Weekly Edition – July 3, 2012

July 3, 2012 0 Comments

In this week’s edition

:: Reactions to the Supreme Court’s ACA decision
:: Public Health in the Rockies registration now open
:: 2012 faculty promotions and awards of tenure
:: Save the Date – Summer Public Health Forum
:: Save the Date – Fall Alumni Networking Lunch
:: Public Health Matters

Reactions to the Supreme Court’s ACA decision

Dean David C. Goff, Jr., MD, PhD and Associate Dean for Public Health Practice Tim Byers, MD, MPH share their reactions to the recent Supreme Court decision in this jointly issued response:

On June 28, 2012, the United States Supreme Court issued a historic decision on the fate of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). As a school of public health, we see that decision as a turning point for the nation’s public health and health care systems, and for our own role in advancing community health through cooperation between health care and public health.

Most of the public’s attention was focused on the widely debated “individual mandate” provision, but there were broader issues affected by this decision. The ACA re-framed the mission of the U.S. health care system and providers toward a greater expectation to improve community health and the health of our population as a nation. That change will create more opportunities for partnerships between health care providers and public health practitioners to improve community health. Specifically, expansion of the mission of health care to include improved health of whole communities now opens important new synergies between health care systems and public health agencies.

It is unreasonable for us to expect that a single statute could literally be a “cure-all” for our growing and strained health care system. But ACA brought to light and seeks to advance the interests that are tied so closely to our school’s mission. ACA supports the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council; the CDC’s Community Prevention Services Task Force and their community guide; the Community Transformation Grant program to address healthy eating, physical activity and tobacco control; the Let’s Move initiative; the Childhood Obesity Task Force; and vital programs to train the public health workforce.

Regardless of the legality of the individual mandate, these public health initiatives are well worth their place as national health policy priorities.

Immediately following the Court’s decision, several local and national health organizations issued their reactions, including:
:: American Public Health Association
:: Association of Schools of Public Health
:: The Colorado Health Foundation
:: The Colorado Trust
:: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Public Health in the Rockies registration now open

The Colorado School of Public Health is pleased to be the presenting sponsor for the 2012 Public Health in the Rockies annual conference, September 19-21 in Pueblo, Colo.

Conference registration is now open. Public health faculty, students, alumni and practitioners are encouraged to register early to take advantage of the discounted prices available now through August 20. Register online.

About the 2012 Conference | Public Health Unplugged: a platform for moving forward in a time of reduced funding
Public Health communities in every state are experiencing shrinking funding sources and continued termination of vital programs. In Colorado, we deal with similar struggles, and are being forced to have crucial conversations regarding public health capacity. We are also getting back to the basics of public health science and creating new partnerships that go beyond the usual scope of public health. As a community, we are searching for viable solutions that will allow us to overcome the new reality of reduced capacity for public health related programs in Colorado.

The 2012 Public Health in the Rockies Conference addresses the unraveling of funding, services and public and environmental health programs with a focus on:

:: bridging unique partnerships across fields
:: strategies and processes to strengthen our system
:: moving forward with reduced funding
:: best practices at all levels in Colorado communities and neighboring states.

Learn more online.

Public Health in the Rockies is a shared endeavor of the Colorado Public Health Association, Colorado Society for Public Health Education and the Public Health Nurses Association of Colorado. Unique in nature, as it offers a gathering platform for all those associated with public health from a variety of settings and professions.

2012 faculty promotions and awards of tenure

Congratulations to the following Colorado School of Public Health faculty for their recent promotions and awards of tenure, effective July 1, 2012.

Angela Brega, PhD, Department of Community and Behavioral Health
Promoted to Associate Professor

Douglas Everett, PhD, National Jewish Health
Promoted to Professor (Affiliate)

Katerina Kechris-Mays, PhD, Department of Biostatistics and Informatics
Promoted to Associate Professor, with an award of tenure

Elaine Morrato, DrPH, Department of Health Systems, Management and Policy
Promoted to Associate Professor, with an award of tenure

Colorado School of Public Health faculty are central to advancing the mission of the school through their contributions to public health scholarship and service. Congratulations and thank you for your commitment to the school and health of our communities.

Read the full announcement online.

Save the Date – Summer Public Health Forum

Join Colorado School of Public Health faculty and students for the Summer 2012 Public Health Forum, Thursday, August 16 on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

10 am – 2 pm | Education Building 2 North

The Public Health Forum is hosted each semester to showcase the master of public health student capstone experience projects. The capstone is part of the MPH Practice-Based Learning curriculum offered at all three Colorado School of Public Health campuses.

Save the Date – Fall Alumni Networking Lunch

Join up with fellow Colorado School of Public Health alumni at this year’s Public Health in the Rockies Conference in Pueblo, Colo. The conference is an annual opportunity to learn more about the trends in public health and network with colleagues from across the state. And this year the school will offer its first ever conference alumni networking lunch.

Wednesday, September 19
12:15-1:15 | Pueblo Convention Center
Conference registration is required

To attend the alumni networking lunch, register for the Public Health in the Rockies Conference, either as a full registration or single-day registration. School students and faculty are also encouraged to attend the lunch and network with alumni from across the school’s campuses and programs.

To register and reserve your seat, visit the Public Health in the Rockies Conference online.

Questions: E-mail questions to CSPH.Alumni@ucdenver.edu.

Alumni news and notes: Alumni don’t forget to submit your recent updates and news to CSPH.Alumni@ucdenver.edu then find the school and fellow classmates on LinkedIn.

Public Health Matters

Upcoming Events | View details about these events online
:: July 4 – Independence Day (No Classes and Offices are Closed) | CU, CSU, UNC
:: July 9 – CRISP Seminar Series: A Method of Achieving Covariate Balance…
:: July 11 – Prospective Student Information Session
:: July 17 – Administration: Executive Council Meeting
:: July 22 – Rocky Mountain Evidence-Based Health Care Workshop

Public Health News | Visit Public Health Newsroom
News and resources on the recent Colorado wildfires:
:: CSUCares helping High Park Fire victims cope
:: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment – Health Recommendations and Advisories
:: Denver Post
:: National Jewish Health Recommendations

Public Health Job Opportunities | View details about these opportunities online
:: Assistant Health Center Manager – Denver Metro
:: Public Health Director – Creede, CO
:: Communications Coordinator – Denver Metro
:: Program Evaluation Specialist – San Diego, CA
:: Billing Clerk – Denver, CO
:: Bilingual Health Center Assistant – Denver Metro
:: Manager Career and Employer Relations – Denver Metro
:: Health Data Analyst – Englewood, CO