SPH News Oct. 15, 2007
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. The deadline for submission for the Oct. 29 issue is 9 a.m. on Oct. 24.
From the Dean
Diversity and multiculturalism are alive and getting better every day in the School of Public Health. If you want to see it in action from a student's perspective, take a look at this semester's "My Life" episode (www.sph.umn.edu/sphere/thuy/).
It features Thuy Doan, one of our own students seeking an MPH in Environmental Health Sciences, with an emphasis in infectious diseases. Born in Vietnam, she understands well the issues of respect, dignity, understanding and support that are at the root of a healthy multicultural school climate. So we hired her to assist our Student Services staff in multicultural recruitment services and strategies for the School of Public Health.
"My Life" will give you a full sense of her energy and commitment. We are fortunate to have this emerging student leader's energy and vision working for an even stronger SPH for the next class of students. Thanks, Thuy, and welcome aboard. Thanks are also due A-Team staffer Mark Engebretson for producing and directing this episode.
--John R. Finnegan, Jr., Ph.D.
Research News
Investigators |
Project Title |
Award Amount |
Funding Agency |
Ira Moscovice (PI)
|
Nursing Workforce Impact on Performance Improvement in the CMS/Premier Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration Project (HQID) |
$299,986 |
Robert Wood Johnson FDN |
Mary Story (PI) |
Measures of the Food and Built Environments: Enhancing Research Relevant to Policy on Diet, Physical Activity and Weight-A Workshop |
$24,960 |
Robert Wood Johnson FDN |
Traci Toomey (PI) |
Assessing Comprehensiveness and Quality of Alcohol Screening, Treatment, and Prevention Systems for Young Adults with Educational Systems |
$398,801 |
Robert Wood Johnson FDN |
Jeanette Ziegenfuss (PI)
|
Encouraging Eligible Children's Participation in Public Health Insurance: The Role of National Awareness Campaigns |
$28,625 |
DNHS Agency for Healthcare Res and Quality (AHRQ) |
Faculty News
Michael Osterholm was selected by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) as the 2007 recipient of the State Excellence in Public Health Award. This award recognizes outstanding service on behalf of the public health community at both the state and national levels. Osterholm was selected for his outstanding leadership in public health over the past 30 years. He is an international leader on global preparedness for an influenza pandemic. ASTHO presented Osterholm with the State Excellence in Public Health Award at the group's annual awards luncheon on Oct. 4.
Vernon Weckwerth has received the 2007 Award for Global Engagement, a University-wide award given to faculty and staff members in recognition of outstanding contributions to global education and international programs. Weckwerth was recognized for his life's work to improve the delivery of health services throughout the world. In 1969, he developed the University's ISP executive study programs for top-level health care executives abroad, the first of its kind. His students have risen to great heights in their careers, becoming hospital CEOs and even national health ministers. Students have described his devotion to the ISP program as inspirational, passionate, humble and selfless. The award, created in 2005, is sponsored by the Office of the Senior Vice President for System Academic Administration and administered by the Office of International Programs.
The Deborah E. Powell Center for Women’s Health received official confirmation that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded the University of Minnesota a Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) program grant. The BIRCWH program fosters the career development of junior faculty members who are engaging in basic, clinical, translational, behavioral, or health services research in any area relevant to women's health with an emphasis on sex and gender factors. The Powell Center invites eligible candidates to apply for the BIRCWH. Applications are due Oct. 25 at 5 p.m.
• Learn more online Questions? Call 6-1125
or write wmhealth@umn.edu
Call for papers by Nov. 1 on Ethical Considerations in Community-Based Participatory Research. This special issue of The Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics is being co-edited by CCPH senior consultant Nancy Shore, program director Kristine Wong and executive director Sarena Seifer.
• Learn more online (PDF)
Register for Learning Institutes on Community-Based Participatory Research, scheduled for Nov. 3-4 in Washington D.C. The Community-Based Public Health Caucus is sponsoring two Learning Institutes on Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) at this year's American Public Health Association conference.
• Learn more online
Fellowship opportunities. Families USA is accepting applications for two fellowships -- The Wellstone Fellowship for Social Justice and the Villers Fellowship for Health Care Justice. The deadline is Jan. 15, 2008.
• Learn more about the Wellstone Fellowship
• Learn more about the Villers Fellowship
School News
CEPH Accreditation News. The SPH has received a full seven years' accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Thanks are due to all in the SPH who contributed to this process, from the creation of the documentation to meeting with the site visitors last April. A special thanks to associate dean Debra Olson and the many staff members who produced the self-study that provided background and context for the site visitors.
Calling on Twin Cities Marathon Runners. Did you participate in the Twin Cities Marathon this year? If so, please send your name (for students, your major; for faculty/staff, your title), and if you'd like it included, your time. We'll include a list of SPH runners in a future e-mail. Congratulations to all who ran.
Party Planners Wanted. The All-School Winter Reception scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 13 needs to be exciting, fun, and memorable; therefore, we need your help. We are looking for volunteers (staff, faculty, and students) to assist in the planning of the event. We ask that you attend three, one-hour meetings (dates and times to be determined) to discuss, plan, and execute tasks. Because the events team appreciates your creativity and service, they will reward volunteers with a special treat. To volunteer for the All-School Winter Reception planning committee, please contact Nichole Marthaler by phone 6-9303 or e-mail mart1047@umn.edu by Friday, Oct. 26.
SPH Alumni and Friends Reception to be held during the annual American Public Health Association's meeting in Washington, D.C, Monday, Nov. 6 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Please join Dean John Finnegan at the Alumni and Friends reception to network, meet new faces, and catch up with acquaintances. Dean Finnegan will also discuss highlights from the previous year and future plans of the SPH. Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served. Stop by the SPH booth (#1256/#1356) in the Exhibit Hall. You do not have to RSVP for this event, but if you have questions, you can contact Nichole Marthaler at mart1047@umn.edu or 6-9303.
Cindy McComas, director of the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP), an outreach program in Environmental Health Sciences, received the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR) 2007 Most Valuable Pollution Prevention (MVP2) Volunteer of the Year Award. McComas was one of 11 recipients honored at a ceremony in Washington on Sept. 20. The winners represented federal, state, and local government agencies, industries, non-profits, and individuals that have demonstrated significant accomplishments in pollution prevention.
SHADAC Brief Re-Examines Issues Related to Crowd-Out in Public Health Insurance Programs. The SPH's State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC) has authored the brief "Revisting Crowd-Out," Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The brief updates a previous report by the foundation on crowd-out, the phenomenon of public coverage substituting for private insurance, and reviews recent findings on the size of crowd-out, the effectiveness of measures to discourage crowd-out and trade-offs policymakers face in trying to prevent the practice. The brief finds that incentives for low-wage workers to purchase affordable health coverage might be a more effective way to prevent crowd-out than anti-crowd-out measures, which have been found to discourage the uninsured as well as those with private insurance from enrolling in public health programs.
Facebook is a new UMTC emergency communication tool. To supplement communications tools used during campus emergencies, UMTC has created the U of M Emergency Notification Facebook group. U community members who join can have access to the latest information on crisis situations, such as weather emergencies, hazardous material spills, or crime alerts. Recent crises on campuses around the country, including recent bomb threats at UMTC, prompted the change. Facebook, a popular social networking Web site, has been primarily a student phenomenon, but membership is rapidly expanding to the employment ranks of higher education.
• Join the group or
• Become a Facebook member
Tips for taking shelter on campus in case of severe weather are posted on the Department of Emergency Management Web site. See "Severe Weather Emergencies" and scroll to the end.
The Community Fund Drive runs through Wednesday, Oct. 31. The University once again has teamed up with respected, well-run organizations that support social services, education, arts, and health to make it easy for faculty and staff to give to the community. This year's goal is a participation rate of 40 percent and a total of $1.25 million for state charities. View the welcome from co-chairs Steve Cawley, VP and CIO for information technology, and Billie Wahlstrom, vice provost for distributed education and instructional technology, at Minnesota charities count on U. If you've made a pledge to the Community Fund Drive, go to the SPH volunteers listed below and get a form to fill out for the School's prizes. The forms will be collected at the end of the pledge period and the prize winners will be announced probably mid-November.
Biostatistics:
Mayo: Sally Olander (sally@biostat.umn.edu)
CCBR (2221 University Avenue): Linda Zenner (zenner@umn.edu)Centers for Public Health Education and Outreach:
Chris Western (weste048@umn.edu)Dean's Office:
Barb Cook (barbcook@umn.edu)Environmental Health Sciences:
McNamara/Gateway: Carol Hansen (cmh@cccs.umn.edu), Frank Strahan (fxs@cccs.umn.edu)
Mayo: Jan Olson (olson337@umn.edu)Epidemiology and Community Health:
WBOB and Moos Tower: Debbie Cullen (culle026@umn.edu), Denise Henderson (hende060@mn.edu), Glad Olinger (oling002@umn.edu), Catherine Sultana (sulta007@umn.edu)EpiCH Clinical Research Center (ECRC -- 1100 Washington Avenue South):
Kerrin Brelje (brelje@epi.umn.edu), Peg Krieser (krieser@epi.umn.edu)Health Policy and Management:
Mayo/PWB/2221 University: Patty Homyak (homya001@umn.edu)
Dinnaken Building: Linda Young (young096@umn.edu)
• Learn more/contribute online
Are you attending APHA this year? If so, consider signing up to volunteer at the SPH booth. Each year the booth is buzzing with alumni, friends, faculty, and prospective students. What a perfect opportunity to network and assist the student services center personnel. If you are presenting at APHA, you may want to schedule yourself at the booth immediately following your session to accommodate continued discussion or prior to your session to advertise yourself. A booth staffing schedule that reflects the concurrent sessions of the conference has been prepared and is being managed by Melvin Monette, director for student recruitment. Please stop by Melvin's office in Mayo D384 to claim your spot on the schedule and pick up a complimentary copy of APHA's Program at a Glance. You may also e-mail monet008@umn.edu or call 4-0601. During Melvin's travels, Val Mitchel will have the schedule for you to view in the Student Services Center.
Participants wanted for Alzheimer's disease research conducted by the School of Nursing and School of Medicine. Researchers are focused on discovering future therapies that will slow or halt the progression of the disease, which affects 13 million adults worldwide. They are looking to identify biological determinants of Alzheimer's. A phone call will determine if a person is qualified and an office visit for a physical exam and blood and urine tests. To participate or for questions, contact Joe Gaugler, assistant professor in the School of Nursing at 6-2485 or gaug0015@umn.edu.
Web site offers searchable database of low-cost or free cervical cancer screening programs. The Minnesota Women's Cervical Cancer Screening Resources Database is up and running. This database allows women to search by zip code or city for clinics and programs offering free or low cost pap smears and other services.
• View the site
• Questions? Contact Vicky Townsend: 651-201-3602, e-mail Vicky.townsend@health.state.mn.us
Call for abstracts. The Minnesota Health Services Research Conference planned for March of 2008 is calling for abstracts. The deadline is Monday Nov. 5. Abstract writers will be notified by Dec. 3. For information and questions contact Jane Raasch at 5-0955 or via e-mail raasc001@umn.edu.
SPH Events & Courses
Save the date for the All-School Winter Reception. Students, staff, and faculty mark Dec. 13 for the All-School Winter Reception. The magic will begin at 2:15 p.m. at the Weisman Art Muesum and last until 4:30 p.m. More information will be given as the date gets closer.
A discussion on the Medical Arms Race Syndrome featuring Mark McClellan will be held on Monday, Oct. 15 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Mississippi Room at the Coffman Union. McClellan, former FDA commissioner and former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will address the impact of government regulation and payment systems on the Medical Arms Race. The event is sponsored by the National Institute of Health Policy (NIHP) and the Medical Technology Leadership Forum (MTLF). Students may attend for free. The NIHP has teamed up with the MTLF at the SPH to host this event, in conjunction with MTLF's 2007 Fall Forum. To learn more, visit NIHP's Web site.
• Register online
Jimmy Efird will discuss, "A Method to Model Season of Birth as a Surrogate Environmental Risk Factor for Disease," during a seminar on Monday, Oct. 15. The seminar will be held at 12:15 p.m. in 2-520 MoosT. Efird is a candidate for a director position in the Biostatistical Design and Analysis Center at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. All are welcome to attend and lunch will be provided for the first 30 attendees.
Plan B Presentation. Benhuai Xie will discuss, "Prediction of Kidney Transplant Acute Rejection with SNPs: A Comparison of Penalized Logistic Regression and Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction" during the presentation at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 15. The presentation will be held in A434 Mayo. Refreshments will be served prior to the presentation.
Students in the MCH Program will discuss their public health experiences in India during two informal gatherings. Both sessions will be held in A301 Mayo (in the Dean's suite of offices) and both will be from 12:15-1:15 p.m. The first is Monday, Oct. 15 and features Karthik Srinivasan discussing his work with a project to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and with HIV/AIDS in commercial sex workers in South India. In the second session on Monday, Oct. 29, Mandi Proue and Terra Carey will share stories and photos from their recent field work. MCH will provide light refreshments and everyone is welcome to attend.
A seminar on "Modelling and Inference on Time-varying Hazard Ratios for Survival Data," will be presented by Song Yang, from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The seminar will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17 in 1-450G MoosT. A social tea will be held at 3 p.m. in A434 Mayo. All are welcome.
• Learn more online or call
4-4655
New Release! Culture and Health Literacy Online Modules. This online training discusses how inequalities in health information contribute to unequal treatment and health outcomes for some populations and what communities can do to close the gap and improve health literacy. The training includes two modules.
• Learn more online
Updated Environmental Health Online Module Now Available for Free. This eight-module series was updated in September and is being offered at no cost. The online training provides a framework for understanding the major environmental factors that impact human health. The sources of problems, relevant legislation, and interventions utilized for prevention and control are discussed. Each of the eight modules addresses a specific environmental health topic and offers readings, online references, and links to websites for timely updates on environmental health issues. Modules include: Introduction, Air Supply and Pollution, Food Safety, Housing, Land, Pest Control, Water Supply and Waste Water, and Workplace.
• Learn more online
Disaster Mental Health Public Health Emergency Training Series. This training presents the basic principles and goals of disaster mental health and outlines the critical role of public health professionals in recognizing a range of reactions to traumatic events. Participants are eligible to receive up to .05 CEUs .5 contact hours for completion of training including pre-test, post test and evaluation.
• Learn more online
The Division of Health Policy and Management (HPM) is sponsoring an information session for prospective students. On Monday, Oct. 29 interested students will have an opportunity to meet with faculty and students, discover funding opportunities, and learn about HPM academic programs. Refreshments will be served. For more information or to make a reservation call 4-8818 or send an e-mail to eherring@umn.edu. Complete details can be found at www.hpm.umn.edu. Free parking provided in the Washington Avenue Ramp.
Students in the MCH Program will discuss their public health experiences in India during two informal gatherings. Both sessions will be held in A301 Mayo (in the Dean's suite of offices) and both will be from 12:15-1:15 p.m. The first is Monday, Oct. 15 and features Karthik Srinivasan discussing his work with a project to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and with HIV/AIDS in commercial sex workers in South India. In the second session on Monday, Oct. 29, Mandi Proue and Terra Carey will share stories and photos from their recent field work. MCH will provide light refreshments and everyone is welcome to attend.
Xenobiotics and Human Health Seminar Series: The Divisions of Epidemiology and Community Health and Environmental Health Sciences are holding a series of joint seminars. The goal is to exchange information and ideas about persistent organic pollutants and health, seen from several perspectives. Place and Time: Mayo 1155, Mondays, 10:30-noon. This schedule is subject to change. Please call Carol Raichert at 5-1836 to confirm.
- Oct. 22: Deborah Swackhamer and Matt Simcik
Fate and transport of emerging chemical pollutants
Upcoming CPHEO Courses
- Incident Management Systems Awareness, Wednesday, Oct. 18
- 24- and 40-Hour Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Training, Oct. 22-26
- 8-Hour Site Worker Refresher, Thursday, Nov. 8.
Other Events
The Leatherdale Equine Center Grand Opening will be held on Monday, Oct. 15 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Join the Minnesota horse community for the grand opening of the new $14 million University of Minnesota Leatherdale Equine Center, a pioneer of excellence in equine education, research, and care. There will be a ribbon cutting, short program, live demonstrations, and a walking tour. The activities will be held at 1801 Dudley Ave. in St. Paul. Follow the signs along Larpenteur and Gortner Avenues for free parking.
Human Rights, the Burden of Disease, and Tobacco Control will be the topic of discussion on Tuesday, Oct. 23 during a national conference on tobacco held from 9 a.m. to noon in the Rochester Room at the Minneapolis Hilton in downtown. The event is free and open to the public. For more information contact Harry Lando at 4-1877 or lando001@umn.edu.
The Emerging Human Right to Tobacco Control will follow the discussion at 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 23 in the Mondale Room at the U of M Law School. Stephen Marks, of the Harvard School of Public Health, is the keynote speaker.
Why We Eat More Than We Think. The Institute for Research in Marketing is pleased to announce that Brian Wansink, author of the best-selling book Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think, will discuss the influence of advertising and marketing on eating habits on Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 5:30-6:30 p.m., in the Carlson School of Management's 3M Auditorium. A reception will follow the talk. This event is open to the public with a registration fee of $45; current University of Minnesota students may register at no charge.
• Register online
Minnesota Public Health Association's Centennial Celebration Gala - Join the MPHA as it celebrates 100 years as a contributor to the health of Minnesotans. Will Steger, polar explorer, will be the keynote speaker at the event, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 25, 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. at McNamara Alumni Center. The evening includes a buffet dinner and cash bar, buffet dinner and cash bar, music by the MPHA Jazz Band, welcoming remarks by public health leaders, a history of public health in Minnesota and highlights from A Public Health Journal. Registration deadline is October 17.
• Register online. Questions?
Call (612) 673-3948.
Diabetes--a Breakthrough Series event. Registration is now open for the daylong event scheduled for Monday, Oct. 29. Learn about important research that examines insulin delivery systems, continuous glucose monitoring, islet transplantation, stem cells and other emerging modalities. The event is presented by the Office of Clinical Research and partner, LifeScience Alley. University faculty, staff and students will receive a discounted rate of $25 for the full- day conference on the St. Paul Campus.
• Register online
A conference on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) will be held on Thursday, Nov. 8. This conference will cover a multitude of topics related to FASD including current diagnostic criteria, approaches for screening for alcohol use during pregnancy, and prevention and intervention strategies. The keynote address will be presented by Dan Dubovsky, the FASD specialist for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) FASD Center for Excellence. Registration fee is $25. Student scholarships are available. Please call Mary Ellen Walker at 651-351-3135.
Experience Minnesota: An Open House for Multicultural Students. This event is designed for prospective multicultural students and their families who want to learn more about the University and its programs.Families will receive information on academic opportunities, financial aid, multicultural organizations and meet with faculty and current students. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10 at Northrop Memorial Auditorium.
• Register online or call the admissions office at 5-0000.
Annual UMS-AIHA Professional Development Conference: "Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases and their Impact on Occupational Health" will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Town and Country Club in St. Paul.
To sign up to receive SPH News, send your name and e-mail address to SPHNews@umn.edu.