Wednesday, November 18, 2009
When it Comes to Tobacco, is it Prevention or Treatment That's Easiest on the Purse?
Health issues, and the cost effectiveness of health-care approaches, have been at the forefront of a nation-wide debate. The School of Public Health will have its own discussion tomorrow evening about the most cost efficient way to approach tobacco use. Can money be better spent on treatment than prevention?
Dr. Elbert Glover invites students and faculty to join the discussion at a passport seminar, Preventing Tobacco: Can it Work, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in room 308 of the SPH building. If you're a student with SPH, please register to attend here.
Dr. Glover, chair of Public and Community Health, will be speaking from 34 years of experience studying tobacco use. He started out as a student (one of five men studying at Texas Women's University, by the way) interested in researching subliminal perception. Dr. Glover, who was going for his doctorate degree at the time, then conducted a series of experiments to see if he could use subliminal messages to encourage smoking cessation. (He could!)
He has since then continued on to become an internationally recognized authority on the topics of smoking cessation and smokeless tobacco.
Dr. Glover was invited to share his expertise in Luxembourg last month at a conference to debate strategies to mitigate tobacco-related health-care costs in the nation. The country’s Minister of Health and Minister of Social Security were among the audience.
Healthy Turtle can give you a glimpse into what Dr. Glover presented, but to hear more, you'll have to check out the seminar tomorrow night.
Among the most effective prevention measures, he told his audience in Luxembourg, are higher cigarette taxes and price increases. Non-price measures, such as increased consumer information and availability of therapy, can also be effective. However, most non-price government controls have been less effective, according to Glover. These include prohibition measures, youth access restrictions, crop substitution and trade restrictions.
The Costs and Consequences of Tobacco Use research initiative is expected to become an annual event in Luxembourg to initiate a nation-wide focus on reducing health-care costs. Although the population growth rate has been minimal over recent years, the World Health Organization reports that the percentage of government expenditure on health-care costs has jumped more than three percent between 2000 and 2006.
To read more about Dr. Glover, click this. To find out more about the “Costs and Consequences of Tobacco Use” workshop, visit here. To find out about the American Journal of Health Behavior, for which Dr. Glover is editor-in-chief, visit here.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Snapshots from ASPH Meeting and Expo
One of the highlights for us was Rachel Rosenberg, a graduate student of MIAEH, who won the APHA Environment Section's Student Achievement Poster Award. Her poster was titled "Irrigation workers' exposures toantimicrobial-resistant bacteria and antimicrobials present in reclaimed wastewater."
Her presentation coincided with this year's theme for the conference, "Water and Public Health: The 21st Century Challenge." SPH educators and scholars discussed how to address the increasing demand for clean, safe drinking water.Find out more about the expo here. Find a list of presentations made by our own staff and students here.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Madieu Williams Makes Generous Donation to Establish SPH Center for Global Health Initiatives
It was just two years ago when five departments and an institute merged to become our School of Public Health. Since then, the School has received a tremendous amount of support, including two generous $2 million donations. The first $2 million donation to SPH was made to the School to establish the Herschel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy. UMD-College Park President Dr. Dan Mote Jr. said the two major contributions have created a momentum for our young School. He also emphasized that “We expect continued growth and prosperity and contributions for this School.”
Alumnus of the School of Health and Human Performance (now SPH) and Minnesota Vikings free safety, Madieu Williams, announced that his donation will be used to create the Madieu Williams Center for Global Health Initiatives, addressing public health issues of his birthplace, Freetown, and of Prince George’s County, Md.
“I feel very blessed and very fortunate to be in a position to be able to do it,” said Mr. Williams in an interview with The Healthy Turtle following the conference. “But more importantly, I hope that it can be utilized for years to come to improve the lives of people in both Prince George’s County and in Freetown, Sierra Leone.”
This isn’t the first of Mr. Williams’ acts of philanthropy. He started the Madieu Williams Foundation, when he began his professional career with the Cincinnati Bengals, and he has continued the work as a team-member for Minnesota Vikings. Through the foundation, Mr. Williams built a playground before leaving Cincinnati, holds football clinics, health screenings, health interventions and educational programs for youth. Last year he also built a school in Freetown, and helped to provide uniforms for the football team at his high school, DuVal High in Prince George's County.
The gift announcement was made at a press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 4th. Other participants in the program included SPH’s Dean Robert Gold, University President Dan Mote Jr., U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone Bockarie Stevens, and Chief of Staff in the county executive’s office, Michael Herman.
Read more about the announcement and the Center at: SPH Web site, ASPH Friday Letter, The Washington Post, and The Diamondback. Read more about Mr. Williams’ other philanthropic activities through the Madieu Williams Foundation here.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Dr. Carter-Pokras Will Guest on Destination Casa Blanca, The Latino Vocie in Politicas
Associate professor with the Epidemiology and Biostatistics department Dr. Olivia Carter-Pokras will be taking part in a discussion on Destination Casa Blanca about Latino health disparities. The show will be aired at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 12 through DirectTV.
"Health disparities among Latinos continue to grow. In fact the number of uninsured Latino children is greater than any other group," says the promo video on the show's Web site. Dr. Carter-Pokras will contirubte a public-health perspective to the investigation of these issues, led by host Ray Suarez.
Dr. Carter-Pokras' research has played a critical role in national recognition of health recognition of health disparities experienced by Latin American Immigrants, and she conducts health assessments of Latinos in Baltimore and Montgomery Counties in close partnership with local government and community-based organizations.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Only 15 Days Left! Prevention Research Center and PHEAR Holding Charity Drives
Public health is an important issue year round, but the holiday season is an especially a great opportunity to reach out to others and address these issues. The University of Maryland Prevention Research Center and PHEAR are providing the means this holiday season to keep our friends in nearby Seat Pleasant warm, comfortable, and healthy.
Nov. 25 will be the last day to donate to Winter Heart Clothing Drive and You Can Make a Difference Canned Food Drive, both benefiting the community of Seat Pleasant.
Drop off your donations in the bins located inside the School of Public Health, the Stamp Student Union and at the front desk in the University Health Center.
Acceptable clothing items: hats, gloves, scarves and coats for women, men and children.
Acceptable canned food items: soups, vegetables, chili, beans, tuna and fruit.
Questions can be directed to Tanisha Fuller at tfuller@umd.edu.
The University of Maryland Prevention Research Center was launched this year at our University and focuses on reducing health disparities along the under-served national capitol border. It also strives to make increase community capacity and advance Community Based Participatory Research. Learn more at the UMD-PRC Web site.
PHEAR, or Public Health Engaging and Representing Student Organization, is also new this year, and works to unite all branches of study at SPH, and to create a collaborative environment among students in our School. Questions about how to get involved? Contact Ginelle Jurlano at ajurlano@umd.edu.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Shady Grove Program Hosts Flu Panel
A recent flu panel held at the Universities at Shady Grove received some local media attention. Here's a bit of what WUSA9 had to say:
Getting the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself, but there's still a big misconception about that.
Dr. David Rollins at the University of Maryland says he finds the majority of students still think you can get the flu from the vaccine.
"You cannot get the flu from the vaccine," says Dr. Rollins. "It's an inactive virus, not a live virus."
Read on at WUSA.And WTOP.
A note about Shady Grove
The program at Shady Grove was established for those wanting a public health degree from the University of Maryland, but also to study in Montgomery County. The program at the satellite location is an addition to a host of other UMD-College Park degrees offered there, and it includes studies in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, biology, kinesiology, environmental health and others.
You can learn more about the Shady Grove program here and here. You can also contact the program director, Jennifer Todd at 301-738-6162 or jtodd@umd.edu.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
A new Facebook "button" and quiz, educating about Humanpapilloma Virus (HPV) has been developed out of UMD College Park. Partnership for Prevention and UMCP's Information Studies department spearheaded the project, and SPH's Dr. Nancy Atkinson and doctorate student Denise Bellows assisted in the project.
"Fact Check: HPV" (www.hpvfactcheck.org) was designed to educate, motivate and mobilitze people to stop the spread of the virus. Those who click on the Facebook applicatio
n are prompted to take an interactive, educational quiz about HPV, find additional resources and commit to take action, while even allowing concerned friends to anonymously share the application with peers.
The project was funded by the Fund to Prevent Cervical Cancer.
"Young adults trust information recommended by friends, however, friends are often reticent to share information about stigmatized illnesses such as STDs, mental illnesses or substance abuse. This project tests a novel strategy that spreads sensitive information through friendship networks, while still retaining anonymity," said Dr. Derek L. Hansen, assistant professor of Information Studies. "It also helps us learn how the application spreads through the network and identify misperceptions about HPV based on quiz results."
Dr. Atkinson has spent time researching the powerful influence of internet tools. Though her studies pertain more to healthy eating and exercising habits, she believes that Facebook is useful in spreading other public health messages."Already groups are organizing around health topics, and quizzes like 'HPV: FactCheck are a way to entertain while teaching people about health. Consistent with Diffusion Theory, the ability to share information and applications with friends lets public health practitioners disseminate our messages."
Read more about the "HPV: FactCheck" here.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Grad Student Rides Full Scholarship to Diversity Conference
Last week, Family Science graduate student Dawnyea Jackson visited Arlington on a full scholarship to attend a national conference that promoted a critical message: you are not alone.
The 15th Institute and Mentoring Conference, sponsored by the Southern Regional Education Board, has become the largest gathering of minority doctorate students in the country. The Institute aims to prepare students for careers as professors, and focuses on the issue of faculty diversity.
"Networking with current minority students, who are pursuing doctorate degrees, allowed me to know that I'm not alone," Dawnyea told The Healthy Turtle afterward. "And I found comfort in knowing there are students all over the country doing exactly what I'm doing, and now, after my conference experience, I am able to use them as resources."
Dr.
Kim Nickerson, SPH's assistant dean for diversity, nominated Dawnyea for the conference. Nickerson arrived at SPH in 2006 (when we were the College of Health and Human Performance) with more than 12 years of experience consulting with federal agencies and universities for increasing diversity and raising minority participation in science. (Read more about Dr. Nickerson here.)"...just being nominated by such an accomplished Ph.D. in the field was very flattering," Jackson said. "Then finding out that I was not only nominated, but accepted to attend the conference, and received a full scholarship to do so, was even more of an honor, and I was thankful for the opportunity."
Dawnyea networked with faculty, administrators, and other minority students and graduates from across the country and disciplines, the facet of the conference she said was most valuable.
Dawnyea plans to pursue a doctorate degree in Public Health-Health Behavior and Health Education upon her graduation in May.
"Networking with recent graduates of doctorate programs allowed me to know that my goal is achievable and reachable because people that look like me and come from the same background as me were able to do it."
Dawnyea is in her second year of the Couple and Family Therapy master's program, and she is completing her thesis, Predictors of Family Cohesion and Conflict in Transracially Adoptive Families, under the direction of Dr. Leigh Leslie.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
College Park Students Rally Behind Quench with a Public Health Mission
It's time to get word out about a new organization on campus. It's called Quench, and their mission is one that falls right in line with the mission of public health.
According to Water for Schools, 50 percent of all schools worldwide don't have access to clean, safe drinking water, and 4,500 people die every day from water-related diseases, 90 percent of whom are children.
Students at College Park are doing something about it, joining with Water for Schools to raise $5,000 to provide clean drinking water for a school in an underdeveloped country. Earlier this month, Janet Anderson and SPH supported the Quench mission by donating a portion of the proceeds from the Mind & Body Games.
Tonight, the organization will be holding an awareness event featuring a talk by director for Water for Schools, Lane Wood. It's at 7:30 p.m. in the grand ballroom of the Stamp Student Union. A "Meet and Greet" will follow at Cornerstone, from which 50 percent of all cover will go toward Quench's $5,000 goal.
You can learn more about the Quench and contribute to their mission at mycharitywater.org/umd. Questions can be directed to QUENCH co-founder and president, Jackie, at jackievo@umd.edu. You can also join the Facebook group.
Health Turtle sat down with Jackie to get the scoop.
Healthy Turtle: Why is the mission of Quench is important?
Jackie V.: Quench's mission is so important because water is the world's most basic resource, yet one in six people don't have access to clean, safe water. It is something many of us in the developed world take for granted, and we want to educate Maryland students about this and make them better global citizens. Also, it gives us the opportunity to make an impact on this crisis with visible change by directly funding a well for a school in the developing world.
HT: I watched the video on the website about the start of the program, and the significance of September. I notice that much of UMD's fund raising efforts are occurring in October and November. How come? What happens when these last 41 days are up... Can people still donate after that?
together meaningful events, which is why most of them were not in September. While September has significance for charity:water, it doesn't directly impact our efforts because we are working for the Water For Schools campaign, not the Born In September campaign (although that video explains most of what we're doing too!). When these last days are up, people can no longer add to our totals for this campaign. All the money we raised by Dec. 1 will be turned over to start building a well for a school. While we wait to raise money, people wait to get clean water, so we don't want to hold up that process! However, we can start a new campaign after that, but it probably won't be until the spring.HT: This is a school-wide effort. Who all has been involved so far?
HT: When and how did the UMD branch of Quench start?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Joy Baeur of The TODAY Show Reaches Students
Last Friday, nutrition expert and SPH alumni Joy Bauer returned to the School to tell students about her career path to The TODAY Show and the development of the Joy Bauer Nutrition Center, one of the nation's largest centers of its kind. Bauer also shared her opinions about the importance of developing nutritious habits.
SPH student and dean's office assistant Michele Striano attended the event, and today, she's the voice of The Healthy Turtle.
***
On Friday morning, everyone who attended Joy Bauer's lecture was greeted with a warm and smiling face. Bauer, the nutritionist for The TODAY Show, was asked to speak at the University and did so graciously. Joy, a graduate of Maryland, spoke of her journey from applying to classes at Maryland to landing her current dream job as the nutritionist on The TODAY Show.
While at UMD, she majored in Kinesiology, and on Friday she spoke humorously about leaving orientation her freshman year, not knowing how to pronounce what she had declared as her major. What a long way she's come; she spoke about what she is doing now in her career, and how much she truly does love her job.
In addition to being on television, she runs a very large nutrition center. “We cover everything from women who want to loose two ounces to those needing to loose large amounts of weight,” she said of The Joy Bauer Nutrition Center. Her facility handles other health related issues, such as helping people to lower or raise blood pressure through lifestyle changes and eating habits.
While speaking about this topic, Joy spoke of several success stories she has encountered through her years. I really enjoyed this part of her talk, because she really got the point across of how much a healthy lifestyle can change your life for the better. One of the stories she spoke of was about a young boy who came from an obese family, and he was obese himself. He was really shy and did not have much self confidence. Through working with Joy he was able to drop over 100 pounds, which helped him boost his self confidence. In addition to this story, she told other stories that were very positive and helped everyone see what a struggle some people have to maintain a healthy weight, but how rewarding it is to be able to help them reach that goal.
To drive home her point of the importance of nutrition even more, she shared her top ten reasons why nutrition is the best field. This segment included pictures of her being bench pressed by Shaq, and posing with other celebrities such as Hulk Hogan and Lady Gaga. Her top reason for studying nutrition: being able to help others.
I greatly enjoyed this talk and would gladly attend another event if and when she returns to campus.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Student-Run Community Health Fair a Success
If you're looking for an example of community outreach by the School of Public Health, take a look at Dr. Sharon Desmond's Principles of Community Health class, which put on a health fair last week.
The event attracted about 200 community members to the Beltsville Recreation Center to hear the public health messages of the students, and to visit with medical experts and representatives from other organizations. Flu shots, hearing and vision tests, and other services were also available.
"Extremely helpful," one visitor to the health fair said about Dr. Desmond's students. "They're very nice young people. They know what they're talking about. They can answer any questions we have. They're very good."
Not only did these students work to become experts on their presentations, which varied from topics of heart health to insomnia, but they also handled every facet of the planning process. Six committees were formed to organize the fair: outreach, publicity, facilities management, door prize solicitation, evaluation and planning of presentation topics.
Another one of Dr. Desmond's classes will be holding a fair on Nov. 10 at Brentwood. For more information, contact Dr. Desmond at desmond@umd.edu or 301-405-2526. The event is free and open to the public.
Check out the coverage of last week's fair in the Washington Times.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Listen in - Dr. Clark Discusses Effect of Menthols on the Kojo Nnamdi Show
Dr. Pamela Clark, research faculty member of the Public and Community Health department, was a guest last week in The Kojo Nnamdi Show, to discuss menthol cigarettes. In case you missed it, you can listen in to the podcast here. You can also learn more about Dr. Clark's studies here.
She discussed with Mr. Nnamdi and guest William Robinson, executive director of the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network, the public health angle of menthol cigarettes, and its popularity among minorities. Specific topics of conversation include: the difference between unflavored and menthol cigarettes, menthol cigarettes' effect on youth and health, nicotine levels, the accidental discovery of menthol cigarettes, and more.
The conversation was a preview to today's town hall meeting at Howard University about the issue of menthol cigarettes.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Nutrition Superstar Joy Bauer Returns to SPH
The School of Public Health welcomes one of our own back into our halls this Friday.
Ms. Joy Bauer, an alumni of UMD SPH and health expert on The TODAY Show, will talk with students about her career path in her presentation titled "From College Park to The TODAY Show."
Not only has Bauer become a familiar face on television, but she also has developed one of the nation's largest nutrition centers. Among those she consults are high-profile athletes and celebrities. Her recent book, Joy's Life Diet: Four Steps to Thin Forever, is currently on the New York Times Bestseller list.
Bauer gradated from the School of Public Health in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology Science.
Plan to show up for the Passport Seminar to learn about how Bauer used her UMD degree to its fullest, and the shining places it's taken her. Ask her about her latest articles on the TODAY site. Find out how she developed her nutrition center empire.
The talk will be held from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Friday in room 1312 of the SPH building. If you're an SPH student, register so this will count as a Passport Seminar attendance. The event is free and open to the public.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Clark to Air on Kojo Nnamdi Show
Dr. Pamela Clark of the Public and Community Health Department will be going on air noon Wednesday, Oct. 14 on WAMU-FM 88.5 FM, the local NPR affiliate, to discuss the issue of menthol and the menthol town hall.
Clark is a part of the research faculty at the school and specializes in youth risk behaviors, particularly tobacco initiation, maintenance, and cessation, and evaluation of potentially reduced exposure tobacco products. Read more about her interests here.
Wednesday's topic of discussion will in include: the latest research, recommendations for appropriate public policy, and research that has been done on the impact of predatory advertising and marketing of mentholated products.
The discussion will be a part of the highly recognized Kojo Nnamdi Show, which runs from noon until 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
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