The Weekly SPHere April 14, 2008
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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SPHere Spotlight
The Student Senate volunteer committee is hosting the second annual Penny Wars with all proceeds going to Relay For Life, which supports cancer research. The Penny Wars continue through Friday, April 18. The division with the highest score wins an ice cream social. Jars for Penny Wars are set up in Student Services and at the front desk of WBOB and are separated by the four SPH divisions. Forms are also available in the SPHere student lounge and in Student Services for luminaria that line the track at Relay for Life. The white bags with lighted candles represent cancer survivors, those dealing with cancer, or those who have died from the disease. The suggested donation for these bags is $5 and all forms should be turned into Student Services.
Donate to or join "SPH Cares About Cures" Relay team
This year's Taste Diversity Event, "Global Fusion" will take place Wednesday, April 23, 4:30-7:30 p.m. in The Whole (Basement of Coffman Memorial Union). Taste Diversity will feature food from all over the world, crafts, talents of faculty and students, fashion, gifts, prizes and an SPH Idol contest. The event is being hosted and planned by student volunteers, the SPH Student Senate and the Office of the Dean. Come with family and friends to enjoy an amazing time with fellow students, faculty, and staff. For more information about the event, contact Thuy Doan at doanx034@umn.edu. To sign up for the Taste Diversity talent show, contact Tran Huynh at huynh0098@umn.edu.
The Institute on the Environmeant awards grants to student groups. The institute has awarded more than $20,000 in grants to student organizations across the University. The grants will support projects or activities in spring 2008 that promote sustainability and the environment.
• More about Institute on the Environment awards
Student News
What information do you need as a public health student? How do you use the Internet? Let us know by completing a brief online survey. In so doing, you will help improve the SPH Web site.
• Go to the survey
Take a few minutes to participate in an electronic survey about the SPHere student lounge. The survey is designed for students to weigh in on what they think about the area and make suggestions about ways to improve it.
• Go to the survey
Free lunch! Participate in a focus group on internal communications and receive a complimentary lunch. Date to be determined. Interested? Write to enge@umn.edu.
The Global Forum for Health Research and The Lancet are holding a joint essay competition for those under 30 on the theme: "Climate change and health: research challenges for the health of vulnerable populations." Winners will be invited to take part (with all expenses paid) in the Global Ministerial Forum on Research for Health in Bamako, Mali, Nov. 17-19. The entry deadline is April 30.
• More about the essay contest
A new Web site for health care job seekers is available at www.MNHospitalJobs.com. Advantages: All Jobs listed are posted directly from hospital employers; hospital profiles are available to research facility details; apply directly into a hospital's employment database; receive e-mail notifications as new jobs are posted; send your resume to the proper HR contact in charge of hiring.
Jour 5101: Health Writing, a new course for fall 2008, will be offered from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. The class is designed for students who are interested in health journalism reporting and writing. Students will build on those principles as they develop skills in other forms of health writing, including magazine-style features, communications/promotional pieces, new media content (including blogs), and advocacy pieces. The course will be largely skills-based, with frequent and varied writing assignments. The instructor is Leyla Kokmen, program coordinator for the Health Journalism M.A. program. She has been a staff reporter at daily and weekly papers across the United States.
Interested in health communication or journalism? Come find out about the revised Health Journalism M.A. program. The revised program may be the perfect addition to your public health studies. Attend one of these upcoming information sessions to learn about the expanded curriculum: Monday, April 7 at 3 p.m. in A301 Mayo
or Wednesday, April 16 at 11 a.m. in A301 Mayo.
• Learn more online
Students who want to see their photographs displayed in the SPHere student lounge can submit public health-related photos to Dinah at dafea001@umn.edu. Deadline is Wednesday, April 30. Suggested themes are SPH events, field experiences, volunteer opportunities and international travel. For more information contact Dinah Dafeamekpor at 6-8903.
The Office for Equity and Diversity is proud to announce the fourth annual "Celebration of Achievement" for graduating multicultural students on Saturday, April 26, 1 pm at Ted Mann Concert Hall. The ceremony will include a processional and presentation of a stole to each graduate. If you have any questions about the celebration, please contact Andrew Williams at 6-9671.
• Learn more online
School News
Save the date for the Annual SPH Faculty and Assembly Meeting: Friday, May 16. All SPH faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to attend. The meeting will be held in Mayo Auditorium beginning with refreshments at 8:45 a.m. and the meeting goes from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m.
Check out the top three winning entries of the second annual "It¿s Global" Public Service Announcement contest sponsored by the SPH in recognition of National Public Health Week. More than 50 PSAs were entered this year.
• View the top three entries
Join SPH student volunteers as they participate in an "April Showers Baby Drive" to benefit the Tubman Family Alliance and Chrysalis Woman¿s shelters. Needs include new disposable diapers (all sizes), wipes, pacifiers, bottles, sippy cups, baby wash and lotion, teething rings, etc. A collection box will be available in the CHIP lounge throughout the month of April. The drive is sponsored by volunteers of the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic. E-mail gies0106@umn.edu for more information.
Attend an open house and see the new home of the AHC Office of Clinical Research in room 202, 717 Delaware St. S.E. Attendees will get to meet members of the Office of Clinical Research, hear about the services offered, tour the state-of-the-art facilities and enjoy complimentary continental breakfast or lunch. Open house dates and times: April 22, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.; or May 6, Noon to 1 p.m.
• More about the Office of Clinical Research
SPH Events
Qun Shi will discuss "Mechanism of the Bacteriophage ø29 DNA-Packing Motor," at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16 in A434 Mayo. Refreshments will be served prior to the presentation.
The SPH Health Disparities Working Group will meet on Wednesday, April 16 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Mayo A301. The purpose of the meeting is to provide greater visibility to health disparities research in the SPH; strengthen collaborative efforts among SPH faculty engaged in health disparities research; create partnerships between SPH faculty and community-based organizations engaged in health disparities research, and work with SPH faculty to ensure health disparities issues are better integrated in course curricula. Students are welcome. For more information or an agenda, contact Rhonda Jones-Webb at jones010@umn.edu.
Open Dialogue with Frank B. Cerra, senior vice president for health sciences. Faculty and staff from the SPH are invited to an open discussion with Cerra on April 18, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Mayo Auditorium. Refreshments available. Cerra will give a brief presentation and will then open the floor to questions. Come have your questions answered and discuss plans for the future of the School of Public Health.
"Heterologous Immunity, GI Disease, and Heliobacter: Friend or Foe?" is the topic of the next Academic Health Center Office of Clinical Research Distinguished Visiting Scholar Series lecture, noon to 1 p.m., April 22, room 105, 717 Delaware St. James Fox, director and professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will present. Lunch will be provided.
"Mobilizing Communities of Color to Promote Healthy Living and Eating," will be presented from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 in the Union Theater at Coffman Union. The keynote speaker is Antronette Yancey of the UCLA School of Public Health. This Health Disparities Work Group Forum is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. For questions call 6-4515.
• Register online/more information
"Challenges of Climate and Land Use and Land Cover Change Modeling at a Regional Scale," will be the topic of discussion at the Institute on the Environment's April environment roundtable discussion. The event will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 in room 105 of the Cargill Building on the St. Paul Campus. The roundtable is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
• Learn more online
Other Events
April 18, 12 to 1:30 p.m.
• Current Trends in Home Telehealth
April 21, 3 to 6 p.m.
The National Center for Food Protection and Defense Open House
April 22
Public Engagement Day 2008, all day, Coffman Union
April 23, noon to 1 p.m.
"Reducing Cancer-Related Health Disparities among African Americans: A Line of Tobacco Research and Future Directions" will be the topic of Monica Webb's discussion on April 23, room 105, 717 Delaware building. Lunch provided to the first 40 attendees.
April 26, 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Mobilizing and Engaging Communities for Global Health