UM SPH Headlines E-Newsletter, 2003

The SPH Headlines e-newsletter is produced by the University of Michigan School of Public Health Office of Communications and distributed monthly during the school year. If would like to subscribe, send an e-mail message to: sph-news-request@umich.edu and insert SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. The rest of the message should be blank.

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DECEMBER ISSUE:
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* UM SPH revisits a sampling of 2003 highlights: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/96press.html

* An online mentored course in planning, conducting, and using program evaluations is offered by the Michigan Public Health Training Center starting January 5. Teams will be able to work on program evaluation with expert guidance, and an evaluation model developed by the CDC will be introduced.  Details and registration: http://www3.sph.umich.edu/mphtc/courses/one-online-course.cfm?id=49

* Learn about the Crossroads of Public Health and watch the 8-minute groundbreaking video:
http://www.sph.umich.edu/about/renovation/index.html

* The Development Office announces recent gifts benefiting the Health Management & Policy Summer Enrichment Program and Epidemiology's Gene Hagashi fund for research training support for doctoral students: http://www.sph.umich.edu/alumni/giving.html

* Employers can use the Resume Directory from Career Services to learn
about qualified candidates who are UM SPH students or alumni. Take a look
at: https://www3.sph.umich.edu/resume/

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UPCOMING EVENTS:
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* The University of Michigan Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium on January 19 includes a conversation on health disparities sponsored by the UM health sciences schools and featuring Camara Jones, Research Director on Social Determinants of Health in the Division of Adult and Community Health at the CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Dr. Jones is a family physician and epidemiologist who focuses on the impacts of racism on Americans' health and well being. Details: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/564.html

* The January 20 'International SARS Symposium: A Case Study for Public Health Preparedness' brings together SARS experts from China, Hong Kong, Canada, and the U.S. In a day of presentations in Ann Arbor that are free and open to the public, the panel will apply their first-hand SARS experience to issues of preparedness and bioterrorism. The symposium is presented by the UM SPH Academic Center for Public Health Preparedness; CME credit is available. Details and registration: http://www.sph.umich.edu/bioterrorism/education/SARSJan20_04.html
Note: Details on the live webcast of this event will be posted after January 12 at: http://www.mipreparedness.org

* Save the date: March 5 is the 9th Annual Toxicology Symposium on 'Fetal Origins of Adult Disease'.
For information on this and other events, visit: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/index.html

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NOVEMBER ISSUE:
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* UM President Mary Sue Coleman and Michigan Surgeon General Kimberlydawn Wisdom joined UM SPH faculty, staff, students, and friends at a groundbreaking ceremony on October 23, heralding a new era for the school: http://www.sph.umich.edu/about/renovation/index.html

* The Environmental Health Sciences program in Industrial Hygiene recently launched a mentor program that matches every one of its current students with an alumni mentor in the workforce who can provide guidance and answer questions:   http://www.sph.umich.edu/umihsa/mentor.htm

* Alumni and friends of the school who want to be professional mentors to current students in any public health field can contact UM SPH Career Services: http://www.sph.umich.edu/career_networking/alumni/mentor.html

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UPCOMING EVENTS:
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* Going to the annual American Public Health Association conference in San Francisco?
--The 'Keep-In-Touch' reception for Michigan SPH faculty, alumni, and friends is November 17: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/471.html
--Stop by the school's exhibit (booth #140) for a schedule of UM SPH people presenting at APHA. It's available online now: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/2003apha.html

* Planning is underway for the University of Michigan Winter 2004 Theme Semester on Brown v. Board of Education, which will coincide with the 'community read' on "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the
Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race," by Beverly Daniel Tatum. Details: http://www.umich.edu/~urel/brown50/index.html

--In April 2004 the University of Michigan Press will release 'Defending Diversity: Affirmative Action at the University of Michigan': http://www.press.umich.edu/titles/11307.html

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OCTOBER ISSUE:
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* The University of Michigan School of Public Health has launched the eagerly anticipated Interdepartmental Concentration in Global Health:
http://www.sph.umich.edu/ghic/

* "From Seeds to Stories: The Community Garden Storytelling Project of Flint" is a beautiful new book that highlights how values grow alongside vegetables in urban community gardens. Katherine Alaimo of Health Behavior and Health Education and the Prevention Research Center of Michigan worked with Flint community members and the Flint Urban Gardening and Land Use Corporation to produce the book. Details:
http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/85press.html

* The Michigan Public Health Training Center is offering its first two mentored online continuing education courses this fall and winter. The courses are on qualitative research methods and conducting useful program evaluations. Details: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/92press.html

* SPH faculty, staff, and students have received several notable awards and appointments in recent months--including a Career Achievement Award presented by the University of Michigan Office of Technology Transfer to Hunein "John" Maassab, Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology, for his work on FluMist. Read highlights at:
http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/accolades.html

* "Who's Who? An SPH recap for the start of 2003-2004"
--Dean: Noreen Clark
--Senior Associate Dean for Research and Facilities: Robert Gray
--Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs: Cathleen Connell
--Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs: Anita Sandretto
--Chair, Department of Biostatistics: Jack Kalbfleisch
--Chair, Department of Environmental Health Sciences: James Vincent
--Interim Chair, Department of Epidemiology: David Schottenfeld (Hal Morgenstern will be chair starting in November 2003).
--Co-Chairs, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education: Nancy Janz and Marc Zimmerman
--Chair, Department of Health Management and Policy: Dean Smith
NOTE: The SPH online directory tells you who's where at the school and provides contact information:
http://www.sph.umich.edu/iscr/directory/index.cfm

* Harold "Woody" Neighbors is the new director, Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health: http://www.sph.umich.edu/crech/

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UPCOMING EVENTS:
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* Prospective Student Information Day is November 1. Information and online registration:
http://www.sph.umich.edu/students/information_day.html

* For an in-depth list of upcoming events:
http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/index.html

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JUNE ISSUE:
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I * The FDA's June 17 approval of FluMist, a new nasal spray flu vaccine, caps four decades of research by UM SPH Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology Hunein "John" Maassab. Info on FluMist, currently approved for healthy people ages 5 to 49: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/flumist/index.html
* With a $10 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, a UM team led by Health Behavior and Health Education professor Victor Strecher will study how information technology can customize behavior advice to the specific needs of individual users--to help them quit smoking or eat more fruits and vegetables, for example. More information: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/84press.html
* The American Thoracic Society has presented UM SPH Dean Noreen M. Clark with a Lifetime Achievement Award to honor her contributions to control of respiratory disease. Details and other faculty and staff accolades: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/accolades.html
* Look to http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/news_releases.html for an "In the News" link to a Detroit Free Press article about "virus hunter" Arnold Monto, as well as a link to insights related to Epstein-Barr virus in a British Journal of Cancer paper co-authored by Rosemary Rochford; she and Monto are in the UM SPH Department of Epidemiology.
* Dr. Srimathi Kannan, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, co-leads a project funded by the March of Dimes to help women of childbearing age understand the importance of dietary folic acid. Details and the schedule of summer education sessions in SE Michigan supermarkets and clinics: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/82press.html

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UPCOMING EVENTS:
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* Michigan's Graduate Summer Session in Epidemiology offers 34 courses over three weeks, the largest offering by any such program in the country. The Michigan Summer Session, which is held in Ann Arbor July 6-25, is still accepting applications for this year's courses. For more information, visit http://www.sph.umich.edu/epid/GSS/
* Volunteers and runners are invited to participate in the August 17 first annual Mary Angela Run benefit for Angela Hospice of Livonia, MI. The event honors UM SPH student Mary Angela DiGiovanni, who was involved in a fatal car accident on January 5, 2003. Details: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/462.html
* Attention alumni from the Department of Health Management and Policy: Information about the October 2003 Biennial Institute can be found at http://www.sph.umich.edu/hmp/alumni/biennial/index.html

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MAY ISSUE:
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* The 2003 UM SPH convocation featured an address by Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Excerpts from remarks and presentations of the Excellence in Research award to Roderick Little, professor of biostatistics, and the Excellence in Teaching award to Susan Murray, associate professor of biostatistics: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/76press.html

* Michigan SPH alumnus Hillel Shuval, an international pioneer in the science of water quality and currently the Lunenfeld-Kunen Professor of Environmental Sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, received a UM honorary degree on April 26. Shuval collaborated for decades with SPH Professor of Environmental Health Sciences Khalil Mancy, an Egyptian native. In nominating Shuval for the award, Mancy said, "Water, not oil, is the key to peace and economic stability in the Middle East ." Details: http://www.umich.edu/%7Eurecord/0203/May05_03/20.shtml
* The 2003 "Excellence in Staff Service" program recognized four award recipients, plus honorees for decades of service: http://www.sph.umich.edu/staffexcellence/2003.htm

* Michael Boehnke, professor of biostatistics, and researchers Joel Singer and Laura Scott from the UM Center for Statistical Genetics were part of the team led by the National Human Genome Research Institute that recently identified the gene for the premature aging disorder progeria. Details: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/74press.html
* The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has voted to ban candles with leaded wicks, three and a half years after Jerome Nriagu, professor of environmental health sciences, made research-based recommendations for such a ban to prevent lead poisoning hazards. Details: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/75press.html
* Rudy Richardson, professor of toxicology, received the Society of Toxicology Board of Publications annual award for best paper. Richardson coordinated collaboration at three institutions to lay the groundwork for development of molecular biomarkers of exposure to environmental chemicals and chemical warfare agents. Info on this and other accolades: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/accolades.html

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ALUMNI NEWS:
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* Considering a visit to Ann Arbor ? Check these useful links for planning your time:
--Links to UM campus maps: http://www.sph.umich.edu/about/transportation.html
--Make contact with favorite professors via the UM SPH directory:   http://www.sph.umich.edu/iscr/directory/
--Learn what's going on via the SPH calendar of events: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/index.html
--Info about Michigan single-game football tickets (on sale May 28): http://www.mgoblue.com/section_display.cfm?section_id=205&top=1&level=3
* It's easy to update your alumni record online, with address changes or other info. Just hit the yellow button at http://www.sph.umich.edu/alumni/index.html

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REDESIGNED WEB SITES:
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* The expanded new web site for the UM Bioterrorism Preparedness Initiative offers more information on upcoming courses, web links, research opportunities, and sources for emergency updates. Visit:
http://www.sph.umich.edu/bioterrorism/index.html
* The redesigned Michigan Public Health Training Center site is at: http://www.mitrainingcenter.org

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MARCH/APRIL ISSUE:
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IN THE NEWS: Neubacher award nominations; faculty accolades.
UPCOMING EVENTS: EHS faculty retirement event; MPHTC & GSS courses.
ALUMNI NEWS: New board of governors elected; online alumni record update; upcoming receptions.
FEATURES: Nanoprobes and cell measurements; no single gene for hypertension.
NEW SPH WEB SITES: Careers & networking; programs still accepting applications.

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IN THE NEWS:
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* Nominations are due May 31 for the James Neubacher Award honoring achievements by a University of Michigan faculty, staff, student, or alumni advocate benefiting persons with disabilities. Details: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/412.html
* In the winter 2003 "Michigan Today" magazine, Epidemiology Chair George Kaplan called upon biological and social scientists to work together to bridge health divides between the rich and poor. Read the essay at: http://www.umich.edu/news/MT/03/Win03/poor.html
* HBHE Chair Sherman James's editorial in the February "American Journal of Public Health" cites research as a key to dismantling U.S. racial/ethnic health disparities. A summary (and other recent faculty achievements) can be found at: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/accolades.html

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UPCOMING EVENTS:
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* An April 11 symposium and dinner honors 100 years of combined service by retiring EHS faculty members Steve Levine, James Martin, Peter Meier, and Milagros Simmons. Register at: http://www.sph.umich.edu/ehs/symposium.html
* Registration is under way for Michigan Public Health Training Center spring continuing education courses: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/69press.html
* At the Graduate Summer Session in Epidemiology (July 6-25), Geographic Information Systems for Epidemiology is a new weekend course, and Bioterrorism has expanded to a one-week course. Apply now at:
http://www.sph.umich.edu/epid/GSS/index.html
* Other items of interest appear on the calendar of events: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/index.html

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ALUMNI NEWS:
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* It's easy to update your alumni record online, with address changes or other info. Just hit the yellow button at http://www.sph.umich.edu/alumni/index.html
* Hundreds of ballots have been tallied, and a newly elected School of Public Health Alumni Society Board of Governors is in place for 2003-2004: http://www.sph.umich.edu/alumni/associations.html
* Biostatistics faculty, alumni, and friends will get together March 31 at the ENAR conference in Tampa: http://www.sph.umich.edu/biostat/enar.html
* HMP alumni will gather at the AHA meeting in Washington, D.C., April 29: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/377.html

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FEATURES:
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* EHS's Martin Philbert co-leads a multimillion-dollar project using synthetic nanoprobes, which are small enough to fit inside a cell without interrupting its functions, to make measurements related to neurological diseases. More
info: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/66press.html
* Epidemiology's Sharon Kardia is lead author of a February "Journal of Hypertension" report that there's no single gene linked with hypertension. More info: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/65press.html

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NEW UM SPH WEB SITES:
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* Careers & networking for students, alumni, and employers: http://www.sph.umich.edu/career_networking/index.html
* Programs still accepting applications for fall 2003: http://www.sph.umich.edu/admissions/apply.html

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SPH Headlines monthly e-newsletter is produced by the University of Michigan School of Public Health Office of Communications.

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FEBRUARY ISSUE:
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IN THE NEWS: FluMist voted safe and effective by FDA, press and bioterrorism forum, faculty accolades.
UPCOMING EVENTS: Memorial reception for Gene Feingold, SPH/Ann Arbor Reads, Summer Session in Epidemiology registration.
SPH ALUMNI NEWS: John Henshaw is 2002 Distinguished Alumnus, nominations sought for 2003 awards; new development staff.
FEATURES: Public Health Symposium on obesity and September 11 forum webcasts.
NEW SPH WEB SITES: Bioterrorism Preparedness Initiative, executive & continuing education, careers & networking, interdepartmental concentrations in Public Health Genetics, Reproductive & Women's Health, and Global Health.

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IN THE NEWS:
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*FluMist, the nasal-mist flu vaccine based on technology developed at the School of Public Health by John Maassab, was voted safe and effective by an FDA advisory committee in December. Details: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/62press.html

* Journalists from CNN, NPR, and the New York Times discussed press coverage of war and bioterrorism at a January UM forum; on the experts panel was Arnold Monto, professor of Epidemiology and director of the UM Bioterrorism Preparedness Initiative: http://www.sph.umich.edu/bioterrorism/index.html
*Biostatistics' Xihong Lin has begun a three-year term as the editor of the journal Biometrics, and she received two major awards in 2002: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/accolades.html
*Health Behavior and Health Education's Dawn Misra published in Pediatrics that twins born to mothers in their teens and early 20s had a higher death rate than twins born to older mothers. Details:http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/58press.html
*More accolades and achievements: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/accolades.html

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ALUMNI NEWS:
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*John Henshaw, MPH '74, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, is the 2002 recipient of the School of Public Health Alumni Society Distinguished Alumnus Award . Details: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/accolades.html
*SPH seeks nominations for the 2003 Distinguished Alumnus/a and John Romani awards, which can be e-mailed to twm@umich.edu until the end of February. Guidelines: http://www.sph.umich.edu/alumni/associations.html
*Gail McCulloch has joined the SPH development staff, bringing 20 years' experience raising money for social services, arts, education, and small business capital. She will focus on building capacity to solicit funds from alumni, friends, and corporations for scholarships, program endowments, and new facilities. Contact her at 734-647-0903 or gailmcc@umich.edu .

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FEATURES:
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*The 2002 Public Health Symposium on "Obesity and the Public Health Approach: Epidemiology and Intervention" included a keynote address by Dr. William Dietz, Director of Physical Activity and Nutrition at the Centers for Disease Control. Dietz compared the challenges of combating obesity to anti-smoking campaigns and discussed related issues. View the webcast: http://www.sph.umich.edu/symposium/2002/index.html
*September 11: One Year Later, One Year Forward, a program sponsored by the University of Michigan Bioterrorism Preparedness Initiative (headquartered at SPH) examined whether we are now better prepared to respond to bioterrorism and other public health crises. View the webcast: http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/webcasts.html

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NEW UM SPH WEB SITES:
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* University of Michigan Bioterrorism Preparedness Initiative : http://www.sph.umich.edu/bioterrorism
*SPH executive and continuing education opportunities: http://www.sph.umich.edu/exec_ed/index.html
*Careers & networking for students, alumni, and employers: http://www.sph.umich.edu/career_networking/index.html
*SPH interdepartmental concentrations in Public Health Genetics, Reproductive & Women's Health, and Global Health: http://www.sph.umich.edu/academics/interdepartmental.html

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