April 8, 2008

What's News – Lemeshow reappointed dean of College through 2013; Nation’s top public health experts to gather for Web conference on environment, April 10
Faces and Places – New edition of Lemeshow's textbook published; Kenneth Steinman to be on WOSU's Open Line, April 14; Information Systems welcomes new systems developer
Student Scoop – College's Operation Feed Campaign kicks off April 21; Alumni to share work experiences with students at panel discussion, April 24
Society Page – CPH Alumni Society; HSMP Alumni Society
Alumni Notes – April Alumni Spotlight
Useful Tidbits – College of Public Health Excellence in Teaching Award, deadline April 11
The World We Live In – Lung cancer genes identified; Study: Ohio ranks near bottom of states in federal health funding; Kenya: Sanitation must be public health issue
Photo Finish – 'Health Advocates'
Lemeshow reappointed dean of College through 2013
Dean Stanley Lemeshow was recently reappointed for a second five-year term, from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2013. Joseph A. Alutto, executive vice president and provost said the College of Public Health has made significant advances under the leadership of Dean Lemeshow. "I am confident that, with his leadership and the efforts of the faculty and staff, the College of Public Health will continue to make progress toward the goals of the University's Academic Plan," Alutto said.
 
The College of Public Health is doing its part to increase public health awareness this week during National Public Health Week, April 7 to 13. Since 1995, the American Public Health Association has organized activities around the weeklong event and determined a public health theme each year. This year’s theme is “Climate Change and the Nation’s Health." OSU students, faculty and staff have organized events centered around the theme, and below is one of the featured scheduled events. (Find more events to the right in College Calendar.)
Nation’s top public health experts to gather for Web conference on environment, April 10
Researchers at the College of Public Health have gathered some of the nation’s top experts in public health and the environment for a Web-based conversation on the current state of our planet’s health, as a part of National Public Health Week, April 7-13. “Converging Environmental Crises” is a Web-based conference featuring more than a dozen health and environmental experts who will provide live and recorded presentations on topics such as global warming, overpopulation and energy depletion. The conference was organized by Mac Crawford, assistant professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences. The conference, facilitated by the Ohio Supercomputer Center, will occur online at http://sg60.oar.net from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 10. It will be based in Columbus and link to sites around the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit http://cph.osu.edu/webcast.
 
New edition of Lemeshow's textbook published
The second edition of Dean Lemeshow's textbook Applied Survival Analysis: Regression Modeling of Time to Event Data was published in March. Lemeshow co-authored the textbook with David W. Hosmer, Jr., PhD, professor emeritus of biostatistics at the University of Massachusetts, and Susanne May, assistant professor in the Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics at the University of California, San Diego. The textbook provides a comprehensive, self-contained introduction to regression modeling used in the analysis of time-to-event data in epidemiological, biostatistical and other health-related research.
Kenneth Steinman to be on WOSU's Open Line, April 14
Kenneth Steinman, assistant professor in the Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion, will be a guest on WOSU's program Open Line with host Fred Andrle on April 14 at 11 a.m. Steinman will contribute to a panel discussion on family violence prevention. The panel also will include Nancy Neylon, executive director of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, and Philip Scribano, medical director of the Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and associate professor of Clinical Pediatrics of the OSU College of Medicine.
Information Systems welcomes new systems developer
Ram Ganesan started yesterday as the new systems developer in the Information Systems Department, where he will work with faculty and staff to redesign the College's Web pages. Ganesan will also develop Web and database applications for the College including an internal student database tool for the Office of Academic Programs. Ganesan is originally from India, where he graduated with a bachelor's in engineering in 1998 at the Madurai Kamaraj University. Ganesan previously worked at Indiana University as a Web developer and programmer. He has more than 7 years experience working in the higher education environment. Other than technology, his interests include travel, world cuisines, sports and entertainment.
 
MEDIA MENTIONS

David Murray, professor and chair of the Division of Epidemiology, was featured in the Web version of Forbes Magazine on March 25 in an article titled "Some Cancer Trials Overstate Findings, Analysis Claims" for his research that published in the March 25 online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. "We cannot say any specific studies are wrong. We can say that the analysis used in many of the papers suggests that some of them probably were overstating the significance of their findings," said Murray in the article. Read more >

Murray also was featured on the Web version of U.S. News & World Report for the same research in an article titled "Some Cancer Trials Overstate Findings, Analysis Claims" on March 25. Read more >
Allard Dembe, associate professor and chair of the Division of Health Services Management and Policy, is featured in the March issue of the Journal of Business Ethics for his published study titled "Ethical Issues Relating to the Health Effects of Long Working Hours." Read more >
 
College's Operation Feed Campaign kicks off April 21
The Mid-Ohio Food Bank’s supply is desperately low for this time of year. The nonprofit agency has been helping feed Ohio’s hungry families for 26 years, providing food to more than 550 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. It needs nonperishable food items such as peanut butter, jelly, macaroni and cheese and juice boxes for children. Other needed items: boxed dry goods, canned meat and canned fruits and vegetables. The College of Public Health food drive will run from April 21 to May 12. Deposit your items in the convenient drop-off boxes located around the college.
Alumni to share work experiences with students at panel discussion, April 24
Hear what College of Public Health alumni have to say about the field, their career tracks, the job market and their employers at Alumni Panel, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., April 24, Starling-Loving Hall, room M-008. Introductory remarks by Dean Lemeshow. Lunch provided by the CPH Alumni Society. RSVP to Jenny Laughbaum at jlaughbaum@cph.osu.edu.
 
 
Notes from CPH Alumni Society
President Amy Wermert
Notes from HSMP Alumni Society
Executive Director Amy Thaci

Dear Alumni and Students,

Thank you to those who took the time to complete the Alumni Society zoomerang survey. Your input is greatly appreciated and was greatly needed. The survey results will be used to shape future Alumni Society priorities.

Major themes found in the alumni and student surveys include the following:

• Not aware of Alumni Society benefits
• An invitation to join the Alumni Society was not received
• Involve PEP students and graduates
• Interest in networking opportunities
• Interest in public health lectures
• Interest in alumni/student mentoring program
• Expand Alumni Society’s website
• Regional CPH Alumni Society events
• Job postings / Employment assistance

If you would like to see additional results from the survey, please e-mail cphalumni@cph.osu.edu.

CHICAGO STYLE – About 50 students and alumni attended the annual HSMP Alumni Society Dinner in Chicago on March 11. The event, held at the Italian restaurant Scoozi, was part of the ACHE Congress on Health Care Leadership. Pictured (from left) are Kathy Najarian, senior director of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, William Jennings, president of SSM St. Mary's Health Center in St. Louis, Kyle Dorsey, first-year MHA student and Maria Fondriest, first-year MHA student and graduate assistant in the HSMP Alumni Socieity. (This photo was provided by Amy Thaci, executive director of the HSMP Alumni Society.).

Want to join? Contact Amy Thaci, at 614-292-6457 or e-mail hsmpalum@cph.osu.edu. For more info >
 
The College of Public Health has added a new feature to its Web site. It's called Alumni Spotlight. The section highlights an alumnus of our College through a question-and-answer type format.

MPH Alumna Iris Velasco

"I enjoy that I’m making a difference
and doing work that I love.
The people I serve are the biggest
reward (and sometimes the
biggest challenge) in this work."

APRIL ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: IRIS VELASCO

Iris Velasco, originally of Phoenix, received an MPH in 2007 through the Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion. Her undergraduate degree is in chemical engineering. "I worked as an engineer for several years, but my heart was never in it," said Velasco, who is now an HIV/AIDS specialist at the Columbus Urban League in Columbus. "I'm still solving problems, but of the health kind - and the work is so much more meaningful to me. "Velasco's academic advisor was Dr. Phyllis Pirie. "I was also her GRA for one year," Velasco said. "It was a great opportunity to learn a lot from her."

What advice do you have for others who are interested in pursuing a career in public health?

Choose a public health field for which you have tremendous passion. Passion for HIV prevention is what I know landed my first job. Passion will keep you going when things get tough, when funding gets cut, when people are difficult. Passion will see you through. Read more >
(If you’d like to submit news about your career or personal accomplishments to this section or are interested in being an Alumni Spotlight, please e-mail College of Public Health Communications Coordinator Wendy Pramik at wpramik@cph.osu.edu.)
 
College of Public Health Excellence in Teaching Award, deadline April 11
Nominate a College of Public Health instructor for the College of Public Health Excellence in Teaching Award. Nominations may be submitted by students, alumni and faculty of the College of Public Health and are due April 11. The nomination form is located at http//cph.osu.edu/studentaffairs/ under the "Current Student's" section. Please return it to Susie Householder at shouseholder@cph.osu.edu.

 

Lung cancer genes identified
Three new reports by research teams in the U.S., Europe and Iceland have identified, for the first time, specific gene variants that appear to make some smokers and former smokers more susceptible than others to cancer. (Reported by Time Magazine.) Read more >
Study: Ohio ranks near bottom of states in federal health funding

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spent far more money per capita — $69.76 — on Alaskans than any other Americans in fiscal year 2007. Residents of the Buckeye State got $15.08 a head. (Reported by The Columbus Dispatch.) Read more >
Kenya: Sanitation must be public health issue
Outbreaks of cholera in Nyanza Province have put the spotlight on a problem that doesn't seem to get much Government attention - rural sanitation. (Reported by The East African Standard.) Read more >

 
HEALTH ADVOCATES – MPH students Jake Snoble and Lisa Frazier hand out preventive-care items, including first-aid kits, sunscreen and hand sanitizer, to passerby at the RPAC on April 7, as part of National Public Health Week. The event gave the students an opportunity to chat with others about the College of Public Health.

Photo request
The communications department wants your photo submissions to publish in the Photo Finish section of Alma Matters. We're looking for photos that depict any "public health experience." Ideas for entries include a school or community event, a faculty or student research project and a fellowship or internship experience. Please send images with a brief description to wpramik@cph.osu.edu.

View past issues of Alma Matters online >.

APRIL 9
“When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts” (movie): 6:30 p.m., Jennings Hall, Room 0155. Documentary by director Spike Lee about America’s disorganized response to Hurricane Katrina. Prior to the movie, Mac Crawford, assistant professor in the College's Division of Environmental Health Sciences, with lead a discussion. Food also will be provided at this free event. RSVP to snoble.2@osu.edu.
APRIL 10
Converging Environmental Crises (Webcast): 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., http://sg60.oar.net. Web-based discussion on environment, energy depletion, climate change, water and food scarcity and unrestrained population growth. For more information, visit http://cph.osu.edu/webcast.
APRIL 12
2008 Walk for MS: 3-mile route, registration begins at 7:30 a.m., Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 9990 Riverside Dr., Powell. Join students from the College of Public Health as they walk in support of Multiple Sclerosis research. Zoo admission free for walk participants. For more information, visit http://walkoha.nationalmssociety.org/ or e-mail frazier.202@osu.edu.
APRIL 14
Seminar: "Computer Enhanced Behavioral Health Screening: Patient Perceptions and Impact on Utilization," 12:30 to 1:18 p.m., Starling-Loving Hall, room M-008. Speaker: Deena Chisolm, PhD, Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and OSU Pediatrics and Public Health. Sponsor: College of Public Health.
APRIL 15 & 16
"Advocacy: Championing for Public Health" is a conference on key advocacy issues for public health professionals. Location: Quest Business Centers in Columbus. Sponsored in part by the College of Public Health and the Office of Workforce Development. For more information, e-mail Joanne Pearsol at jpearsol@cph.osu.edu.
APRIL 21
Seminar: Topic TBA, 12:30 to 1:18 p.m., Starling-Loving Hall, Room M-008. Speaker: Jeffrey Willett, PhD, Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation. Sponsor: College of Public Health.
APRIL 23
Seminar: "Beryllium and Lung Cancer: Design and Analysis Issues Raised in a Reexamination and Re-analysis of Two Major Epidemiological Studies Conducted by NIOSH," 12:30 to 1:18 p.m., Starling-Loving Hall, room M-008. Speaker: Paul Levy, PhD, RTI International. Sponsor: College of Public Health.
APRIL 24
Alumni Panel: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Starling-Loving Hall, room M-008. Hear what College alumni have to say about the field, their career tracks, the job market and their employers. Introductory remarks by Dean Lemeshow. Lunch provided by the CPH Alumni Society. RSVP to Jenny Laughbaum at jlaughbaum@cph.osu.edu.
APRIL 29
Office of Workforce Development Workshop: "Managing the Moment, Leading the Future, Analyzing Performance Problems," 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Roberts Centre and Holiday Inn, 123 Gano Rd., Wilmington, Ohio. Course is designed for health practitioners who have management responsibilities and teaches participants techniques to address employee performance problems. Cost: $75. To register, visit https://oh.train.org. For more information, contact Heather Vilvens at 614-292-2303 or hvilvens@cph.osu.edu.
 
More College Events >>>
 

Links to photos taken at recent CPH events:

To add an event or bit of information to the next issue of Alma Matters,
please e-mail Communications Coordinator Wendy Pramik at wpramik@cph.osu.edu by Friday at 5 p.m.