The Weekly SPHere May 5, 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
Join the Art of Living Foundation and the SPH at a "Pre-Exam Relaxation Session" where new techniques will be discovered to harmonize the body, mind, and spirit from the stress of exams, school, and work. Everyone is invited to relax at this free event, which will be held from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, in the SPHere Student Lounge, A-150 Mayo. Fruit and beverages will be provided. For questions contact Thuy Doan at doanx034@umn.edu.
The SPH Delta Omega Pi Chapter has inducted the individuals below into the Delta Omega Honorary Society for Public Health. The induction reception will be held on May 16. Launched in 1924, Delta Omega is the honorary society for graduate studies in public health. The University of Minnesota¿s Pi Chapter was founded in 1985 and now has more than 600 members. Election for students is based on outstanding scholarship.
Claire E. Bender
Kari Bomash
David Dobmeyer
Abiola Fashanu
Tracy Glenz
Amy Hemstad
Xiang Li
Zhenyu Pan
Elisaveta Petkova
John Schousboe
Charlotte Sortedahl
Student News
Mary Forte, a Ph.D. student in Health Services Research, Policy and Administration has been selected for participation in the Delta Omega poster session at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA). Forte is one of 19 student presenters from participating U.S. schools of public health. APHA¿s 2008 meeting will be held in San Diego, CA from October 25-29.
A new “My Life” video profiles SPH student Katie Seitz, who works as an officer with the University of Minnesota Police Department while completing a public health certificate in core concepts.
• Watch Katie in My Life
Vote for the Student Senate officers for the next academic year. Cast your vote by Monday, May 5.
• Vote now online
Participants are needed to complete a study about exercise and reducing risk for breast cancer. The Women In Steady Exercise Research (WISER) study at the University of Minnesota, is a four-year study examining the effect exercise has on oxidative stress and estrogen levels in women. The study will involve 400 women between 18 and 30, who will participate for six months. Participants will be randomized into a control or exercise group for four months. A free fitness center membership will be provided for exercise participants. All participants will receive $300 upon completion of the study.
• Learn more online (Click on “Becoming a WISER Woman.”)
Student access to the SPHere Student Lounge (A-150 Mayo) is changing beginning Wednesday, April 30. Students will now need to use the Ucard swipe system rather than a passcode. This change comes with the additional security measures that are being put in place for students and the equipment in the SPHere. Students will also notice a camera, which is connected to central security. Students are advised not to leave the SPHere door propped open. If you have questions about the new system, please stop by the Student Services Center (Mayo D305)
The Tylenol scholarship program is accepting applications through Thursday, May 15. The company plans to award a total of $250,000 in scholarship money to students pursing health-related studies. Applicants can apply online at www.tylenol.com/scholarship, using the access key TYNL.
PubH 6386—Public Health Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease (2 credits) will be offered in fall 2008 on Mondays, 9:05-11 a.m. The course, taught by SPH professor Aaron Folsom:
• Provides an introduction to the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death worldwide.
• Offers a detailed perspective on well established and emerging risk factors for CVD, as well as new directions and current controversies in CVD.
• Covers “classic” CVD epidemiology studies and clinical trials, and introduces students to the CVD research in the Division of Epidemiology & Community Health.
• Emphasizes strategies and national recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Prerequisites: One course in epidemiology and one in biostatistics. For more info, contact folso001@umn.edu.
School News
Improving airborne infection isolation rooms in hospitals is the topic of the latest issue of SPH Research Brief, featuring SPH assistant professor Pete Raynor.
• Read the brief and watch the video
Students are invited to the annual SPH Faculty and Assembly Meeting on Friday, May 16. 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.
The Minnesota Public Health Association's reception and annual meeting will be on June 5. The reception will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and the annual meeting is from 6:45 to 8 p.m. The gathering will be held at the Humphrey Center. More information to come.
SPH Events
“Tests for Local Temporal Correlation of Two Non-Homogeneous Poisson Processes,” is the topic of a seminar presented by Barry James and Kang James from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University¿s Duluth campus. The seminar will be at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7 in 5-125 MoosT. A social tea will be held at 3 p.m. in A434 Mayo. All are welcome to attend.
• Learn more online or call 4-4655
The Weekly SPHere is sent by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware Street, S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455.