MPH Weekly Update

From the Field: Public Health Madison Dane County
Each week a different field work opportunity will be highlighted.

Public Health Madison Dane County has several opportunities for MPH field work.  They are as follows:
o   Using a social marketing approach to assist people with special needs to develop emergency preparedness plans.  This is a collaborative project with Dane County Emergency Management and an assistant professor in the School of Communications at Edgewood College.  An MPH student could potentially assist in evaluating the project.
o   Applying social capital theory to safe fish consumption.  This is a great opportunity to participate in a qualitative research project that uses community-based participatory research.  (for more specific information on this project, contact Barb in the MPH office – she has a brief synopsis of the proposed research).

If you are interested in either of these opportunities please contact
Jenny Lujan, Public Health Nurse
Public Health Madison and Dane County
1202 Northport Drive
Madison, WI  53704
Office: (608) 242-6533
Fax: (608) 242-6242
E-mail address: jlujan@publichealthmdc.com

Fall 2009 Public Health Symposium
Please attend the Fall 2009 Public Health Symposium on November 11, 2009 at the Fluno Center from 2 – 8 PM.  The Public Health Symposium is a time when MPH students share their Capstone Projects during 10 minute oral presentations.  There are 14 MPH students who will be presenting on November 11th.  The presentations are divided into four blocks of 3 – 5 presentations.  While it is important for you to attend this event, it is also important for you to honor your school commitments to attend your classes.  Since the Symposium is scheduled in blocks, it should be easy for you to attend a block of presentations and also attend your regular classes.  For those students enrolled in the Intro to Public Health Seminars this semester, it is a requirement for you to attend at least one block of the Symposium.  

Spring Field Work Registration Deadline
MPH Students are not able to register for field work until they have a completed and signed Field Learning Agreement.  If you are planning to register for field work in the Spring Semester 2010, you must turn in your completed Field Learning Agreement by no later than Wednesday, December 23, 2009.  If you need assistance with planning for a spring field experience or your field learning agreement, please set up an appointment with Barb at your earliest convenience.

WMJ Editor to speak to MPH Students
Please join MPH students currently enrolled in the MPH Field Work seminar for a presentation by Dr. John Frey, Editor of the Wisconsin Medical Journal, on Friday, December 4, 2009 at 9:00 AM in Room 511 WARF.  He will be talking about writing for scholarly publication, particularly in the WMJ.  Many MPH students submit capstone manuscripts to the WMJ.  Please let Barb know if you are planning to attend, so there are enough handouts.

PHS 801
Please consider taking PHS 801 Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, a 3-credit course offered in the Spring of 2010. A syllabus will be posted on the Population Health Sciences webpage by December 1.

HDFS 766 (Seminar 3) Community Based Research
Thursdays from 9:00-11:00 am
Spring 2010
This course will offer an interdisciplinary, graduate-level introduction to community-based research (CBR). Students will gain: (1) an understanding of the theory, principals, process, methods, and applications of CBR; (2) an appreciation of the advantages and limitations of a CBR approach; and (3) the knowledge necessary to effectively participate in CBR projects.
For more information, please contact:
Shannon Sparks:  sparks2@wisc.edu
Assistant Professor
Department of Human Development & Family Studies/ American Indian Studies Program

Call for Presentations: WPHA-WALHDAB 2010 Annual Conference
The 2010 Conference Planning Committee is still accepting presentation abstracts for the WPHA - WALHDAB 2010 Annual Conference.  Submissions are due December 4, 2009 and should be submitted electronically to wpha@wpha.org.  
Information and forms for submitting abstracts can be found on the conference website at http://www.wpha.org/2010Content.htm. 
Please contact the WPHA-WALHDAB office with questions at 920-882-3650 or by email at wpha@wpha.org.

Countdown to Commencement
November 10, 2009, 10 AM - 6 PM
Memorial Union (TITU)
Learn what to expect at the commencement ceremony, reserve attire, free, walk-in graduation photo sitting, register to win a graduation package, and mucn more!
For more information, go to www.uwalumni.com/countdown

18th ANNUAL RWHC $2,000 RURAL HEALTH PRIZE - April 15 Deadline
The Hermes Monato, Jr. Prize of $2,000 is awarded annually for the best rural health paper. It is open to all students of the University of Wisconsin (any campus). Students are encouraged to write on a rural health topic for a regular class and then to submit a copy to the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative as an entry by April 15th. Previous award winners as well as judging criteria and submission information are available at http://www.rwhc.com/Awards/MonatoPrize.aspx.

Global Health Essay Contest
The Commission on Smart Global Health is seeking answers to the question:
What is the most important thing the US can do to improve global health over the next 15 years?
In 500-800 words, we want to hear what students have to say about fresh, innovative approaches to the important challenges we face in global health. Students at all levels, from undergraduate to medical and professional students, are eligible.
The author of the first-place essay will receive a $1,000 scholarship and be published in the Commission's final report, while the second-place entrant will receive a $500 scholarship. There will also be $1,000 and $500 prizes for the first and second-place entries by non-students.
Complete details, including contest rules, can be found at: http://www.smartglobalhealth.org/CUGHessays
Contact the Commisstion with questions at dporter@csis.org or at (330) 605-5740.

Student News
News from and about MPH students

Annual MSA Clothing Sale
Buy online until November 9, at www.uwmedstudents.com/clothingsale
Offering sweatshirts, fleeces, t-shirts, scrubs, glasses, coffee mugs, and more!
All items will be in by mid-December in time for the holidays.
Direct questions to astitgen@wisc.edu

Black Infant Mortality Rate Decrease
In the past five years, the black infant mortality rate in Dane County,
Wisconsin, has decreased to become equal with that of white infants.  As far
as we know, Dane County is the only place in the United States where this is
occurring and we don't know why.
In response, Public Health, Madison and Dane County has kicked off a 3 year
study to investigate the trend (supported in part by our very own WISCONSIN
PARTNERSHIP FUND).  The link is a recent article on Newsweek.com
highlighting the occurrence.  In the article, there is a link to a video we
produced with public health to kick off the study by asking members of the
community...."why?"...with hopes of continuing the downward trend in the
overall mortality rates, and sharing the results with other communities.

Jewish Association of Medical Professionals
JAMP, a new student group, announces its Introductory, Kick-Off Meeting, on Tuesday, November 17th at 12:00pm in Room 2276 HSLC.
JAMP's mission is to "to educate the medical community at the University of Wisconsin - Madison about Jewish medical ethics, customs and laws in order to increase awareness of Jewish traditions and practices in medicine." 
Come listen to UW Law, Bioethics, Jewish and Religious Studies Professor, Alan Weisbard, give a short talk on Jewish bioethics followed by an informal session to gather your ideas for programming and events for this year.
We encourage people from all religious affiliations (or no religious affiliation) to attend!
FREE BAGELS and LOX!!!!!

Public Health in the News
MPH student Anna Graupner was recently quoted in a story about the Center for Patient Partnerships.  Read on here: http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=27291

Events

WUD Society & Politics Committee presents:
"Come to the Table: Community Dinner and Lecture"
Professor Michael Bell  will discuss "The Merchant is the One Who Gets it All: Food, the ‘middleman,’ and the Agroecology of Justice”
Tuesday, November 3, 6 pm
Memorial Union
$7.50 for students and $12.50 for faculty, staff, Union members and community members.

Monday Seminar Series
“Exploring the Ancient Origin of Cystic Fibrosis and Presumed Heterozygote Advantage with Paleoepidemiology, Medical Geology, and Archaeological Genetics"
Philip M. Farrell, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics and Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Thomas W. Stafford, Jr., PhD, Research Geochemist and President, Stafford Research Laboratories, Inc.
Monday, November 9, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, 1309 HSLC

Global Health Seminar Series
"Web-based tool for analysis of environment and infectious diseases (Nipah virus)"
Micah Hahn, PhD Candidate
Room 132 WARF
12:00 - 1:00 PM 

Special Event: Office of Basic Research, Biotechnology and Graduate Studies
Antonio Scarpa, MD, PhD
Director, NIH Center for Scientific Review
Friday, November 6, 2009

Influenza, Border Health, and Tuberculosis:  Experiences from the Centers for Disease Control
Ever wonder what it's like to work at the Centers for Disease Control?  Come and hear about the experiences of three UW-Madison medical students who completed The CDC Experience fellowship.  Hannah Kirking will share her experiences investigating cross border disease transmission among travelers; Patrick Peebles will share experiences investigating influenza outbreaks; and Heather Peto will share experiences in the Division of Tuberculosis.
A Q&A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Patrick Remington will follow.  The CDC Experience Program is a one-year fellowship sponsored by the CDC Foundation at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia.  It's open to all medical students, and the application deadline for next year's fellows is December 4th.  Join us to find out more about it!  More information, including the application, is available at http://www.cdcfoundation.org/fellowships/cdcexperience/index.aspx
Medical Student Presenters:
 Hannah Kirking, Quarantine and Border Health Services Branch, CDC
 Patrick Peebles, Division of Influenza, CDC
 Heather Peto, Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, CDC
Moderator:
Dr. Patrick Remington, MD MPH
Former Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, CDC
Associate Dean for Public Health, UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health
Friday, November 6 @ noon.  Food served. 
HSLC Room 1345

WI State Lab of Hygiene Scientific Seminar
Strengthening the Public Health Laboratory Network in Botswana
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
12 - 1 PM
State Lab of Hygiene, Stovall Building, 465 Henry Mall (Corner of Henry Mall and Linden)

Dean's Cup Closing Events
Malpractice Ball
November 13, 8:30 pm, Great Hall, Memorial Union

Medical College of Wisconsin Graduate School Open House
The Graduate School of Biomedical Science will be holding an open house on Saturday, November 14 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.
For more information about the School, check out their webpage at http://www.mcw.edu/display/router.aspx?docid=118&
To register, visit www.mcw.edu/display/docid1868.htm
Questions can be directed to phdpch@mcw.edu

Employment
Public Health employment opportunities

Project Manager Position
Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine and McGaw Medical Center has an open position. Attached is a job description and contact information.

Grants Coordinator
The UW-Madison Morgridge Center for Public Service is looking for a grants coordinator. Applications are due November 16, 2009.

Epidemiologist and Public Health Preparedness Program Advisor
The State of Wisconsin has an open position. See attached for information. Application deadline is November 16, 2009.
Questions about the position may be referred to Dennis Hibray, Regional Office Director, (920) 448-5220, Green Bay/Northeast Region.

Rural Epidemiologist at Wisconsin Office of Rural Health
The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health is looking for an Epidemiologist to gather, analyze and report on rural health data of Wisconsin. This includes population health data (determinants and outcomes) and other assessments of need, healthcare data (access to, facility/provider distribution, quality of care/QI data, financial viability, etc), and demographics of rural residents. The Epidemiologist will also contribute to and occasionally manage our Quality Improvement initiatives for rural healthcare facilities and providers.
For more information about the position and appplication details, visit http://www.worh.org/.
Application deadline is November 16.

GLOBAL HEALTH FELLOWS PROGRAM -- CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
We are delighted to announce the call for applications for the 2010 cohort of Global Health Fellows, who will spend the summer in Geneva in global health policy positions. Intended to prepare future leaders in global health, the Global Health Fellows Program, part of Duke’s Program on Global Policy and Governance, provides an eight to twelve week internship at one of Geneva’s many intergovernmental or non-governmental organizations. In addition, all Fellows participate in a one-week, intensive course, “Health Policy in a Globalizing World,” co-organized with the World Health Organization and complemented by site visits throughout Geneva.
Please find the attached brochure which provides Program details and the application form at http://www.pubpol.duke.edu/geneva/. We hope that we will again receive outstanding applications from graduate schools around the country and abroad. This year's application calls for two letters of recommendation, so candidates will want to move quickly to meet the November 30th deadline. Patrick Morris, our Program Coordinator, would be pleased to answer any questions that potential candidates may have. He can be reached by email (geneva@duke.edu) or by phone (919-613-9214).

NEW AID Foundation
The NEW AID Foundation has Fellowships available. Deadline for applications is January 31, 2009.

Coming Soon!  Public Health Job Clearinghouse!
Job seekers will soon have a new, one-stop-shop to find a public health job in Wisconsin.  The Wisconsin Public Health Association is launching a Public Health Job Clearinghouse that will provide a plethora of public health job opportunities – all in one place.  Postings will include both governmental and non-governmental public health positions.  In addition, job seekers can post their resume for potential employers to view. 
The site will be live before the end of the year … more details coming soon!

The Villers Fellowship for Health Care Justice
Villers Fellows work in our health policy department and assist our organization's efforts to improve access to health coverage for all Americans, especially for low-income and other vulnerable communities. Specifically, Villers Fellows will conduct research on a range of health care policy issues, and write and contribute to publications that are relevant to current health policy debates.
The application deadline for the Villers Fellowship is January 15, 2010.
You can find more information, including a downloadable application form, on the
web site: http://www.familiesusa.org/about/the-villers-fellowship.html

The Wellstone Fellowship for Social Justice
The Wellstone Fellowship for Social Justice aims to advance social justice through health care advocacy by focusing particularly on the unique challenges facing communities of color. Through this fellowship, established to honor the memory of the late Senator Paul D. Wellstone, we hope to expand the pool of talented social justice advocates from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups.
The ideal candidate must demonstrate an interest in health care policy and racial/ethnic health disparities. Additionally, we are looking for an individual who displays the potential to contribute to social justice work after their year of hands-on experience as a fellow.
You can find more information, including a downloadable application form, on our Web site: http://www.familiesusa.org/about/wellstone-fellowship.html
The application deadline for the Wellstone Fellowship is February 5, 2010.