SPH News Feb. 4, 2008
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.
From the Dean
Our faculty have done it again. In fiscal 2007, they generated some $92 million in extramural research funding, second only to the Medical School. This is an amazing accomplishment when you consider the depressed funding environment and the fact that the SPH faculty is just 16 percent the size of the Medical School and 30 percent the size of the Institute of Technology.
This is a level of research productivity of which many of my colleague deans at the U and in other schools of public health are, well, envious. If we were a business focused on the bottom line for our shareholders, we could end this discussion now and simply celebrate our productivity. But we are part of a public research land-grant university. We are in the knowledge business to improve people's lives, a privilege provided and supported by the people themselves. We search for knowledge, discover it, learn it, teach it, and turn it into impact on human lives today and in the future. Dollars alone are easy to measure. "Impact" is a lot more varied in its measurement, although the two are related of course.
Here are a few observations about "Minnesota Impact":
- In many areas of public health research, I believe we are responding not only to state, federal and global agendas, but also leading agendas for the next generation of research questions. I see this in each faculty member who serves with the NIH, CDC, the IOM, AHA, AHQR, APHA, ACS and all the public and private organizations that make up the "alphabet soup" of public health.
- We are not alone in our work but create impact together with University schools and colleges, and community public and private partners.
- So many of our faculty spend so much time with the media. I believe that this is an obligation we have as faculty. It arises from the privilege of serving the public. The obligation is to translate and disseminate our findings in ways that the public, health professionals, and decision-makers can understand it, and make use of it to improve their lives and the lives of others.
- In some areas of public health, we are among the most "watched" sources of information. For example, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) website is regarded as one of the top information sources of its kind in the world for information about infectious disease, preparedness, and avian influenza.
- On the basis of productivity and "weight" of publications, an independent service ranks our Divisions of Biostatistics and Environmental Health Sciences, 5th and 8th in the nation respectively. The programs of our Divisions of Epidemiology and Community Health, and Health Policy and Management are regarded by independent reviewers as among the very best in the nation.
- Many of our faculty are honored locally, nationally, and even internationally for the importance of their work in public health and often appear among the most published in their areas.
- Finally, a measure of our impact as a School is in the students who want to come here. Remember, they have 39 other accredited schools to choose from and about 60 accredited programs. The fact that they come here (in increasing numbers) says something very positive to me about "Minnesota Impact."
--John R. Finnegan, Jr., Ph.D.
To view details on SPH research funding, go to www.oar.umn.edu/trends/index.cfm and click on "Proposals & Awards."
Media News
January 2008 media coverage featured the following SPH faculty and staff:
Daheia Barr-Anderson
David Jacobs
Robert Jeffery
Harry Lando
Russell Luepker
Toben Nelson
Diane Neumark-Stzainer
Michael Osterholm
Mark Pereira
James Rothenberger
Lyn Steffen
Deborah Swackhamer
Traci Toomey
Coverage was featured in local media as well as in USA Today, Boston Globe, New York Times, Bloomberg News, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal, Washington Times, WebMD, Medical News Today, the China Post, the Daily Advertiser and The Hindu.
- View more online 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.
Faculty News
The Center for Writing's Student Writing Support (SWS) program is available for a five-to-ten-minute presentation to classes. SWS offers free face-to-face and online writing consultations for all U of M students at all stages of the writing process. In a brief class visit, a writing consultant can provide an overview and explain how to get the most from an appointment with a writing consultant.
• Request a visit
• Learn more
School News
SPH Commencement Speaker Announced. Minnesota Commissioner of Health Sanne Magnan will deliver the 2008 School of Public Health commencement address. Magnan was appointed commissioner in September 2007. She eared an M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. Commencement will take place at 5 p.m. on May 19 at Northrop Memorial Auditorium.
• Learn more about commencement
• Learn more about Magnan
Minnesota rates of uninsurance stabilize following earlier increases. A survey from the School of Public Health and Minnesota Department of Health shows that after rising between 2001 and 2004, the percentage of Minnesotans without health insurance was stable between 2004 and 2007. An estimated 7.2 percent of Minnesotans, or about 374,000 people, were uninsured in 2007. The rate of uninsurance in 2007 was statistically unchanged from 2004. National surveys, although not comparable to this study, show that Minnesota has the lowest uninsurance rate in the nation.
• Download a
fact sheet summarizing the initial results
"Why the Blood Donor Pool is Shrinking: Estimating the Prevalence of Donor Exclusion Factors on the Pool of Potential Donors" is the title of the January issue of Research Brief. SPH associate professor William Riley authored the latest issue. Research Brief is a monthly electronic publication of the SPH.
• View current and past issues of Research Brief
The benefits of family meals, keeping your New Year's resolution, and e-public health were some of the topics featured on Public Health Moment in January. Public Health Moment is a weekly SPH audio podcast that is also picked by six Minnesota radio stations.
• Go to Public Health Moment
SPH Director of Recruitment Melvin Monette was featured in the January 2008 edition of The American Indian Graduate magazine for his leadership with the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars and the Gates Millennium Scholars program.
The SPH WEBsters group has begun work on the SPH Web Integration, a Dean's initiative to strengthen SPH Web communications and services by consolidating a number of related but independent SPH Web sites into one unified Web site. SPH WEBsters includes Web professionals from each division of the school, CPHEO, the Advancement Team, and the Student Services Center. In coming months, faculty, staff, and students will be asked to volunteer to participate in surveys and focus groups. For more information, contact Mark Engebretson at enge@umn.edu.
Praise for the SPH's healthy workplace eating guidelines continues. Recently, the guidelines were cited in a column written by Robert Davis, president of the AMA, about ways to promote healthy eating.
• View the guidelines
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 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 e-mail film@umn.edu.
President Bruininks has announced the Call for Nominations and Applications for the 2008 President's Student Leadership and Service Awards. Each year, these 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.
• Learn more online or call the Student Activities Office at 6-6919.
SPH Events & Courses
"Assessing Surrogacy in Clinical Trials Using Counterfactual Models," will be the topic of Yun Li's discussion at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4 in Mayo D199. Li is a PhD candidate in the department of biostatistics at the University of Michigan. A social tea will be held at 3 p.m. in A434 Mayo. All are welcome.
• Learn more online or call 4-4655 or see
Make plans to attend Pamoja, the SPH Student Senate's annual social, on Thursday, Feb. 7. Open to all SPH students, faculty and staff. 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."
CPHEO Announcements
Upcoming CPHEO Courses
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS): A Primer for Volunteers—Online Module can be accessed online.
The workshop "Designing and Conducting Focus Group Interviews" will be held on March 17-18 and 19-20.
• Learn more/register
"Breathe Easier: Advances in Indoor Air Quality and Mold Recognition, Identification and Remediation" will be held March 18-20. The topics are presented in a two-part series. You have the option of attending a one-day session on indoor air quality issues, a two-day session focusing specifically on mold identification and remediation, or both sessions over three days.
• Register online
The 2008 MERET Tribal Preparedness Conference will be held on Thursday, April 17 at Grand Casino Hinckley. This tribal preparedness conference will discuss planning for disasters with special populations in mind. Contact Ruth Rasmussen 6-4515 for more information.
The 2008 Ready to Respond Conference: Collaborations in Health Preparedness will be held May 6 and 7 at the Northland Inn in Brooklyn Park. The theme of the 2008 Ready to Respond Conference is Collaborations in Health Preparedness. For more information contact: Patti Constant at 6-4515 or cons0001@umn.edu and Marcia Robert at 651-201-5726 or Marcia.Robert@state.mn.us
Incident Management Systems Awareness will be held on Thursday, Feb. 21.
• Learn more/register online
Homeland Security will be discussed on March 5-6.
• Learn more/register online
8-Hour Emergency Response Refresher will be held on Thursday, March 13.
• Learn more/register online
A farm to table study tour in the Netherlands will be held Feb. 6-9. The Global Food Safety Systems Leadership Initiative is sponsored by an international consortium of universities fostering public-private partnerships committed to a safe supply of affordable food everywhere. Please contact Meghan Taylor at 6-8434 or tayl0427@umn.edu for program itineraries, financial support applications, and registration forms.
Engaging Intergovernmental Organizations for Food Safety, Animal Health and Public Health will be held in Paris-Geneva-Rome Feb. 10-15. The Global Food Safety Systems Leadership Initiative is sponsored by an international consortium of universities fostering public-private partnerships committed to a safe supply of affordable food everywhere. Please contact Meghan Taylor at 6-8434 or tayl0427@umn.edu for program itineraries, financial support applications, and registration forms.
- 8-Hour Site Worker Refresher will be held Thursday, Feb. 7.
- 24/40-Hour Site Worker Training will be held Feb. 11-15.
- Incident Management Systems Awareness will be held Thursday, Feb. 21
• View a detailed course listing
• Register online
Other Events
"Improving Community Health Through Community-Based Research" will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5 in room 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 about the AHC's Distinguished Visiting Scholar Series
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. Refreshments and light snack will be provided.
• Learn more online
"Discover the Connections! Bridging Strategies to Prevent Child Injury and Maltreatment," is the topic of a new conference to be held in Sacramento, California Feb. 24-26. The cost is $150 plus additional fees for a CPS skills-specific session scheduled for Feb. 24.
• Learn more online
SAVE THE DATE: Minnesota's Commissioner of Health, Dr. Sanne Magnan, will present her vision and priorities for the Minnesota Department of Health and the state from 5:45 to 7 p.m., March 4, at the Minnesota Humanities Center, 987 East Ivy Ave., St. Paul. Sponsored by the Minnesota Public Health Association.
• 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
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