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News from the Department of Behavioral & Community Health
Dr. Donna Howard, associate professor, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, is a recipient of the 2013-2014 Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars Program Faculty Mentor award. Each year the University of Maryland honors outstanding seniors and confers on them the designation of Merrill Presidential Scholars. These student scholars identify a University faculty member and K-12 teacher who have provided noteworthy mentorship. This is the 4th Philip Merrill award that Dr. Howard has received. The Merrill Presidential Scholars Program builds a community of scholars, faculty members, and K-12 teachers who recognize and celebrate the importance of teaching and mentoring the next generation. Congratulations Dr. Howard.
Congratulations to Amanda Strausser, a first year BCH MPH student, who was selected by the university to receive a Distinguished Teaching Assistant Award. Amanda is a teaching assistant to approximately 300 students and has done an outstanding job!
Nominated by Drs. Donna Howard and Kerry Green, Amanda will be honored at a reception hosted by the Center for Teaching Excellence on May 10th from 3:30-5:00. We are all very proud of her!
Congratulations to Dr. Kerry M. Green of the Department of Behavioral and Community Health on her promotion to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure. This recognition by the University is based on her extraordinary achievements on teaching, research, and service.
Alyssa Todaro Brooks, a third year doctoral student in our department, will receive an NIH Clinical Center Director's Award for creative leadership and evidence-based practice. This award is in the scientific/medical category and is being awarded for a nursing-led study on sleep and alcoholism. It will be presented on Monday, December 17th at 1:00 pm in the Masur Auditorium of the NIH Clinical Center (Bethesda).
Community Health major and Military Studies minor Jennifer Fink has collaborated on and successfully launched "The Little CHAMPS" public health initiative. This national effort serves a dual-purpose: To provides CHAMPS (Child Heroes Attached to Military Personnel) with coping tools to help them face military-connected challenges, while celebrating their service to our nation; and to raise awareness among their civilian classmates, teachers, and neighbors to foster understanding between them.
In collaboration with Debbie Fink and Walter Blackwell, Jennifer has published a book entitled, "The Little CHAMPS: Child Heroes Attached to Military Personnel," that has been supported and launched by the USO at six military bases nationwide. "The Little CHAMPS" book, along with the Little CHAMP's Song also written by Jennifer, kicked off in October at a Fort Meade elementary school where 321 students were given copies of the book, learned the song and participated in interactive activities throughout the day.
"The Little CHAMPS: Child Heroes Attached to Military Personnel" has partnered with the USO, Military Child Education Coalition, American Red Cross, United Through Reading, National Military Family Association, Operation Homefront, as well as Jennifer's newly founded nonprofit organization-Operation CHAMPS.
They aim to raise the funds to provide books for each of the ~600,000 elementary school-aged CHAMPS, and their civilian peers. This will begin with a "CHAMPaign for the Holidays" in hopes to donate another 10,000 copies of their book to CHAMPS. To make a donation to this effort, visit: http://www.operationchamps.org/.
To view the USO press release regarding the initiative, visit: http://www.uso.org/little-champs-book-helps-military-families/.
For information on The Little CHAMPS public health initiative, visit: http://www.thelittlechamps.org.
To view WJZ/CBS coverage of The Little CHAMPS kick-off, visit: http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/tag/the-little-champs/.
To view The Little CHAMPS theme song and pictures from the kick-off event, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5QYReqnVBc.
Dr. Robin G. Sawyer, associate professor and associate chair of the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, received the 2012 ASPH/Pfizer Award for Teaching Excellence on October 27, 2012 at the ASPH annual meeting in San Francisco, CA. The award recognizes graduate public health faculty members from full ASPH-member, CEPH-accredited schools of public health who are notable for their teaching excellence. The award supports faculty who are outstanding in teaching and mentoring students toward distinction in public health research, teaching, and practice.
Dr. Sawyer is beloved by his students and well known for his human sexuality class, which is consistently the most popular course at the University of Maryland. Over his 25-year career, Dr. Sawyer has won every teaching award the University of Maryland bestows, including the prestigious University of Maryland System Board of Regents Award for Excellence in Teaching, the recipient of which is selected from 12 institutions and over 13,000 faculty. Dr. Sawyer is a nationally known speaker and has lectured on over 450 campuses throughout the United States. He mentors both graduate students and junior faculty in teaching, and has served as an assistant dean in the School of Public Health, with responsibility for curriculum development and teaching evaluation. Dr. Sawyer's creativity and influence is evidenced by the five award-winning dramatized health-related films he wrote and produced, on topics including sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and date rape, which are viewed regularly by thousands of students nationwide.
Robert S. Gold, professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, and founding dean of the School of Public Health, was selected to receive the President's Medal by University of Maryland President Wallace Loh. Dr. Gold will receive the honor at the 2012 Faculty and Staff Convocation on Tuesday, October 9, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. in the Memorial Chapel. Dr. Gold became dean of the College of Health and Human Performance in 2002 and led the transformation of that college into the School of Public Health in 2007. As the school's founding dean, he inspired and facilitated the creation of major research initiatives in health equity, health literacy and disease prevention. Dr. Gold is recognized as an accomplished researcher and nationally known expert in the application of technology in health education and health promotion.
Dr. Alice Horowitz, Associate Research Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health has been invited to speak at the International Conference of the Asian Academy of Preventive Dentistry to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in late September. Moreover, she has also been invited lecturer in several Korean Dental and Dental Hygiene Schools including: Soul National University Dental School, Seoul; Kyung Bok Dental Hygiene School, Kangnung University Dental School, and Kyung Bok Dental Hygiene School. These series of lecture will also be delivered in late September.
The abstract of the project: Since 2005, every major U.S. manufacturer of cigarettes has entered the smokeless tobacco (ST) market. With the plethora of new products flooding the market, there is a need for rapid characterization of them. This is a proposal to apply acute testing measures, in a series of cross-over trials, systematically testing ST products to determine their addiction potential and potential toxicity. We will characterize ST use by assessing relief of craving and withdrawal symptoms, comparing neurocognitive function (EEG spectral analysis and evoked brain potentials using an oddball task) before, during and after use of ST, obtaining "boost" measures of biomarkers of exposure from blood, saliva and breath samples, and characterizing and contrasting the potential toxicity and abuse potential by measuring levels of VOCs emitted from a range of the ST products themselves, as well as product levels of TSNAs and PAHs, and assessing pH, moisture, total nicotine, and free nicotine levels.
Dr. Robin G. Sawyer, associate professor and associate chair, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, has been named the recipient of the Kirwan Undergraduate Award for 2012 by the University of Maryland. Through a generous gift to the university, former President and current Chancellor William E. Kirwan established this award which recognizes faculty and staff who have made exceptional contributions to the quality of undergraduate education at the university.
Dr. Sawyer has been recognized for his innovation in curriculum development, as well as his strong commitment to the education, mentoring and advising of undergraduate students, not only at the University of Maryland, but across he country. This prestigious award comes with a $5,000 stipend. The award will be officially presented at the Faculty and Staff Convocation Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 3:00 pm in the Memorial Chapel.
Dr. Robert Feldman, Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, and Affiliate Professor in the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health (MIAEH), recently participated in a ceremony marking the continuation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. (University of Maryland) and Costa Rica (Universidad de Iberoamérica -UNIBE). Dr. Feldman who is also an UNIBE International Professor of Psychology has been conducting research with colleagues at UNIBE since 2007 on the development of smoking cessation programs in Costa Rica. The Maryland-UNIBE research has been presented at the American Academy of Health Behavior and at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. Dr. Roberto Rodríguez, Vice Chancellor and Provost is signing for UNIBE.
Dr. Robert Feldman, Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, and Affiliate Professor in the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health (MIAEH), recently participated in a ceremony marking the continuation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. (University of Maryland) and Costa Rica (Universidad de Iberoamérica -UNIBE). Dr. Feldman who is also an UNIBE International Professor of Psychology has been conducting research with colleagues at UNIBE since 2007 on the development of smoking cessation programs in Costa Rica. The Maryland-UNIBE research has been presented at the American Academy of Health Behavior and at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. Dr. Roberto Rodríguez, Vice Chancellor and Provost is signing for UNIBE.
Alice M. Horowitz, PhD: is research associate professor in health literacy, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland. She formerly was a senior scientist, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Health (NIDCR), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Horowitz was a primary architect of the Maryland State Oral Cancer Prevention and Early Detection coalition. She initiated both state and national research on what health care providers and the public know and do about oral cancer prevention and early detection. She served as the NIH lead for the Healthy People 2010 Oral Health Chapter and worked on Healthy People and Healthy People 2000. She has organized numerous scientific sessions on health promotion, primary prevention and health literacy at a variety of national and international meetings. She also organized theNIDCR's workshop on oral health literacy and co-authored the resultant findings. She has published over 125 scientific papers and book chapters and is the recipient of numerous awards. Dr. Horowitz holds a PhD in health education from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Dr Glover just returned from an invitation by the University of Cologne where he presented "Achieving and Sustaining Tobacco-Free Behavior for Personal and Social Environments The 5th International Consortium for Interdisciplinary Education about Health and the Environment." The conference was sponsored by the Society for Health, Environment and Communication, the University of Cologne. The University invited Dr Glover to share and discuss his 36 years of tobacco research experience.
Ms. Erica Doxzen, a first year doctoral student in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, has been awarded a scholarship to the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health's Winter Institute Program. During this course, Ms. Doxzen will receive expert training on interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the perceptions of health and illness among American Indian cultures, and translating that knowledge into culturally sensitive community-based interventions and community capacity building. This experience will strengthen Ms. Doxzen's ability improve the health and wellness of American Indians, which is her ultimate goal as a public health professional.
Dr. Daughters received funding from NIDA for an R21 grant to study the neural correlates of distress tolerance among cocaine users and healthy controls using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The grant will specifically examine whether the neural correlates of distress tolerance differentiate individuals with or without cocaine dependence. This is a two year grant with total direct costs of $412,500.
Dr. Wang received funding from the DHMH, through a Cooperative Agreement from the CDC, to continue the development of Maryland and National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (EPHTN). The total amount is $945,000 for 3 years ($315,000 per year). The purpose of the funding is to establish and maintain a nationwide tracking network to obtain integrated health and environmental data and use it to provide information in support of actions that improve the health of communities. The program also aims to build state and local public health capacity in the area of environmental health surveillance.
Including the first phase, Dr. Wang has received a total of $1.6 million for developing the EPHTN.
Project Summary: Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), popularly known as electronic cigarettes, are promoted as substitutes for cigarettes in places where smoking is not allowed, but also as smoking cessation aids. It has been suggested that dual weaning from nicotine and some sensorimotor components of the smoking experience could increase quit rates. There is, however, real equipoise about whether ENDS can function as effective and safe smoking cessation aids. This is a study 1) to determine the abuse liability potential of ENDS in a sample of participants motivated to quit smoking; 2) to better characterize ENDS by measuring plasma nicotine boost and ENDS puff topography; 3) in order to inform future cessation trials, determine patterns of ad lib use during a cessation attempt. Fourteen established cigarette smokers, naive to ENDS, motivated to quit smoking, and 12-hour abstinent, will have four laboratory visits to compare smoking ENDS 16mg, ENDS placebo, own brand commercial cigarettes and sham smoking while EEG is recorded and oddball tasks performed. They will then use ENDS exclusively for two weeks, with four sessions of smoking cessation behavioral counseling. On a final visit, participants will be 12-hours abstinent and return to the laboratory to assess craving/withdrawal from ENDS, smoke ENDS with blood drawn for nicotine boost and recording of "smoking" topography.
The Outstanding Academic Advisor Award is presented each year by the Maryland Parents Association to honor an academic advisor who demonstrates a deep commitment to providing an exemplary educational experience for University of Maryland students. Nominations are solicited from current undergraduate students, and the award seeks to recognize an academic advisor who enhances the student experience by (1) understanding and sharing knowledge of university policies, curriculum requirements and academic options; (2) communicating information about available resources and programs; (3) increasing student awareness of post-graduate options; (4) creating a welcoming atmosphere for students; (5) possessing a strong ability to relate and be available to students on an individual basis; (6) demonstrating interest in students' personal and academic achievements; and (7) demonstrating an awareness of and commitment to diversity. Jenny is the recipient of this award. She will receive a plaque and a $1000 prize.
See the Web http://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/dts/pages/view/board
Congratulations, Dr. Clark, for the excellent work and publicity.
Please see the http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/health/Hookah_Dangers_Washington_DC-130170343.html
International Innovation is the leading global dissemination resource for the wider scientific, technology and research communities, dedicated to disseminating the latest science, research and technological innovations on a global level. See details, click here.
see details at http://www.nida.nih.gov/NIDA_notes/NNvol23N5/RIB.html
Abstract: Evidence indicates that distress intolerance, or one's inability to persist in goal directed activity while experiencing affective distress, provides a behavioral proxy of avoidance of affective distress, and is indicative of the ability to remain abstinent and in treatment during the early stages of an abstinence attempt. Despite the utility of the behavioral measures of distress intolerance in identifying individuals at risk for poor substance use outcomes, this line of work has yet to be utilized in an assessment paradigm capable of identifying the neural processes associated with distress intolerance. Although previous studies have identified key neural structures implicated in the relapse process including prefrontal and limbic regions, none to date have integrated these areas in an assessment paradigm that captures one's ability to tolerate distress without engaging in avoidance behavior. The specific aims of this study will thus allow for the bridging of scientists within affective and cognitive neuroscience with clinical and behavioral psychology in the utilization of a well validated distress intolerance paradigm in fMRI to identify key neurobiological indices responsible for distress intolerance. The distress intolerance paradigm provides an empirically validated and innovative approach to this line of research because it (1) elicits real-time distress in the context of goal directed activity as opposed to recalling a previously distressing event or viewing distressing pictures, (2) has repeatedly demonstrated a relationship with a number of "real-world" substance abuse outcomes, and perhaps most importantly, (3) allows for the study of one's behavioral response to distress (i.e. quitting the task) during the experimental procedure. Specifically, the primary aims of the current application are to identify the neural processes associated with the avoidance of affective distress (i.e., distress intolerance) in a sample of 30 healthy non-drug using and 30 cocaine dependent adults entering residential substance abuse treatment (Total n = 60), and the influence of these neural processes in explaining the relationship between distress intolerance and cocaine dependence.
Congratulations to BCH undergraduate Mohamed Jalloh on being selected to participate in the University of Michigan's School of Public Health Summer Enrichment Program! Mohamed was selected from over 300 applicants to participate in this exciting summer internship opportunity, which is targeted for undergraduates who have an interest in eliminating health disparities among low-income populations across the country.
Congratulations to Pamela Clark, Research Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health. She has been accepted as an associate faculty member of the Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (NACS) graduate program.
The aim of this project is to evaluate an implementation strategy for a series of three evidence-based interventions aimed at increasing breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer screening among African Americans in church settings. This project will work with the faith-based community in and around Prince George's County.
On Graduate Research Interaction Day, April 6, 2011, Megan Michael Cohen, one of our MPH students participated in the Health poster presentation session. The title of her poster was "Policy Analysis: University of Maryland's Sexual Assault Policies and Procedures" won an award. She was the only author; however, the project examining committee was Dr. Donna Howard (Chair, Advisor) and Dr. Robin Sawyer (Co-Chair). Again, congrats to Megan and Drs Howard and Sawyer.
Donna Howard has just been named a Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar Mentor by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies. Manka Banda, a rising senior in the Individual Studies Program was chosen as a 2011-12 Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar and named Dr. Howard as the faculty member who has made the most impact on her academic achievement. Congratulations to Donna.
The American Academy of Health Behavior (AAHB) and The Kellogg Health Scholars Program are pleased to announce the KHSP finalists who will participate in a 12-month mentoring program, with funding provided in part by the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities (1R13MD005702-0).
Dr. Cheryl Holt was one of the finalists.
Oluwatoni (Toni) Aluko was selected as one of the SOPHE/CDC Student Fellows in Unintentional Injury/Violence Prevention for the year 2011. The selection panel, comprised of representatives from SOPHE (Society of Public Health Educators), CDC (Centers for Disease Control), and academic and practitioner settings, selected Ms Aluko's proposal to receive a fellowship. The fellowship is designed to recognize, assist and train students working on research or practice--based projects in either unintentional injury prevention or violence prevention from the perspective of health education or behavioral sciences. For one year, Ms Aluko, will receive a stipend, one--year membership to national SOPHE, complimentary registration at the SOPHE annual meeting, where she will have an opportunity to display a poster presentation on her project. Congratulations to Toni Aluko.
Dr. Feldman has distinguished himself by his academic record of publication, grants, and presentations. Minimum requirements to become a fellow are to have authored or co-authored at least 50 refereed research papers published in national or international journals that regularly report the findings of original health behavior research. In addition, candidates must also meet one of the following criteria: (a) Presented at least 75 scientific papers at national or international professional meetings; (b) Received at least 25 external research grants as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator; or (c) Received at least $1.5 million (or U.S. dollar equivalents) in external research grants as a principal or co-principal investigator. The criteria for Fellow status are specific and rigorous, and are designed to recognize outstanding contributions to the body of knowledge in health behavior. Fellow confirmation also requires a two-thirds majority vote by the Board of Directors. Dr. Feldman was unanimously endorsed.
Dr. Donna Howard has been asked to serve as an Expert Advisor to The Teen Dating Violence Planning Group, (funded by the Federal Interagency Workgroup on Teen Dating Violence). This is a project of the Office of Justice Programs - Teen Dating Violence Project. The Planning Group Members include 2 of our former doctoral students:
Jessica Jordan, HHS, Office of Adolescent Health
Sabrina Matoff-Stepp, HHS, Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of Women's Health
DOCTORAL:
Jessica Brewster Jordan (Advisor: Dr. Sawyer)
Dissertation: Examining the Effects of Two Sexual Assault/Date Rape Interventions in a Population of College Freshmen
Genevieve Martinez-Garcia (Advisor: Dr. Atkinson)
Dissertation: "Sin Querer Queriendo": Exploring the Factors related to teen Pregnancy Prevention & Pregnancy Intention Among Latino Youth in Montgomery County
Sandra Saperstein (Advisors: Drs. Gold & Atkinson)
Dissertation: Factors Related to Listeriosis Prevention in Pregnant Women: A Mixed Methods Study
MASTERS:
Talya Frelick (Advisor: Dr. Feldman)
Project: Designing Culturally Appropriate Smoking Cessation Interventions & Materials for Latinos Based on Type of Acculturation
Megan Gregory (Advisor: Dr. Sawyer)
Project: Be Happy, Be Healthy: Developing Recommendations for Worksite Health Promotion Planning in Local Municipalities
Ranwa Hammamy (Advisor: Dr. Clark)
Thesis: Promoting Responsible Action in Medical Emergencies: Determining the Impact of a New University of Maryland Alcohol Protocol
Jody Sheely (Advisor: Dr. Daughters)
Project: Identifying Areas of Excess Pediatric Asthma Burden in Baltimore City
Dr Elbert D. Glover, Professor and Chair of the Department of Behavioral and Community at the University of Maryland School of Public Health along with CO-PI Rebecca M. Brothman from the University of Maryland at Baltimore have been notified that their grant titled "Interaction of the Human Microbiome and Tobacco in Women's Reproductive Health" has been funded by the University of Maryland at Seed Grant Program 2009. Dr. Jessica Rath, Assistant Research Professor is a Co-I on the grant. Here is an abstract of the study...
Smokers are significantly more susceptible to bacterial infections than are non-smokers. Few studies have evaluated the relationship between smoking and reproductive tract infections. BV is a condition in which protective lactobacilli bacteria are displaced by a polymicrobial overgrowth of mostly anaerobic organisms. BV is associated with severe adverse outcomes including preterm delivery and acquisition of HIV. The prevalence of BV among U.S. women is 29%. The etiology of BV remains unknown and there are no long-term therapies for preventing this recurring condition. It is hypothesized that the antiestrogenic effect of smoking predisposes an otherwise healthy vagina to BV. The specific aims of the proposal are to (1) compare vaginal microbial communities between smokers and non-smokers in cross-section (n=40), and (2) determine the effect of smoking cessation on the vaginal microbiome in a 12-week intervention study (n=10). We will utilize molecular methods based on the an!
alysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences amplified from whole genomic DNA isolated from self-collected swabs. The data generated from this proposal will serve as preliminary data for a NIH-RO1 to evaluate if smoking cessation reduces the risk of BV.
Dr Holt, Associate Professor in Behavioral and Community Health who recently
received a multi million dollar grant from the American Cancer
Society was interviewed by Kent Hoffman, for CBC Radio in Toronto,
Canada to discuss the specifics of the grant. CBC is the national public
broadcaster in Canada. Show is heard across Canada and is also carried
on many NPR stations across the United States. The interview was hosted
by Carol Off. Also, Dr Holt was interviewed by Norman Hall, Religion
editor for Associated Press Radio's 'Religion Roundup.' Congratulations
to Dr Holt. See link at: http://betweenthecolumns.umd.edu/2010/04/12/cancerawareness/
Background: Prostate cancer was expected to claim 27,360 men's lives across the United States in 2009 (American Cancer Society, 2009), second in cancer among men only to lung cancer. Significant racial disparities exist such that African American men are 60% more likely to develop prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from the disease than are European American men (Stanford, et al., 1999). One reason for the disparity is the lower rates of screening among African Americans. Although there is no evidence as of yet that prostate cancer screening reduces mortality, screening may be beneficial for men at increased risk, such as African American men (Harris & Lohr, 2004). Informed decision making (IDM) is the focus of educational interventions, in which men make the best choice based on their risk assessment (e.g., race, family history), values, and preferences. These interventions are proposed to be more effective when they are culturally appropriate (Chan, et al., 2003; Chavez, et al., 2001; Gregg & Curry, 1994; Katon & Kleinman, 1982) and developed using community-based research methods (Breckon, et al., 1994; Woods, et al., 2004). This involves significant involvement of the priority population in all stages of the intervention development. One aspect of African American culture is religiosity (Levin & Taylor, 1993; Ferraro & Koch, 1994). Church-based prostate cancer IDM programs for African American men have resulted in modest short-term gains in knowledge (Boehm, et al., 1995), however knowledge among African American men was still low (Collins, 1997), as was participation in screening (Tingen, et al., 1998). These were church-based but not spiritually-based interventions.)
Objective/Hypothesis: The objective of the proposed study is to develop and evaluate a spiritually-based educational intervention for IDM for prostate cancer screening, to be delivered to African American men in church settings. Spiritually-based interventions can be developed using important spiritual themes to frame the cancer educational message thereby putting health in a spiritual context. This approach has not yet been tested for IDM for prostate cancer screening.
Dr. Stacey Daughters has been awarded a 5-year R01 grant from the NIDA worth 1.8 million in total costs entitled "Depression Treatment for Urban Low Income Minority Substance Users". Mental health comorbidity, and depression in particular, among low income substance users is a significant public health issue associated with an increase in relapse to substance use and HIV risk behavior. Dr. Daughters developed the LETS ACT treatment to address the specific needs of depressed low income minority substance users, and the aim of the grant is conduct a randomized control trial examining the effectiveness of LETS ACT on reducing depressive symptoms, improving relapse rates, and reducing post-treatment HIV risk behavior among substance users entering residential treatment
Abiola Ogunbiyi, an undergrad PCH student got a poster accepted at the
2010 Undergraduate Conference in Public Health at Johns Hopkins. Abiola
works as an RA in Dr Daughter's lab. Congrats to both Abiola and Dr.
Daughters.
Katherine Cole and Aisha Hasan both undergrads in PCH also got a poster
accepted at the 2010 Undergraduate Conference in Public Health at Johns
Hopkins. Katherine's and Aisha's work was guided by Dr. Nancy Atkinson.
Congrats to both Katherine and Dr. Nancy Atkinson.
Also, one of our doctoral students, Sylvette La-Touche Howard's
abstract: ACT HEALTHY: Effectiveness of a behavioral activation and HIV
medication adherence treatment for African-American HIV positive
substance users has been chosen to present at the 2010 College on Drug
Dependence (CPDD) Scientific Meeting in an Oral Communication Session on
June 17, 2010 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM in Scottsdale, AZ. She was also
working with Dr. Daughters, congrats to both of them.
Congratulations to members of the SHARP lab in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health for receiving the OUTSTANDING STUDENT RESEARCH
POSTER award at this year's Annual Scientific Meeting of the American
Academy of Health Behavior in Clearwater , Florida. Community Health
Students were Jordana Hemberg and Sylvette LaTouche-Howard and their
mentor and Director of the SHARP lab, Assistant Professor Stacey B.
Daughters.
The title of the project Girls Healthy Dating Relationship Study is funded for 2 year at $150,000, under the PA: THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGIOSITY AND SPIRITUALITY ON HEALTH RISK BEHAVIORS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
(R03). Brad is a Co-Investigator.
Project Description: Adolescent dating relationships lay the foundation for intimacy and healthy sexuality; moreover, patterns which develop in adolescence influence the establishment of intimate partner relationships in adulthood. Conversely, the occurrence of adolescent dating violence may disrupt normative development and may be associated with other risk engagement, including unhealthy sexual behaviors that can lead to unintended pregnancy, STDs, including HIV infections. Furthermore, adolescents who are in abusive relationships may carry these unhealthy patterns of abuse into future relationships. Thus, by understanding the factors that may prevent or predict adolescent dating violence, we may ultimately reduce the incidence of adult partner violence. Within this context, the overall aim of this study is to better understand how conceptualizations of healthy and harmful dating relationships are informed by religious socialization and whether such socialization may be related to risk of dating violence victimization. More specifically, this study will make use of the Socialization Influence Framework (SIF), which identifies multiple domains of socialization influence and socialization mechanisms that shape adolescent health-related attitudes, beliefs and behaviors, to examine the influence of religious socialization on adolescent dating relationships. Utilizing the SIF model, this study aims to gain an understanding of how family, peers, religious institutions, religious schooling, parental and personal religiosity influence adolescent girls' conceptualizations of healthy and harmful dating relationships, the appropriateness of adolescent dating and acceptable dating behaviors. The study will be conducted across six high schools in the greater Baltimore, MD area, including 4 religious day schools, 1 private school and 1 secular public school. A total of 50 in-depth interviews will be conducted, transcribed and analyzed by a multi-disciplinary team using Atlas.ti, qualitative data management software that enables coding, retrieval, data management and linkage. After all the analyses are completed, a series of 10 focus groups will be conducted. One focus group at each school will consist of girls who were interview participants; the other will consist of girls who were not interview participants. In focus group sessions, the researchers will discuss the emerging findings to verify its authenticity and validity. The qualitative approach will facilitate the development of a textured and nuanced understanding of adolescent conceptualizations of healthy and harmful dating relationships and how these are shaped by religious socialization. Employing the SIF in a largely qualitative study offers an unparalleled opportunity to examine the mechanisms by which religious socialization influences early sexual behaviors among adolescents.
PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The aim of this study is to better understand how adolescent girls' ideas about healthy and harmful dating relationships may be shaped by religious affiliation, beliefs and practices and whether these factors may be related to their risk of being a victim of dating violence. Information gathered from this study can contribute greatly to our understanding of the ways religious socialization may influence adolescent development and sexual health.
Brad Boekeloo just received a grant from the infectious Disease and
Environmental Health Administration Maryland Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene to evaluate "Project SELF" to reduce HIV transmission
among men who have sex with men. This is an annually
renewable memorandum of understanding. The grant was for $100,000.
Congratulations to Toni Aluko, currently a graduate student in Behavioral & Community Health, was one of five selected for the $10,000 Ambi Scholarship in Science and Medicine. For her accomplishments, Toni was featured last week in ABC's "Working Women" segment, which was filmed in the School of Public Health building. The Ambi Scholarship recognizes African-American and Hispanic women striving to make a difference in the world of medicine and science. Toni is working on an MPH in Behavioral and Community Health, and she plans to achieve her doctorate and help under-served families as a primary care physician. Read more about the scholarship at http://www.ambiflawlessskin.com/scholarship.
Check out the story on WJLA
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0110/694110_video.html
Dr Elbert Glover just returned from an invited lecture in Luxembourg
City, Luxembourg whereby he participated in a conference titled, Costs
and Consequences of Tobacco Use: Health Economics Research. The
conference was sponsored by the Minster of Health of Luxembourg and
Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg and was presented before the Minster of
Health. The conference was designed to explore the cost savings of
reducing tobacco use by both preventing and treating tobacco. Dr
Glover's presentation explored the public health models for reducing
tobacco use; specifically, legal restrictions, advertising, marketing,
taxation, smuggling, modifying nicotine yields, tobacco and the economy,
social marketing of changing perceived norms and finally pharmacotherapies.
Dr Stacey Daughters, Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health had one of her National Institute of Drug
Abuse grants regarding new tools to identify at-risk youths featured in
the TERP, Fall 2009, Vol 7, No. 1, page 15. She found that students who
showed less distress tolerance were also more likely to report drug or
alcohol abuse and other harmful behaviors identified through a follow up
questionnaire. See
full article
Dr Sharon Desmond, faculty member in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health was featured in the Washington Times. Her Principles
of Community Health class conducted a successful health fair in
Beltsville, MD. For more information, tap into this link
www.washingtontimes.com/news
Through a seven year study, Dr. Beck noted that drinking and driving is down in Maryland; however, driving and cell phone use and aggressive driving is up. Please tap into the following four links for greater detail. The links lead you to the Annapolis Capital, Triangle Business Journal in Raleigh/Durham, Baltimore Sun, and WJZ.
1. Annapolis Capital
2. Triangle Business Journal
3. Baltimore Sun
4. WJZ
Dr Kerry Green was awarded the George F. Kramer "Practitioner of Year Award" by the University of Maryland School of Public Health. This award is presented to a faculty member who has been recognized for doing an outstanding job of putting theory into practice (application of knowledge in a practical setting).
Dr. Kerry Green has been working with urban communities in Baltimore and Chicago to better understand life course pathways to healthy living. She, along with a team of researchers, have been collecting data from childhood to adulthood among primarily African American individuals in order to identify key developmental periods of risk and determine malleable risk and protective factors at each life stage. Individuals in these studies were recruited in first grade as part of preventive efforts to improve classroom behavior and academic performance. Students have been followed up for up to 35 years. The goal of this work is to identify ways to decrease poor health behaviors, such as drug use, violence, and HIV risk, and poor health outcomes, such as depression and premature mortality, which plague many of our inner cities. These studies are guided by the Life Course Social Fields Perspective and uses theories of risk and resilience, social integration and control, as well as an ecological approach. Guiding theoretical perspectives direct attention to the interaction between individuals and social contexts throughout the life course. Her work is showing that community, family, school, peer, and individual factors matter more or less at different times in the life course. For example, guided by theories of social control and integration, Dr Green is finding that social roles, such as that of employee, and social integration, like church membership, protects adults against drug abuse and dependence. This work suggests that efforts to increase workforce participation and community integration could make significant differences in decreasing adult onset drug use and disorders. Additionally, she and her colleagues are finding that the preventive interventions they are conducting can have positive implications beyond their initial targets. For example, Dr. Green found that one of the educational interventions implemented in first grade, which was designed to improve academic achievement and decrease depressive symptoms, also relates to delays in the onset of alcohol use among adolescents. With implications for eliminating health disparities, Dr. Green's work with urban African American populations suggests that theoretically-guided, evidence-based preventive interventions that are culturally appropriate need to be implemented in our urban communities.
The Department of Behavioral and Community Health is proud of Dr. Green's accomplishments and praise her for her work in the community. This is a well deserved honor.
Dr. Robert Feldman, Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health just returned from Costa Rica where he is working on a study on
the effect of social support to increase smoking cessation in the
workplace. Dr. Feldman is working with colleagues from the Universidad
de Iberoamérica (UNIBE) in San José, Costa Rica where he is an UNIBE
International Professor of Psychology. Dr. Feldman spent his sabbatical
year, 2007-2008, collaborating with the Costa Rican Institute on
Alcoholism and Drug Dependency and UNIBE on the development of the
research study.
Genevieve Martinez-Garcia has been awarded the Mabel S. Spencer Award, which includes a $15,000 stipend and doctoral candidacy tuition remission, to continue her community based participatory research with at-risk Hispanic youth in Montgomery County, Maryland. More specifically, Ms. Martínez-García will use her award funds to explore the risk factors associated with unintended pregnancies among Hispanic youth in Montgomery County.
Congrats to Kerry Green who received an RO1 from the National Institutes of Health-National Institute on Drug Abuse. The title of the project is: Substance Use and Psychological Problems in African Americans into Midlife.
DESCRIPTION: National data indicate that both substance use and psychological problems become more pronounced for African Americans in midlife, but few studies have examined the development of risk for these problems in African American communities, particularly into mid adulthood. Moreover, high rates of co-occurrence demand an approach that explores both unique and shared risk factors; however, these problems rarely have been studied together. Applying a developmental perspective, we aim to examine specific risk, protective, mediating, and moderating factors that influence later substance use and psychological problems among a community- based African American population followed longitudinally. In addition, there is a great need to determine how substance use and psychological problems contribute to physical health decline in mid adulthood. Spanning more than 35 years of life, the Woodlawn Study, an epidemiological, prospective study of an African American community cohort, provides extensive data for understanding risk and protective factors and the short- and long-term consequences of substance use and psychological problems outside the context of treatment. With data extending into midlife - a neglected dimension of the life course - early risk factors and key mediating and moderating influences can be identified in an understudied population. This cohort was assessed initially as first graders in 1966-67 (N=1242), and followed up in adolescence (age 15-16), early adulthood (age 32-33), and mid-adulthood (age 42-43), creating an unprecedented chronicle of individual, family, and environmental characteristics, diverse life-course experiences, and their ultimate consequences.
Dr Elbert D. Glover, Professor and Chair in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health just returned from United Arab Emirates (UAE) where at
the request of the Commissioner for Academic Accreditation in the
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the UAE was one
of a 2-member visiting committee who reviewed the application for the
Masters of Public Health from the Gulf Medical University (GMU). The GMU
is located in the Al Jarf area in the northern Emirate of Ajman. In
addition to the accreditation assignment, Dr Glover visited with select
faculty in the hopes of igniting collaborative research between the GMU
and the School of Public Health.
Congratulations to Brian Gilchrist, a second year Ph.D. student, whose past employer was just awarded two grants that he
wrote, described below
New York State Department of Health Tobacco Control Program RFA
Advocacy in Action $125,00.00 per yr/5yrs
RFA #0802260500 These programs will actively engage college students in
policy and advocacy actions such as: smoke-free outdoor policies on and
off campus; smoke-free dorm policies; tobacco-free campus store
policies; policies prohibiting tobacco company or tobacco product
promotion in bars, fraternities and sororities, and other venues on and
off campus; and policies prohibiting tobacco company commercial
sponsorship and corporate giving.
New York State Department of Health Tobacco Control Program RFA
Youth Action Program $175,000 per year/5yrs
Youth Action programs are designed to integrate youth participants into
the work of the NY TCP. These programs will actively engage individual
youth in a supportive peer group, working with adult guidance, to take
action to mitigate, reduce or eliminate: The fraudulent and deceptive
marketing practices of tobacco companies. Tobacco product advertising
at the point of purchase (POP). Smoking in G, PG, and PG-13 movies. .
The harm caused by secondhand smoke. The promotion and normalization
of tobacco products and tobacco use.
see http://fridayletter.asph.org/article_view.cfm?FLE_Index=10288&FL_Index=1578
Dr. Beck in the Association of Schools of Public Health Friday Letter
Congratulations to Dr. Ken Beck for notice in the Association of Schools of Public Health Friday Letter for his work with the state. http://fridayletter.asph.org/article_view.cfm?FILE_Index=10189&FL_Index=1576
Dr Daughters is featured in Between the Columns
see http://betweenthecolumns.umd.edu/2009/06/08/toleratingdistress/
Dr Pamela Clark has been awarded an NIH NCI grant
Dr Pamela Clark has been notified of an award from NIH NCI for the project titled, "Standardization of Methods to Measure Waterpipe Smoke Emissions and Exposure." This is a 4-year project (06/01/2009 - 04/30/2013). Total budget over 4 years is $2,703,735.
Dr Daughters has been notified by NIH of the diversity
grant supplement
Dr Daughters has been notified by NIH that Sylvette LaTouche's diversity
grant supplement has been approved for funding! Official notice to the
University will probably come in 3-4 weeks! This is is Stacey second
diversity/minority supplement, the other was Tanya Geiger...Keep up the
great work Stacey, you're rolling...
Dr Elbert Glover just returned from several invited lectures
Dr Elbert Glover just returned from several invited lectures in Red
Bank, New Jersey; Gran Cayman, Cayman Islands; and Panama City, Panama.
Dr Glover delivered a medical lecture in New Jersey on varenicline a
partial agonist for helping smokers quit. He also presented a medical
series lecture in the Cayman Islands on the latest pharmacological
adjuncts to assist smokers with cessation; moreover, he was the featured
speaker for Doctor's Day in Panama City, Panama. Again, the lecture was
to physicians and presented the latest pharmacological options for
assisting smokers with cessation.
Dr Stacey Daughters' research is currently featured in NIDA Notes
Dr Stacey Daughters' research is currently featured in NIDA Notes (Vol
22, number 2) published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Service, NIH. The publication notes that men with co-occurring substance
abuse and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) may particularly
benefit from judicially mandated addiction treatment. The article
further notes that her research has 2 important implications for
substance abuse users with ASPD: 1) Judicial mandates offer a way to
keep them in addiction treatment programs, and 2) voluntary participants
may require special interventions to keep them actively engaged in
therapy. More can be found at the link below or Journal of Substance
Abuse Treatment, 34(2):157-164, 2008.
http://www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_notes/NNvol22N3/RIB.html
Jamie Lok wins the Meritorious MPH Project Award for Spring 2009
Jamie Lok's project, A Qualitative Study to Initiate Future Smokeless Tobacco Dependence Instrument Development won the meritorious award for outstanding MPH project for Spring 2009. Her committee chair was Dr Elbert D Glover and the committee members were Drs Pamela Clark and Jessica Rath. Congrats to Jamie and the committee.
Behavioral and Community Health undergraduate students elected to Phi Beta Kappa
The newly released University of Maryland Phi Beta Kappa list notes several departmental majors. The list consists of graduating seniors and high-performing juniors. Junior elected was Rachel Anne Blair. Seniors elected were Stephanie Nicole Fiore, Elisa Meredith Fisher, Danielle Marie Goldberg and Chandni Dipak Shah. Congrats to these exceptional students...we're proud to have them as majors.
Nikita Boston, the newly elected incoming President of our Epsilon Chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma won the Kirwan award
Nikita Boston, the newly elected incoming President of our Epsilon Chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma won the
Kirwan award. It's a university wide award so it's a major honor for her and a comment on the type of student the department is attracting.
The award is presented to a member of the junior class who during his/her collegiate career has exhibited outstanding leadership and commitment to the college community. Nominees are judged on the following criteria: involvement in student organizations and activities, service to the campus community, involvement in service to the broader community including community service and service learning, promotion of campus diversity or ethnic/race and international relations, outstanding academic performance and leadership qualities including mentoring young students. Great honor for Nikita Boston. .
Talia Lewis was just chosen a 2009-210 Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar
Talia Lewis, the Individual Studies major (Health, Culture, and
Inequality Studies) was chosen a 2009-210 Philip Merrill Presidential
Scholar; moreover, Talia named Sharon Desmond, her IVSP Faculty Mentor,
as the faculty member who has made the most impact on her academic
achievement
The Department was well represented at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco
The Department of Behavioral and Community Health was well represented at the Joint Meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco-USA and the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco-Europe recently held in Dublin, Ireland with 5 persons attending. Moreover, 5 posters and a major workshop involved 5 faculty (Dr Elbert Glover, Dr Pamela Clark, Dr Jessica Rath, Dr Donna Howard, and Summa Babu and 1 doctoral student, Eva Sharma. The posters presented were: 1) Transdisciplinarity Among Tobacco Harm Reduction Researchers: A Network Analytic Approach; 2) Electroencephalographic (EEG) Response to Variation in Smokeless Tobacco pH; 3) Assessment of Nicotine Dependence and Its Demographic Correlates Among African American Smokers; 4) Differences in Mouth-Level Nicotine Delivery with Variation in Cigarette Smoke pH; 5) Smokers and PREP's Measurement of Inhaled and Exhaled Tobacco Smoke Particulate. Of note is that Eva Sharma a graduate student was lead author on one of the posters #3.
Dr. Glover Participates in NIDA Workshop in Dublin, Ireland
Dr. Glover participated in a National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
workshop titled, NIDA Medications Development Workshop: Smoking
Cessation and Beyond in Dublin, Ireland. The workshop was a NIDA
Satellite to the 2009 joint conference of the Society of Nicotine and
Tobacco Research, USA and Society of Nicotine and Tobacco Research,
Europe. Participants in the 3-hour workshop were Dr Glover who
presented, Evaluation of Selegiline Transdermal System for Smoking
Cessation: Preliminary Results of NIDA's 246-Subject, Multi-Site Trial.
The second presenter was Dr. Celia Jaffe Winchell from the Food and Drug
Administration who presented, Medications to Treat Tobacco Dependence:
An FDA Perspective. The final presenter was David J. McCann of the
National Institute on Drug Abuse who presented, Medications Development
for Polydrug Addiction Treatment: A NIDA Perspective. After the
presentations the final hour was fielding questions from the audience.
Dr. Glover Trains Physicians in Puerto Rico
Dr. Glover was invited to train physicians in a series of workshops
throughout Puerto Rico on treating nicotine dependence; moreover, Dr.
Glover discussed his latest research findings on an NIDA funded trial of
selegiline a MAO B inhibitor in a transdermal format as an aid to
smoking cessation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded The University of Maryland a Prevention Research Center
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded The University of Maryland a Prevention Research Center (UMD-PRC) grant. Dr Brad Boekeloo, Department of Behavioral and Community Health is the PI. The grant is to develop the UMD-PRC and aims to develop ways of improving the health of communities neighboring the University of Maryland School of Public Health in College Park. Congrats to Dr Boekeloo and all those persons who contributed to the development of the grant.
Former Graduate of the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Installed as New President of The American Academy of Health Behavior
At the annual scientific meeting of the American Academy of Health Behavior in Hilton Head (March 2009), a former UMD doctoral student in Behavioral and Community Health, Molly Laflin, passed the presidency gavel to another former graduate of the department, Dennis Thombs. Dr Laflin was first female president of The Academy and is currently Professor at Bowling Green State University. Dr Thombs is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Florida. Both make the department proud.
Scott Leischow another former graduate of the
department is the sitting president of the Society for Research on
Nicotine and Tobacco....
Dr. Leischow serving a president of SRNT,
Dr Molly Laflin just stepping down as President of AAHB, Dr Dennis
Thombs assuming President of AAHB, and Pat Mail, just 2 years ago
serving as President of the largest health organization in the world,
APHA, that the department is graduating some incredible professionals!
Maryland MPH Student, Jamie Lok, Selected for Membership in Omicron Delta Kappa
Ms. Jamie Lok, a graduate student at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, was recently selected for membership into the Sigma Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK). Founded in 1914, entrance into this national leadership honor society is considered to be one of the most prestigious collegiate honors that can be awarded to a student.
A second year MPH student in the Department of Behavioral and Community Hhealth, Ms. Lok has demonstrated a commitment to both leadership and scholarship during her years at Maryland.
Among various projects, Ms. Lok has worked on research into minority health disparities among Asian Americans, and was elected in October to serve as the student representative on the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus (APIC) executive board of the American Public Health Association.
She currently works as a graduate research assistant in the Center for Health Behavior Research, working closely with faculty members on nicotine addiction and clinical trials. She is also working on her MPH project examining smokeless tobacco dependence.
"I feel tremendously honored to become a member of such a distinguished group of leaders," Ms. Lok said.
To be eligible for induction, students must rank in the upper thirty-five percent of their class, meet a certain GPA, and demonstrate leadership in at least one of five phases of campus life. As part of her induction, Ms. Lok will have her named engraved on the ODK fountain located on McKeldin Mall in the heart of the Maryland campus.
Drs. Beck and Daughters received 2009 American Academy of Health Behavior Poster Awards
Dr. Beck, Fell, and Yan received OUTSTANDING RESEARCH POSTER at 2009 AAHB Conference for their poster titled
A comparison of drivers with high vs. low perceived risk of being caught for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Dr. Daughters is a co-author for receiving POSTERS OF DISTINCTION at 2009 AAHB Conference for the poster titled
Examining the effectiveness of integrating the LETS ACT behavioral treatment for depression into an inner-city residential drug treatment center.
Lyn Stoesen has been selected as Presidential Management Fellow Finalist
Lyn Stoesen, an MPH student in the department has been selected as Presidential Management Fellow Finalist...there were over 4,000 applicants.
Undergraduate Internship Poster Session
On Wednesday March 4, 2009, 77 undergraduate interns showcased their current internship placements by participating in a poster session. Attendees included majors enrolled in HLTH 490, and several DPCH faculty. The poster session serves as a means for internship students to describe their experience, and enables HLTH 490 students to investigate possible internship opportunities.
Dr. Glover will present at NIDA Medications Development Workshop
Dr. Glover will present at NIDA Medications Development Workshop: SMOKING CESSATION & BEYOND on April 2009 at Dublin, Ireland. The title of his presentation is Evaluation of Selegiline Transdermal System for Smoking Cessation: Preliminary Results of NIDA's 246 Subject, Multi-Site Trial.
Dr. Glover received a grant ($413,675) from Nabi Pharmaceuticals
Dr. Glover received a grant ($413,675) from Nabi Pharmaceuticals titled "A Phase 3, Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess Efficacy, Immunogenicity and Safety of 3'-aminomethylnicotine-/P. aeruginosa/ r-Exoprotein A Conjugate Vaccine (NicVAX® ) as an Aid to Smoking Cessation".
Dr. Sawyer received two 2008 Telly Awards in the categories
of Education and Human Sexuality
Dr. Sawyer was the recipient of two 2008 Telly Awards in the categories
of Education and Human Sexuality for his recent film production,
"Playing the Game 2." Since 1979 The Telly Awards have recognized the
very best in local, regional, national and international television
programs and independent films. The competition this year received over
14,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents.
Alice Yan has been invited to serve on a RWJ 2009 Grantee Conference
Committee
Alice Yan has been invited to serve on a 2009 Grantee Conference
Committee of Robert Wood Johnson 6th Active Living Research Grantee
Meeting Feb 18-20, 2009 in San Diego, CA. There are 7 persons invited
nationwide, 6 of them are professors with Alice being the only student
invited. The invitee come from research institutions including MD
Anderson cancer center, UNC Chapel Hill and Hopkins, etc. Alice was
invited for receiving the RWJ Dissertation grant!
Dr. Holt received a NCI grant (RO1 - $628,963) titled "Religion and
Cancer-Related Behaviors in Black Americans."
Dr. Holt received a CDC grant ($543,387) titled "Reasons for Low
Follow-up in Black CRC Patients."
Dr. Clark received a NIDA grant (RO1 - $371,361) titled "Physiologic
Impact of Variations in Smoke PH".
Dr. Daughters received a NIDA grant (R01 - $337,500) titled "Behavioral
Depression Treatment for African American HIV-infected Substance Users".
Dr. Sawyer to appear on an MTV show as a sex consultant/expert.
Dr. Robin Sawyer is featured in a ongoing column in College, College
Park Edition, titled, Q&A: with the Sexy Professor answering questions about sex.
Dr. Sawyer is on Fox News Morning Show
Dr. Howard received the Doris Sands "Excellent Teaching" award
Dr. Donna Howard, Associate Professor for Behavioral and Community Health,
was given the Doris Sands "Excellent Teaching" award at the faculty
retreat. This award is presented to a faculty member who has been
evaluated by the department chair, peers and students as being an
excellent teacher in his/her area of expertise.
Dr. Doris Sands was a renowned sexuality educator who was recognized for
her tremendous teaching skills and ability to reach students.
Mariano Kanamori won first place honors at the 2008 UMD student interaction research day
Mariano Kanamori, a doctoral graduate student in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health won first place honors at the 2008 UMD
student interaction research day in the exploring identities category.
Congratulations to Mariano.
Drs Atkinson, Howard and Sawyer were recognized as honored faculty
Drs Atkinson, Howard and Sawyer were recognized as honored faculty at
the Inaugural Scholarship and Research Celebration May 1, 2008, hosted
by the Provost and Vice President UMCP.
Dr. Howard has been selected as a Fulbright scholar grantee to India
Dr. Howard has been selected as a Fulbright scholar grantee to India by
the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Dept of
State, which oversees the operations of Fulbright Programs throughout
the world. During the 2008-9 academic year, while on sabbatical, Dr
Howard will be a Fulbright Fellow at Manipal Academy of Higher
Education, Manipal, India where she will teach public health to
medical/allied health professionals and graduate students, present
seminars, and also engage in a host of community-based public health
activities in the southwestern region of the country. As a
representative of the U.S. in India, Dr Howard will help fulfill the
principal purpose of the Fulbright Program which is to increase mutual
understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of the over
150 countries that currently participate in the Fulbright Program.
Dr. Sawyer's Sexpertise book is scheduled for release on April 22nd
Dr. Glover's Smoking Research was honored by the American Academy of Health Behavior
Congratulations to Alice Yan for her
dissertation grant award from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Alice was awarded a very competitive grant for her dissertation
by the RWJ-Active Living Research for the year 2007. Active Living
Research is a national program that stimulates and supports research to identify environmental factors and policies that influence physical
activity. Alice was awarded $25,000 for up to 2 years.
Assistant/Associate Professor Job Announcement
Link to the Announcement
Robin Sawyer was recently honored by the AIDS and sexual health resource
organization, Mothers' Voices, at a luncheon in Miami, Florida.
 | Robin received the organization's "Extraordinary Voice" award in recognition
of his pioneering efforts to improve the sexual health of youth and
adolescents. Mothers' Voices is a national non-profit organization
that conducts programs to give parents the skills they need to communicate
with their children about sexual health and HIV/STD prevention, in
addition to working directly with adolescents, and youth. To date,
Mothers' Voices has reached over 20,000 parents and families with their
programs and outreach activities. |
National Television Exposure for Center Research
Link to the video
Dr. Robin Sawyer's teaching attracts national attention on the Today Show
Link to the video
Dr. Elbert Glover interviewed by Internal Medicine World Report
Link to the article
Dr. Robin Sawyer interviewed by Washington Post
Link to the article
Graduate programs ranked 12th best in the nation.
For the first time, the US
News and World Report Rankings include graduate programs in
Behavioral and Community Health. In its first ever ranking the Department
is listed at number 12 in the country. This is terrific recognition
for our programs, especially the MPH degree which only began in
1999. Although the whole issue of rankings should be viewed with
some caution, being recognized as such a highly considered program
is rewarding for faculty, staff and students. Congratulations to
everyone!
Here are the top 25 rankings:
| 1. |
Tufts University School of Medicine (MA) |
3.8 |
| 2. |
Medical College of Wisconsin
Northwestern University (IL)
Oregon St. U./Portland St. U./Oregon Health & Science
U.
University of Rochester (NY) |
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.7 |
| 6. |
Brown University (RI)
Uniformed Services Univ. of the Health Sciences (MD)
University of Colorado
University of Kansas
University of Utah
University of Wisconsin--La Crosse
|
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.6 |
| 12. |
University of Maryland--College Park
University of North Carolina--Greensboro
University of Southern California |
3.5
3.5
3.5 |
| 15. |
San Jose State University (CA
University of Connecticut
University of New Mexico |
3.4
3.4
3.4 |
| 18. |
Arizona State U./Northern Arizona U./U. of Arizona
CUNY--Hunter College
Morehouse School of Medicine (GA)
New York University
University of Tennessee--Knoxville
Virginia Commonwealth University |
3.3
3.3
3.3
3.3
3.3
3.3 |
| 24. |
Bowling Green St. U./Medical College of Ohio/U. of Toledo
Indiana University--Bloomington
University of Miami (FL)
University of Texas Medical Branch--Galveston |
3.2
3.2
3.2
3.2 |
Doctoral Program Among Top Ten in U.S.
...in the last National Ranking Study of Doctoral Programs in
Health Education. Journal of Health Education. A study ranking 28
doctoral programs in health education was conducted in 1999 by Dr.
James Eddy, University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, Dr. Thomas O’Rourke
and Stephen Notaro, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The Department of Public & Community Health (formerly Health
Education) was ranked 8th with five of the seven who ranked higher
being Schools of Public Health. Based on academic productivity,
including variables such as published articles, citations and external
funding, our average faculty ranking was 4th. Only one institution
had more individual variables than Maryland ranking in the top 10;
none had more individual variables ranking in the top 20.
Faculty Awards and Special
Recognition
University, College and Professional awards and faculty recognition
attest to the excellence of our outstanding faculty. More UMCP Department of Behavioral and Community Health faculty have been selected as Fellows
in the American Academy for Health Behavior than any other department
in the nation.
Some notable examples include:
- American Academy for Health Behavior Fellows (
Pam Clark,
Brad Boekeloo,
Ken Beck,
Bob Feldman,
Robert Gold,
Elbert Glover,
Min Qi Wang)
- American Association for Health Education Presidential Citation
(Robert Gold)
- School of Public Health Jerry P. Wrenn Outstanding
Service Award (Robin
Sawyer)
- School of Public Health Research and Development
Award (Robert Gold)
- Diversity Initiative Faculty Support Award winner (Sharon
Desmond)
- Two faculty recognized as “Rain-makers” among
the campus’s leading faculty grant recipients (Ken
Beck, Brad
Boekeloo)
- University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Faculty
Award for Excellence in Teaching (Robin
Sawyer)
|
News