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Friday, February 24, 2012

Dates for HCUP Spring Training

Save the Dates for HCUP Spring Training
  • April 11, 2012 2 PM - 3 PM – HCUP Overview Webinar
  • April 18, 2012 2 PM - 3 PM – HCUP Products and Tools Webinar
  • April 25, 2012 9 AM - 4 PM – HCUP Data Users’ Workshop (in person at AHRQ)
Registration for these events will open in mid March. Announcements will be on the HCUP User Support Website under What's New and on the HCUP Calendar - Events.
Registration for each event is separate. There is no charge for attendance at any of these events. If you have questions, please email hcup@ahrq.gov.

HCUP Webinar Series
AHRQ will host a two-part webinar series on the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) databases, products, and tools.

The first one-hour session will introduce health services and policy researchers to the HCUP databases and related resources that can enhance their research studies by providing a general overview of the HCUP databases. This webinar will be offered on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 2:00 PM ET.

The second one-hour session will focus on the HCUP products and tools, with particular emphasis on HCUPnet, the free online data query system. This webinar will be offered on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 2:00 PM ET.

HCUP Data Users’ Workshop
The HCUP Data Users’ Workshop will take place from 9 am – 4:00 pm ET on Wednesday, April 25, at the AHRQ Conference Center in Rockville, MD. The workshop, sponsored by AHRQ, is a one-day course for health services researchers on the use of databases and software tools from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization project (HCUP). The instructor-led workshop is oriented toward intermediate-level data users and/or people who are already familiar with HCUP. Computers will be provided and instructor-led programming examples will be presented in SAS. There will be a specific focus on conducting revisit analyses using HCUP.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

NRDC Special Leap Day Event & Reception

Join NRDC for a special Leap Day event & reception featuring: Michael Hawthorne, environment reporter for the Chicago Tribune, and Andrew Wetzler, director of NRDC’s Wildlife and Land program.

Healthy frogs are good indicators of a healthy environment. Frogs live in watery homes, sometimes in the streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes near cornfields. In the United States—especially in the Midwest— these fields are often treated with the popular weed killer atrazine, which is now prevalent in drinking water throughout our region. Although atrazine was banned years ago by the European Union, it is still used widely in the United States. NRDC’s 2009 study shows this chemical turns healthy frogs into hermaphrodites, and raises risks of cancer and birth defects in humans. Learn how you can protect your family from contaminated drinking water and learn more about NRDC’s work to protect the health of people, frogs, and other wildlife impacted by this chemical.

When: February 29th | 5:30-7:30pm 
NRDC
Where: 2 N. Riverside Plaza, Ste. 2250 (at Madison & Canal) Chicago, IL 60606

Due to building security, RSVP is required to ecorr@nrdc.org or (312) 651-7908.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Woke up Black

On-Campus Event:

When: Monday, February 27th, at 3:30 p.m.
Where: Regents Hall (16th Fl, Lewis Towers), Water Tower Campus-Loyola University Chicago

Please join the Center for Urban Research and Learning (CURL) and the School of Communications for a screening of "Woke Up Black". A reception will take place at 3:30 p.m. The film screening will being at 4 p.m., followed by a Q&A session at 5 p.m. Registration is required. Please register at: http://wokeupblack.eventbrite.com.

"'Woke Up Black' focuses on five black youth, along with their struggles and triumphs as they start their journey into adulthood...The film places at its center the voices of Black youth - their ideas, attitudes and options that are often overlooked in today's society. For two years, director Mary Morten and associate producers Keisha Farmer-Smith, Aparna Sharma, and Marisol Ybarra followed five youth from the Chicago area to explore their experiences when it comes to navigating the world they live in. As they move through their personal challenges, this documentary also mirrors the complexities of this often ignored group that are at the center of many socio-political issues including discrimination, political participation, sex and relationships, music, and the media portrayal of black youth." For more information, please visit: www.WokeUpBlack.com.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Job Posting

POSITION: Intern, Rebuilding Basic Health Services (RBHS) in Liberia

DURATION: Three months starting in April 2012, with a possible extension up to 6 months
LOCATION: Monrovia, Liberia

BACKGROUND: Rebuilding Basic Health Services (RBHS), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is the US government’s major project supporting Liberia’s Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW). RBHS works with the MOHSW at all levels and has major health service delivery, health systems strengthening, and behavior change communication activities. This is a 5-year project that commenced in November 2008. RBHS is implemented by JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc., a contractor of USAID.



Under the leadership of MOHSW, Liberia is described as a model for post-conflict health system reconstruction. As one of the MOHSW’s key partners, RBHS has documented significant progress towards meeting each of its objectives over the past three years. With substantial progress made in health service delivery and infrastructure development, RBHS is now focusing on building capacity and strengthening the health system during the remaining two years. RBHS capacity building is led by a Capacity Building and Health Systems Strengthening Director with support from three Capacity Building Officers, each located in three target counties – Lofa, Nimba, and Bong. Capacity building is planned at three levels - individual (e.g. health workforce), organization (e.g. health services), and system levels (e.g. leadership and governance). The goal of capacity building is to strengthen the Liberian health system in order to promote sustainability, country ownership, and decentralization. The intern will work on capacity building activities at central ministry and County levels. The internship is a paid position. JSI will pay for air travel, accommodation, and living expenses.



SUMMARY:

The intern works under the supervision of Capacity Building and Health Systems Strengthening Director, and jointly with Capacity Building Officers (CBO). The intern will assist with analyzing data from capacity building assessments and provide support towards building a capacity building strategy based on the results. The CBOs and intern will work under the guidance of Capacity Building and Health Systems Strengthening Director to involve stakeholders and implement the capacity building strategy. The intern will have an opportunity to collaborate with international NGOs partnering with RBHS, and other divisions of RBHS – service delivery, performance based financing, and monitoring and evaluation. Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assist with data analysis of capacity assessment;

Support the Capacity Building and Health Systems Strengthening Director and CBOs in developing an overall capacity building strategy with a structure and staffing plan that supports the strategy;

Collaborate with County Health and Social Welfare Teams (CHSWT) to develop a implementation plan with agreed-upon objectives, activities, outcomes, targets, responsibilities, and timelines;

Engage RBHS technical staff and resources to support implementation of the capacity building activities;

Assist with monitoring and evaluation of capacity building activities;

Identify and document lessons learned on a consistent basis. Communicate them clearly to the Capacity Building and Health Systems Strengthening Director;

Coordinate with the CBOs to ensure that respective roles, responsibilities and activities are complementary and synergistic;

Make relevant contributions to the capacity building plan, and semi-annual and/or annual reports as required;

Assist with technical, logistic, and administrative support as required;

Other activities as negotiated with supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

· Advanced (2nd year) MPH student, or a PhD/ DrPH student, or a recent MPH graduate

· Experience in international health

· Interest and/or experience in health systems strengthening and capacity building frameworks

· Basic to intermediate data analytic skills

· Excellent technical writing skills

· Excellent written and oral communication skills in English

· Ability to work independently as well as work with colleagues in diverse cultures, with minimum supervision

· Ability to move to Monrovia, Liberia

· Proven ability to adapt and live in harsh living conditions

· Experience working with NGOs and/ or government

Computer skills in word processing, presentation software, and spreadsheets

Excellent organization skills, time management, and attention to detail.

SUPERVISOR: Vamsi Vasireddy – Capacity Building and Health Systems Strengthening Director, RBHS

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS:

February 24, 2012. Applications have to be submitted from http://www.jsi.com/JSIInternet/Jobs/internships.cfm. No phone calls please.

Job posting

Job Announcement: Part-time Data Manager


The Community Outreach Intervention Projects at the University of Illinois

at Chicago School of Public Health is seeking to fill a part-time Data

Manager.

Responsibilities will include:

a. Create and manage project databases for survey/medical chart data

b. Oversee secure data transfers from field locations

c. Perform data quality assurance measures

d. Produce data sets and data summaries for senior investigators



Qualifications:

Experience in management of health-related data management; experience

with database management and programs (i.e. Access, Visual Basic, or SQL).

Candidates should also be detail-orientated, have strong computer and

organizational skills, and the ability to work independently and with a

team.



For consideration, please email a cover letter and CV or resume to the

Program Director, Dr. Basmattee Boodram at bboodram@uic.edu. To ensure

proper handling of your application, type “STTR Data Manager” in the

subject heading.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Place and Health Dialogue

Join us for an interactive about how communities, schools and businesses can help make the healthy choice the easy choice for residents.

When :Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Where: Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S. First Avenue, Maywood 60153
Room: Stritch School of Medicine, Room 170
Time: 2pm – 4pm

Elected officials, community leaders, business leaders, educators, policymakers, medical and public health professionals, parents and youth are encouraged to participate. Participants will learn action steps they can take to help create healthy places in the community.

For more information about hosting a Place and Health Dialogue, please contact,
Name: April Tolbert, Cook County Department of Public Health Public Health
Title: Public Health Educator
Phone: 708-633-8066
Email: atolbert@cookcountyhhs.org
Website: www.cookcountypublichealth.org

Thursday, February 9, 2012

February is African American History Month

Did you know that an African American physician from Chicago may be one of the first pioneers for open heart surgery?

Daniel Hale Williams successfully operated on the victim of a knifing victim and after opening the chest wall, Dr. Williams stiched the pericardium saving the patient. He also championed sterilization procedures and became well known for his surgical techniques. In 1891, in Chicago, Daniel Hales Williams founded Provident, the first American interracial hospital. Provident hosted the first nursing school for African Americans.

Celebrate African American history month by learning more about African Americans who have championed public health and reduction of racial and economic health disparities: See PDF

Learn more about the mission of the Loyola MPH Programs!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Graduate School Research Symposium Call For Abstracts

5th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Symposium for Graduate School Students
Pursuit of Truth: Jesuit Ideals in Graduate Research
Saturday, April 21, 2012 Crown Center, Lake Shore Campus

Official Call for Abstracts
Submission Deadline: March 2, 2012

• The Graduate School will host their interdisciplinary research symposium on Saturday April 21, 2012 at the Crown Center on Lake Shore Campus from 9 AM to 5 PM, as a forum for Loyola graduate students to present their scholarly work. The goal of the Interdisciplinary Research Symposium is to provide participants an appreciation of how Loyola Graduate students are incorporating the Jesuit ideals within their research.

• The theme of this year’s symposium is Pursuit of Truth: Jesuit Ideals in Graduate Research. We invite students to display their research exemplifying one of the six Jesuits ideals of the university: Faith & Spirituality, Social Justice, Ethics & Values, Global Awareness, New Approaches & Methods, and Community & Service

• Present your work - in the form of either as a paper presentation or as a poster presentation. Paper presentations will occur as part of a panel session followed by questions and answers from the audience. Poster presentations will be informal presentations throughout the day.

• Any current graduate student within the Graduate School is welcomed to submit. Students should rank which of the Jesuit ideals (up to three) they think best exemplifies their research. Panel sessions and poster categorizations will be composed upon these Jesuit ideals.

• Monetary awards will be given to the top paper presenters and poster presenters.

• Submissions are due Friday, March 2, 2012 at 5:00pm and should be submitted electronically to GSAC@luc.edu . Submissions should include keywords that broadly describe the research particularly paying attention to individuals not familiar with the discipline. In Word format, please include an abstract (maximum 250 words) and a brief bibliographical statement (50-100 words).

• Selected paper and posters will be notified by March 23, 2012

Questions can be sent to GSAC@luc.edu .

Social Justice Dinner Dialogue Series

On-Campus Event:

Social Justice Dinner Dialogue Series:

When: Wednesday February 15th at 6 p.m.
Where: CFSU 124 Off Campus Life Offices, LSC
Title: DREAMer's- The DREAM Act movement and the importance of allies

Presented by Laura Bohorquez and Luis Flores
Have you heard about the DREAM Act? Do you know what an undocumented student is? Do you know the hardships that these students face as they navigate their college experience? Attend our dinner dialogue and explore these questions as well as get to meet amazing DREAMer's, learn about their story, receive resources to help the DREAM Act movement and become an ally!

Friday, February 3, 2012

Place and Health Dialouge

Join us for an interactive discussion about how communities, schools and businesses can help make the healthy choice the easy choice for residents.

When: Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Where: Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S. First Avenue, Maywood 60153
Room: Stritch School of Medicine, Room 170
Time: 2pm – 4pm

Elected officials, community leaders, faith leaders, business leaders, educators, policy makers, medical and public health professionals, parents and youth are encouraged to participate.

Participants will learn action steps they can take to help create healthy places In the community.

For more information about hosting a Place and Health Dialogue, please contact:
April Tolbert, Cook County Department of Public Health, Public Health Educator
Phone: 708-633-8066
Email: atolbert@cookcountyhhs.org
Website: www.cookcountypublichealth.org

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Commencement Information

The Graduate School will host its commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 12:00 PM in the Gentile Arena, LSC.

University Commencement Website
Everything you need to know about commencement is available at the University's official commencement website: www.luc.edu/commencement . There you will find a link to the Graduate School which includes eligibility for participation. Other information includes academic apparel orders, hotel accommodations, guest information, etc.

Hotels
Chicago will be hosting the National Restaurant Association Show on May 5-8, 2012, and a NATO Summit Meeting on May 15 - 22. Due to the scheduling of these prominent events in the Chicago area, hotel rooms may be difficult to secure. Our Special Events Office has information regarding hotels on their website: http://www.luc.edu/commencement/guests_general_information.shtml#hotel. Please make arrangements for relatives as early as possible to avoid a conflict.

Public Transportation
The Loyola "L" station will be under construction/renovation during commencement weekend. While the station will still be running, please allow enough time for congestion delays and travel to campus.

Commencement Registration
Graduate School students with August 2011, December 2011, May 2012 or August 2012 degree conferral will receive an email to their LUC GroupWise account from "Loyola University Chicago" to register for commencement. 

February 13: Online registration opens (registration link sent by email)
 April 13: Deadline to register online by 5:00 p.m.