New Facebook Application, Developed at College Park, Designed to Education about Publich Health Issue

A new Facebook "button" and quiz, educating about Humanpapilloma Virus (HPV) has been developed out of UMD College Park. Partnership for Prevention and UMCP's Information Studies department spearheaded the project, and SPH's Dr. Nancy Atkinson and doctorate student Denise Bellows assisted in the project.

"Fact Check: HPV" (www.hpvfactcheck.org) was designed to educate, motivate and mobilitze people to stop the spread of the virus. Those who click on the Facebook application are prompted to take an interactive, educational quiz about HPV, find additional resources and commit to take action, while even allowing concerned friends to anonymously share the application with peers.

The project was funded by the Fund to Prevent Cervical Cancer.

"Young adults trust information recommended by friends, however, friends are often reticent to share information about stigmatized illnesses such as STDs, mental illnesses or substance abuse. This project tests a novel strategy that spreads sensitive information through friendship networks, while still retaining anonymity," said Dr. Derek L. Hansen, assistant professor of Information Studies. "It also helps us learn how the application spreads through the network and identify misperceptions about HPV based on quiz results."

Dr. Atkinson has spent time researching the powerful influence of internet tools. Though her studies pertain more to healthy eating and exercising habits, she believes that Facebook is useful in spreading other public health messages.

"Already groups are organizing around health topics, and quizzes like 'HPV: FactCheck are a way to entertain while teaching people about health. Consistent with Diffusion Theory, the ability to share information and applications with friends lets public health practitioners disseminate our messages."

Read more about the "HPV: FactCheck" here.

Grad Student Rides Full Scholarship to Diversity Conference

Last week, Family Science graduate student Dawnyea Jackson visited Arlington on a full scholarship to attend a national conference that promoted a critical message: you are not alone.

The 15th Institute and Mentoring Conference, sponsored by the Southern Regional Education Board, has become the largest gathering of minority doctorate students in the country. The Institute aims to prepare students for careers as professors, and focuses on the issue of faculty diversity.

"Networking with current minority students, who are pursuing doctorate degrees, allowed me to know that I'm not alone," Dawnyea told The Healthy Turtle afterward. "And I found comfort in knowing there are students all over the country doing exactly what I'm doing, and now, after my conference experience, I am able to use them as resources."

Dr. Kim Nickerson, SPH's assistant dean for diversity, nominated Dawnyea for the conference. Nickerson arrived at SPH in 2006 (when we were the College of Health and Human Performance) with more than 12 years of experience consulting with federal agencies and universities for increasing diversity and raising minority participation in science. (Read more about Dr. Nickerson here.)

"...just being nominated by such an accomplished Ph.D. in the field was very flattering," Jackson said. "Then finding out that I was not only nominated, but accepted to attend the conference, and received a full scholarship to do so, was even more of an honor, and I was thankful for the opportunity."

Dawnyea networked with faculty, administrators, and other minority students and graduates from across the country and disciplines, the facet of the conference she said was most valuable.

"Networking with faculty members allowed me to learn from their past experience and gain insight in to what it takes to be in their position sometime in the near future," Dawnyea said. "The current faculty also showed me how important it is to have people of color represented in graduate level education, in particular doctorate level education, as well as in faculty positions."

Dawnyea plans to pursue a doctorate degree in Public Health-Health Behavior and Health Education upon her graduation in May.

"Networking with recent graduates of doctorate programs allowed me to know that my goal is achievable and reachable because people that look like me and come from the same background as me were able to do it."

Dawnyea is in her second year of the Couple and Family Therapy master's program, and she is completing her thesis, Predictors of Family Cohesion and Conflict in Transracially Adoptive Families, under the direction of Dr. Leigh Leslie.

College Park Students Rally Behind Quench with a Public Health Mission

It's time to get word out about a new organization on campus. It's called Quench, and their mission is one that falls right in line with the mission of public health.

According to Water for Schools, 50 percent of all schools worldwide don't have access to clean, safe drinking water, and 4,500 people die every day from water-related diseases, 90 percent of whom are children.

Students at College Park are doing something about it, joining with Water for Schools to raise $5,000 to provide clean drinking water for a school in an underdeveloped country. Earlier this month, Janet Anderson and SPH supported the Quench mission by donating a portion of the proceeds from the Mind & Body Games.

Tonight, the organization will be holding an awareness event featuring a talk by director for Water for Schools, Lane Wood. It's at 7:30 p.m. in the grand ballroom of the Stamp Student Union. A "Meet and Greet" will follow at Cornerstone, from which 50 percent of all cover will go toward Quench's $5,000 goal.

You can learn more about the Quench and contribute to their mission at mycharitywater.org/umd. Questions can be directed to QUENCH co-founder and president, Jackie, at jackievo@umd.edu. You can also join the Facebook group.

Health Turtle sat down with Jackie to get the scoop.

Healthy Turtle: Why is the mission of Quench is important?
Jackie V.: Quench's mission is so important because water is the world's most basic resource, yet one in six people don't have access to clean, safe water. It is something many of us in the developed world take for granted, and we want to educate Maryland students about this and make them better global citizens. Also, it gives us the opportunity to make an impact on this crisis with visible change by directly funding a well for a school in the developing world.

HT: I watched the video on the website about the start of the program, and the significance of September. I notice that much of UMD's fund raising efforts are occurring in October and November. How come? What happens when these last 41 days are up... Can people still donate after that?

JV: While September certainly was an important month, we've been given the chance through the Water For Schools program at charity:water to fund raise for three months. Our campaign started Sept. 1 and lasts until Dec. 1. It has taken us a lot of effort to put together meaningful events, which is why most of them were not in September. While September has significance for charity:water, it doesn't directly impact our efforts because we are working for the Water For Schools campaign, not the Born In September campaign (although that video explains most of what we're doing too!). When these last days are up, people can no longer add to our totals for this campaign. All the money we raised by Dec. 1 will be turned over to start building a well for a school. While we wait to raise money, people wait to get clean water, so we don't want to hold up that process! However, we can start a new campaign after that, but it probably won't be until the spring.

HT: This is a school-wide effort. Who all has been involved so far?

JV: Fat Tino's Pizzeria has sponsored our waterwalk, passersby have donated change, and SPH donated money from the Mind and Body Games Day. Our "Water Renewed" presentation is being sponsored by Quench, Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Gamma, Caribbean Student Association, African Student Association, African Students Progressive Action Committee, and Am Ha'Aretz. As you can see, the Greek community has done a lot so far. Also, men's head soccer coach, Sasho Cirovski, has gotten involved...Stay tuned for more details on that!

HT: When and how did the UMD branch of Quench start?

JV: Quench is only a UMD student group, so we are the only branch! It started just a few short months ago when Mariam Eshete (Vice President of Quench) and I sat down and decided to form a student group to raise awareness and money for this issue.

Joy Baeur of The TODAY Show Reaches Students

Last Friday, nutrition expert and SPH alumni Joy Bauer returned to the School to tell students about her career path to The TODAY Show and the development of the Joy Bauer Nutrition Center, one of the nation's largest centers of its kind. Bauer also shared her opinions about the importance of developing nutritious habits.

SPH student and dean's office assistant Michele Striano attended the event, and today, she's the voice of The Healthy Turtle.

***
On Friday morning, everyone who attended Joy Bauer's lecture was greeted with a warm and smiling face. Bauer, the nutritionist for The TODAY Show, was asked to speak at the University and did so graciously. Joy, a graduate of Maryland, spoke of her journey from applying to classes at Maryland to landing her current dream job as the nutritionist on The TODAY Show.


While at UMD, she majored in Kinesiology, and on Friday she spoke humorously about leaving orientation her freshman year, not knowing how to pronounce what she had declared as her major. What a long way she's come; she spoke about what she is doing now in her career, and how much she truly does love her job.

In addition to being on television, she runs a very large nutrition center. “We cover everything from women who want to loose two ounces to those needing to loose large amounts of weight,” she said of The Joy Bauer Nutrition Center. Her facility handles other health related issues, such as helping people to lower or raise blood pressure through lifestyle changes and eating habits.

While speaking about this topic, Joy spoke of several success stories she has encountered through her years. I really enjoyed this part of her talk, because she really got the point across of how much a healthy lifestyle can change your life for the better. One of the stories she spoke of was about a young boy who came from an obese family, and he was obese himself. He was really shy and did not have much self confidence. Through working with Joy he was able to drop over 100 pounds, which helped him boost his self confidence. In addition to this story, she told other stories that were very positive and helped everyone see what a struggle some people have to maintain a healthy weight, but how rewarding it is to be able to help them reach that goal.

To drive home her point of the importance of nutrition even more, she shared her top ten reasons why nutrition is the best field. This segment included pictures of her being bench pressed by Shaq, and posing with other celebrities such as Hulk Hogan and Lady Gaga. Her top reason for studying nutrition: being able to help others.

I greatly enjoyed this talk and would gladly attend another event if and when she returns to campus.

Student-Run Community Health Fair a Success

If you're looking for an example of community outreach by the School of Public Health, take a look at Dr. Sharon Desmond's Principles of Community Health class, which put on a health fair last week.

The event attracted about 200 community members to the Beltsville Recreation Center to hear the public health messages of the students, and to visit with medical experts and representatives from other organizations. Flu shots, hearing and vision tests, and other services were also available.

"Extremely helpful," one visitor to the health fair said about Dr. Desmond's students. "They're very nice young people. They know what they're talking about. They can answer any questions we have. They're very good."

Not only did these students work to become experts on their presentations, which varied from topics of heart health to insomnia, but they also handled every facet of the planning process. Six committees were formed to organize the fair: outreach, publicity, facilities management, door prize solicitation, evaluation and planning of presentation topics.

Dr. Desmond said she was proud of the work her class. "They were very engaged with the participants, enthusiastically sharing information and conducting activities related to their topic...There was a great deal of energy and excitement in the room, which made it fun for everyone as well as a learning experience."

Another one of Dr. Desmond's classes will be holding a fair on Nov. 10 at Brentwood. For more information, contact Dr. Desmond at desmond@umd.edu or 301-405-2526. The event is free and open to the public.

Check out the coverage of last week's fair in the Washington Times.

Listen in - Dr. Clark Discusses Effect of Menthols on the Kojo Nnamdi Show

Dr. Pamela Clark, research faculty member of the Public and Community Health department, was a guest last week in The Kojo Nnamdi Show, to discuss menthol cigarettes. In case you missed it, you can listen in to the podcast here. You can also learn more about Dr. Clark's studies here.

She discussed with Mr. Nnamdi and guest William Robinson, executive director of the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network, the public health angle of menthol cigarettes, and its popularity among minorities. Specific topics of conversation include: the difference between unflavored and menthol cigarettes, menthol cigarettes' effect on youth and health, nicotine levels, the accidental discovery of menthol cigarettes, and more.

The conversation was a preview to today's town hall meeting at Howard University about the issue of menthol cigarettes.

Nutrition Superstar Joy Bauer Returns to SPH

The School of Public Health welcomes one of our own back into our halls this Friday.

Ms. Joy Bauer, an alumni of UMD SPH and health expert on The TODAY Show, will talk with students about her career path in her presentation titled "From College Park to The TODAY Show."

Not only has Bauer become a familiar face on television, but she also has developed one of the nation's largest nutrition centers. Among those she consults are high-profile athletes and celebrities. Her recent book, Joy's Life Diet: Four Steps to Thin Forever, is currently on the New York Times Bestseller list.

Bauer gradated from the School of Public Health in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology Science.

Plan to show up for the Passport Seminar to learn about how Bauer used her UMD degree to its fullest, and the shining places it's taken her. Ask her about her latest articles on the TODAY site. Find out how she developed her nutrition center empire.

The talk will be held from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Friday in room 1312 of the SPH building. If you're an SPH student, register so this will count as a Passport Seminar attendance. The event is free and open to the public.

Clark to Air on Kojo Nnamdi Show

Dr. Pamela Clark of the Public and Community Health Department will be going on air noon Wednesday, Oct. 14 on WAMU-FM 88.5 FM, the local NPR affiliate, to discuss the issue of menthol and the menthol town hall.

Clark is a part of the research faculty at the school and specializes in youth risk behaviors, particularly tobacco initiation, maintenance, and cessation, and evaluation of potentially reduced exposure tobacco products. Read more about her interests here.

Wednesday's topic of discussion will in include: the latest research, recommendations for appropriate public policy, and research that has been done on the impact of predatory advertising and marketing of mentholated products.

The discussion will be a part of the highly recognized Kojo Nnamdi Show, which runs from noon until 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Grad Student in Australia to Discuss Exercise and Aging Tissue

Sure, exercise is good for the body. But what about the cells?

This is exactly what Kinesiology doctoral student, Andrew Ludlow, and his research team spent a year studying. He is currently in Australia to present their findings at the Keystone Symposia in Ashmore, Queensland.

The team's research revealed an accelerated shortening of the telomeres in Cast/ei J mice, indicating aging tissue, resulting from increased exercise.

Andy was kind enough to talk with the Healthy Turtle amidst packing for the big trip Down Under.

***
Healthy Turtle: So your research is about the telomere shortening in Cast/ei J mice. In my own advanced Wikipedia research, I found that means it has something to do with limiting cell division. Am I right?
Andy Ludlow: Telomeres are considered a biomarker of aging and cell division. Telomeres shorten with each round of cell division, and it has been observed that as we age, our telomeres get shorter. Also, the Hayflick Limit theory states that when telomeres reach a critical length (i.e. too short) the cell can no longer divide, and thus over time as cells can no longer divide and replace damaged cells, tissue ages.

HT: Even Wikipedia couldn't answer this question: What are Cast/ei J mice?
AL: Cast/EiJ mice are a wild-derived inbred mouse strain of laboratory mice. I choose to use this strain because they have shorter telomeres (i.e. more human like) than other typical laboratory mice.

HT: So in a nut shell, for the non-kines people out there like myself, what's the message of your presentation?
AL: The basic premise behind this research was to determine (observe) how chronic voluntary physical activity effected telomere biology. We know exercise is good for us and that remaining active may help us live longer or at least healthier, but we do not know what happens to the cells after a lifetime of chronic activity.

HT: How did you research this?
AL: We separated this mice into two groups, exercise and sedentary. We gave the exercise mice access to a running wheel, while the sedentary mice did not have access to a wheel. We were able to monitor the amount of exercise the mice performed by a computerized wheel monitoring system. After a year, we performed telomere length, telomerase enzyme active and multiple targets of gene expression that are known to be related to telomeres.

HT: How did SPH support your research?
AL:This research was funded by NIH and a graduate research initiative program grant (from the Kinesiology department) that I was awarded.

HT: Why is it important that we understand what happens to a bunch of mice under high levels of physical activity?
AL: Using mice as a model organism is beneficial to study telomeres because studying humans would take an entire lifetime to see the effects of chronic physical activity. We can also compare many different tissue types that we would not be able to get from a human subject. Also mice are voluntarily active and genetically identical which removes genetic variation from confounding our results.

***

Thanks Andy, and good luck in Australia!

Live: First Meeting of PHEAR

It's the first meeting of the student SPH organization, uniting graduate and undergraduate students from across the school. Healthy Turtle will be updating about the meeting live. (Given the nature of a live blog, please forgive misspelling and bad grammar!)

7 16 There's a great showing here at the first meeting! Even Mickey and Minnie Mouse have shown up!

Sort of. Ginelle, president, and Monica, vice president of PHEAR led an ice breaker that designated the attendees as various names, (i.e. Mickey and Minnie) and each had to find their match. All is going well, and students from across the departments are already collaborating.

***

7 22 Dean Gold gives his reasons for the importance of an organization such as this:
1. The renovations: There is massive change that is about to occur in the building, scheduled to be completed Jan. 10. At that time, one of our largest academic units, Family Science will move from Marymount Hall to this building. This will be the first time that all the departments will be within the same building.

That's really important as there are no public health issues anymore that don't require input from all the disciplines. We have to learn to work together.

2. There will also be some exciting opportunities coming up that our students can take part in. One of these new facets will be the Global Public Health certificate program, as well as a set of activities that will depend upon activity among our students, including international experiences. We'd also like to see our students take on some of the public health issues of Prince George's County.

So the purpose of this organization is to get to know each other and to allow students to be able to capture these opportunities.

Dean Gold adds that one of the most important things that a student group needs to remember: Have fun!

***

7:28 Ginelle takes the stage.

Among the purposes she outlines PHEAR are (1) uniting the School; (2) being a liaison; (3) to promote exchange and networking; (4) a school wide organization to distribute resources. There is also the prospect of a mentor program for graduate students or students thinking of joining the graduate program.

(On that note, don't forget about the Grad student orientation coming up! It's 1-4 p.m. Friday for juniors, seniors or anyone else interested. Student panel and breakout sessions among departments.)

Cool Fact: Each color of the turtle logo for PHEAR represents a separate department of the school.

Heads up for fundraisers, community involvement and social activities! Temporary Tattoos with the logo are on the way. Ginelle's spreading rumors of the sale of Underarmor shirts as well!

***

7:34 Tanisha tells us about how PHEAR can support PRC. Possibly through creating pamphlets or assisting with an upcoming canned food drive.

***

7:36 Monica says that officer meetings will take place at the next meeting in Nov. "We need some new energy," says Monica. Officer positions needed include:

Treasurer
Secretary/Webmaster
Service Chair
Social Chair
Fundraising Chair

They encourage both graduate and undergraduate students to run. Write a short explanation about why you would serve well in the position. Make sure it's no longer than 300 words.

***

7:40 Question posed: Will the fund raisers and activities be starting next semester?
Answer: NO! IT'S STARTING NOW! That's right, right now. The Dean's office has been provided a bit of start-up money, but after this semester PHEAR is on its own. Get ready to sell those tattoos!

***

7:42 Question posed: What's the first and foremost purpose about the organization? Let's remember academics!
Here's a thought: How about a professional development chair?

***

7:48 The logistics of the future meetings are being discussed. It looks like there will general body meetings once a month, but there will be more meetings interspersed between executive board and committees.

Enthusiasm is high!

Side note: There are plans to begin a Blackboard hub for PHEAR.

***

7:51 Questions? Contact umdPHEAR@gmail.com. To contact Tanisha Fuller about PRC, contact tfuller@umd.edu.

Next meeting: 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Check back for location.

Competing in Brawn and Brains at the Mind & Body Games

Students, faculty and friends exercised their minds and their bodies this weekend at the second annual Mind & Body Games. The event pitted teams of eight, identifiable by shirt color, against each other in physical and mental challenges.

The event benefited the SPH Alumni Chapter and QUENCH, University of Maryland's organization striving to make clean drinking water accessible at schools around the world.

I attended the event to observe, and right away as teams scattered the volleyball gym, it was evident which athletes to watch in the plethora of events....

***

The Blue Team, self-dubbed "Blue Steal" arrives early and warms up at the basketball hoop, ladder ball and mini golf. A quick team huddle, breaking on the cheer of "Blue Steal," indicates that these eight players are here to perform. Not hurting their chances either are the return of team members from last year, when they took home the crown.

The Red Team lacks a name, but who needs a name when you've got aim? It seems the team has a star at the hoops as well as one at water pong.

The Orange Team isn't much for warming up their muscles, but they sit over coffee at their team's home-base. Perhaps they are strategizing?

Two Yellow Team members practice the bounce strategy at the water pong table. Sneaky. Clearly, they're going for the gold.

The majority of the Green Team rolls in a bit late, moving at a turtle's pace. As a Terp, I find myself rooting for them, being also clad in the best color ever.

I'm settling in, out of the way and ready to observe a competition of brawn and brains, but things are changing suddenly was Team Red needs a eighth person. I'm called in! I feel myself getting revved as I throw on a red T-shirt to match my team members. I stifle the thought of Blue Steal's history, motivation and unity. I forget about my prior favoritism toward the color green. Consider me pumped.

Especially now that we've decided I will be one of four from our team competing in the first event - an obstacle course in the Gymkana gym. I was apprehensive at first, but now that I know there will be a moon bounce midway, I am in.

My team has named me first leg. How quickly I went from observer to integral team member. I toe the start line, and there's the signal. I dart up, down over mats at different levels, dive under a tiny tunnel formed by a wedge, leap up to the top of a mat as high as my shoulder, then back down again. The mats are wobbling, I focus as I pretend to be coordinated. Moon Bounce, straight ahead.

We all remember the moon bounces at carnivals and kids' birthday parties. This isn't your little sister or little brother's moon bounce. There is a small mountain, flimsily inflated, that we are to climb over. I pull myself to the top, lean a bit too far forward, and flip feet over head to the other side. The secret is out - I'm not coordinated.

My three new teammates charge through the course, and we set a time of 3:59. We are beaten by two others, the Yellow Team and the Orange Team, who outpace us by 6 and 10 seconds, respectively.

It is back to the gym for the physical challenges. Seven team members compete one each in ladder ball, put-put golf, bean bag throw, basketball foul line shots, water pong, bowling, and a poker run.

My warm-up observations now have more meaning. I am proud to be on a team with a star pong player and b-ball shooter, though an Orange Team member ultimately wins at the hoops. It turns out one of my teammates is a star bowler as well.

The poker run, one of the most dynamic events, goes down to the wire. One representative from each team runs 10 laps inside the gym, picking up a playing card at the end of each. The Blue Runner and our own Red Runner run together the whole way, pushing the pace, but in the end Blue sprints to the finish first.

Lucky for us, Red collects the better poker hand, good for extra points.

Exhausted, we think for sure we had to be winning, but alas, Team Red is tied with Team Yellow after all the physical activities. Exhausted, it is time to hunker down for the mental challenges, and enjoy the free pizza.

The teams compete in eight games maxing out at 15 minutes each, ranging from scrabble to lyric guessing games. Morale is high at Table Red, until the puzzle round. Each team is given two puzzles to assemble, and again Red has to settle for a middle-of-the-pack finish. Blue Steal wins the round, who has also beaten us on the last four games.

Red Team pulls together in the last round, Scrabble, to gain two more points than Blue Steal. Yellow also makes a final push with 13 more points in that round than Red, but they finish in third place.

And at the top of the ranks: Red. I had entered the day an observer. I finish the day, a winner.

That's all in good fun, however. (Seriously.) Win, lose or draw, it was a fun time had by all, even for those of us left with a stiff neck from the moon bounce mountain. And besides, EVERYONE walked away with a prize.

MANY THANKS go out to the main coordinator of the event, Janet Anderson, her sister and SPH Health Services Administration coordinator Sue Anne Swartz, Mind & Body enthusiast and SPH Dean's Office Coordinator Gloria Friedgen, Jason and Nadia Monroe, Joanne Perodin, Todd McCloskey, Shirlene Chase, and Scott Welsh of Gymkana. Also, BIG thanks to SPH alumni Bill and Sonia Franklin for donating the pizza.

PHEAR Strikes at SPH - A New Student Organization Comes Together

Students at the School of Public Health have united in PHEAR.

A new student organization has been formed at the School to increase communication between the six departments. The mission of PHEAR, which stands for Public Health Engaging and Representing, is to unite SPH undergrads and graduate students to create a community of collaboration, networking, mentoring and service.

The first meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6 in the lecture room (1312). Oh yea, and there's free pizza, too!

PHEAR organizer and graduate student in the Health Services Administration department, Ginelle Jurlano, sat down with The Healthy Turtle to tell us all about it.

Healthy Turtle: So what's the purpose of PHEAR?
Ginelle: It will be a good way for students to meet other students and give back to SPH. We also wanted to be a voice for the students.

HT: Who can join?
G: All students at the SPH are welcome to be part of PHEAR (undergrad, grad, PhD, full-time, part-time, advanced special students).

HT: How often will PHEAR meet?
G: We're aiming to meet a couple of times a semester where we would talk about the activities that we will be having.

HT: How will PHEAR raise funds?
G: We're planning to have fundraisers like a talent show, t-shirt sale, etc. that will pay for organization activities (including service and speakers) as well as scholarships for conferences etc.

HT: What's first on your Things To Do?
G: Our first project will be working with the PRC on a food and clothing drive for the Seat Pleasant Community. Information will be up soon.

For more information contact umdphear@gmail.com.