Population Health

Graduate Program Update

May 1, 2008

Important Program Reminders

Recognition

Student Organization

Other Opportunities & Updates

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If you intend to graduate in May, please remember that you must complete your defense and have your warrant signed no later than Friday, May 18th. If circumstances occur where this is not possible, you can change the term on your warrant to summer 2008. If you finish during the summer window period (on or before June 13), summer course registration is NOT required (however, your degree would be considered earned during the summer term). If you finish after the summer window (after June 13), please see the summer enrollment requirements below.

Please also remember to submit a CD copy as well as bound copy of your thesis or dissertation to the Graduate Program Office (WARF 740). For further details, please review the thesis and dissertation sections of the Population Health MS/PhD Academic Guide at
http://www.pophealth.wisc.edu/grad/info_curr_grad.htm

As a reminder, if you intend to graduate over the summer (after the June 13 window) please remember that you must be enrolled in 2 graduate-level credits as a Master’s student or 3 graduate-level credits as a Ph.D. student. The credits should be taken in the eight-week general summer session. In addition, audit and pass/fail courses do not satisfy this enrollment requirement. These are requirements taken from the
Graduate School’s Academic Guidelines: http://www.wisc.edu/grad/education/acadpolicy/guidelines.html#171

• When do I receive my actual diploma?
  http://registrar.em.wisc.edu/students/graduation/diploma.php

• When is my degree posted on my transcript?
  http://registrar.em.wisc.edu/students/graduation/degrees.php

• Does the Epi Option show up on my diploma and/or transcript?
  The Epi Option will only be noted on your transcript (not on your diploma)

Please report to Kelly Haslam at haslam@wisc.edu any publications, awards, and honors you have received during your tenure with the graduate program. The department would like to keep track of the scientific production and achievements of its students as well as recognize all your accomplishments. When submitting your information, please indicate if you prefer your name to be withheld should the information be included on the web or in a program newsletter. Thank you in advance for helping us compile this information!

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 (at least 8 graduate-level credits). 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 were 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,

  • 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

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 Department's Summer 2008 course information at http://www.pophealth.wisc.edu/grad/info_curr_grad.htm

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. For instance, RAs and trainees must enroll in at least 2 graduate-level credits. 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

If you are a PhD student and would like to sit for the Summer 2008 Qualifying Exam, please email Kelly Haslam at haslam@wisc.edu by June 1, 2008. The dates for the Summer 2008 Qualifying Exam will be: July 7-8, 2008. The Qualifier Q&A sessions will be as follows:

Please visit http://www.pophealth.wisc.edu/grad/info_qual.htm for more complete details regarding the Qualifier.

For further information on program or graduate school issues, please refer to the Population Health MS/PhD Academic Guide at http://www.pophealth.wisc.edu/grad/info_curr_grad.htm

or the Graduate School Academic Guidelines at http://www.wisc.edu/grad/education/acadpolicy/guidelines.html

Recognition

Congratulations and best wishes to our graduating students!

Pop Health Interview

Get to know Pop Health students and staff.  This month's interview subject is Dr. Ana Martinez-Donate, an Assistant Professor in the Population Health department.

Please give a quick biographical sketch to introduce yourself.
I am a public health scientist with a focus on health promotion. I earned a PhD in Health Psychology from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in 1999 and an Expert Degree in Epidemiology from Spain Escuela Nacional de Sanidad in 2000. In the fall of 2000, I moved from Madrid to San Diego, CA, to receive post-doctoral training in behavioral epidemiology and community health at the Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University (SDSU). I continued working there as a research associate until 2005, when I was offered an assistant professor appointment for the Graduate School of Public Health. In the fall of 2007, I joined the Department of Population Health Sciences at UW –Madison.

I am married to an economist, Ricardo, who is also a faculty member here at UW–Madison, and we have an adorable 20-month old daughter, named Lola.

Tell us a little about your research interests or areas of expertise.
I am interested in behaviors related to a variety of health problems and the design of theory-based health promotion interventions to modify the prevalence of those practices at the population level. To date, I have done most of my research on the areas of HIV prevention and tobacco control, with emphasis on Latinos. Currently, I am expanding my work to address new areas, such as environmental correlates of physical activity and prevention of cervical and breast cancer. My research is mostly community-based and includes both observational and intervention studies. Examples of the questions I address in my work are: What behaviors place a particular population at risk for disease? How prevalent are those behaviors? Using a socio-ecological framework, what individual, contextual, social, and cultural factors can explain these behaviors? What interventions could work to address those factors and the resulting health behaviors that increase the risk for disease?

What is your ideal of perfect happiness?
Having lunch outdoors on a sunny Sunday, in the company of my husband, little Lola, and good friends. If we add a good Spanish wine and a relaxed conversation, it would be just perfect.

Who are the heroes in your life?
I do not have big heroes, but I appreciate the little heroes in everyday life. The people who unselfishly go out of their way to help others; the ones who always have a smile in their face; and those who try to do the most of their lives and their loved ones within the opportunities they are given. Although I do not believe in heroes, my parents would probably be the closest to that concept for me.

Where is your favorite travel destination?
The VA Kids’ Center.  It’s Lola’s day care center and the excitement I feel when I go there to pick her up does not compare to any other destination. Second, of course, would be Spain. I love to go there and visit family and old friends.

If you could be one public figure, alive or dead, who would you like to be? Why?
I would not like to be a public figure at all; I would find it terribly stressful. If you asked me which public figures I admire the most, I would probably name Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Gandhi because of their nonviolent, relentless, and influential human rights efforts.

Thanks, Ana!

The PHS Student Organization would like to wish everyone a good end of the semester and a safe and enjoyable summer. 
... and no more snow.

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Other Opportunities & Updates

PHS Annual Cookout

The PHS Annual Cookout will be held outside WARF on Thursday, May 15, 2008. 

All PHS students and staff are invited to attend.  Please come join us!

The Survey of the Health of Wisconsin Symposium

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
8:00 am - 12:30 pm
UW Madison, HSLC
Milwaukee: Interactive Simulcast at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Union, Ballroom. 

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.

This event is free and open to the public; please register by May 7.  For complete details on the Symposium, see the SHOW website:  http://www.show.wisc.edu/

MPH Spring Symposium

The Master of Public Health program's Public Health Spring Symposium will be held May 9, 2008.

Time: 9:00am- 3:00pm

Location: Friedrick Center, 1590 Willow Drive Madison, WI

Agenda: Presentations start promptly at 9:20am with one break and then a lunch at noon. The symposium will wrap up around 3:00pm.

To RSVP, please see:  http://www.pophealth.wisc.edu/MPH/Symposium_RSVP_SP08.asp

 

New Course Offering for Fall 08

A new class, Prevention of Overweight & Obesity, is being held in Fall 08.  The course is open to grad and professional students, and runs for the first eight weeks of the semester.  For further information, please see the course flyer.

TA Opportunity - PHS 795

There is an opening for a TA for PHS 795 for Fall 08.  Contact Dr. Whitney Witt for more information.

Public Health Summer Institute

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 - some courses are beginning to fill. 

• See the attached flyer or the Summer 2008 Timetable for class times and locations

• For more information, contact mph@mailplus.wisc.edu

  
  
  2008 Teaching and Learning Symposium

Wednesday, May 21–Friday, May 23

Pyle Center

The annual Teaching & Learning Symposium brings together faculty, staff, post-docs, and graduate students to share best practices, celebrate accomplishments, discuss new teaching pedagogy, and explore themes of mutual interest. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the symposium, and the theme celebrates that milestone: "Shaping our Future: Teaching and Learning at UW–Madison." The symposium will explore both what is enduring about teaching and learning at UW–Madison and what has dramatically changed. Issues to be discussed are the lasting values that frame our teaching, changes in what represents pedagogical innovation (and what the future might bring), revolutionary technological changes, and dramatic ways in which our students have changed, and learn.
Information: http://www.learning.wisc.edu/tlsymposium/index.html

Seminars, etc.

Wednesday PHS 820 Seminars

Monday Department Seminars

Center for Global Health Seminars

Finally, 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 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.