Greetings SPH alumni,
Not-to-be-missed alumni events are just weeks away! Join us for the school's first-ever Alumni and Friends Scholarship Gala and all-school alumni reunion activities on Thursday, April 10. That same week the school will launch the fourth annual National Public Health Week Film Festival--a showcase of entertaining and thought-provoking films. We hope to see you at any or all of these events. Details below.
In this issue of SPH Alumni News you'll find:
• Inaugural all-school alumni reunion and scholarship gala events
• A note from the SPH Alumni Board President, Judy Beniak (MPH, '81)
• Meet the Board (featuring Jim Anderson, MHA, '68)
• National Public Health Week Film Festival and PSA contest
• Other events
• Become a UMAA member
• Thank you
Register now for the April 10 inaugural
SPH Alumni and Friends events
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Richard Carmona (above), 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002-2006), will deliver the keynote address at the 6 p.m. Alumni and Friends Gala. |
Join the SPH for an historic and important evening of events geared toward alumni, the public health community, and friends of public health.
- Connect and network with faculty and alumni at two Alumni Reunion events.
- Mingle with colleagues from Minnesota and beyond at the SPH Alumni and Friends Gala
- Support the next generation of public health leaders by contributing to the alumni scholarship fund
You should have received your invitation in the mail for these exciting events. Show your school spirit by attending any one or all of them.
The SPH also needs your help! The keynote address at the Alumni and Friends Gala is a rare chance to hear candid remarks from one of the nation¿s top public health officials. Please invite your network of friends, family and colleagues to attend what promises to be an extraordinary event.
If you cannot attend the event(s), please consider making a donation to the alumni scholarship fund by visiting the RSVP web site below.
If your place of business is interested in sponsoring a table for 8 people, please contact Michelle Lian-Anderson at liana001@umn.edu or 612-626-5536.
The schedule of events is as follows:
- The SPH Alumni Society Reunion Kickoff is at 3 p.m. at Nicollet Island Inn. There is no fee. Alumni Board member Dr. Michael Trujillo, Former Director, Indian health Service U.S. Department of Health will moderate a discussion titled ¿Science vs. Ideology¿
- SPH Alumni Reunion Major-Specific Networking is at 5 p.m., Nicollet Island Inn/Nicollet Island Pavilion. No fee. Re-connect with classmates and your favorite professors.
- SPH Alumni & Friends Scholarship Gala is at 6 p.m. Nicollet Island Pavilion. The cost is $55. RSVP by April 2 at www.mmf.umn.edu/sph/nphw.
From the SPH Alumni Board Chair
 Dear Colleagues,
The School of Public Health Alumni Society¿s amazing line-up of social events on April 10 will give you an opportunity to reconnect with classmates and faculty in your major. I want to hear from you how your personal and professional life can be enriched by reconnecting with the SPH. Help us achieve and define these top three goals of the Alumni Board:
- Organize resources that will delight and provide value to Alumni including social and networking opportunities
- Bring the realities of the field to assist the School in keeping current with its education, research and service mission
- Support students with scholarships, mentoring, employment opportunities, and perspectives of the public health professional.
Even though this is the first year of our board development as an alumni society, we are trying to reach out to as many School of Public Health graduates as possible to learn what they would like our society to achieve in the coming years.
Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002 - 2006) is our keynote speaker for the Gala event, and will help us set the scene with his presentation, "Prevention, Plagues, Preparedness and Politics: The Life of The Surgeon General."
Come to all three exciting events to welcome colleagues and celebrate National Public Health Week! I look forward to seeing you.
Judy Beniak (MPH, '81)
SPH Alumni Board President
Meet the Board
 When the recruitment call was put out more than a year ago for SPH graduates to consider joining the newly created alumni board James G. Anderson asked himself a simple question. "What can I do to help?"
Anderson decided that applying for a position on the board was one of the things he could do to give back to the school. It also offered a way to support students and alumni in the first stages of their careers.
"When I think about my early years coming out of college as I established a path, I greatly appreciated the assistance that flowed from the alumni network," says Anderson, who is currently serving as board treasurer.
Anderson, who received a Master's degree in health care administration in 1968, says he is at a point in his career where he can look back at his time as a SPH student and have another perspective on the faculty and the program.
"Knowing the power of the alumni network I can say it's a rich network," says Anderson. "I valued the job placement and career advancement.
"There's tremendous value that comes from an alumni that are engaged and can promote the school and the faculty," he says. "Excellence is the standard and the alumni can be a part of that."
Anderson is currently the chief administrative officer for the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. He has 39 years of administrative leadership experience behind him. Since being appointed to the board Anderson says one of the things he most appreciates is the consistent vision of SPH Dean John Finnegan.
"He wants to reconnect with the alumni and he's right on target," Anderson says. "He has increased my desire and commitment to do what I can."
Anderson says the current board is an extraordinary group of people who have accomplished a lot in a relatively short period of time and that makes him excited to serve and anxious to do more for the school, its students and alumni.
"I'm pleased and proud to be a part of it," Anderson says.
 A Celebration of
National Public Health Week
April 7 through April 11
View the schedule of events
Film Screenings
Monday, April 7 - Environmental Health theme
"Crude Awaking: the Oil Crash" - This 90-minute documentary tells the story of how our civilization's addiction to oil puts it on a collision course with geology.
Mayo Memorial Auditorium, 5:30 p.m.
Entries from the SPH "It's Global" PSA contest will be screened before the film. This year¿s contest yielded an unprecedented 50+ entries from around the country!
Tuesday, April 8 - Global Health theme
¡Salud! ¿ The film examines how the cash-strapped country of Cuba has become "one of the world's best health systems."
Mayo Memorial Auditorium, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9 - Health Disparities theme
Two segments of the new series Unnatural Causes will be shown:
In Sickness and In Wealth (56 mins)
What are the connections between healthy bodies and healthy bank accounts?
Becoming American (28 min)
Recent Mexican immigrants, though often poorer, tend to be healthier than the average American. But the longer they live here, the worse their relative health becomes.
Mayo Memorial Auditorium, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, April 11 - Sexual Health theme
Sex Ed and the State is a look at the Minnesota's state legislature and the fate of a comprehensive sexuality education bill. Vintage sex ed films will also be screened.
Mayo Memorial Auditorium, 5:30 p.m.
SPH Student Research Day
Friday, April 11
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Mayo Memorial Auditorium
Come honor and celebrate the research endeavors of public health students. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and students will be available at their posters from 12 to 1 p.m.
Learn more about Research Day
2nd Annual Taste Diversity Event
The Taste Diversity student committee at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health would like to invite you to the 2nd Annual Taste Diversity event.
The theme is "Global Fusion" and will consist of food from countries all over the globe. Gifts, prizes, entertainment, and good company will be present!
Please join current SPH students in celebrating food from around the world.
Date: April 23rd
Time: 4:30-7:30pm
Where: The Whole (Location: Basement in Coffman Memorial Union)
We hope to see you there! The Taste Diversity Committee Questions or Comments, contact Debby Caselton at case0188@umn.edu.
Become a UMAA Member
If you¿re not already, become a UMAA member today: Alumni, students and friends of the U of M are invited to join the School of Public Health Alumni Society, a collegiate group of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association.
As a member you are an ambassador supporting the outstanding teaching and breakthrough discoveries that happen at the U every single day.
University of Minnesota President Bob Bruininks said, "When you join the Alumni Association, you become an ambassador for the University. Members play a vital role in helping the University realize its mission of education, research, and engagement, and its goal to become one of the top three public research universities in the world."
As a member, you can take advantage of a variety of discounts and benefits, including Minnesota, the award-winning alumni magazine.
You may join the Alumni Association online at our School of Public Health Alumni Society Web page, or by calling 1-800-862-5867. Your membership will help make the School of Public Health and the University stronger.
 Thank You!
Thank you to¿
Charlotte Carver (MPH ¿69) Patricia House (MPH ¿70) Mary Sheehan (MPH ¿84) ¿for sharing their fond finals week memories.
Each alumna will receive the SPH rest and reflection care package, complete with a wooden massager, corn plastic mug, hand printed journal and a pen.
We have nine more packages on reserve for other alumni who send in their stories. What advice do you have for students--especially second-year students--who will soon be in the midst of finalizing their theses and projects, preparing for finals week, and looking for a new job?
Reply to this e-mail and share your thoughts.
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SPH Alumni News is sent by the the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware Street, S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455.
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