SPH News Feb. 26, 2007SPH News is a school-wide electronic newsletter distributed every other week. Please send news items to SPHNews@umn.edu. The submission deadline for the March 12 issue is Wednesday, March 7. Jump to: From the DeanMinnesota has always prided itself as a progressive "brain power" state in its approach to public issues. Once upon a time, 30 years ago, we congratulated ourselves for creating "The Minnesota Miracle" celebrated in a famous Time Magazine cover. We had good schools, a robust economy, low crime rates, good health, and progressive government investment that promoted opportunities for our citizens. Over the weekend, however, we learned that "The Minnesota Miracle" has degenerated into the "Minnesota Nightmare" for many citizens. The state has earned the dubious distinction of having the largest increase of any state of people living in "deep poverty." We should be ashamed of ourselves. The McClatchy News Service (Star-Tribune, Feb 24, p. A8) performed an analysis of 2005 U.S. Census data to examine changes in Americans living in "deep poverty," defined as a family of four or individuals living at half or less than the Federal poverty line ($9,903 and We in public health have known for some time that despite Minnesota's reputation for a strong economy, longevity and good health, the state has some of the worst disparities of any state between majority and minority populations. With economic disparities come disparities in health compounded by disparities in education and opportunity. I am old enough to recall that Minnesota politics -- whether dominated by Republicans or Democrats -- was propelled by a basic value that united us all: no one should be left behind. In the past 30 years, we have apparently quietly abandoned this value. Now we begin to see the results of selfishness, self-obsession, and the "me first" values that replaced it. It should be clear that our foolish abandonment of our basic value will not protect us from having to pay for it. Fail to support strong schools and educational opportunity for everyone? Then prepare to pay for more prisons. Fail to invest in prevention and public health? Then prepare to pay health costs to expensive health delivery systems like hospital emergency departments and the local taxpayers that support them -- and at excessively high cost. Fail to invest significantly in higher education and your public research university? Then prepare for less opportunity for all economically, socially, culturally, and in health and science. In short, prepare to accept a deteriorating quality of life for all. Personally, I believe Minnesota is at a crossroads in its values and vision. What kind of life do we want for everyone in this state? High quality? Good health for all? Education and opportunity for all? Children who grow up with optimism and great expectations for a future they are willing to work toward? No, I am not running for public office. But we ought to be pressing every office holder to tell us what is their vision for Minnesota. If we don't hold them and ourselves accountable and responsible, then the Minnesota Miracle will become the Minnesota Nightmare for everyone. Being "against" things is not enough. What's the vision and what will we do together to make it real for everyone? --John R. Finnegan, Jr., Ph.D. Faculty newsKirk Allison , Chuck Oberg, and Jim Hart coauthored with Joel Albers (MN Universal Health Care Action Network) and Breanna Peterson (Emory University) "Single payer, health savings accounts or managed care? Minnesota physicians perspectives" published in the February edition of Minnesota Medicine. Bryan Dowd and Lynn Blewett participated in AcademyHealth's National Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. February 13-14. Dowd taught a "mini course" on the range of methods and tools for assessing the evidence in health services research articles. Blewett presented information on data inputs to the SCHIP funding formula during the State Health Policy and Research Group meeting. Several MHA students attended the conference. Rhonda Jones-Webb received $7,000 in funding through the President's Faculty Multicultural Research Award for her proposal Alcohol Availability and Promotion and Homicide in Inner-Cities. William Riley and Douglas Wholey have been awarded two of nine grants on strategies aimed at improving the U.S. public health system. The University of Minnesota was the only school to win two such grants. The Foundation to build the field for Public Health Systems Research (PHSR) awarded the grants. The PHSR is a group within the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Riley will develop and implement a pilot program to expand the use of continuous quality improvement measures in public health agencies. Wholey will look into the relationship between public health outcomes and public health system structure in rural communities. The application deadline for Faculty Development Leaves for the upcoming year is Monday, March 19. The Faculty Development Leaves policy and forms, and the Faculty Sabbatical Supplement Program description, are located online. The Appointment, Promotion and Tenure (APT) Committee will serve as the School's screening committee and make recommendations to the Dean. Applications are to be forwarded to the APT Committee, c/o Judy Peterson, SPH Dean's Office, MMC 197, by Monday, March 19. Questions can also be directed to Judy Peterson at 4-7196 or peter042@umn.edu. All three awards will be presented at this year's Faculty/Assembly meeting, to be scheduled in the spring. For more information about nomination materials and about each of the award criteria contact Patrick Gambill-Read, 6-1428, sphmayo@umn.edu or Judy Peterson, 7-4196, peter042@umn.edu. Research News
Student newsKate Downing, a second year PHAP student, received funding for a master's project from Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) for her work with the Folwell Center for Urban Initiatives. The aim of the grant is to create collaborative partnerships between the University and the Northside community related to a growing concern over the increase in prostitution. More information about the Folwell Center can be found at www.folwell.org. Global health scholarship and internship information is now available on the SPH Web site at: www.sph.umn.edu/globalhealthdollars Delta Omega, the honorary public health society, is sponsoring the 10th annual student poster contest. All SPH students are invited to participate. Students whose work is selected will receive a $250 cash prize and an opportunity to present their work during the APHA meeting. An additional $500 for APHA travel expenses will be awarded by the Dean's office. Deadline for submission of abstracts of a poster project is March 26. Send abstract information to sphmayo@umn.edu. Submission guidelines and information can be found at www.deltaomega.org. For questions regarding the poster contest, contact Judy Peterson at peter042@umn.edu. School newsGreg Alexander, a national and international scholar and former faculty member in the SPH, passed away unexpectedly earlier this month. He most recently was a professor in the Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine at the University of South Florida. He held a secondary appointment in the College of Public Health. Save the Date: Mervyn Susser will deliver the 2007 Gaylord Anderson Lecture on April 26. Susser is Sergievsky Professor of Epidemiology Emeritus of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and faculty of Medicine. He is regarded as one of the preeminent epidemiologists in the world. More details to come in SPH News. A new tool to measure dietary supplement use is the focus of the February edition of the School of Public Health Research Brief. This month’s brief comes from SPH associate professor Lisa Harnack. You can read it here: www.sph.umn.edu/brief. It's Global: A Juried Public Health Film-making Competition. Can you make a five-second film? Do you have something to say about pollution? Clean water? Refugee health? Preparing for disasters? Nutrition? Infectious disease? Access to health care? Climate change? Submit your entries for either short form (up to 10 seconds) or long form (11-30 seconds). Select entries will be screened at the National Public Health Week Film Festival during the week of April 2-7. Call for entries submission deadline: March 12. Contact: film@umn.edu or 4-6669. The Emerging Leaders' Network is seeking applicants for its 2007 program. The application deadline is Thursday, March 22. This program seeks those who have leadership potential but who may not yet be in leadership positions. If you have any questions about the application or its submission, please contact Gail Gentling at gail.gentling@health.state.mn.us or at 651-201-3875. Bio-Medical reference Librarian Lisa McGuire is available to work with SPH students, faculty, and staff to meet their information needs. She also selects public health materials for the Bio-Medical Library (including journals), teaches classes such as RefWorks and database searching (such as Ovid Medline & PubMed). For more information and to contact Lisa visit: www.biomed.lib.umn.edu/about/staff/lmcguire. Meet your legislators in person. Share what the U means to you and tell your elected officials that you want them to support the University's legislative requests. Meetings with some lawmakers are scheduled through the month of May. Join Sen. Tarryl Clark, Rep. Steve Gottwalt, and Rep. Larry Haws for a public lunch hour listening session at the State Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., State Capitol, Room 237. Events & CoursesThe Student National Medical Association will host the national protocol TODER - Tissue and Organ Donation Education and Recruitment Program from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26. The lunch lecture will be held in 2-530 Moos Tower. There will also be a drive and information booth from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the same location. The drive is to join the registry, no bone marrow will be taken on site. During the luncheon attendees will hear from past donors and recipients as they discuss the process, benefits, and myths about donations. The Medical School welcomes Susan Everson-Rose and Christine Daley, faculty candidates for the Program in Health Disparities Research. Everson-Rose, associate profession at Rush University Medical Center, will discuss "Stress, Depression and Cardiovascular Risk: Current Knowledge and New Horizons" from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26, in 2-120 Molecular and Cellular Biology Building. Christine Daley, a research assistant professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center, will present: "Community-LEAD Participatory Research: Building Translational Research Teams." Daley's presentation will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27 in 5-125 Moos Tower. A light lunch will available at both lectures for the first 30 attendees. For more information on the lectures, contact Meredith Craven (mcraven@umn.edu).
A seminar on Clinical Trials and Clinical Significance of Life Endpoints in Oncology will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28 in 2-690 Moos Tower. Jeff A. Sloan from Mayo Clinic in Rochester will review issues, challenges and solutions regarding doing clinical trials in quality of life research. Recent advances with respect to the assessment of clinical significance for symptoms and other patient-reported outcomes will be described. A social tea will be held at 3 p.m. in A434 Mayo. Celebrate the launch of the AHC History Project with a special lecture honoring B.J. Kennedy from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday Feb. 28. Gretchen Krueger, a historical consultant for the American Society of Clinical Oncology, will discuss, "B.J. Kennedy and the campaign for medical oncology." The event will be held in the Mayo Memorial Auditorium. A reception will follow. For more information contact Jenny Meslow at 6-7072 or meslo001@umn.edu. The Minnesota Women's Health Policy Briefing will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 2. Come and hear an update on women's health policy issues being discussed in the state Legislature this session, including health care coverage, reproductive health, and environmental health. The speakers include, Rep. Maria Ruud, Minnetonka, Rep. Erin Murphy, St. Paul (invited) Lorie Alveshere, MN Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention & Parenting, Julia Earl, Prevent Harm Minnesota, and Mary Jo George, Minnesota Nurses Association. The briefing will be held in WBOB 142. For more information, contact the Powell Center at 6-1125 or wmhealth@umn.edu. The Minnesota AIDS Project is sponsoring AIDS Action Day on Tuesday, March 6. The agenda includes meetings with individual legislators, and a noon rally at the Capitol Rotunda to hear speakers from the community and legislature raise awareness and visibility about HIV. The purpose of AIDS Action Day is to promote education, advocacy, and visibility around HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment issues at the state level.
Join Deepak Agarwal from Yahoo! Research for a seminar, "Bayesian Spatial Scan Statistic Adjusted for Over Dispersion and Spatial Correlation." The seminar will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7 in 2-690 Moos Tower. A social tea will be held at 3 p.m. in A434 Mayo. The Minnesota Public Health Association will sponsor a forum, "Public Health is More than Health Care: Expanding Dialogues on Public Health Issues." The discussion will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Friday, March 9 at the Minnesota Humanities Education Center, 987 E. Ivy Ave. in St. Paul. Registration and continental breakfast begins at 7 a.m. The purpose of the forum is to raise awareness of four public health issues: family planning, essential public health services, built environment and health care outreach. The cost is $3 for students, $5 for members and $10 for non-members. All are welcome, but seating is limited. Register by Monday, March 5, to Ellie Garrett at ellie.garrett@comcast.net. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Join faculty, staff and students as they participate in the Third Annual Get Your Rear in Gear 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, March 31 at the Lake Harriet Bandshell in Minneapolis. The walk will help raise awareness about screening and support colorectal cancer research. For more details and to sign up visit www.enhs.umn.edu/files/rearingear.html and look for the team, EnHS Polyp Patrol.
CPHEO Upcoming Courses, Modules, and Events: • 8-Hour Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Refresher will be held on Thursday, March 1. • Emergency Readiness Rounds: Legal Implications for Public Health Professionals in Emergencies will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7 in the Mississippi Room of the Coffman Memorial Union. For more information or to register for this event visit http://cpheo.sph.umn.edu/meret • Current Issues in Agricultural and Environmental Health, Part 2 will be held on Monday, March 26 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the lower-level classroom at the Worthington Regional Hospital, 1018 6th Ave, Worthington, Minn. Topics include: Livestock Industry Worker Health Impacts Infectious Diseases Related to Animal Production Practical Solutions for Farmers with Disabilities Fundamentals of Agricultural Emergency Response. To pre-register for the program call Jerre Wiertzema at 507-372-3106 or Kathi Haberman at 507-372-3256. • The schedule is available for the 2007 Summer Public Health Institute. The institute will be held May 21-June 8 on the Twin Cities University campus. Visit cpheo.sph.umn.edu/institute for the complete three-week Institute schedule, or to request a print catalog please call 6-4515 or e-mail cpheo@umn.edu. • Want to know more about Occupational Health and Safety? Here is an exciting opportunity to learn about the expanding field of Occupational Health and Safety. This module will help you discover the unique roles professional have in maintaining the safety and health of workers. Linda Carlson, a SPH student, created " A Glimpse into field of Occupational Health and Safety" portion of the module. View the module at http://cpheo1.sph.umn.edu/OHS/
• Save the date-Community Action Forum: Healthy Kids in Healthy Places will be held from 8:30 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9. To sign up to receive SPH News, send your name and e-mail address to SPHNews@umn.edu. • Read past issues of SPH News SPHNews is sent by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware Street, S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455. www.sph.umn.edu. |