Population Health

Graduate Program Update

March 4, 2008

Important Program Reminders

Recognition

Student Organization News

Other Opportunities & Updates

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Thank you to the students who have already replied to Kelly Haslam’s questions below. If you are a Fall 2007 graduate or an upcoming Spring/Summer 2008 graduate please email haslam@wisc.edu and let her know the following by March 10:

1. Indicate the term of your graduation: Fall 2007, Spring 2008, or Summer 2008.

2. Indicate if you plan on attending the Spring 2008 Commencement Ceremony at the Kohl Center (so she can make sure your name is included in the Spring 2008 commencement program). Here is the Spring 2008 Commencement schedule:

http://www.secfac.wisc.edu/commence/spring/Schedule.htm

3. If you are a PhD student, please also indicate who you anticipate or would like to be your faculty escort at the Commencement Ceremony at the Kohl Center.

4. Indicate if you plan on attending the Population Health Sciences Graduation Luncheon on Friday, May 16th at the University Club. This will help us as we plan the event. Of course, you should also still follow the other graduation steps noted below.

If you plan to graduate Spring 2008 or Summer 2008, you must follow the “Request to Graduate” procedures by the appropriate deadline listed below:

Spring: March 15 or 4 weeks before defense (whichever occurs sooner)

Summer: July 15 or 4 weeks before defense (whichever occurs sooner)

“Request to Graduate Information” can be found at at:
http://www.pophealth.wisc.edu/grad/info_curr_grad.htm

In mid-March, please look in your mailboxes for an important advising packet. The Fall advising period starts on Monday, March 24. The Fall enrollment period begins Monday, April 7. All continuing students must register for at least 2 graduate-level credits (3 graduate-level credits if you are a dissertator). The number of required credits may be higher depending on your job appointment. For instance, RAs and trainees must remain full-time students. Be sure to review your job appointment letter as well as the requirements listed in the Graduate School’s Academic Guidelines at:

http://www.wisc.edu/grad/education/acadpolicy/guidelines.html#143 and

http://www.wisc.edu/grad/education/acadpolicy/guidelines.html#183

Fall enrollment holds are placed on student records until signed Advising Forms for Fall are turned in to Lisa Steiner’s mailbox (7th floor WARF). Students who need to enroll in a 699 or 990 course need to complete a 699/990 Authorization Form for each relevant course in addition to the Advising Form (except for 990 credits with your Course Advisor who has already indicated his/her approval on your Advising Form). Please note that 699/990 Authorization Forms need to be signed by the instructor overseeing the work of the 699 or 990 course. Both forms will be included in the advising packet in your mailbox.

Please visit http://www.pophealth.wisc.edu/grad/info_curr_grad.htm
for the following advising/enrollment resources:

• Forms -- Course Advising Forms, 699/990 Authorization Form, and Course Advisor Change Request Form

• Fall 2008 Course Grid – please refer to color key at bottom of grid

• Statistics/Quantitative Electives Handout -- for students interested additional statistics/quantitative courses on campus

The Summer enrollment period begins Monday, March 31. There are no general enrollment holds for summer; thus, there is not a Summer Advising Form to complete. However, if you intend to enroll in a summer 699 or 990 course, you will need to complete a 699/990 Authorization Form for each relevant course. The 699/990 Authorization Form needs to be signed by the instructor overseeing the work of the 699 or 990 course and turned in to Lisa Steiner’s mailbox (7th floor WARF). These forms are available at:
http://www.pophealth.wisc.edu/grad/info_curr_grad.htm

Other opportunities for summer courses have been significantly expanded for 2008.  Please see the information below.

Am I required to enroll for courses over the summer? Yes, if you intend to graduate in the summer (after the June 13 window). The answer also may be “yes” depending on the job appointment you have over the summer. Please review your job appointment letter as well as the requirements listed in the Graduate School’s Academic Guidelines at:
http://www.wisc.edu/grad/education/acadpolicy/guidelines.html#171

After choosing a thesis topic, you are expected to submit a thesis proposal to your advisor, which once approved is distributed to your thesis committee. Once your thesis committee approves your proposal, you are required to submit a Master’s Thesis Proposal form to the Graduate Program Office at 744 WARF. This form should be submitted before you proceed with the work of your thesis.

You can find the Master’s Thesis Proposal form at:
http://www.pophealth.wisc.edu/grad/info_curr_grad.htm

At least 3 weeks prior to your Preliminary Exam, you are required submit the following to the Graduate Program Office at 744 WARF:

• Request form for Preliminary Warrant (available in 744 WARF) PhD Minor Agreement Form (available at:
  http://www.pophealth.wisc.edu/grad/info_curr_grad.htm).

• In addition, please be sure all incomplete and pending grades are resolved; otherwise the Graduate School will not issue you a warrant.

The Graduate Program Office will submit your warrant request to the Graduate School and notify you via email when your warrant arrives.

Please give a quick biographical sketch to introduce yourself.  I did my undergrad in psychology here at the UW and I spent a lot of time working with children with autism and other developmental disabilities. After graduating, I got a job at the Waisman Center on an autism and developmental disability surveillance project. I worked for a couple years, and then was fortunate to get into the Pop Health program and keep an assistantship on the project. I live in Madison with my fiancée, Heidi. I buy her a cat whenever I get really busy with school or work.

Tell us a little about your research interests.  I'm really interested in disabilities in children and how they are identified. So far, a lot of my work has involved looking at trends in disability across socioeconomic strata, and also looking at risk factors for disability at birth. Recently, I've taken an interest in privacy and identifiability concerns in collecting and disseminating large amounts of data.

What is your dream job in Population Health?  Working in an academic setting has been really enjoyable. I'd like to eventually get a faculty position somewhere and continue to do research regarding children and disabilities. As a student, my current situation is ideal for me.

What is your ideal of perfect happiness?  It varies-- right now I'd say reading firejoemorgan.com and eating a carefully made sandwich.

Who are the heroes in your life?  People who take pride in what they do and try to get the most out of their abilities.

Where is your favorite travel destination?  I haven't traveled enough to have a favorite destination. I do like to travel, though.

If you could be one public figure, alive or dead, who would you like to be? Why?  If I can pick a fictional character, I'd be the Mayor from "Tom Goes to the Mayor". I like how quickly he turns ideas into action.

What do you feel were some of the most significant achievements of the Student Organization over the past year?  I am continually impressed with the handful of students who seem to be involved in nearly every student activity. It's mostly the same people doing Global Chat, the Poster Session, Collaboration with the MEDiC group (a free clinic run by med students), STARS (educating high school students about Pop Health), and volunteering to sit in on the different committee meetings. Their efforts benefit everyone in the program, and I'm grateful for that.

Thanks, Matt!

The Department of Population Health will be hosting its annual “Welcome Day” for accepted MS/PhD students on Monday, March 31, on the same day as the Population Health Sciences Poster Session! This was a very successful event last year due to a host of current students and faculty meeting with prospective students as well as all the students/faculty involved with the Poster Session. We are hoping to have the same involvement again this year. The “Welcome Day” includes an orientation/welcome with MS/PhD program staff, lunch with a current MS/PhD student, the Distinguished Alumni Lecture lecture, the Poster Session, meetings with faculty, and in some instances even job interviews.

If there was any doubt how important your help and involvement is to this event -- please see some of the comments we received last year:

• "The chance to talk with a present student along with the faculty"
• "I really enjoyed having lunch with a current student as well as meeting incoming students to know my future classmates."
• "Meeting with faculty, attending the poster session, the presentation. Great information, valuable day!"

Kelly Haslam will be contacting students and faculty in the upcoming weeks to seek your help for this event. So, please try to keep your calendars open for Monday, March 31st.

Thank You!

We already have had some recruited students come visit our department and thanks must go to several students and faculty members who helped make their visits worthwhile. It should be noted that our visitors expressed how friendly everyone was and how impressed they were by our program. So, a big "thank you" is sent to:

The Department of Population Health, in conjunction with the Master of Public Health Program (MPH), is pleased to invite you to participate in the 2008 Summer Public Health Institute.  The Summer Institute has been designed to provide a wide variety of one- to two-week courses that cover a range of exciting public health topics to graduate and professional students and community members.  Many of these courses are not offered during the regular academic year.

• Register soon; space is limited. 
• See attached flyer or Summer 2008 Timetable for class times and locations
• For more information, contact mph@mailplus.wisc.edu

New Genetic Epi Course

In addition to the Public Health Summer Institute, Analytic Methods in Genetic Epidemiology will be offered this summer.  Prerequisites are PHS 797 and PHS 904-002, Genetic Epidemiology.  The course meets initially on May 27, from 9:00 - 10:00 am in WARF 511.  Please refer to the course flyer and syllabus for more details. 

Annual PHS Poster Session

Please save the date for the upcoming 2008 Population Health Sciences Annual Poster Session. It will be held on Monday March 31, 2008, in the Atrium of the Health Sciences Learning Center. The poster session will be kicked off by the annual Philip M. Farrell Population Health Distinguished Alumni Lecture, presented this year by Kevin R. Hayden, the Wisconsin Secretary of Health and Family Services. There will also be a reception and a presentation of awards for posters.

Other Opportunities & Updates

Spring Public Health Symposium

The Spring Public Health Symposium will be held on Friday, May 9, 2008. The presentations will run from 8:00am-4:00pm at the Frederick Center. It should turn out to be a fantastic event!

Fourth Annual Global Health Symposium

Rescheduled from February 6
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
5:00-9:00pm
Health Sciences Learning Center
“Global Health and Human Rights”

Keynote Speaker: Florence Chenoweth, MS, PhD
Managing Director, UW Human Rights Initiative
Former U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in Gambia and South Africa , Former Executive Director of the FAO Liaison office in New York

“Health Care and Human Rights: The World Cannot Wait”

Following the keynote address participants may choose from 25 presentations in five concurrent panels.  A lively celebration with refreshments and entertainment will follow!

Free parking after 4:30pm in lot 76 (parking ramp by Nielsen Tennis Stadium)

The #80 campus bus stops near the Health Sciences Learning Center.

Students, faculty, staff and community members welcome. Attendance is free of charge and no registration is required.

Sponsored by the Center for Global Health, an initiative of the UW-Madison Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Nursing, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, and Division of International Studies. Co-sponsored by the UW Global Health Interest Group.

Go to http://www.pophealth.wisc.edu/gh/docs/symposium_program.pdf for a complete list of presentations.

797 TA Sought

Professor Hal Skinner is looking for students who are interested in being a TA for PHS 797 in the Fall 08 semester.  Please see flyer for more information.

The Survey of the Health of Wisconsin Symposium

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
8:00 am - 12:30 pm
UW Madison, HSLC
Simulcast in Milwaukee (Location TBD)

Introducing the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW). Exploring how researchers, policy makers, and other public health advocates utilize data and biological samples collected by population health surveys. Explaining the process for accessing SHOW’s data and samples.

Professional Development Opportunities in March

Launching Your Career with a Postdoctoral Position
Tuesday, March 4
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Room 260, Bascom Hall

Attend this panel discussion to learn how a postdoctoral position in academia, industry, or government can kick-start your career path. Find out if a postdoc could be the right choice for you. Panelists include Mark A. Eriksson, Professor, UW-Madison Department of Physics and Trevor M. Twose, CEO , Mithridion, Inc., others invited. Sponsored by the Graduate Student Collaborative, Office of Outreach & Graduate Student Professional Development. Registration is required. 

Crafting an Effective Speech
Monday, March 10
4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Union South (TITU)

Jeff Ebel, from Toastmasters International, will offer advice on how to organize an effective speech by offering tips on how to write a captivating introduction, focus on main points, and make an impactful conclusion. Sponsored by the Graduate Student Collaborative, Office of Outreach & Graduate Student Professional Development. Registration is required.

Networking: The Swiss Army Knife of Career Planning
Wednesday, March 26
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Room 260, Bascom Hall

Get an overview of the career development process, learn how networking can be used in each phase, and discover how to network effectively. Facilitated by Sheila Jensen, Career Advisor for L&S Career Services. Registration is required. Sponsored by the Graduate Student Collaborative, Office of Outreach & Graduate Student Professional Development.

Family Matters: The Unique Challenges of Balancing Family and Academics
Wednesday, March 26
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Eagle Heights Community Center

This student discussion panel, including partners, single parents, and co-parents, will offer perspectives on the unique challenges presented by the intersection of real life and the rigorous academic life of graduate students. Panelists will talk about their personal experiences and share the advice they've learned along the way and the resources that have made their lives easier. Pizza and complimentary childcare will be provided. Sponsored by the Graduate Student Collaborative, Office of Outreach & Graduate Student Professional Development, Childcare and Family Resources, University Apartments. Registration is required.

Acing the Interview
Thursday, March 27
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Union South (TITU)

Gain advice on how to prepare for and answer questions in interviews and participate in small group practice interviews with peer feedback. Sponsored by the Graduate Student Collaborative, Office of Outreach & Graduate Student Professional Development. Registration is required.

Also From the Grad Student Collaborative:

For more information and upcoming events for Graduate Students, please check out the GSC website!

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Send us your announcements and we will include them in the next issue of the Program Update. Send your announcements to us at lmsteiner@wisc.edu.

All announcements we receive that appear relevant to students, faculty and/or staff are included in the program update. Inclusion of an announcement in the program update does not imply endorsement of it.