TODAY IS WORLD AIDS DAY

World AIDS Day 2011 is about "Getting to Zero".

Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS-Related Deaths.

The global HIV response is at a pivotal moment, where huge strides forward are at serious risk and current approaches are reaching their limits. Only one third of the 15 million people living with HIV and in need of life-long treatment are receiving it. New infections continue to outpace the number of people starting treatment, while the upward trend in resources suffered a serious downturn this year.

"Zero New HIV Infections" and "Zero Discrimination" are equally as likely to spark high impact events from small scale community vigils to nation wide events using the universally recognized shape of zeros and the power of light to get life and death issues the attention they deserve.

Check out UNAIDS.org to read more about World AIDS Day, and about ongoing AIDS relief efforts around the world.

World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day, internationally observed on December 1st of each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.

In recognition of this day, our campus is proud to again be hosting several panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The Quilt will be on display in the School of Nursing Atrium and the Hixson Atrium from 12:00pm on Monday, November 29th to 1:00pm Thursday, December 1st. Viewing is free and open to the public.

Each day this week, the Office of Student Engagement and the KUMC Student World AIDS Group will be co-sponsoring programs with various campus organizations as we explore 30 Years of Prevention, Treatment, and Care. Lunch or dinner will be provided each day.

DATES, TIMES, AND TOPICS ARE LISTED IN THE PREVIOUS POST BELOW.

World AIDS Day - Events All Week!

World AIDS Day is December 1.  We have events planned Monday through Thursday all week.  Come for any or all!  Everyone is welcome. 

Event Calendar 

All Week - AIDS Memorial Quilt                                                   

     Days: Monday - Thursday
     Place: SON Atrium and Hixon Atrium
     Organized by: OSE and SWAG

Monday, November 28 - AIDS Service Organization Panel

     Reception: 5:00-5:45pm
     Panel: 6:00-7:00pm
     Candlelight Vigil: following panel
     Place: SON Atrium/Auditorium

Tuesday, November 29 - AIDS History, Myths, and Truths

     Time: 12:00-1:00pm
     Place: SON Auditorium
     Speaker: Catherine Satterwhite, PhD

Wednesday, November 30 - The Unlikely Case

     Time: 12:00-1:00pm
     Place: WHE Auditorium
     Speaker: Sharon Lee, MD

And the Band Played On (movie)

     Time: Dinner starts: 5:00pm
     Movie starts: 5:30pm
     Place: Lied Auditorium

Thursday, December 1 - The Future of Prevention and Treatment

     Time: 12:00-1:00pm
     Place: WHE Auditorium
     Speaker: Julie Banderas, PharmD

With enough money, we could get congress to agree that a horse is a vegetable.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2011/11/16/congress-says-pizza-is-a-vegetable.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=cheatsheet_afternoon&cid=newsletter%3Bemail%3Bcheatsheet_afternoon&utm_term=Cheat+Sheet

Nominate an MPH professor for the Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award!

I'm just copying an e-mail we all received here because I don't recognize any MPH professors in the list of previous winners.  Since we all know we have some great professors in the program, we encourage you to nominate the one you think is best!  


 Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award

The Chancellor selects faculty members in the schools of Health Professions, Medicine, and Nursing at the

University of Kansas Medical Center to be recipients of the Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award.

Faculty members with excellence in teaching while at KUMC may be nominated by a faculty colleague, student, or alumnus.  Each nomination must include:

1.      Nominator's letter summarizing the faculty member's

               a.   worthiness for receiving this award;

               b.   formal teaching responsibilities; and

               c.   voluntary additional teaching (interdepartmental, etc.), if any;

2.      Nominee's curriculum vitae, indicating reception of other teaching awards, if any;

3.      Copies of past formal evaluations of the nominee's teaching made by students and residents; and

4.      Evaluations by faculty peers.

Additional letters in support of the nomination are not required but are recommended.  A maximum of five individuals’ letters will be accepted.  Nominations must be submitted by Friday, January 27, 2012, and directed to my attention, Office of Academic Affairs, 5015 Wescoe, Mail Stop 1040, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, Kansas  66160.

I hope you will take this opportunity to nominate a member of our faculty.  Listed below are previous winners currently on faculty who are not eligible to receive it again.

Martha Barnard                                     Michael Parmely

Gustavo Blanco                                    Thomas Pazdernik

Wanda Bonnel                                      Brian Petroff

Diane Boyle                                         Janet Pierce

James Calvet                                       Allen Rawitch

Cheng Cho                                          Gregory Reed

Glen Cox                                             Pamela Shaw

Ivan Damjanov                                      Carol Smith

Winifred Dunn                                      Peter Smith

Dianne Durham                                    Donna Sweet

George Enders                                     Merrill Tarr

James Fishback                                   Cynthia Teel

Allan Fleming                                       Kimberly Templeton

Katherine Fletcher                                James Thomas

Linda Frazier                                        Anne Walling

Norberto Gonzalez                                Karen Wambach

Gary Gronseth                                      Judith Warren

Edna Hamera                                       Michael Werle

Vicki Hicks                                           Louis Wetzel

Daniel Hinthorn                                     Anita Wingate

Douglas Horbelt                                    Robert Wittler

Robert Klein                                         John Wood

Janice Loudon                                      Douglas Wright

David Meyers                                       Xiaoming Zhang

Garold Minns                                        

Michael Moncure                                  

Scott Moser                                         

Allen B. Rawitch, Ph.D.

Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

and Dean of Graduate Studies

5015 Wescoe, MS 1040

Ext. 8-1258

Seminar from the Good Samaritan Project This Thursday: How To Communicate With Patients About HIV and Sexuality

Student World AIDS Group, Health Professionals for Human Rights, and Students Educating and Advocating for Diversity would like to invite you to an engaging lecture: “How to communicate with patients about HIV and sexuality.”


We will be hosting Pamela Ford,case manager, and Joseph Catrett, prevention specialist, from the Good Samaritan Project. Through a mock case management interview with a HIV patient, they will cover how to address sensitive issues concerning history of the client and sexual activity. They will also discuss resources and services available to HIV clients. If you are interested in learning more, please join us!

Date: Thursday, Nov. 10th

Time: 12pm

Where: 1027 Orr Major

Delicious lunch provided by Vietnam Cafe.

Women in Medicine Week-starring Dr. Megha Ramaswamy! (Co-sponsored by MPHSO)

The American Medical Women's Association is presenting Women in Medicine Week starting today.  There are lunch time speakers all week long, and we want to highlight Tuesday's lunch speaker--Dr. Megha Ramaswamy. MPHSO is co-sponsoring Tuesday's event.  Please come hear Dr. Ramaswamy speak about her career this Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 1014 Orr-Major, from noon to 1:00. 

*Free lunch for the first 40 people!

See you there!

 

 

(I can't make this flyer any bigger, but you will get a copy via e-mail too!)

Rethink Breast Cancer: Your Man Reminder App

Check out this clever app to get women to perform monthly breast exams!  Brilliant!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsyE2rCW71o 

     

Upcoming Public Health shows on KCPT

Hi everyone!  


I just got the latest Kansas City Public Television (KCPT) Highlights e-mail, and there are several public health-related shows coming up that might be of interest to you...


Thursday, Oct. 27 (today!) 8 p.m.
Generation XL: Mother and Baby Health Special
"The series Generation XL looks at topics around the issue of childhood obesity and children’s health. On this episode, we’re taking it back to the womb. KCPT’s Barbra Porter sits down with local experts to guide viewers through prenatal steps to achieve a healthy pregnancy and long-term health for their child."  http://kcpt.org/localproductions/generation-xl/generation-xl2-mother-and-baby-health/


Thursday, Oct. 27 (today!) 9 p.m.  
Independent Lens: Lives Worth Living  
"Find inspiration in Fred Fay's struggle to survive after a spinal cord injury--and his role in the disability rights movement."  http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/lives-worth-living/




Sunday, Oct. 30  3:30 p.m. (KCPT2)   AND  Monday, Oct. 31  7:30 p.m. (KCPT2)  
Under Our Skin: A Health Care Nightmare 
"In the 1970s, a mysterious and deadly illness began infecting children in a small town in Connecticut. Today it's a global epidemic. A gripping tale of microbes, medicine & money, this program exposes the hidden story of Lyme disease. Following the stories of patients fighting for their lives, the film reveals with beauty and terror a natural world out of balance and a human nature all too willing to put profits before patients."  http://www.underourskin.com/


Tuesday, November 1  8 p.m.
FRONTLINE: The Anthrax Files 
"FRONTLINE takes a hard look at the FBI’s investigation of the country’s most notorious act of bioterrorism: the anthrax attacks of 2001."
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/anthrax-files/

Grow your hair for Locks of Love!

Hi everyone!

I (Megan) am currently growing my hair out for the 4th time to donate to Locks of Love.   Each of my last three haircuts have produced a long ponytail donation.  It's clearly a long-term project to grow enough hair to donate, and I may be ready again by the end of spring semester or beginning of next fall semester.  If anyone is interested in donating their hair around that time, I think it would be fun to go as a group of public health students and then celebrate afterward.  Ideally, Locks of Love wants 10 inches, but you can give less and they will sell it and put the money toward their wigs.

If anyone is interested, let me know!  :) 

OCTOBER 29 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Hi everyone!

Dr. Sharon Lee and Dennis Boody at Southwest Boulevard Family Health Care are looking for volunteers to help them clean up an old house at their Quindaro location from 9-2 on Saturday, Oct. 29.  They plan to turn the house into a teaching kitchen and grocery store, which is *wonderful* and very much needed in the area. 

Here's more information from Dennis:  

Our plan is to renovate the Greeley House for use as a food preparation/teaching kitchen and hopefully a food store.  This will help us to better work with the community around food access and healthy eating issues.  We are tentatively planning a work day at the Greeley house for next Saturday, October 29, from 9:00 a.m. to about 2:00 p.m. (we may be able to finish a little earlier;  lunch will be provided either way).

Please e-mail Dennis at dennisboody@swbfhcs.org with any questions and to sign up to help out. 

Thanks!

Healthy Lifestyle Choices from our DHHS

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

MPHSO came across this article recently about Americans needing to get more exercise in their everyday routines.  And it's a good shout out to our old Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius, and what she's gone on to do at the national level.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/department-of-health-and-human-services-recommends,19000/

Upcoming Fall Events

A quick reminder that we do have a few fall semester events coming up that are of interest to everyone. 

Joplin Clothes Drive

Joplin winter clothes drive is still going on.  Just drop off any winter clothes you no longer sport in Farah's office.  A pair of KU/K-State student tickets are being raffled.  Dr. Stottlemire is in the lead for donations so far, but isn't in it for the tickets, so you could still win!

SWAG World AIDS Day Planning

On Wednesday, 10/19, the Student World AIDS Group will be hosting a meeting in preparation for World AIDS Day.  We need to plan speakers, activities, meals, etc.  Anyone interested needs to come to the Calkins Conference Room at noon.  RSVP to swag@kumc.edu if you want a FREE LUNCH.

                                                                        

The Interrupters

MPHSO encourages everyone to see the new film The Interrupters, which is coming to the Tivoli soon. Check out the trailer for the movie - http://interrupters.kartemquin.com/.

The film documents the success of a violence prevention intervention, designed by an epidemiologist, Gary Slutkin.  Read coverage of Slutkin's work - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/magazine/04health-t.html.

The film is only playing from October 21-27 at the Tivoli Theater in Westport.  An advanced screening will be shown to the public on October 20 at 6:30, hosted by Aim4Peace, a local violence prevention program based out of KCMO.

National Public Health Week! Speakers and free lunch!

Join the Master of Public Health Student Organization along with SEAD, PHR, SWAG, KUMC Health Policy Org and MHSA during National Public Health Week April 4th - 8th as we celebrate the diverse elements of public health.

Monday:               What is Public Health?  Why should I get an MPH?

                              Allen Greiner, MD, MPH     Orr Major 1023
Lunch provided by the KUMC Department of Preventative Medicine & Public Health

                               

Tuesday:              Policy and Health:  The Creation of Lexie's Law

                              Kim Engelman, PhD and Bryan Engelman, MBA     Orr Major 1015
Lunch provided by MPHSO

                               

Wednesday:        KS Health and Medical Preparedness

                              Michael McNulty, KDHE in Sudler Auditorium  (PH Grand Rounds)

Thursday:             Environmental Health

                              Renee Mijal, PhD  Orr Major 1015

                              Lunch provided by MPHSO

Friday:                  Diversity:  LGBT Focus

                              Santiago Vasquez, Kansas City Anti Violence Project, Orr Major 1023

                              Lunch provided by SEAD, PHR and SWAG

Each day we will bring you a guest speaker from noon to 1.

Lunch will be provided on a first come, first serve basis except Wednesday.

National Public Health Week Planning Meeting!!!

March MPHSO Meeting!

Join us Thursday, March 10^th at 6pm at Jaywalkers!

We are planning National Public Health Week!

April 4^th – 8th

Monday:  What is Public Health?  Why should I get an MPH?  (Kelly Gorman)

Tuesday:  Public Health Policy  (Elizabeth Durkin)

Wednesday:  Mental Health  (Joseph Pacheco & Amber Ashley)

Thursday:  Environmental Health (Karissa Deculus)

Friday:  Diversity w/ LGBT focus (Stephanie Grassie)

We need help with:

•  Speaker Introductions
•  Food/Lunch Set Up & Clean Up
• Advertising & Promoting the Events
• Promoting awareness of the new texting law(s)

If you are an individual or student organization interested in any of the topics and/or the items we need help with, please ATTEND!  If you cannot make it please contact the officer in charge of the topic.  (listed in parentheses).

Also, we will be voting in 2011-2012 officers in May.  If you are interested in a position please attend the March and April meetings to learn more.

Question/comments:  Feel free to look up any of the officers listed above in the Groupwise Address Book, or email:  kumphso@gmail.com

Health Day at the Capitol!

Health Day at the Capitol is coming up on March 15th!

This is a wonderful opportunity provided by the Kansas Public Health Association for students to experience activities at the state capitol, interact with legislators, and network with public health professionals from across Kansas! 

MPH students are strongly encouraged to participate in this event.  The MPH office will be coordinating transportation for any interested students.  Please be in touch Tanya at your earliest convenience to make arrangements. 

The event is free anyone and everyone is welcome to come out.

Please RSVP by March 7^th!

To save or print this notice please go to:  

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=15m4G8c-sIXuIZ7bKLb4-zbLuFKEbjuossP7yAZU4eSA8_hu6h-plaXo25NT1&hl=en

Water Sanitation and Shortage: Not Just a Third World Problem

Please enjoy this guest post by Maria Rainier
 

Water Sanitation and Shortage: Not Just a Third World Problem

Approximately one in eight people lack access to safe water.¹  Very few of these one-in-eight people are, of course, Americans.  This is why we take water for granted.

Meanwhile, across the seas, over 3.5 million people die annually from preventable water-related disease.  Every 20 seconds, one of these 3.5 million people is a child.

We, of course, know nothing of these people or the revolutions calling for safe access to drinking water they have led because we, the United States, use as much water in a five-minute shower as any given individual in a slum in a developing region uses in an entire day.

Those involved in the Blue Revolution like Water.org and makers of the film Blue Gold: World Water Wars suggest digging wells, donations, and educating those of us in more developed regions to stop this public health crisis.  Meanwhile, most of us will sit idly by, leaving half-empty plastic water bottles at the soccer field and running the faucet when brushing our teeth.

Everyday Americans, however, are already affected by water sanitation and access.

America’s Dirty Water

Enough chemicals pollute the water many Americans drink daily to exceed recommended health guidelines as deemed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) according to the research posted on the website 24/7 Wall St.²  Research by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) covered “a total of 316 contaminants in water supplied to 256 million Americans in 48,000 communities in 45 states.”  Some of these contaminants aren’t even regulated by the government for consumption safety.  Drinking water in Pensacola, FL, the worst city for clean water according to the research, contained over the past five years 45 of the 101 tested chemicals, including unhealthy amounts of radium-228, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, alpha particles, benzene, and lead.  Other chemicals include cyanide and chloroform.

Agriculture and Water Pollution

By far one of the biggest pollutants of American rivers, lakes, and groundwater (i.e. drinking water) is agriculture.  Even with the green revolution underway, many farmers and CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) do not practice organic habits, which in part allows, depending on soil properties as well as pesticide properties, for groundwater to become vulnerable to pesticide contamination.

Meanwhile, paved roads force rainwater to go straight from asphalt to sewer and ocean instead of replenishing the groundwater, leaving us with less fresh water and more water for companies in the (near) future to make money desalinizing. 

Alternative Solutions Besides Bellyaching

Rather than wasting money, time, and fossil fuels (of which we’re already in short supply) on desalination plants, everyday Americans can make little changes to keep clean water in North America and respect the trials facing those less fortunate.  This includes being more mindful of water consumption (i.e. taking shorter showers), using water filters instead of purchasing cases upon cases of plastic water bottles, and supporting local and organic farming practices even by shopping at farmers’ markets. 

True, water shortage may never affected developed regions of the world as it does places where those millions are already dying.  Still, wealthy or not, everyone needs water.  This is hardly a problem the wealthy can wash away.

Bio: Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education where she writes about education, online universities, and what an online degree means in an increasingly technological world. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

Sources Consulted

1)       1.  “Water.” Water Facts. < http://water.org/learn-about-the-water-crisis/facts/>

2)       2..    “The US Cities With The Worst Water.” 24/7 Wall St.  < http://247wallst.com/2011/01/31/the-us-cities-with-the-worst-water/>

3)       3.     Huddleston, J.H.  “How soil properties affect groundwater vulnerability to pesticide contamination.”  University of California, Riverside.  <http://www.pw.ucr.edu/textfiles/Soil%20Properties%20and%20Groundwater%20Contamination.pdf>

Thank You!

We had a great time at Howl at the Moon!  Thanks to all who came!

KUMCIO Belize Benefit Auction

Global Health Service Corps

Please read this message from the Global Health Service Corps.

We are reaching out to ask for your Public Health Student Organization support for a program – the Global Health Service Corps: An Unconventional Prescription for Diplomacy (www.globalhealthservicecorps.org).  As you are well aware, the last decade has seen a massive surge in interest and attention for Global Health.  As a Marshall Plan for Health, the GHSC would support skilled health professionals – physicians, nurses, public health professionals and others - to work in developing countries through loan forgiveness and scholarship. These corps members would be positioned in structured programs and partnerships to serve as well as to provide education, training, and capacity building efforts for long-term sustainable development. The program is designed to help harness the vast energy and interest of many health professionals to engage in global health and to align it with prescriptive programs in partnership and collaboration with the countries where we work.  We believe that there is a new window of opportunity for the GHSC to become a U.S government program and to help change how we engage in diplomacy and development.  The GHSC can help bolster how the United States engages the world, invests in its global health initiatives, and can help strengthen health capacity in partner countries.

We have been working with Paul Farmer and other global health leaders to lay the groundwork for Congressional legislation and are now reaching out to student and youth groups for support and endorsement of this very worthy and important cause.  Please see our website for further information about the history and specifics of the program - and also to sign our petition! - http://www.globalhealthservicecorps.org/index.php/petition. 

We are incredibly excited for potential of this program to have a meaningful impact on health and development around the world and look forward to your support.  Please disseminate our website and petition to your members. 

Thank you,
Sara Auld  and Vanessa Kerry

Poverty Simulation

This year students enrolled in Dr. Nollen's Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health course (PRVM 818) will be participating in a poverty simulation.  A flier describing the experience is attached but, in brief, the experience is designed to help participants begin to understand what it might be like to live in a typical low-income family trying to survive from month to month. We are opening the opportunity up on a first-come, first-serve basis. The simulation will take place in the School of Nursing Atrium on Tuesday, March 8 from 1pm-4pm.  If you are not enrolled in PRVM 818 with Dr. Nollen this semester but would like to participate, please email Dr. Megha Ramaswamy at mramaswamy@kumc.edu.  We are excited about this opportunity and hope you can participate.

Wow, time is flying by!

We apologize for not keeping up to date with the blog.  We have been so busy we forgot to include this as a place to post updates!  In December we had an end of semester happy hour at the Jaywalker and January we held a back to school happy at Howl at the Moon!  Last semester was filled with a lot of projects and community service work!  A couple of our biggest endeavors were a successful donation drive to help a local community health fair, as well as finding volunteers for the event.  Many volunteers also worked with the Rosedale community promoting health at their farmer's market.  We have a lot planned again this semester so please look at for details via email, Facebook, and (hopefully) here!