Awards and Scholarships
Lienhard Award - Deadline May 7
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is accepting nominations for its Gustav O. Lienhard Award, which is presented annually. The award – a medal and $40,000 – recognizes individuals for outstanding achievement in improving health care services in the United States. Support for the award is provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Read more...
Sarnat Award — Deadline May 7
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is currently accepting nominations for the Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health. This international award recognizes individuals, groups, or organizations for outstanding achievement in improving mental health and is accompanied by a medal and $20,000. Read more...
Community Dental Health Student Awards - Deadline May 11
The Oral Health Section of APHA announces the 7th annual student award categories for 2012: the Anthony Westwater Jong Memorial Community Dental Health Post-professional Award, and the Anthony Westwater Jong Memorial Community Dental Health Pre-Professional Award. The awards are in memory of the late Dr. Anthony Westwater Jong and in recognition of his commitment to community-based dental public health, his strong and highly acclaimed student mentoring, and his emphasis on the importance of state-, local- and community-based public health action. Click here for more information.
Three Posters Tie for First Place at VAPHA 3rd Annual Career and Internship Fair
Eighteen posters, representing the work of students from EVMS/ODU, GMU, UVA, VCU and Virginia Tech, were submitted to the poster competition at VAPHA's 3rd Annual Career and Internship Fair on January 27, 2012. After a great deal of discussion, the judges announced a three-way tie for first prize. Each of the winners will received a $50 check from VAPHA and a complimentary one-year membership in the association.
The winning posters were:
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Abstract: Childhood Influenza Vaccination Rates during 2009-2010 Season: The Impact of Parental Beliefs, Attitudes, and Knowledge
Authors: Lauren Fortenberry; Susan Marmagas, M.P.H.; Clare Dannenberg, Ph.D.; François Elvinger, Dr. Med. Vet., Ph.D.; Bernice Hausman, Ph.D.; Elizabeth Anthony; Stacy Boyer; Heidi Lawrence
Institution: Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Master of Public Health Degree Program
Influenza has emerged as an important research topic as new strains and epidemiological trends have heightened national attention. Few investigations, however, have examined how parents’ attitudes and beliefs influenced their decision as to whether or not to vaccinate their children against seasonal flu and H1N1 viruses during the 2009-2010 season. Partnering with the Cumberland Plateau Health District, a multidisciplinary team of researchers from Virginia Tech distributed surveys to the parents of 119 elementary-aged children from two schools with vastly different H1N1 2009-2010 vaccination rates. Analyses of the data from the 86 participating households revealed that there is a significant difference (p=0.038) between the seasonal flu 2009-2010 and H1N1 2009-2010 vaccination rates; employed parents were less likely to have their children vaccinated against H1N1 2009-2010 than unemployed parents (p=0.023); primary caregivers who were parents were less likely to vaccinate their children against seasonal flu 2009-2010 than other caregivers (p=0.052); and parents who understood that two different vaccinations existed during the 2009-2010 season were more likely to vaccinate their children against seasonal flu 2009-2010 (p=0.0092) and H1N1 2009-2010 (p=0.0291). These findings suggest that socioeconomic and caregiver characteristics as well as intentional parental decision-making play essential roles in influencing childhood influenza vaccination rates. -
Abstract: Charlottesville City Market: It's Place in the Community Today and Tomorrow
Authors: Carla Jones, Erica Stratton, Natalie Roper, Anne De Chastonay
Institution: University of Virginia
A team of students from the University of Virginia’s Jefferson Public Citizens (JPC) program in partnership with Market Central collected data for six weeks using surveys, PhotoVoice, and population counts at the Charlottesville City Market. In its 38-year history, this project marks the first collaborative effort between U.Va and the market to use valid research principles to assess valuable information about the market and its shoppers.
The JPC program supports community engagement and research through facilitating partnerships between student teams and a community partner to help complete a project that is valuable. Anne De Chastonay, Carla Jones, Natalie Roper, and Erica Stratton, worked with their community partner, Market Central, other community members, and U.Va faculty to determine what information would be necessary as Charlottesville contemplates the future of the City Market.
As debate over a permanent home for the market began, the absence of reliable data became evident. By conducting research and sharing the results with the City Council and the community at large through various listening sessions, this team of students helped give a voice to the community and provided important information to help make decisions on the future of the market, and its significance to the community. -
Abstract: Prescription Drug Use Among Older Adults and Potentially Inappropriate Drug Use: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study
Authors: A. Agyemang, MPH; C. Pagliasotti, MD; S. Ratliff, MS; M. Lohman, MHS; M. Choi, PhD; L. Edwards, BA; J. Engeda , BA; K. Zivin, PhD; B. Mezuk, PhD
Institution: Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Psychology, Department of Epidemiology and Community Health and University of Michigan School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry
Background: Older adults taking prescription medications are at increased risk for experiencing adverse drug-drug interactions or using inappropriate medicines due in part to their high rate of poly-pharmacy.
Objective: To quantify and identify predictors of prescription medication use, and estimate potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use and potentially harmful drug-drug interactions in a nationally-representative sample of older adults.
Methods: Descriptive analyses using the Prescription Drug Supplement of the 2004 Health and Retirement Study (N = 4,212). Analyses were weighted to reflect the US population over the age of 50.
Results: Twenty-two percent of participants reported using 7-10 prescription medications. The most prevalent medication classes were cardiovascular (79.7%), endocrine/metabolism (45.3%), gastrointestinal (22.7%), analgesic (21.1%), and neurologic (15.1%). One percent of respondents were prescribed medications with potentially deleterious drug-drug interactions such as ACE inhibitors and potassium. Using Beer’s criteria, 1% of respondents with lung disease reported PIM.
Conclusions: Poly-pharmacy is common among older adults. Potentially adverse drug-drug interactions and PIM, while infrequent, could be fatal. These findings suggest that physicians should integrate precautionary measures in prescribing practices.
Congratulations to each of the winners!
