Meet the Public Health Association of New York City (PHANYC) by Anu Anish, M.P.H. ’14
C
onnection, commitment and advocacy are a few words used to describe the Public Health Association of New York City, coined in the public health world as PHANYC. Established in 1936, PHANYC is considered to be one of the oldest affiliates of the APHA. Since the time of PHANYC’s establishment, it has served to be a catalyst within the field of public health. Their commitment to informing their members and the public about the healthcare system has led them to various initiatives from community education to influencing public policy. PHANYC has approximately 400 members, which include physicians, nurses, educators, students, researchers and healthcare administrators. The wide array of members allows for a multitude of interests. These various talents allow for initiatives within the community, such as testifying before legislative and government bodies; informing law makers; and enlightening the public via media, newsletters and forums. PHANYC not only allows student membership, but also has developed
programs that allow for active student participation. The Annual Student Conference on May 4, 2013 allowed anyone interested in public health to present abstracts from their research and area of interest. Student and new professionals membership provides the opportunity to network and connect with other individuals in your area. PHANYC has been a primary advocate of public health issues and as a member you will be advocating in the NYC community and staying informed on rising issues. Aside from a Student and New Professionals Committee, PHANYC also has a committee for Policy & Legislation. This committee is active in supporting NYC and NYS on various issues, including but not limited to funding for public health programs, access to health insurance, expanding access to vaccinations, women’s health and safe water initiatives. If any of these topics include your area of interest, I encourage you to become an active member of PHANYC.
As students and advocates of public health it is essential for us to commit our time to our community. When establishing ourselves with organizations such as PHANYC and APHA it allows us to attain and expand our knowledge of the public health issues around us. Public health shapes and forms every aspect of our lives from the food we eat to the policies being passed in government. Living in a time where our healthcare is changing daily requires us to invest our time in educating ourselves about it.
Hofstra Hosts First National Public Health Week Event Series (continued) individuals and engaged the audience in a discussion about the short- and long term effects of Hurricane Sandy. The panel also addressed how to tackle vulnerabilities in systems, including health care and emergency response, within the region. Friday afternoon we held the event “Zumba: Ditch the Workout, Join the Party!” This free Zumba session was led by fitness instructor Leah Bank to promote healthy lifestyles and exercise. Free water bottles were given away to all attendees and a Nike Fuel Band was raffled off to promote health and wellness. Friday evening we held the event “Soul Food Junkies: Film Screening, Panel Discussion and Food Tasting.” This film screening was held at the Roosevelt Fire Department headquarters. The film was followed by a short panel discussion, food demonstration and tasting, with the director of the Roosevelt Farmer’s Market, physicians from the NuHealth Family Health Center, and Chef Leisa Dent of LL Dent Restaurant in Carle Place. The event was attended by more than 70 individuals, most of whom were either members of the Roosevelt community or employees at the Roosevelt Middle School. That same evening, graduate students held the networking event “Celebrate Public Health” where they mingled with more than 25 peers and invited professionals to discuss the week’s events. In addition to the panels and events listed above, SOPHA (comprising M.P.H. and M.S. in Community Health students) ran an action-packed, three-day campus-wide public health campaign. Hundreds of students visited the Mack Student Center-based campaign table where they were exposed to highly effective health promotion messages and activities, including a Vision Impairment Workshop that offered critical insight into the physical impact of high blood-alcohol levels; having their blood pressure checked; discussing nutritional guidelines and having their BMI calculated; and obtaining health information about sexually-transmitted diseases, distracted driving and sugar-sweetened beverages, among many other issues. Additionally, students visited exhibits that raised awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke (empty shoes) and drunk driving (half police car-half taxi with message – You Choose Your Ride), as well as strategically placed signs and chalk messages that emphasized the return on investment of public health measures. Hofstra’s first National Public Health Week Event Series was a huge success! The goal for the event series was to be able to educate, engage and empower the Hofstra community to make healthier decisions for themselves and for society. The School of Health Sciences and Human Services and SOPHA met this goal by reaching out to the Hofstra community in a lasting and meaningful way. The graduate students that were so instrumental in event planning and implementation garnered valuable experience in rolling out a large-scale health promotion initiative while expanding their professional networks and having a positive impact on their community. After tireless planning, late nights and long hours, the planning committee can truly say the experience was a win-win – indeed, a perfect example of ROI!
7