SPH News

January 9, 2006

Contents

From the Dean

Media news

Research news

Faculty news

Student news

School news

Calendar of events

SPH News is a School-wide electronic newsletter distributed every other Monday during the school year. Please send news items to SPHNews@umn.edu. Whenever possible, please use SPH News in place of School-wide e-mails.

The submission deadline for the January 23 issue is noon on Friday, January 20.

From the Dean

I am delighted to announce the grand opening of the new SPH student lounge and classroom area, set to take place on Thursday, January 26, noon-2 p.m. on the first floor of the Mayo Building (see announcement in “School News” below for more details on the event).

It’s amazing what you can do with a basement! I have no doubt that you will be dazzled by the space and all of its possibilities. It is a very different from what one would find in a typical student lounge. First of all, it’s much larger: about 11,000 square feet to be exact including two fully equipped classrooms, one with capacity for 40 students and the other with capacity for 60 students. There is room for group study and open space for hanging out and meeting fellow students. There is a spacious kitchen and locker area. There are also quiet study areas. The entire space is configured for wireless Internet access and there will also be eight computer stations and plenty of places to plug in laptops.  We consciously set out to create a space that will come to be very important in the lives of this school’s students. We hope you will see this as more than a “lounge,” but social space to develop learning communities that will facilitate collaboration and interchange of knowledge and ideas.

I hope you’ll stop in on the 26^th to take a look around and enjoy the grand opening festivities.

--John R. Finnegan, Jr., Ph.D.

Media news

December 2005 media coverage featured the following SPH faculty and staff:

Jon Christianson

Jill DeBoer

David Jacobs

Jennifer Linde

Russell Luepker

Mike Osterholm

Lyn Steffen

Mary Story

Coverage was featured in local media as well as in the Chicago Tribune, Reuters, the Washington Times and on CNN. Visit the SPH Web site at http://www.sph.umn.edu/news/In_the_News.html to read more about SPH faculty in the news and find links to the complete stories, or e-mail SPHNews@umn.edu to request hard copies of the stories.

Research news

Faculty news

Application and documentation deadlines, due to the Dean’s Office:

March 13: Semester Leave/Sabbatical applications. (See http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/ohrpolicy/Leaves/index.htm for policy and forms.)

March 13:  Faculty Sabbatical Supplement Program applications

May 1: Documentation for Post-Tenure Review

For more information, contact Judy Peterson at peter042@umn.edu or 4-7196.

Student News

Please save the date for Pamoja.  On Thursday, February 16 from 6 to 9 p.m., Student Senate will host the annual Pamoja celebration at the Weisman Art Museum. All students, faculty, and staff in the School of Public Health are welcome to attend. "Pamoja" is a Swahili word for togetherness, and the event is intended to be a gathering of everyone in the SPH to enjoy an evening of food, beverages, music, and karaoke. Any questions can be directed to sphss@umn.edu.

School news

Judy Garrard has been named senior associate dean for research and academic affairs for the SPH.  Dean John Finnegan announced the appointment at the SPH faculty meeting in December. “As lead associate dean, Judy will work closely with me to assure effective administration and leadership from this office,” he said. As senior associate dean, Garrard adds academic affairs to her portfolio following the departure of Mary Story from the Dean's Office.  Academic affairs focuses on promotion, tenure, and educational policy. In her expanded position, Garrard will have primary responsibility for research and educational policy implementation, compliance, and faculty development. In addition, she serves as a member of the SPH Executive Team chaired by the dean and composed of division heads and associate deans; and as SPH liaison to several AHC and University committees.

Mary Story has stepped down from her position as associate dean for academic and student affairs.  Dean John Finnegan announced the move at the SPH December faculty meeting. “Mary has done an outstanding job on behalf of SPH students in this office,” he said. “I am truly reluctant to lose her leadership and counsel on a daily basis, but I respect her decision in light of the importance of her scientific leadership.” Story decided to step down after she and SPH colleagues were notified of their selection to lead a new Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) research initiative, Healthy Eating Research.  The five-year, $16 million program is a key component of RWJF's efforts to prevent childhood obesity.  It seeks to determine effective changes in policies and environments that can promote healthy eating among children. Story will head a program leadership team that includes Bob Jeffery and Leslie Lytle of the SPH's Division of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Dean Finnegan also announced the appointment of a search committee to consider applications for a new position of associate dean for student affairs, chaired by Judy Garrard.

You are invited to celebrate the grand opening of the new SPH Student Lounge. The lounge has been in construction for three months and offers expansive space for students to study, meet, eat, and socialize. SPH students, staff, and faculty are invited to view and celebrate the new space on Thursday, January 26, noon-2 p.m., Mayo first floor in room A100. For more information, contact Joan Pasiuk at pasiu001@umn.edu.

The Center on Aging Distinguished Lecture Series presents “The Demographics of Aging” on Thursday, January 19, noon-1:30 p.m. in room B191 of Phillips Wangensteen. Zeng Yi, Center for Demographic Studies and Department of Sociology, Duke University, will present the lecture. Free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided. Please register at bnperry@umn.edu or 4-8818.

The Center on Aging Distinguished Lecture Series presents “Does Where You Live Matter? Putting Long-term Care into Context” on Tuesday, January 24, 11:15-12:30 p.m. in Jackson Hall 6-135. Naoko Muramatsu, associate professor, Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, will present the lecture, along with special guest Richard Campbell. Free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided. Please register at coa@umn.edu or 4-1185.

The Deinard Memorial Lecture Series on Law and Medicine will present David Kaye on Tuesday, January 31, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the Mississippi Room at Coffman Memorial Union. Kaye will lecture on "The Science of Human Identification: From the Laboratory to the Courtroom."  Barbara Koenig, Mayo College of Medicine, and William Iacono, University of Minnesota, will offer commentary Kaye’s lecture. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required if you wish to receive continuing education credits (CLE, CME or CNE). RSVP to jointdgr@umn.edu or 5-0055. For more information on upcoming events, visit http://www.jointdegree.umn.edu/conferences/.

“Combating Emerging Infectious Disease with Wildlife Health Monitoring,” is the title of a seminar sponsored by the SPH and the College of Veterinary Medicine, on Wednesday, January 25, from 3-4 p.m. in Moos Tower 2-620.  Katharine Pelican of the Smithsonian National Zoological Park (and an alumna of the U of M College of Veterinary Medicine) will speak.  Refreshments will be served prior to the seminar beginning at 2:30 p.m.

New public health emergency training online modules are available through CPHEO. The project of the University of Minnesota Center for Public Health Preparedness (UMNCPHP), UM PHET, is a series of awareness-level online modules covering various topics related to emergency preparedness. The courses can be found at http://www.umncphp.umn.edu/phet./ Each UM PHET module contributes to development of a subset of the Bioterrorism/Emergency Readiness Competencies created by Columbia University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

You are invited to a screening of Minnesota Confidential, a documentary highlighting the history and current debate over the Minors’ Consent Act. The screening will take place at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24 in the Coffman Union Theater.  Reception to follow. The event is sponsored by the Minnesota Public Health Association, SPH Mentor Program, and SPH Student Senate.  For more information, contact Michelle Lian-Anderson at liana001@umn.edu.

“Weight Gain in Pregnancy: Current Controversies,” a special Epi candidate seminar, will be presented by Jamie Stang on Wednesday, January 11, 10:30-11:30 a.m. in room 364 WBOB. Stang is a continuing education specialist in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health. For more information, contact Kathy Ramel at ramel@epi.umn.edu.

The Leadership and Advocacy Institute to Advance Minnesota's Parity for Priority Populations (LAAMPP) is a fellowship program addressing tobacco control issues for the African, African American, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT), Chicano/Hispanic/Latino and American Indian communities. LAAMPP's mission is to build capacity through culturally tailored training, leadership development and technical assistance. To learn more about the fellowship go to www.appealforcommunities.org or www.mpaat.org or contact: Vikki Sanders at 651-777-7499 (M-F 9a-5p CST) or Chi Do at 510-272-9536 x119 (M-F 9a-5p PST).

Deborah Prothrow-Stith, associate dean for faculty development and professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, will speak at the Humphrey Institute, Wednesday, January 25, 7 p.m. Prothrow-Stith is a nationally recognized leader in using public health strategies to understand and eliminate youth violence. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Jean Fountain at jeanfountain@earthlink.net or 952-941-4422.

Holiday Schedule for the Epi Shuttle – From December 27 to January 16 the Epi Shuttle will operate Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. There will be no shuttle service January 2 and January 16. Starting January 17, when spring semester begins, the Epi Shuttle will resume the regular 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last pick up at Mayo turn-around at 5:45) schedule.

AcademyHealth will host an interactive audioconference to address the use of accreditation measures and evidence-based research in developing an effective public health system. The 90-minute audioconference will bring together leading experts in public health systems research to discuss “The Guide to Community Preventative Services: Developing an Evidence Base for Public Health” on Wednesday, January 11, 2 p.m. ET. For more information or to register, please visit http://www.academyhealth.org/phsr/.

Attend the 2006 Legislative Briefing and Reception on January 25. Hear President Bob Bruininks, along with students and faculty, explain how the projects in this year’s Capital Request will benefit the University and the entire state. This program will teach you how to be an effective advocate for the University at the Capitol and in your own community. Enjoy a light dinner and meet others who care about the future of the U. January 25, 5:30-8 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center. RSVP at www.supporttheu.umn.edu or call 5-9174.

Calendar of events

Eastside Neighborhood Services

Event listings are available at the SPH Web site at http://www.sph.umn.edu/news/events/home.html and the AHC site at http://www.ahc.umn.edu/calendar/.

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