Dr. Ansell Presents in Grand Rounds April 9

The Loyola Public Health Program will present David Ansell MD MPH, Senior Vice President, Clinical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer and Senior Patient Safety Officer for Rush University Medical Center for Medical Grand Rounds. Dr. Ansell will discuss his book:County: Life, Death and Politics at Chicago's Public Hospital

• April 9, 2013 12 PM
• Tobin Hall Stritch School of Medicine
• All students are welcome

David Ansell is a Chicago based physician and health activist. He has been an internal medicine physician since training at Cook County Hospital in the late 1970s where he spent seventeen years holding a number of positions including Chief of General Medicine/Primary Care.

After leaving County, he spent ten years as Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital located in one of the poorest communities in Chicago. Now, Chief Medical Officer at Rush University Medical Center,he also sees patients and teaches. Since coming to Chicago to train at Cook County Hospital, Dr.Ansell has dedicated his career to fighting health inequity by building programs to address and eliminate these disparities. His work with others has led to the end of "patient dumping" in the US, one of the first cancer screening programs in the US aimed at addressing the Black:White breast cancer disparities.

Here is a link to a short biography of Dr. Ansell.

Graduate Assistant Position for the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program at Loyola University Chicago

Position Available: January 14, 2013
The Graduate School is offering a one-year assistantship to a graduate student enrolled in a Graduate School program. The Graduate Assistant will work directly with the Director and the Assistant Director of Loyola’s McNair Scholars Program. The successful applicant should have previous experience and be comfortable working with special populations: underrepresented, first generation, and low-income college students. The candidate must be highly organized with a great attention to detail and must have outstanding interpersonal skills. This position is renewable for an additional year based on performance. TRIO alumni are strongly encouraged to apply.

All interested candidates should send – electronic only – a cover letter, resume/CV, and the names and contact information of two references to Marcela Gallegos at mgalle2@luc.edu. Applications must be submitted by December 14, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. The position will begin on January 14, 2013.

Job Responsibilities:
• Report to the Director and Assistant Director of the McNair Scholars Program
• Communicate with University departments and provide informational presentations about the program to prospective McNair Scholars 
• Maintain database of prospective and current McNair Scholars 
• Manage internal and external media communications to McNair Scholars about TRIO news updates
• Assist with workshop development and implementation
• Assist McNair Scholars with the IRB application process, if applicable
• Work at various Graduate School functions: orientations, conferences, commencement when needed

Qualifications:
• Current Masters or Doctoral student in the Graduate School
• Experience with working with underrepresented, first-generation, and low-income populations
• Comfort with computer-based work
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational skills Detail-oriented 
• Administrative experience/familiarity with administrative tasks
• Independent worker
• Flexibility to deal with variable tasks

Details:
• 15-20 hours/week; 12 month renewable appointment
• $18,000/year
• Tuition coverage
• Health Insurance

More information about the McNair Scholars Program is available at: http://www.luc.edu/gradschool/mcnairscholarsprogram/.

Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology Seminars

The Loyola University Chicago Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology will be presenting seminars Friday the 7th & 21st of December—11 a.m. in their conference room at the Maguire Center.

• December 7: The effect of caloric restriction on health. Dr Holly Kramer. 

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• December 21: The Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Kidney Disease Research Network: Loyola's participation. Dr Bamidele Tayo, 

Questions please contact Lara Dugas (708) 327-9029

Graduate Student Announcements

Upcoming Deadlines:

· This Saturday, December 1—Last day to apply for May 2013 degree conferral in LOCUS.

For complete list of key dates and deadlines, see the Graduate School calendar:

http://www.luc.edu/gradschool/key_dates.shtml#fall

Refugee Winter Clothing Drive:

The Graduate Student Advisory Council is proud to host an important community service event Friday, December 7th from 4pm to 7pm: The Refugee Winter Clothing Drive. This year, GSAC is partnering with Loyola Refugee Outreach, a student-run organization that provides aid to Refugees throughout the Chicago area. This event will be held in Galvin Auditorium, and refreshments will be provided. Please bring any new or gently used coats, hats, gloves, scarves, or boots. No donation is too big or too small. If you look through your closet and only find an old fleece worn to pieces- not to worry. Monetary donations are very welcome. We hope that you can support this important cause!
Please do not hesitate to email Caitlin Murray at cmurray3@luc.edu with any questions.

GSAC Announcement:

Trying to get your academic or social event advertised to the Graduate School student population? Then, the Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC) has another option for you! If you would like to spread the word to other graduate students, GSAC can help! Please email all of the event details (attach flyers if applicable) to GSAC’s Secretary, Jackie Lennon, at jlenno2@luc.edu. She will post your event on GSAC’s website (http://www.luc.edu/gradschool/GSAC.shtml) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Loyola-University-Chicago-Graduate-Student-Advisory-Council), and will also email the information to all GSAC representatives.

CCIH Graduate Reading Group:

The Joan and Bill Hank Center for Catholic Intellectual Heritage (CCIH) is hosting a Graduate Student Reading Group this Spring. They will be reading the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner The Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor. Sign up by December 17, 2012 by emailing catheritage@luc.edu or calling 773-508-3820. Location and time are to be determined. When signing up, please indicate two days and times during the week when you ARE available.

See attached flyer for more details.

Graduate Student Programming and Spiritual Development at Water Tower:

Water Tower Campus Life has an exciting calendar of events planned starting this Fall semester. Below is the list of upcoming programming. Contact Dana Bozeman at dbozeman@luc.edu with any questions.

· WTC Yoga:Mondays, 7PM in TSC 303/304

· Labre Ministry:
Thursdays, 6PM at TSC

· Young Adult Mass:
Sundays, 7PM at St. James Chapel

Public health grand rounds November 29 11 AM

Public Health Grand Rounds
Department of Preventive Medicine
Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Campus
Maguire Bldg 3rd floor conference room
Thursday November 29, 11 AM

 ATESMACHEW (ATES) B. HAILEGIORGIS will present: A Agent based modeling for humanitarian issues: disease and refugee  camps



Dr. Hailegiorgis is from George Mason University in Fairfax Virginia in the Department of Computational Social Science.  See abstract below which outlines a fascinating discussion of how statistical models and geographic information systems may be used to explore the potential spread of cholera in refugee camps. 



The displacement of people in times of crises represents a challenge for

humanitarian agencies. This challenge is especially acute within developing

countries, which hosts the majority of displaced people. In this

presentation, I will demonstrate a spatially explicit agent-based model that

explores the spread of cholera in the Dadaab refugee camps. Poor sanitation

and housing conditions contribute to frequent incidents of cholera

outbreaks. The spread of cholera is modeled by explicitly representing the

interaction between humans (host) and their environment. The dynamics of the

epidemic is represented using Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered (SEIR)

model. Elevation surface data combined with rainfall is utilized to carry

pollutants (disposal and feces). Agents in the model are modeled as mobile

and purpose oriented individuals engaging in daily activities. All agents

are susceptible to diseases. Infected agents spread cholera bacteria through

excretion of feces to the environment and this can then be spread throughout

the system. Results from the model show that the spread of cholera grows

radically from contaminated water sources. Agents' social behavior and

movements contribute to the spread of cholera to other camps where water

sources were relatively safe. Pronounced cyclic events of cholera outbreaks

are also observed due to the rainfall. This modeling effort highlights the

potential of agent-based modeling to explore the spread of cholera in a

humanitarian context.

Graduate School Announcements

Upcoming Deadlines:

• December 1—Last day to apply for May 2013 degree conferral in LOCUS. For complete list of key dates and deadlines, see the Graduate School calendar:
• December 15: Deadline for Application Spring Semester 2013 Master's of Public Health Programs 

Refugee Health Event:
Supported by Loyola Refugee Outreach (LRO) and the American Red Cross, the Graduate Student Advocacy Council (GSAC) is proud to support the upcoming "Refugee Health Event." During this event over 300 medical health kits will be assembled for Refugees in the Chicago area. To be held on Monday, November 26th in Bremner Lounge (CFSU) at 7PM, a short presentation will be given by LRO members regarding who Refugees are and the kinds of health concerns they face.
Please contact Caitlin Murray, GSAC Vice President, with any questions:

GSAC Announcement:
Trying to get your academic or social event advertised to the Graduate School student population? Then, the Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC) has another option for you! If you would like to spread the word to other graduate students, GSAC can help! Please email all of the event details (attach flyers if applicable) to GSAC’s Secretary, Jackie Lennon, at jlenno2@luc.edu. She will post your event on GSAC’s website and Facebook page , and will also email the information to all GSAC representatives.

Graduate Student Programming and Spiritual Development at Water Tower:
Water Tower Campus Life has an exciting calendar of events planned starting this Fall semester. Below is the list of upcoming programming.Contact Dana Bozeman with any questions.

• WTC Yoga: Mondays, 7PM in TSC 303/304 * no class on 9/24,10/22, 10/29
•  Labre Ministry: Thursdays, 6PM at TSC 
•  Young Adult Mass: Sundays, 7PM at St. James Chapel

Post-doctoral Fellow-Northwestern University

The Health Literacy & Learning Program (HeLP), Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine is offering a post-doctoral research fellowship beginning immediately.

The preferred candidate will hold a PhD, MD or PharmD degree and possess interests in developing expertise in: health literacy, health communication, cognitive and human factors research, chronic disease self- management and/or medication safety and adherence. HeLP and the Division offer a collaborative environment with opportunities to receive exceptional mentorship from faculty across multiple disciplines.

• Qualifications: PhD, MD or PharmD 
• Contact Phone: 312-503-5592
• Contact Email: mswolf@northwestern.edu
• To apply, please submit a brief personal statement and curriculum vita. For more information on the program and Division, please visit: http://www.healthliteracy.northwestern.edu
• Closing Date: 2/1/2013

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Loyola MPH Grand Rounds

November 15, 11 AM
MPH Candidate Michael Husby will give his capstone presentation entitled "Association between PR Interval and LV Dimensions: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis"
His presentation will be held in the Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology Library, Maguire Bldg 3rd floor.  Lunch will be provided immediately after the talk.  All MPH and CRME students are welcome

Two Additional Courses Available this Spring

The Master's of Public Health Program will offer two additional courses:

1.  Dru Bhattacharya will be offering an online course called Global Health Policy. If you would like to see the syllabus for the course, please email us know and we can send it to you for your review.


2.  The Loyola graduate nursing program has developed a new course that will be offered in the upcoming Spring 2013 semester. This entirely online course title is 'Health Education and Health Behavior Change'. It'll be taught by Dr. Meg Gulanick. Please contact Meg Gulanick directly if you are interested. This course would count as an elective for any track.
   
   Health Education and Health Behavior Change Course Description: 
   This course promotes in-depth exploration of theories, practice and research related to health education and health behavior change across a broad spectrum of high risk behaviors. It emphasizes an ecological approach to disease prevention and health promotion based on the Healthy People 2020 determinants of health.
   
   Attention will be directed to the many levels of influence to health-related behaviors: individual, interpersonal, organizational, community and public policy. Special consideration will be given to major health issues (e.g., obesity, smoking, immunizations, cancer screenings, food safety, infection prevention, occupational safety), self-care management challenges, vulnerable populations, aging population, and health literacy. Innovative and evidence-based teaching methodologies will be highlighted, including the use of e-learning tools. Motivational interviewing and coaching will be explored as effective communication models.
   
   New models for delivery of individual and group behavior change interventions will be reviewed, including church-based, school-based, work-site and social support approaches. Social marketing strategies targeted at sub-groups within the population will be examined. Evidence-based strategies for maintaining behavior change outcomes will be explicated. This course will be offered in an on-line format using a variety of blended technologies.

Congratulations Assistant Professor Bhattacharya

Dhrubajyoti (Dru) Bhattacharya, JD, MPH, LLM, Director of the MPH Health Policy and Law Track, recently published his first textbook on global health, Global Health Disputes and Disparities: A Critical Appraisal of International Law and Population Health.

Global Health Disputes and Disparities explores inequalities in health around the world, looking particularly at the opportunity for, and limitations of, international law to promote population health by examining its intersection with human rights, trade, and epidemiology, and the controversial issues of legal process, religion, access to care, and the social context of illness.

See publishers synopsis
Book is currently available on Amazon.com

Community and Global Stewards Fellowship competition

The Graduate School is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2012-2013 Community and Global Stewards Fellowship competition. Outstanding students will be awarded fellowships of $2000 - $3000 each on a competitive basis. The award may be used for a variety of purposes, including internships and research support.

All application materials including letters of support are to be submitted electronically to Dr. Patricia Mooney-Melvin, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, by November 18, 2012.

Please see the below guidelines for more details, and pass on the information to those students who may be interested in this opportunity.

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Community and Global Stewards Fellowship (GSF) Announcement and Guidelines Fall Competition

The Graduate School announces the 2012-2013 Community and Global Stewards Fellowship competition. Community Stewards are encouraged to engage social issues and challenges generously and to embrace a scholarship of engagement that connects our intellectual resources to the pressing social, civic, and ethical problems in our communities and the world. As community stewards, LUC graduate students will be provided with opportunities to demonstrate how their graduate study and research connects with a larger public by partnering with community groups, grassroots organizations, local businesses, and industries to help address societal needs.

Fellowships of $2000-$3000 each will be awarded on a competitive basis to outstanding students who have a demonstrated record of academic excellence and community service. The awards can be used for a variety of purposes, including internship and community-based research support. Criteria for eligibility for a GSF include:

1. Students enrolled in a program housed in the Graduate School. 
2. Master’s or doctoral students who have completed at least one semester of coursework at the time of application. 
3. Applicants must not be funded from other university sources or previously held a CSF award. 
4. A minimum GPA of 3.3. 
5. A letter of application in which applicants must demonstrate that their internship, field experience, practicum, or research represents an integral part of their degree requirement. 
6. A one-page statement that demonstrates how their internship, field experience, practicum, or research reflects community or global stewardship. Please note, you must define and illustrate how your project addresses ‘stewardship’ (12pt. Times News Roman Font and double-spaced). 
7. A letter of support from the applicant’s Graduate Program Director, sent directly to the Graduate School by the application deadline.

Application Deadline: Applicants: please submit all application materials (parts 5 and 6) electronically to Dr. Patricia Mooney-Melvin (pmooney@luc.edu), Associate Dean of the Graduate School, by November 18, 2012. Graduate Program Directors: please submit your letter of support (part 7) electronically to Dr. Patricia Mooney-Melvin by November 18, 2012 as well.

Loyola Vitamin D Study Getting National Attention

Congratulations to Dr. Kramer and Dr. Ramon Durazo-Arvizu for their paper entitled “Mortality Rates Across 25 Hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) Levels among Adults with and without Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate < 60 ml/min/1.73 m²: The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.” 

The paper was co-authored by: Guichan Cao, Amy Luke, David Shoham, Richard Cooper, of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology at LoyolaUniversity Chicago, and Chris Sempos of the Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.

The Loyola team explored all-cause mortality rates across the spectrum of 25[OH]D levels over an eighteen-year follow-up among adults with and without an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.73 m2.

Previous studies exploring the association between 25[OH]D levels and mortality in adults with and without kidney disease utilized 25[OH]D thresholds that have recently been scrutinized by the Institute of Medicine Committee to Review Dietary References Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium. 

The paper was recently published in PLOS ONE and is available for reading at http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0047458.

The Study has been garnering national attention and the story has been picked up by numerous news medias and medical reviews. See the list below:

See the Full article from NPR

See the Full article from NBC
See the Full article At American Medical News
See the Full article from The Boston Globe
See the full article on Prevention.com