The Weekly SPHere Jan. 28, 22008
The Weekly SPHere is a weekly electronic publication for students in the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. To submit items for the Weekly SPHere, please send an e-mail to sphnews@umn.edu.
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Student News
SPH Calls for Entries in PSA Contest. The second annual "It's Global" Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest allows amateur and professional filmmakers to showcase their work while making a statement on global public health topics such as pollution, nutrition, refugee health, climate change, clean water, infectious disease, and preparing for natural disasters. Entrants will get to test their talent as they describe a public health problem, identify a potential solution and present a clear call to action. PSAs, due by Monday, March 17, must be 30 seconds or fewer (without credits). Select entries will be showcased at the National Public Health Week Film Festival on Monday, April 7, and a $500 first-place prize will be awarded.
• Learn more online or write to
film@umn.edu.
• View the poster
Summer Field Experience Funding. Students seeking assistance for Summer Field Experiences may now apply online for scholarships at the Field Experience Web site. Applications are due Friday, Feb. 15.
Apply online or
contact Barb Laporte at blaporte@umn.edu for more information.
The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP) has a number of exciting paid summer 2008 internships with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Positions will be in USAID's Bureau for Global Health located in Washington, D.C. The internships are designed to provide opportunities for outstanding students and mid-career changers interested in pursuing careers in international development.
• Learn more/apply online
The Office of Biotechnology Activities at the National Institutes of Health is accepting applications for paid summer internships for students interested in gaining hands-on policy experience in a Federal government office in the areas of biosecurity, gene transfer, genetic technologies, and clinical research policy. Applications will be accepted until March 1.
• Learn more online
Applications for the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Applied Epidemiology Fellowship Program are due Friday, Feb. 1. The goal of the fellowship is to provide a high quality on-the-job training experience in applied epidemiology for recent graduates and to prepare fellows for long-term career placement at the state and local levels. Based on their career aspirations and available positions, fellows are carefully matched to a state or local health agency or CDC Quarantine Station under the guidance of an experienced mentor. An annual stipend is offered as well as professional development and health insurance allowances, loan deferment and moving expenses.
• Learn more online. Questions? Contact Molly Wray at mwray@cste.org.
ASPH is now accepting applications for the ASPH/PHR Summer Internship Program. The editor of Public Health Reports (PHR), the official journal of the United States Public Health Service, is offering an internship for students of public health. The deadline to apply is Thursday, Feb. 28. The internship will begin in June 2008 and will last for 10 weeks. The intern will be located at the Office of Public Health Reports, based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
• Learn more online or write to
Monica Stadtler at mstadtler@asph.org.
ASPH has a summer internship program open to students or recent graduates of ASPH-member schools of public health. The internship will provide a unique experience where students or graduates can apply their skills and knowledge learned in the classroom to real public health situations. One intern will be selected. The ASPH Summer Internship is located at ASPH headquarters in Washington, D.C. Candidates must be able to begin the internship on Monday, June 21, and stay for a minimum of 10 weeks. The application deadline is Thursday, Feb. 28.
• Learn more online or write to
Monica Stadtler at mstadtler@asph.org.
ASPH, in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will accept applications for four positions within the ASPH/CDC Prevention Research Centers (PRC) Minority Fellowship Program until Friday, March 14. The PRC Minority Fellowship Program provides a unique training opportunity for under-represented minority students currently enrolled in doctoral level, research-based (e.g. PhD, DrPH, EdD, ScD) programs at schools of public health.
• Learn more online or
write Binley Taylor at btaylor@asph.org.
School News
2008 President's Student Leadership & Service Awards--Call for Nominations. The awards honor the accomplishments of outstanding students and their invaluable contributions of leadership and service to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and the community. All staff, faculty, administrators, and students are encouraged to nominate current University students for this prestigious award, given out annually to one-half of one percent of all University students. Awards will be presented at the annual President's banquet on Monday, May, 5. The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, Feb. 8.
• Learn more online or
call 6-6919.
A grand celebration has been planned to honor your dedication, sacrifice, and hard work. You've earned your diploma and the SPH will be pleased to congratulate you during our annual commencement exercises held at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 19, at Northrop Auditorium. Students who have applied for and completed or will be completing their degree during the 2007-08 academic year are invited to participate. The deadline to submit commencement applications is Friday, March 7. Make plans to attend this memorable event as the SPH proudly prepares to laud your accomplishments. Stay tuned for more details to come.
• Learn more online
SPH Student Research Day will be a new feature this year during National Public Health Week, April 7-11, 2008. The event includes a student research poster contest, to be held Friday, April 11. All currently enrolled SPH students are strongly encouraged to submit a poster about your research project. This can be for a MPH/MHA Masters' project, MS thesis, or PhD Dissertation. Three dates to mark on your calendars:
- Friday, Feb 1, 9-11 a.m., A-110 Mayo -- Training program: How to design a poster
- Monday, March 10 -- Submission deadline for posters (one per student)
- Friday, April 11, Mayo Auditorium -- SPH Student Research Day
A research poster gives you the opportunity to show off your work! The research does not have to be completed. There will be blue ribbon awards: given by faculty for excellence within each degree program and by students for a Students Choice Award for the best MPH, MHA, MS, and PhD posters.
Make plans to attend this week's Poster Training Session in preparation for SPH's inaugural Student Research Day! Poster Training Session for SPH Students: Feb. 1, 2008 9 to 11 a.m., A-110 Mayo. RSVP to Nichole Marthaler, mart1047@umn.edu, to help with the food count. Learn how to craft a poster, which clearly and concisely articulates your research thus far. You don't need a lot of money to create a poster, but you may win some. There will be a total of 8 prizes for outstanding posters:
- Three Faculty/Alumni Awards, one each for the best poster by a MPH/MHA, MS, and PhD student -- A $50 gift certificate redeemable at the Coffman Union Bookstore will accompany each award
- Three Student Choice Awards, one each for the best poster by a MPH/MHA, MS, and PhD student -- A $50 gift certificate redeemable at the Coffman Union Bookstore will accompany each award
- Two Delta Omega (Pi Chapter) Premier Awards for the two best posters by any student -- A gift of $500 toward the expenses of attending a national scientific meeting of the recipient's choice will accompany each award.
SPH Events
"Kernel Mixtures of Gaussian Processes and their Application to Epidemiology," will be the seminar topic at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30, in 5-125 Moos. The seminar will be presented by postdoctoral fellow, Richard Maclehose from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. A social tea will be held at 3 p.m. in A434 Mayo. All are welcome.
Learn more online or call
4-4655.
The SPH Health Disparities Working Group will meet from 1 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, in Mayo A301. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be served. Rhonda Jones-Webb will discuss the Health Disparities Research Forum and provide information about a training grant and Kathleen Call will discuss faculty development. There will also be a dialogue with SPH faculty members Patricia McGovern and Wendy Hellerstedt, investigators with the National Children's Study.
SPH Student Services is holding a "Celebration of the 2008 Spring Semester," an event for all SPH students. The get together, which will feature Latino food, will be Tuesday, Jan. 29, noon to 2 p.m., in D387 Mayo. Questions? Contact Thuy Doan, at (612) 624-9615 or doanxo34@umn.edu.
• View the poster
An information session about graduate programs in the Division of Health Policy and Management will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4, in D-330 Mayo. For more information or to make a reservation to attend, please e-mail eherring@umn.edu, or call 4-8818.
SPH Students, it's time to party! Come to Pamoja, the SPH Student Senate's annual social, on Thursday, Feb. 7. Open to all SPH students. Enjoy dinner, desserts, drinks, music, and great company. Come to the Weisman Art Museum from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in your business casual gear for an evening of pamoja (togetherness).
Dana Goldman, RAND Chair in Economics and Director of Health Economics, RAND, will present a seminar from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21, in 2-137 Jackson Hall. The title of his talk will be "The Cost of Quality Improvement."
Make plans to enroll in the Global Health Institute in Reykjavik, Iceland from March 31 to April 4. Students can earn three credits during the institute, held at the University of Iceland. The program is open to students in the School of Nursing, School of Public Health and College of Veterinary Medicine. A limited number of travel stipends for airfare is available. Registration through onestop.umn.edu will be available in early January. For more information contact the Global Outreach Team at 6-8434 or tayl0427@umn.edu. For travel stipend information contact Anne Ehrenberg at aehren@umn.edu or 4-6638. Courses Available: Globalization and Health: Challenges and Perspectives (1 credit) March 31-April 1, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Informatics in Global Health (1 credit) April 2-3, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Geothermal Energy and Environmental Hot Spots (1 credit) April 3, 6:30
to 11 p.m. April 4, 7:30 a.m. to- 8:30 p.m.
• GO Iceland
More Global Opportunities
Engaging Intergovernmental Organizations for Food Safety, Animal Health, and Public Health
Paris-Geneva-Rome
February 10-15, 2008
• GO Europe
A Farm to Table Study Tour
The Netherlands
February 6-9, 2008
• GO Netherlands
Other Events
"Cancer and Occupational Health: the Need for an Interdisciplinary Approach" will be the topic of discussion on Monday, Jan. 28. Nancy Nachreiner will be the keynote speaker at the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety Interdisciplinary Seminar event held from 2:15 to 4:15 p.m. in 3-100 Mayo.
The annual State of the Academic Health Center address, "Fulfilling the Vision: Breaking New Ground," by Frank Cerra, is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 31, in Mayo Auditorium. The address will be preceded by the Academic Health Center Faculty Assembly, and all faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend. Both sessions will be telecast to the Duluth, St. Paul and Rochester campuses. The State of the Academic Health Center Address will be from 4 to 5 p.m. A reception will follow.
Veninga Presentation on Public Health Leadership On Thursday, Jan. 31. SPH Emeritus Professor Robert Veninga will present "Resilience: Finding Meaning, Purpose and Joy in a Bottom-Line World" at Founders Hall Auditorium, Metropolitan State University, 700 E. 7th St., St. Paul, from 9-10 a.m. A continental breakfast will be served from 8:15-8:45 a.m. The event is free and designed for professionals in public health and nursing.
Learn more/register online or call 651-266-2444.
"Quasi-likelihood Power and Sample Size Calculations for Models from Unknown Distributions" will be presented by Jonathan Mahnken, assistant professor of biostatistics at the University of Kansas School of Medicine on Thursday, Jan. 31 at noon. The lecture will be held in 2-520 Moos Tower and lunch will be provided. For more information contact Sara Hahne at 6-6031.
Learn more about "Working for Scientific Advisory Boards," from CIDRAP director Michael Osterholm during the Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology Ph.D Career Development Program on Tuesday, Feb. 5. The MICaB provides mentorship, resources, and guidance that equip students with the best tools to succeed within a given career path by promoting open and candid discussions of career path options. During the hour-long event Osterholm will discuss his experiences as a member of different advisory boards and his perspective on the interphase between science and policy. The event will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in room 2-101 of Hasselmo Hall. Food and beverages will be provided. Please contact Lucia Zacchi at zacch002@umn.edu if you have any additional questions.
"Improving Community Health Through Community-Based Research." is the next Academic Health Center Office of Clinical Research Distinguished Visiting Scholar Series lecture, noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2-690 Moos Tower. Peter Szilagyi, professor and chief, for the Division of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center, will present the lecture. Lunch will be provided. Parking validation is available for those attending the conference at the Oak Street Ramp, Washington Avenue Ramp or the East River Road Garage.
• Learn more online
The Environmental Internship and Career Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6. The fair, which is open to all students, will be held in the North Star Ballroom in the St. Paul Student Center. To see a list of employers attending and read about the positions they will be hiring for go to GoldPASS and click on the "Career Events" menu. Start preparing for the career fair. Have your resume critiqued by your career center and watch the Job Fair Success online workshop.
The Institute on the Environment presents, "Savannas Forever: the Intersection of Lion Conservation and Public Health in Tanzania." The February roundtable will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, in seminar room 105 in the Cargill Building for Microbial and Plant Genomics on the St. Paul campus. Brian Atwood, Dean of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute on Public Affairs and Craig Packer, Distinguished McKnight Professor, Dept. of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior will lead the discussion. Deborah Swackhamer; Interim Director, Institute on the Environment will moderate the discussion. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch. Refreshments and light snack will be provided.
• Learn more online
The U of M Job and Internship Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 25, at the Minneapolis Convention Center, downtown Minneapolis. It's the largest student career fair in the state. Nearly 200 organizations will be recruiting for hundreds of jobs and internships. Check the job fair site to see which organizations are attending. The fair is free and open to all U of M undergraduates, graduate students, and recent alumni. Those who register and attend could be eligible for great prizes.
• Learn more/Register online.
"Discover the Connections! Bridging Strategies to Prevent Child Injury and Maltreatment," is the topic of a new conference to be held in California Feb. 24-26. California's first combined conference on the prevention of child injury, abuse and neglect will be held at the Radisson Hotel in Sacramento. The conference is a collaborative effort sponsored by the California Departments of Public Health and Social Services; and the California Kids' Plates Program at the Center for Injury Prevention Policy and Practice. The cost is $150 plus additional fees for a CPS skills-specific session scheduled for Feb. 24.
• Learn more online
The Eugene Kenaga International DDT Conference on Environment and Health, "DDT: Killer or Savior?" will be held Friday, March 14, in Alma, Michigan on the Alma College Campus.
Learn more/register