health indicators. The Health Disparities
Concentration joins three other interdisciplinary areas--Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Global Health, and Public Health Policy.
Special Olympics has launched the Healthy Athletes Provider Directory in North America as a resource for patients with intellectual disabilities. This new directory works as a searchable online database of more than 1,000 health care professionals willing and able to treat patients with intellectual disabilities. Health care providers can create and maintain a free listing.
• Go to the Provider Directory
• More Info: Kim Gelperin, 1-800-783-7732, ext. 276 or gelperink@somn.org
SPH Alumni and Friends Reception to be held during the annual American Public Health Association's meeting in Washington, D.C, Monday, Nov. 6 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Please join Dean John Finnegan at the Alumni and Friends reception to network, meet new faces, and catch up with acquaintances. Dean Finnegan will also discuss highlights from the previous year and future plans of the SPH. Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served. Stop by the SPH booth (#1256/#1356) in the Exhibit Hall. You do not have to RSVP for this event, but if you have questions, you can contact Nichole Marthaler at mart1047@umn.edu or 6-9303.
The Community Fund Drive runs through Wednesday, Oct. 31. The University once again has teamed up with respected, well-run organizations that support social services, education, arts, and health to make it easy for faculty and staff to give to the community. This year's goal is a participation rate of 40 percent and a total of $1.25 million for state charities. If you've made a pledge to the Community Fund Drive, go to the SPH volunteers listed below and get a form to fill out for the School's prizes. The forms will be collected at the end of the pledge period and the prize winners will be announced probably mid-November.
Biostatistics:
Mayo: Sally Olander (sally@biostat.umn.edu)
CCBR (2221 University Avenue): Linda Zenner (zenner@umn.edu)
Centers for Public Health Education and Outreach:
Chris Western (weste048@umn.edu)
Dean's Office:
Barb Cook (barbcook@umn.edu)
Environmental Health Sciences:
McNamara/Gateway: Carol Hansen (cmh@cccs.umn.edu), Frank Strahan (fxs@cccs.umn.edu)
Mayo: Jan Olson (olson337@umn.edu)
Epidemiology and Community Health:
WBOB and Moos Tower: Debbie Cullen (culle026@umn.edu), Denise Henderson (hende060@mn.edu), Glad Olinger (oling002@umn.edu), Catherine Sultana (sulta007@umn.edu)
EpiCH Clinical Research Center (ECRC -- 1100 Washington Avenue South):
Kerrin Brelje (brelje@epi.umn.edu), Peg Krieser (krieser@epi.umn.edu)
Health Policy and Management:
Mayo/PWB/2221 University: Patty Homyak (homya001@umn.edu)
Dinnaken Building: Linda Young (young096@umn.edu)
• Learn more/contribute online
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SPH Events & Courses
Students in the MCH Program will discuss their public health experiences in India during two informal gatherings. Both sessions will be held in A301 Mayo (in the Dean's suite of offices) and both will be from 12:15-1:15 p.m. The first is Monday, Oct. 15 and features Karthik Srinivasan discussing his work with a project to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and with HIV/AIDS in commercial sex workers in South India. In the second session on Monday, Oct. 29, Mandi Proue and Terra Carey will share stories and photos from their recent field work. MCH will provide light refreshments and everyone is welcome to attend.
PhD candidate Kimberly J. Johnson will deliver an oral exam presentation on Tuesday, Oct. 30. The title of her presentation is, "Perigestational Risk Factors for Childhood Cancer: Three Investigations." The presentation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. in room 541 Cancer Center Research Building (CCRB).
PhD candidate Gabriela Vazquez will deliver an oral exam presentation on Tuesday, Oct. 30. Her presentation, "Pre-screening tools for screen-detected diabetes: An escalating approach in diverse populations. Evidence from CODA project," will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. in room 364 of WBOB.
Surajit Ray from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics Boston University will discuss, "Modal Inference and Its Application to High-Dimensional Clustering," in a biostatistics seminar on Wednesday, Oct. 31. The event will be at 3:30 p.m. in 1-450G MoosT.
"Appetite and Adiposity: Re-building a Psychological Theory of Obesity," will be the topic of discussion at a seminar on Monday, Nov. 12. Jane Wardle from University College London will be the keynote speaker for the event held from 4 to 5 p.m. in 3-125 Mayo. A reception will be held at 3:30 p.m.
• Learn more online
Andrew Steptoe from University College London will be the keynote speaker at a seminar on Tuesday, Nov. 13. Steptoe will discuss "Positive Well-Being, Biology, and Health" from 10 to 11 a.m. in 3-125 Mayo. A reception will be held from 9:30 to 10 a.m.
• Learn more online
Save the date for the All-School Winter Reception. Students, staff, and faculty mark Dec. 13 for the All-School Winter Reception. The magic will begin at 2:15 p.m. at the Weisman Art Muesum and last until 4:30 p.m. More information will be given as the date gets closer.
CPHEO Announcements
The 2008 Public Health Institute will be held May 27-June 13. Attendance for 2007 Institute included more than 300 participants enrolled in 740 credits. Participants and faculty represented 28 states and 4 countries. Teaching resources included faculty and guest presenters from 15 U of M departments, 9 other universities, and 38 Minnesota and non-Minnesota organizations and businesses.
• Learn more online
New Release! Culture and Health Literacy Online Modules. This online training discusses how inequalities in health information contribute to unequal treatment and health outcomes for some populations (health disparities) and what communities can do to close the gap and improve health literacy. The training includes two modules.
• Learn more online
Updated Environmental Health Online Module Now Available for Free. This eight-module series was updated in September and is being offered at no cost via our online registrations system. The training provides a framework for understanding the major environmental factors that impact human health. Modules include: Introduction, Air Supply and Pollution, Food Safety, Housing, Land, Pest Control, Water Supply and Waste Water, and Workplace.
• Learn more online
Disaster Mental Health Public Health Emergency Training Series. This training presents the basic principles and goals of disaster mental health and outlines the critical role of public health professionals in recognizing a range of reactions to traumatic events. Participants are eligible to receive up to .05 CEUs .5 contact hours for completion of training including pre-test, post test and evaluation.
• Learn more online
Upcoming CPHEO Courses
• View a detailed course listing
• Register online
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Other Events
Free flu shots. Flu season is here. Protect yourself and reduce the spread of flu around campus. Get a free flu shot and a cookie from from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 29 at Java City in Weaver-Densford Hall. Must be 18 or older to attend the walk-in flu clinics. More dates and locations are scheduled in November and December. See the full schedule and locations. For questions contact Julie Sanem at jsanem@bhs.umn.edu or 6-3856.
"The Global Biofuels Debate: Science, Policy & Ethics," presented by Suzanne Hunt, will be held from 11:30 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31, in the theater at the St. Paul Student Center. This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are strongly encouraged. The event is sponsored by the University's
Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment and the Life Sciences and the Joint Degree Program in Law, Health and the Life Sciences. Questions? Call 5-0055 or e-mail lawvalue@umn.edu.
The Sawyer Seminar series continues with a lecture on medical humanitarianism through the years. Bertrand Taithe, a cultural history professor at the University of Manchester, will lecture on "Comparing and Connecting the Contemporary Humanitarian Enterprise with its Roots in 19th Century Colonialism: The French Example" at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, 301 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis.
• Learn more online
A silent auction benefiting the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic will be held Wednesday, Nov. 7. "The Art of Caring" auction features an evening of art, hors d'oeuvres, entertainment, and the opportunity to bid on unique items. The event will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Fredrick R. Weisman Art Museum. Tickets will be sold at the door and are $15 for students and $25 others. Advanced tickets can be purchased online for $10 and $20 respectively.
• Learn more online
Campus Community Forums: Creating a Vision for the New Community at UMore Park. Faculty, students, and staff members are invited to share ideas for developing a vibrant, culturally rich, sustainable new community at UMore Park--a 5,000-acre University-owned property in Dakota County. Attend either breakfast forum below.
• Learn more online or call 6-3976.
• Thursday, Nov. 8, 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., North Star Ballroom, 2nd Floor, St. Paul Student Center, St. Paul campus
• Friday, Nov. 9, 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., The Theater, 1st Floor, Coffman Memorial Union, Minneapolis campus
"Overtreated: Why too much medicine is making us sicker and poorer" is the topic of the 2007 James L. Reinertsen Lecture on Thursday, Nov. 15. Shannon Brownlee, a Schwartz senior fellow from the New America Foundation, is the keynote speaker at the event, which will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Schulze Hall at the Minneapolis campus of the University of St. Thomas, 1000 LaSalle Ave. A reception will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and a post-lecture dessert reception will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. The lecture is free.
• Register online by Nov. 9
"Great Connections: Community Health Workers as Agents of Change"will be presented at the Minnesota Community Health Worker Conference Nov. 16. at Hotel Sofitel in Bloomington. Registration is $75 for community health workers and $90 for non-community health workers.
• Register online
A conference on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) will be held on Thursday, Nov. 8. The keynote address will be presented by Dan Dubovsky, the FASD specialist for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) FASD Center for Excellence. Registration fee is $25. Student scholarships are available. Please call Mary Ellen Walker at 651-351-3135.
Experience Minnesota: An Open House for Multicultural Students. This event is designed for prospective multicultural students and their families who want to learn more about the University and its programs.Families will receive information on academic opportunities, financial aid, multicultural organizations and meet with faculty and current students. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10 at Northrop Memorial Auditorium.
• Register online or call the admissions office at 5-0000.
Annual UMS-AIHA Professional Development Conference: "Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases and their Impact on Occupational Health" will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Town and Country Club in St. Paul.
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• Events on the AHC Web Site
• Events on the SPH Web Site
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Last modified on Sunday Oct 28, 2007