Annual Report Magazine 2008

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH | 2008

Annual Report

M A G A Z I N E

Local Impact. Global Significance.

Mission

We protect and improve the health of the people of Ohio, the nation and the world.

Through interdisciplinary research, we seek to understand the forces that affect public health and the delivery of health services. We prepare the next generation of public health practitioners, health care managers and scholars.

Collaborating with government agencies and other partners, we develop solutions to current and emerging public health problems.

Vision

We aspire to be a leader in public health research and education with local impact and global signiďŹ cance.

Values Equity We believe in the fundamental fairness of a healthy world. All people should have an environment that optimizes health, access to affordable and high-quality health care, awareness of personal choices for improving health, and opportunities to help improve the health of our communities.

Ethics We maintain high levels of academic and scientiďŹ c integrity, conduct research that protects the rights and welfare of all study participants, and create an inclusive environment that supports our faculty, staff, students and constituents.

Excellence We pursue innovative research that is scientiďŹ cally rigorous and relevant. We are committed to providing a high-quality learning experience and the tools to enable students to meet future challenges. We value dedicated service and leadership that helps individuals and communities live healthier lives.

ANNUAL REPORT | 2008

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Table of contents

Editorial Staff Christine O’Malley, Communications Director Wendy Pramik, Communications Coordinator Publication design by The Drawing Room College of Public Health Home Page: http://cph.osu.edu

Dean’s Message

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Progress Report

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Research: Occupational safety and effects on health

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Research News and Selected Projects

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Teaching and Learning: Clinical rotations for MHA students

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Teaching and Learning News

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Engagement and Outreach: Public Health Grand Rounds

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Engagement and Outreach News

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Faculty Feature: Jeff Caswell retires after 38 years of service

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Faculty News

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Alumni News

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By the Numbers

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Development: Columbus Farmer’s Market

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“Local Impact. Global Significance.”

All photo credits are from University Photography except: p6. CKM stock; p. 12 CPH staff; p. 15 courtesy Joycelyn Elders; pgs. 22-23 courtesy of Erick Vidmar, Brandy Reeves and Sophia Tolliver; p. 27 HSMP Alumni Society.

The CPH Annual Report Magazine is published annually every September by the OSU College of Public Health for the alumni, faculty, students, staff and friends of the college. This is the fourth issue. Copyright 2008. Permission to reprint any portion must be obtained from the college. Contact: College of Public Health Communications Office, 320 W. 10th Ave., StarlingLoving M116, Columbus OH 43210. Phone: (614) 293-9406.

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

DEAN’S MESSAGE

Local impact, global significance As I write this, our country is going through a period of almost unprecedented economic uncertainty. Many people are experiencing more than the usual level of stress. We in public health know that this stress will take its toll on the health of our communities. We also know, from research on health disparities, that not everyone will pay this toll equally. To our faculty, staff and students, who believe in the fundamental fairness of a healthy world, this is truly a time for great concern. However, we believe that we can improve the health of communities here in Columbus and around the globe.

In his book, “High Noon: 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them,” J.F. Rischard lists 20 problems that we must fix. These problems include: • Global warming • Fight against poverty • Natural disaster prevention and mitigation

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• Global infectious diseases • Illegal drugs Public health has the ability to impact all of these. If you look at the other 15 problems on Rischard’s list, public health is related to almost all of them. Witness the story about our student Narry Tiao, who went to Brazil for her summer practicum and tested fresh cow’s milk for dangerous disease-causing bacteria (see pages 13-14). In today’s world, zoonotic diseases can easily pass from animals to humans and around the world. Narry’s work helps determine the genetic characteristics of these bacteria and may ultimately lead to education initiatives that prevent such infections.

Global significance starts in our own backyard with local impact. We believe in the fundamental fairness of access to healthy food regardless of what neighborhood you call home. As a result of a donation from Women & Philanthropy, we were able to support a downtown Farmer’s Market, which provided locally grown food to neighborhoods that don’t have much choice in fresh produce (see page 25).

Discussions of the social determinants of health must begin with an awareness of unfair and inequitable standards of living. This year, we have collaborated with our city and state health agencies to build on this growing awareness. We have jointly organized Public Health Grand Rounds events that included a panel discussion in the spring and a fall visit with Dr. Joycelyn Elders, former US Surgeon General (page 15).

The College continues to progress on launching the Center for Health Equity and Multicultural Health. We are currently searching for a center director. The center will be a key avenue for our College to become more actively engaged in the community in order to address those social determinants of health.

I invite you to become an active part of this effort to have global significance and local impact. As I start my second term as Dean, I look forward to making those connections happen.

Dean Stanley Lemeshow

ANNUAL REPORT | 2008

PROGRESS REPORT

Milestones exhibit celebrates public health accomplishments The College of Public Health hosted the traveling exhibit “Milestones: Accomplishments in Public Health Over the Last 100 Years” last fall in Bricker Hall, home of President E. Gordon Gee. The exhibit, created by Pfizer and the Association of Schools of Public Health, highlighted 11 significant discoveries made in public health during the last 100 years. Topics included vaccines, oral health, infectious disease control and cardiovascular disease.

The College added a section called “Tomorrow’s Milestones: Progress at The Ohio State University College of Public Health,” which featured images of public health faculty and students engaging in research, education and service activities.

Dean Lemeshow reappointed Dean Stanley Lemeshow was recently reappointed for a second five-year term, from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2013.

Joseph A. Alutto, executive vice president and provost said the College of Public Health has made significant advances under the leadership of Dean Lemeshow.

“I am confident that, with his leadership and the efforts of the faculty and staff, the College of Public Health will continue to make progress toward the goals of the University’s Academic Plan,” Alutto said.

Dean Lemeshow, first appointed in 2003, is the college’s first permanent dean.

Under his leadership, the School of Public Health separated from the College of Medicine, achieved college status from the

President E. Gordon Gee visits with students, faculty and staff at the Milestones in Public Health photo exhibit outside his office in Bricker Hall.

university’s Board of Trustees, has seen its research funding more than triple, and nearly doubled in the size of the faculty and students. Dean Lemeshow oversaw the expansion of academic programs, and he recruited a new leadership team.

Ohio State’s College of Public Health is the first and only accredited school of public health in the state. The program ranks 21st in US News & World Report, and its MHA program ranks 12th.

2008 Champions of Public Health Each fall, the College presents the Champions of Public Health awards.

Winners of the 2008 Champions of Public Health are: • Gary Smith, MD, DrPH, director, Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, in the public health practitioner category.

• Barbara Beckwith, breast cancer survivor and advocate for minority breast cancer survivors, in the community leader category.

• SmokeFree Columbus, for successfully banning cigarette smoke from public places and preparing the way for the success of a statewide ban with the passage of Issue 5 in 2006.

These awards recognize individuals and groups who have made a significant impact on the health of Ohioans.

For more about the winners, go to our web site at http://cph.osu.edu/champions.

Funding, architect selection make progress for Cunz Hall The project team in charge of renovating Cunz Hall for the College of Public Health reached several accomplishments this year in terms of funding and architect selection.

Last fall, the university’s Board of Trustees approved $6.5 million in capital funds for the project, estimated to cost a total of $21 million. In addition, the State of Ohio will cover $8.5 million. At this point, the College has secured approximately three-quarters of the funds needed for the renovation.

The College is currently planning a capital campaign to meet the remaining funding needs. This includes pursuing certification as an environmentally friendly building under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

In spring, the state Controlling Board approved a design contract with Jonathan Barnes Architecture and Design Ltd. for the project. Principal Jonathan Barnes expects five of his firm’s nine staff members to work on the interior and exterior redesign of the 1960s-era building. The design phase should be completed by early 2009.

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THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

RESEARCH

All in a day’s work Public health faculty study occupational safety and effects on health Jonathan Studnek (left), a PhD student in epidemiology and fellow with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, and J. Mac Crawford, assistant professor in the College of Public Health’s Division of Environmental Health Sciences 4

By Wendy Pramik CPH Communications

American workers face many dangers on the job, some due to hazardous machinery and working conditions, and others as the result of especially long and demanding work schedules.

As the hours at work steadily increase for many employees beyond the 40-hour weekly norm, researchers at the College of Public Health are concentrating on occupational safety and health and how best to protect people’s health on the job.

“Ohio State is a recognized center of expertise in this area, and the College of Public Health is at the forefront of this research,” said Allard Dembe, associate professor and chair of the College’s Division of Health Services Management and Policy.

Dembe is one of several College of Public Health faculty members whose research often focuses on occupational safety and health issues. Dembe has studied occupational health policy and workers’ compensation for 30 years. He has written numerous research articles on

the topic and, through a grant from the W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, is currently completing a new book on the effects of demanding work schedules that is scheduled for publication early next year.

“Occupational health researchers can apply public health methodology to establish work environments that are safe and productive,” Dembe said.

Safe and healthy work environments protect more than just employees, Dembe said. They also help co-workers, family members, customers and other members of the public who are impacted by the workplace environment. Poor occupational practices can greatly affect employers through lost production time, medical-care costs and legal fees.

J. Mac Crawford, assistant professor in the College of Public Health’s Division of Environmental Health Sciences, specializes in occupational health among first responders and health care workers. One of his current projects involves research-

ANNUAL REPORT | 2008

ing the work environment of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics.

“EMTs are often on call 24 hours a day for several days a week to provide first-response medical care to people,” Crawford said. “The occupation itself though, has had limited studies looking at the effects these workloads have on this population.”

“You need a healthy EMS workforce in order to respond to emergencies effectively.”

Crawford is working on the project with Jonathan Studnek, a PhD student in epidemiology and fellow with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. They want to understand the factors that may influence risk of illness or injury and also to increase awareness in the EMS profession of the risks they face. Regular exposure to loud noises, such as sirens, may cause hearing loss.

Regular exposure to black carbon, or soot, from diesel exhaust in fire stations may decrease lung function. The use of latex gloves may cause allergic reactions.

Repeated heavy lifting, such as loading patients into an ambulance, may cause back or other musculoskeletal injuries.

Jay Wilkins, professor in the Division of Epidemiology, focuses on the safety of agriculture workers, in particular the safety of children. He serves as the director of the Great Lakes Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Allard Dembe, associate professor and chair of the College’s Division of Health Services Management and Policy 5

“Agriculture as an occupation is one of the riskiest of them all,” Wilkins said.

“I personally find it intolerable that 100 kids get killed each year on farms in the United States.”

Wilkins is researching ways to reduce those numbers and to limit risks in agricultural jobs. Farm hazards include dangerous machinery and hand tools, confrontation with animals and exposure to chemical agents such as pesticides.

Since the 1990s, Wilkins has challenged the North American Guidelines for Children’s Agricultural Tasks, a resource developed to assist parents in assigning farm jobs to their children living or working on farms.

“What bugged me about it is that they didn’t study real kids doing real farm work,” Wilkins said. Instead, he said, the study relied on “expert opinions.”

In recent studies, Wilkins established that children who work on farms can be reliable sources for reporting inju-

ries and on-the-job risks through their self-reported daily logs. In future studies, Wilkins will use this data to develop written guidelines on prevention of childhood agricultural injury.

“We still have a lot more work to do,” Wilkins said.

Two other faculty have projects related to occupational health. Tim Buckley, associate professor and chair of the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, is studying the importance of chemical exposures to skin in the workplace. His research involves developing biological monitoring and behavioral assessment methods leading to more effective strategies for evaluating exposure.

Janet deMoor, assistant professor in the College’s Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion, is examining cancer survivors’ intentions for work following diagnosis and treatment and cancer survivors’ employment patterns and consequent economic and health outcomes. ■

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

RESEARCH NEWS

Olympics air pollution clean-up offers research opportunity Because air pollution can affect the health and performance of athletes, the Chinese government closed industries and cleared roads of traffic in Beijing during the 2008 Summer Olympics. Qinghua Sun, assistant professor in the College’s Division of Environmental Health Sciences, is leading a study to determine if the targeted reduction in air pollution in Beijing benefited cardiovascular health.

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Sun, who earned his PhD in 1996 from the Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Science in Beijing, is an expert on the effects of particulate air pollution on human health.

“This presents a great opportunity to evaluate the health consequences using a natural, real-world exposure,” Sun said.

Sun is examining the effects of air pollution reduction in Beijing during the Summer Games, Aug. 8-24 and Paralympic Games, Sept. 6-17, and will compare them to the “normal” air exposure after the Games (from October to December, 2008) to see if he can find a relationship between the city’s air pollution reduction and the improvement of cardiovascular diseases in the area.

“It is anticipated that these measures would reduce ambient particulate matter and alter the constituents of those particulate matters, which may have an impact on human health,” he said.

The study is sponsored by The Ohio State University College of Public Health and New York University, with the help of Peking University School of Public Health and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.

The Beijing Olympics provided an opportunity to study the effects of air quality on health.

Study questions value of training for intensive care specialists Research conducted by Dean Stanley Lemeshow finds that patients managed by critical-care physicians, or intensivists, run a higher risk of dying than those who are treated by physicians who do not have the training.

The study, published in the June issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, seems counterintuitive, said Lemeshow.

“It flies in the face of widely held opinions that patients who are treated by critical-care physicians in intensive-care units are somehow better off. We’re not seeing that,” said Stanley Lemeshow, dean of the College of Public Health.

Lemeshow worked with a team of researchers, including several highly respected ICU physicians, to find an association between critical-care physician management and patient mortality in an intensive care environment. They examined data from 123 intensive care units around the nation. The data involved almost 102,000 critically ill patients admitted to U.S. hospitals from 2000 to 2004.

“No one’s ever looked at anything like this in such a large sample,” said Lemeshow, who collaborated with Gary Phillips of Ohio State’s Center for Biostatistics to analyze and interpret data using statistical methods.

The researchers employed a form of logistic regression analysis that considered the clustering of patients within hospitals. They also developed propensity scores to be used as variables. Specifically, Lemeshow said, the study considered that patients receiving care from the most highly trained doctors in the field of critical care could be at a higher risk of dying.

The results: The death rate was slightly higher than expected in units where 95 percent or more of patients received critical-care management. Where 5 percent or fewer received the care, the death rate was slightly lower than expected.

“In addition to the regression modeling, we matched patients within intensive-care units ... on their likelihood to receive critical care management ... to try to tease out any potential for confound-

ANNUAL REPORT | 2008

ing or false associations that might have existed,” Lemeshow said. “Even after all the work that we did and all the controlling attempts we made, the association was still there.”

The study has caused a stir in the medical community.

“Probably no matter what we say, some people won’t be convinced,” Lemeshow said. “We present this as an observation without explanation and we tried our best to control for everything possible. Hopefully, this will provide the motivation for future studies to see if this result is reproducible and further explore the possible explanations.”

Mental health patients want more information, involvement Many mental health patients want to be more involved in decisions about their care. They desire both more information about treatment effectiveness and the opportunity to act on their own experiences and values, according to a study by Sandra Tanenbaum, associate professor in the College’s Division of Health Services Management and Policy.

The study, which appeared in the April 2008 issue of Community Mental Health Journal, explored mental health patients’

Sandra Tanenbaum, PhD

perspectives on information, including scientific information, and other inputs to decision-making.

Tanenbaum was motivated by the growing importance of evidence-based practice in mental health services and policy. The theory behind evidence-based practice is that medical practitioners should base their decisions about treatment on research findings, or evidence which comes from statistical studies, rather than more traditional sources of medical knowledge.

“Very few people have looked at consumer perspectives on evidence-based practice in mental health,” said Tanenbaum, who has studied evidence-based medicine at Ohio State for 15 years. “The kinds of issues that these consumers raise in their responses are issues that other people have raised as well.”

Tanenbaum’s research team conducted four focus groups with 38 severely mentally ill patients in 2005, and a 2006 follow-up study in which an additional 40 patients were interviewed. Participants, who varied in age, race and diagnosis, were asked to comment on if and how they made decisions about their medical care.

Results suggest that some mental health patients gather information on their own from various sources, including pharmacists. For most patients, a “trusting doctor-patient relationship,” one where the patient is respected as an individual, is the most important influence on decision-making. Health care providers who expressly rely on scientific studies were viewed in a positive light and as an antidote to what many patients experienced as haphazard care.

On the other hand, mental health patients raise serious concerns about treatment decisions based entirely on statistical studies. They are unconvinced that study findings are always generaliz-

David Murray, PhD

able to their own cases, and they propose a role for personal history, values and meanings in making decisions about their treatment.

The study’s findings, which Tanenbaum says are exploratory, suggest that mental health patients are supportive of a role for more information, including scientific studies in mental health care, but that these alone are not sufficient for optimal care.

Murray’s review of cancer trials reveals flaws in design, analysis A study by Ohio State’s David Murray, PhD, published in the August 2008 issue of the American Journal of Public Health suggests that many past clinical trials used inappropriate analytical methods and may have overstated their conclusions.

Murray, professor and chair of the College’s Division of Epidemiology, coauthored the study with Sherri L. Pals of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and a team of other researchers.

The team evaluated trials covering

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THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Selected Projects

RESEARCH NEWS

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topics that included smoking, weight loss, mental health, and sexual behaviors. They reviewed 34 articles published in respected health journals between 2002 and 2006. They discovered that nearly 95 percent of the trials mentioned in the articles used inappropriate analytic methods to reach their conclusions.

“If we keep using the wrong methods, we’re just going to confuse the public and the researchers, and we’re not going to make any headway toward reducing disease,” Murray said.

Murray, who wrote the first textbook on the design and analysis of group randomized trials in 1998, said it’s likely that “most researchers don’t realize that they’re making a mistake” when they employ analysis models for the wrong type of trial. For instance, they might use methodology for a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT), when it is in fact an Individually Randomized Group Trial (IRGT). The RCT involves the treatment of individuals, whereas IRGT involves group interaction. The error happens when researchers ignore the group interaction.

Murray said the paper’s goal is to provide concrete advice on how to better

Collaborative research: the reluctance to use decision aids National Science Foundation Arkes, Hal

Examining the reach of clean indoor air policies in Appalachia The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Ferketich, Amy

Cognitive bases of hindsight effects National Science Foundation Arkes, Hal

Public Health workforce scholarship program Ohio Department of Administrative Services Holtzhauer, Francis

analyze various trial models.

“If we have to use one of these designs, let’s at least do it the right way,” he said.

Other team members included Catherine Alfano, adjunct assistant professor in the College’s Division of Health Behavior

Evaluating the impact of state coverage initiative reform proposals Health Policy Institute of Ohio Dembe, Allard

and Health Promotion, and director of the National Cancer Institute’s Office of Cancer Survivorship and researchers from the University of California, Merced, and the University of Minnesota.

Case study environmental monitoring in support of the Baltimore Region Environmental Justice in Transportation project Morgan State University/US Department of Agriculture Buckley, Timothy Evaluation of a UV-equipped vacuum cleaner for inactivation of surface embedded microorganisms HALO Technologies, Inc Buckley, Timothy Exposure assessment tools to assess health impact of traffic Morgan State University/US Environmental Protection Agency Buckley, Timothy Cancer survivors’ intentions for work following diagnosis and treatment Lance Armstrong Foundation de Moor, Janet Cancer survivors’ employment patterns and consequent economic and health outcomes National Cancer Institute de Moor, Janet Employed Latino health initiative Access HealthColumbus Dembe, Allard

A study of employer-sponsored elder care programs The Retirement Research Foundation Dembe, Allard How demanding work schedules affect occupational injury risk Upjohn (W E) Institute for Employment Research Dembe, Allard Monitoring and evaluation of the Mansfield STD re-entry testing pilot program Ohio Dept Rehabilitation & Correction Dembe, Allard

PA & OH Public Health Training Center University of Pittsburgh Holtzhauer, Francis Center For Public Health Preparedness Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Holtzhauer, Francis Buckeye Bluegrass Regional Leadership Academy Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Holtzhauer, Francis Training of public health personnel and public health partners in the “planning p process” for a type 3 incident Ohio Department of Health Holtzhauer, Francis Genetic and signaling pathways in epithelial thyroid cancer (Core C) National Cancer Institute Jarjoura, David After discharge management of low income frail elderly Summa Health System Jarjoura, David Patient activation to increase colon cancer screening National Cancer Institute Katz, Mira Assessing smoking and tobacco in Ohio prisons Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Kauffman, Ross Reducing cervical cancer in Appalachia (Core B) National Cancer Institute Lemeshow, Stanley The socio-environmental determinants of schistosomiasis re-emergence University of California at Berkeley/ National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases Liang, Song

ANNUAL REPORT | 2008

2008 Improving cardiovascular care for minority Americans: Facilitating organizational change George Washington University / The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation McAlearney, Ann

Evaluation of the Ohio Tobacco Cessation Centers project Ohio Tobacco Use Prevention & Control Foundation Pirie, Phyllis

Corporate universities in healthcare organizations American College of Healthcare Executives McAlearney, Ann

Measuring the value and effectiveness of public participation initiatives for the public sector “what to measure and a way to perform the measurement” Kettering Foundation Pompili, Michael

Trial of activity in adolescent girls University of North Carolina / National Heart, Lung, and Blood Inst Murray, David

Allergic condition susceptibility polymorphisms and glioma risk National Cancer Institute Schwartzbaum, Judith

Center for prevention and early intervention Johns Hopkins University/ National Institutes of Health Murray, David

Genetic and molecular epidemiology of adult glioma University of California San Francisco Schwartzbaum, Judith

Etiology of childhood obesity: A longitudinal study University of Minnesota/ National Institutes of Health Murray, David

Data coding and analysis for the `Consumer Voice for Affordable Health Care’ survey Universal Health Care Action Network Ohio Song, Paula

Community youth development study University of Washington/ National Institute on Drug Abuse Murray, David

Health behavior among religiously active black youth Association of Schools of Public Health Steinman, Kenneth

Ohio patient navigation program American Cancer Society Inc Paskett, Electra

Profile of family violence in Ohio Health Policy Institute of Ohio Steinman, Kenneth

Reducing cervical cancer in Appalachia National Cancer Institute Paskett, Electra

Ohio State health network infection control collaborative: Epi-centers for prevention of healthcare related infections Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Stevenson, Kurt

Enhancing colorectal cancer screening in primary care National Cancer Institute Paskett, Electra A randomized study to prevent lymphedema in women treated for breast cancer Lance Armstrong Foundation and Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Paskett, Electra CBPR strategies to increase colorectal cancer screening in Ohio Appalachia National Center Minority Health & Health Disparities Paskett, Electra Continuation of Netwellness University of Cincinnati/State Library Board Pirie, Phyllis

Air pollution and microvascular dysfunction: Leukocyte-dependent NAD(P)H oxidase National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Sun, Qinghua Diesel exhaust particles on angiogenesis Health Effects Institute Sun, Qinghua The role of consumer-operated services in a transforming public mental health system Ohio Department of Mental Health Tanenbaum, Sandra

Evidence and empowerment among consumers in the public mental health system Ohio Department of Mental Health Tanenbaum, Sandra Food-based modulation of biomarkers in human tissues at high-risk for oral cancer National Cancer Institute Weghorst, Christopher Chemoprevention of oral cancer in Appalachia American Cancer Society Inc Weghorst, Christopher Chemopreventive agent-responsive genes in oral cancer National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Res Weghorst, Christopher Prevention of oral cancer by strawberries with selenium assimilated in the fruit National Cancer Institute Weghorst, Christopher Genetic susceptibility and cervical cancer development Phi Beta Psi Sorority Weghorst, Christopher The Ohio State University Health System Tobacco Treatment Center Ohio Tobacco Use Prevention & Control Foundation Wewers, Mary Ellen Reducing cervical cancer in Appalachia (Project 2) National Cancer Institute Wewers, Mary Ellen Testing the effects of interactive computer programs for smoking cessation Walther Cancer Institute Wewers, Mary Ellen Developing and evaluating new approaches to youth agricultural injury prevention National Institute Occupational Safety & Health Wilkins, John Work-related injuries among immigrant workers Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital Wilkins, John Hearing acuity and risk of unintentional injury National Institute Occupational Safety & Health Wilkins, John

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THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

TEACHING & LEARNING

Bedside manner 10

Clinical rotations allow future administrators opportunity to observe hospital care

By Wendy Pramik CPH Communications

Thanks to a course unique to the College of Public Health, health administration students have a chance to witness the front lines of medical care.

protocol.

The often-intense peek inside the world of hospital care allows the students to appreciate up-close the mission of

The five-week course, Clinical Rotations for Health Care Management, is required of all first-year Master of Health Administration (MHA) students. The students don lab coats and scrubs and stand side-by-side with doctors and nurses performing their rounds. Some students are present for heart surgeries. Others observe babies being born. As alumni, they will pursue careers as health-care managers, administrators, and executives.

the institutions for which they are being trained. It also allows them to identify how management resources and skills can support the patient-care process.

The course has been taught for 15 years by Stephen F. Loebs, PhD, professor emeritus and past chair of the Division of Health Services Management and Policy.

He said no other MHA program in the country offers anything like it.

The idea for the course came from one

The course is designed to teach concepts beyond operational strategy or financial performance. It assigns pairs of MHA students to clinical rotation teams at The Ohio State University Medical Center. The students are required to make

of Loebs’ former students.

“It was her sense that if she was going to be an effective health-care manager that it would be critical for her and her classmates to understand the clinical-care process,” Loebs said.

patient rounds with the medical teams to better understand concepts such as bedside patient care and operating-room

Prior to joining the clinical care teams, students are given an orientation by senior hospital executives and physicians.

ANNUAL REPORT | 2008

They are also trained on patient privacy issues (HIPAA) and infection control measures, and are required to submit immunization records. The MHA students are then loaned appropriate clinical attire, including scrubs if they are assigned to clinical care teams in the operating rooms.

“It’s important for administrators to be on the floor to understand what the doctors are doing,” said Melissa Wong, a master’s candidate from Worthington.

She was assigned to the cardiology unit in the Ross Heart Hospital. The clinical team included two nurse practitioners, a registered nurse, a pharmacist, a pharmacy resident, a third-year medical student, and two respiratory therapists. Wong joined the team from 6 a.m. to noon two days a week for four weeks.

“Everyone on the clinical care team is so unbelievably intelligent,” Wong said.

“This course has definitely made me really respect and appreciate what they do.”

Loebs said the course wouldn’t be possible without the support of Dr. Hagop Mekhjian, Chief Medical Officer of The Ohio State University Health System.

Every February, Loebs coordinates with Dr. Mekhjian about the size of the course, typically about 25 to 30 students.

“Bridging the gap between non-physician health care executives and other health care professionals, such as doctors and nurses, is critical for teamwork and delivery of high-quality health care,” Dr.

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MHA student Melissa Wong during the Clinical Rotations class

“We’re in the business of helping people get better and live longer healthier lives.”

— Stephen F. Loebs, PhD, Professor Emeritus and past chair of the Division of Health Services Management and Policy

Mekhjian said.

Students are given two assignments: Write an essay and make a presentation to their classmates about their experience.

The presentation is meant to help the students learn how to orally summarize complicated matters. As managers they may be expected to make similar presentations to senior health care executives and boards of trustees.

“We’re in the business of helping

people get better and live longer healthier lives,” Loebs said. “I think it’s imperative that health-care managers understand where that business occurs – at the patient’s bedside, in the operating room, in the physician’s office.” ■

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

TEACHING & LEARNING NEWS

Now this is public health

Public Health graduate students handed out preventive-care items including first-aid kits, sunscreen and hand sanitizer to students outside Ohio State’s Recreation & Physical Activity Center during National Public Health Week in April.

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When the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) sought help raising awareness of public health, MPH students Jake Snoble and Lisa Frazier stepped up to the plate.

Snoble, Frazier and the Society of Public Health Students applied for and received a grant from ASPH to fund activities for National Public Health Week in April.

The students organized a program called “Spring into Preventive Care,” during which they handed out preventive-care items including first-aid kits, sunscreen and hand sanitizer to students outside Ohio State’s Recreation & Physical Activity Center.

They organized a charity walk at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research.

They also arranged a screening of the Spike Lee movie “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.” The film, shown on campus in Jennings Hall, is about America’s response to Hurricane Katrina.

All the while, Snoble and Frazier donned stickers with the slogan “This is Public Health.” The stickers, from ASPH, included the Web address whatispub-

lichealth.org. The Web site promotes careers in public health.

Public health students across the nation used the stickers to illustrate the many ways our lives are impacted by public health. They stuck them in college dorms, bathrooms and dining halls to show how we’re all connected in protecting the health of others.

Undergrads place fourth for work in air pollution Two undergraduate researchers who work in Assistant Professor Qinghua Sun’s lab finished fourth in the 2008 Denman Undergraduate Research Forum for a project that supports Sun’s research on the link between air pollution in Ohio and cardiovascular disease.

Matt Verdin, 19, and Zubin Yavar, 18, presented a poster and oral talk titled “Exposure to Air Pollution Potentiates Systemic Inflammation Associated with Vascular Dysfunction and Diabetes.”

More than 400 Ohio State undergraduate students participated.

Verdin and Yavar competed in the category of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. They were judged by Ohio State faculty and local corporate leaders.

“It was a really good surprise,” said Verdin, a freshman from Toledo, who’s majoring in philosophy and aspires to be a doctor.

“It was great to see our hard work pay off,” said Yavar, a freshman from Cincinnati, who’s majoring in biology and wants to be a cardiologist.

The Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, created in 1996, is a cooperative effort of The Ohio State University’s Honors & Scholars Center, the Under-

ANNUAL REPORT | 2008

graduate Research Office, and the Office of Research. The Forum showcases outstanding student research and encourages all undergraduates to participate in research as a value-added element of their education.

Sun’s students were financially supported by the College of Public Health Freshman Research Fund.

“I strongly believe that this is a very good strategy from our College to support undergraduate research, especially freshmen, so that they have an early exposure to environmental and public health-related research, which would have significant impact on their future career,” Sun said.

Before ever working in a lab, Verdin imagined it to be like the zany one in the movie “The Nutty Professor.”

“It’s more real and more exciting,” Verdin said. “Having actual data that will be used toward something important is exciting.”

Yavar agreed.

“I’m seeing information that I’ve learned in the classroom being applied and made useful in the lab.”

New HOPES traineeship awarded The first Center for Health Outcomes, Policy and Evaluation Studies (Center for HOPES) doctoral traineeship was awarded to a student who wants to change the face of health care for the better.

The 2008 Center for HOPES Doctoral Studies Traineeship Award was presented to Naomi Adaniya in April. She is a 2006 graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in business. Her area of concentration was in health care management

and policy.

“I’m excited about beginning my research in the fall,” said Adaniya, who plans to earn her Master of Public Health and PhD through the College’s Division of Health Services Management and Policy.

After earning her undergraduate degree, Adaniya moved to Chicago, where she worked for Sg2, a health care consulting firm. She then moved to Colombia and taught English at two universities.

She also worked in administration at Hospital San Rafael.

She learned about the Ohio State traineeship while still in Colombia.

“It’s great,” she said. “I get a huge feeling of accomplishment working in the field of public health and working toward the greater good.”

CPH grad student appointed to Ohio State Board of Trustees Jason W. Marion, a PhD student majoring in Environmental Health Sciences and minoring in Epidemiology, was appointed as the graduate and professional student trustee on Ohio State’s Board of Trustees by Gov. Ted Strickland.

Marion graduated from Morehead State University with a BS in Environmental Science and an MS in Biology. As an undergrad, he organized an “alternative spring break” trip for students centered on helping those in need, including families in Gulfport, Miss., whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Since 1999, Marion has been actively involved in environmental management through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Marion’s primary

Jason W. Marion

interest includes protecting water quality for public health.

“I feel very fortunate to be able to serve OSU and the people of Ohio at this challenging, but very exciting time,” Marion said. “OSU and higher education in Ohio are in the midst of a time of rapid change which will surely make my time on the board more meaningful.”

Marion’s appointment as an OSU trustee extends from June 2008 to May 2010.

Marion also received the 2008/09 PHPID Graduate Fellowship for his project on investigating water quality at Ohio inland beaches. His academic advisor is Timothy Buckley, associate professor and chair of the Division of Environmental Health Sciences.

Study of fresh milk in Brazil earns first place in poster competition A veterinary student’s investigation into bacteria found in cow’s milk has earned her first place in the 2008 Public Health Combined Conference poster competition.

Narry Tiao, a dual master’s degree student pursuing an MPH in Veterinary Public Health and an MS in Veterinary Preventive Medicine, spent two months in northeast Brazil last year studying the prevalence of MRSA in milk. Her research was part of her summer practicum experience.

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THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

TEACHING & LEARNING NEWS

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“I was really glad to display my research,” Tiao said. “A lot of the posters at the conference were about traditional public health topics. I was there representing the new growing trend in public health, zoonoses, which is especially important nowadays with the new diseases we are facing.”

Zoonoses are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans and vice versa. In Brazil, Tiao collected milk samples from dairy farms looking for MRSA, the antibiotic-resistant form of Staphylococcus aureus. She isolated species of Staphylococcus from the milk and brought them back to the United States, where she characterized the MRSA samples using molecular techniques.

“We wanted to see how frequently this pathogen is found in milk in this region and determine their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics to understand them better,” Tiao said.

Tiao’s research interests include global public health and the molecular epidemiology of emerging infectious diseases.

She said her research in Brazil can benefit researchers there and in the United States.

“Now researchers in Brazil can use this preliminary data, which they didn’t have funding to collect for themselves, to apply for grants,” Tiao said. “On our end, we have collaborators in Brazil and an informative research project comparing the global epidemiology of Staphylococcus from milk.”

Tiao’s project for her master’s thesis will compare the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Staphylococcus in milk from Brazil and from U.S. dairy farms. Her advisor is Dr. Wondwossen Gebreyes.

Narry Tiao, a dual master’s degree student in Veterinary Public Health and Veterinary Preventive Medicine, examines bacteria found in cow’s milk.

Epidemiology of obesity offered as new elective on health threat For the first time, the College of Public Health offered a course on the epidemiology of obesity in spring quarter 2008. The course was created and taught by Sarah Anderson, PhD, assistant professor in the College’s Division of Epidemiology. Eight graduate students in the College participated.

“Obesity has become a significant public health problem in the United States and in many other countries,” Anderson said. “I wanted to develop a course that would improve students’ understanding of the public health impact of obesity as well as the challenges to conducting epidemiologic research in this area.”

Obesity has been identified as a contributing factor in chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and osteoarthritis.

Designed as an advanced epidemiology elective, the course gives students an opportunity

to delve into primary research literature and apply what they learned in other epidemiology courses. Before each class, students read articles on topics such as obesity in children and adolescents and how obesity can affect pregnancy and fertility. The articles are then discussed and critiqued, giving students a better perspective on the societal trends, risk factors and consequences of obesity.

Students also learn about prevention and treatment options for people suffering from obesity, as well as the effectiveness of such strategies. They also evaluate the role that health care providers, governments, schools, families, and others play in the prevention of obesity.

“I want students to come away from the course able to evaluate for themselves the evidence behind the headlines they may see in the news,” Anderson said.

The course will be offered again in spring 2009.

Sarah Anderson, PhD

Compiled by Wendy Pramik

ANNUAL REPORT | 2008

ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH

Conversation piece

Public Health Grand Rounds ignites discussions on inequality, politics Panelists are (from left) Jerry Friedman, advisor for health policy, Ohio State Office of Health Sciences, Kenneth Steinman, assistant professor, College of Public Health, Teresa Long, Columbus Public Health commissioner and Alvin Jackson, director, Ohio Department of Health.

By Wendy Pramik CPH Communications

Throughout 2008, the College of Public Health and its community partners are engaging central Ohio in a conversation about public health.

National Public Health Week based on the PBS series “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?” The documentary explored America’s racial and socioeco-

“Good health is a fundamental human right and is necessary to fully enjoy the freedom of our society. Health inequities are a direct threat to the freedom we value so deeply. Threats to freedom, whatever and however they come, are everyone’s concern,” said Alvin Jackson, MD, Ohio Department of Health director.

Inspired by last year’s Milestones in Public Health exhibit held at the University, the College plans to hold three events

nomic inequities and how they impact health. It also investigated how work conditions, social status and neighborhood conditions can alter human biology, and cause illness.

“Health – good or bad – depends on more than our genes, behaviors, and medicine. Where you are born, live, work and go to school also have a profound affect on overall health and well-being,” said Teresa Long, Columbus Public

that will raise awareness of certain public health topics. This “Grand Rounds” program is being funded with a grant from Pfizer and is being planned in collaboration with Columbus Public Health and the Ohio Department of Health.

Health commissioner, one of the panelists at the spring event.

Other panelists included: • Alvin Jackson, director, Ohio Department of Health • Jerry Friedman, advisor for health

The first Grand Rounds event was a panel discussion held on campus during

policy, Ohio State Office of Health Sciences

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THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH • Jason Reece, senior researcher, Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity • Kenneth Steinman, assistant professor, College of Public Health • Dean Stanley Lemeshow, moderator The panel members generated a meaningful discussion on racial and socioeconomic inequities in health before a large audience made up of Ohio State students, faculty and staff, as well as guests from around the Columbus community. The event was broadcast on the Government Television Channel 3.

“For many people in our country access to health care is worse than it would be in many developing countries. Key

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indicators, such as low birth-weight rates, are heading in the wrong direction,” said Stanley Lemeshow, dean of the College of Public Health.

The next Public Health Grand Rounds event will be an Oct. 8 presentation by former US Surgeon General M. Joycelyn Elders about politics and public health as the presidential election approaches.

Elders deems health care our country’s greatest national crisis.

Elders, now in her 70s, continues to advocate on health issues around the country and currently serves as distinguished professor of public health at the University of Arkansas School of Public Health.

Born in 1933 in Arkansas, Elders never saw a physician prior to her first year in college. At the age of 15, she received a scholarship from the United Methodist Church to attend college. Upon graduation at 18, she entered the US Army and received training as a physical therapist.

Elders used the GI Bill to attend medical school and become a doctor and professor. She rose through the ranks of academia and was eventually appointed director of the Arkansas Department of Health. She became US Surgeon General in 1993.

“We hope that engaging in these conversations throughout the year will enrich both our campus and the communities we serve,” said Dean Lemeshow.

“The new administration will face many problems including a huge national debt, a declining economy, continuing war in Iraq, but perhaps the biggest challenge is that our huge ‘health’ care system is really an expensive ‘sick’ care system. former US Surgeon General M. Joycelyn Elders

The College of Public Health Diversity Enhancement Committee chose this book, by Beverly Daniel Tatum, for its first book-club discussion.

‘Black Kids Sitting Together’ studied in diversity book club The College’s Diversity Enhancement Committee formed a book club this spring, which drew interest from about 80 faculty, staff and students. The first book chosen for discussion was “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” by Beverly Daniel Tatum. First published in 1997, the book highlights innovative ways to think and talk about race.

“I thought the book was really great,” said Maya Zimmerman, a first-year student in the Master of Public Health program. “It provided some interesting ideas and thoughts about race and ethnicity, and how those can be applied to our schools and businesses. It was applicable to the College of Public Health.”

Participants met in small groups to talk about the book. Facilitators proposed thought-provoking questions, such as “Why do people tend to hang out with others of their own culture and ethnicity?”

Ann McAlearney, associate professor in the College’s Division of Health Services Management and Policy and chair of the Diversity Enhancement Committee, led one of the six discussion groups.

“I think it’s unique in the history of the College that anybody has really tried anything like our committee has tried,” McAlearney said, “to get everybody involved in talking about a subject that is difficult.”

The committee plans to make the book club part of its diversity offerings.

ANNUAL REPORT | 2008

ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH Ohio, Kentucky partners provide public health leadership training The Buckeye Bluegrass Regional Leadership Academy (BBRLA) is a new yearlong leadership development program for mid-level to senior practitioners in the field of Public Health in Kentucky and Ohio. This new program is a partnership started last fall by leadership programs in the two states.

The purpose is to support local health districts in strengthening their organizational structures and leadership through the development of strategic and succession plans and the identification and training of high-potential employees for future senior leadership roles.

It is an outgrowth of Ohio’s and Kentucky’s highly successful individual Public Health Leadership Institutes (OPHLI and KPHLI) which are affiliated with The Ohio State University College of Public Health’s Office of Workforce Development and the University of Kentucky College of Public Health.

“There is a need for leadership development in public health especially with the looming workforce crisis due to pending retirements and a decline in the number of young professionals entering the field,” said Joanne Pearsol, associate director of CPH’s Office of Workforce Development.

BBRLA participants will develop plans and leadership skills to guide their organizations into the future and to prepare for leadership continuity.

The program is partially funded by a three-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The program administrators expect 24 teams to participate in strategic and succession planning with 240 individual scholars over the course of three years.

Courses will use a variety of dis-

tance-learning options. For example, the Strategic and Succession Planning course will include online learning modules and face-to-face sessions as well as individual and team work at home. The face-to-face sessions will alternate between southern Ohio and northern Kentucky. This course is supported by a grant from The Ohio State University’s Office of Outreach and Engagement.

okay. Few recognize that the medications available can have debilitating side effects.

Drug resistance is a distinct possibility and that resistance can be transmitted to a sexual or drug using partner,” said Love.

Since the beginning of the epidemic, AIDS has killed nearly 19 million people worldwide, including some 425,000 Americans. AIDS has replaced malaria and tuberculosis as the world’s deadliest infectious disease among adults and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.

More than 13 million children have been orphaned by the epidemic.

“The Columbus AIDS Task Force continually adapts its educational efforts and client services as the epidemic changes,” Love said. “I am very proud to be associated with this agency, its dedicated staff, and committed volunteers,” Love said.

NetWellness.org receives funding Randi Love, PhD

Columbus AIDS Task Force elects professor as chair Randi Love, clinical associate professor in the College’s Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion, was elected chair of the Columbus AIDS Task Force.

Her term began July 10 and will extend for one year.

Love has served on the board for three years and has volunteered for the organization since the early 1980s. Her role at the nonprofit agency has expanded from AIDS advocate to agency oversight. She says the organization’s biggest challenge is the public’s complacency about the spread of HIV. Advances in treatment mean infected people are living longer, healthier lives.

“Public perception is that AIDS is curable – just pop a pill and you’ll be

NetWellness.org, a nonprofit consumer health Web site operated by the College of Public Health and two other Ohio universities, was awarded $421,000 to support operations in 2008. The funding comes from the State Library of Ohio and Ohio Public Library Information Network.

“It represents recognition by Ohio libraries that NetWellness provides a significant service to Ohioans,” said Phyllis Pirie, director of the Ohio State NetWellness program and professor in the College’s Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion.

Launched in 1995, NetWellness.org was created in response to the public’s growing desire for accessible information via the Internet about health and medicine. The site was produced by Ohio State, Case Western Reserve University and University of Cincinnati.

“Many adult Internet users search the

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THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH Web for health information for themselves or for someone else,” Pirie said “The problem is that much of the information they find is from unknown or unreliable sources. NetWellness comes from people with demonstrated expertise.”

The site contains 55,000 pages of health information, including current health news, a health encyclopedia, and an “Ask an Expert” feature that allows users to question medical professionals from the three universities.

Summer Program keeps the pro’s up-to-date on health data analysis

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Nearly 200 public health professionals attended the College’s 2008 Summer Program in Applied Biostatistical & Epidemiological Methods. In this twoweek program, 12 courses were taught by 13 faculty with expertise in designing, managing, and analyzing health data.

In order to carry out their mission, public health professionals must have the skills to design studies, and manage and manipulate data. The Summer Program teaches participants to apply analytic skills to a broad range of public health functions.

For example, students taking Geographic Information Systems will learn how to use geographic data to map an infectious disease outbreak, environmental contamination, or other factors affecting population health.

“Correctly using public health information contributes to making the world around us a healthier and safer place. I applaud these professionals for pursing professional development opportunities to help them keep the public healthy,” said Dean Stanley Lemeshow, founder of the Summer Program.

The program first started in 2000 as part of the Center for Biostatistics. This

Dean Stanley Lemeshow teaches a course on applied logistic regression in the 2008 Summer Program in Applied Statistical and Epidemiological Methods.

is the first year that the College’s Office of Workforce Development has taken over the planning and implementation of the program. Professionals from five countries and 12 states plus Puerto Rico attended. Faculty in the program include well-known experts from across the United States and other countries.

The College worked closely with the Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) in securing external funds to support local practitioners’ attendance at the Summer Program.

“Many local public health departments are underfunded in terms of professional development,” said Lemeshow. “Employees of local and state health department want training in study design and data analysis, and this is an opportunity to get that from some of the best teachers in the world.”

Next year’s program is scheduled for July 13-24, 2009.

Webcast spurs conversation on energy and public health J. Mac Crawford, assistant professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, gathered some of the nation’s top experts in public health and the environment for a global conversation in

April on the current state of our planet’s health.

The result was “Converging Environmental Crises,” a Web-based conference during National Public Health Week, featuring more than a dozen health and environmental speakers who tackled topics such as global warming, overpopulation, and energy depletion.

Presenters included William Catton, emeritus professor of Sociology at Washington State University, and Roscoe Bartlett, Republican congressman from Maryland and co-chair of the Congressional Peak Oil Caucus.

The conference was facilitated by the Ohio Supercomputer Center in Columbus and linked to sites around the U.S. and Canada.

“We’ve helped establish a model of international interaction that doesn’t require traveling long distances,” Crawford said. “If public health professionals model this behavior for other segments of society, we may see reductions in fossil fuel use and carbon emissions.”

View an archived version of the Webcast at http://sg60.oar.net/Environmental_Crises/.

Compiled by Wendy Pramik

ANNUAL REPORT | 2008

FACULTY FEATURE

Emeritus

Jeff Caswell retires after 38 years at Ohio State

By Wendy Pramik CPH Communications

Way back in 1970, Jeff Caswell’s first office at Ohio State was in a hospital room.

“We’d joke that we were safe in case of an emergency because all our offices had oxygen in them,” he said.

Caswell now has a new air about him – that of an emeritus faculty member. He retired this year as associate dean for academic affairs and associate professor in the College’s Division of Health Services Management and Policy, wrapping up a 38-year career at Ohio State.

Over the years, he has worn many hats, including interim director of the Master of Public Health Program for Experienced Professionals and chair of the Graduate Studies Committee. He has taught health economics to every class of students in the Master of Health Administration program as well as a variety of other subjects, ranging from business forecasting methods to ethics.

“My real interest is in how the tools of economics can be used to study the provision of health services and public health,”

Caswell said. “I’m interested in the ways in which markets work or don’t work in health care, and in ways to improve the delivery of health services.”

After retirement, he will continue to work with Dean Stanley Lemeshow on the College’s reaccreditation.

“Jeff is our historian” Lemeshow said.

“His perspectives and insights put things into context. We can’t readily replace him.”

Caswell credits serendipity to steering him into the field of health economics. As an undergraduate student at Rice University and Austin College, in Sherman, Texas, and as a graduate student at the University of Michigan, his interests veered from architecture to European history to theology to African history and economic development.

A professor named Saul Hymans sparked his interest in industrial organization, the study of how markets work and how households, firms, and industries act economically.

“He encouraged me to pursue what I

was good at,” Caswell said.

Hymans suggested Caswell explore health economics and tap into the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health to fund his doctoral studies.

“Before that, I’d never heard of a ‘school of public health,’ ” Caswell said.

The school offered him a traineeship that allowed him to pursue his dissertation research in health economics. This led to a job offer from Ohio State’s new health administration program.

Caswell moved up the ranks from assistant professor with a joint appointment in economics to associate professor in the Ohio State School of Public Health, founded in 1995. As one of the senior members of the faculty, Caswell carved out a reputation as a consensus-builder.

“Jeff is the kind of person who is always well-liked and respected,” said associate professor Sharon Schweikhart. “His wry sense of humor and ability to hit to the heart of issues in committee discussions made him very popular. There is no doubt that in the eyes of Association of Schools of Public Health members, Jeff was a tremendous asset for Ohio State.”

Caswell’s next role is as an emeritus faculty member, and he may teach a course.

“Dr. Caswell is an icon of the program and will be missed,” said alumnus Kelly Scheiderer. “Although, I suspect we’ll continue to see him around.”

Caswell looks forward to spending time with his two grown daughters and traveling with wife, Lucy, who also works at Ohio State.

Then what?

“I don’t actually know,” Caswell said.

“One of the things I’m looking forward to is the freedom to explore, and see what I enjoy doing.” ■

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THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

FACULTY NEWS Lemeshow updates textbooks

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Two new editions of textbooks written by Stanley Lemeshow, dean of the College of Public Health and biostatistics professor, were released in 2008. Both texts, published by John Wiley & Sons, are about statistical methodology.

Applied Survival Analysis: Regression Modeling of Time to Event Data, in its second edition, provides an introduction to regression modeling used in healthrelated research. Lemeshow co-wrote the book with David W. Hosmer, Jr., professor emeritus of biostatistics at the University of Massachusetts, and Susanne May, assistant professor of biostatistics and bioinformatics at the University of California.

Sampling of Populations: Methods and Applications, in its fourth edition, covers statistical sampling methods. Lemeshow co-wrote the text with Paul S. Levy, senior research fellow at RTI International and professor emeritus of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Illinois.

Tanenbaum selected as speaker for Morgagni Lecture in Rome Sandra Tanenbaum, associate professor in the College’s Division of Health Services Management and Policy, will be a speaker at the first Morgagni Lecture to be held in October in Rome.

The conference will bring together experts on the topic of evidence-based medicine, one of Tanenbaum’s specialties.

Evidence-based medicine makes treatment recommendations on current research findings. Tanenbaum will speak about evidence-based practice and public policy.

“I am especially pleased about the opportunity to meet other scholars with similar interests and to meet in person some European colleagues whom I have known only by e-mail,” Tanenbaum said.

Stanley Lemeshow, Dean

Sandra Tanenbaum, PhD

Wewers named ‘Hero of Hope’ Mary Ellen Wewers, PhD, was one of three central Ohio researchers to receive the 2008 American Cancer Society (ACS) Hero of Hope Award on Aug. 27. Wewers is a professor in CPH’s Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion and associate dean for research and faculty development.

The award is presented annually to investigators who have made significant contributions to the field of cancer research. Wewers was recognized for her work in smoking cessation.

“I am especially honored to receive this award from the American Cancer Society,” said Wewers. “Their organization plays a crucial role in advocating for tobacco control. In addition, our Ohio Appalachian research staff members deserve credit and thanks for their tireless efforts toward reducing the burden of cancer in their home counties.”

Wewers serves as co-leader for the cancer control program at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center and James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, as well as principal investigator of Ohio State’s Health Care System Tobacco Treatment Center. With her unique background in nursing, research, and public health, Wewers is recognized as one of the top smoking cessation researchers in the country.

Mary Ellen Wewers, PhD

A major focus of her 20 years of research has been the development and delivery of the most effective smoking cessation programs for disadvantaged populations, particularly the Appalachian region of Ohio.

Wewers is currently the co-director and co-investigator on a National Cancer Institute award entitled “Center for Population Health and Health Disparities: Reducing Cervical Cancer.” Her work on this initiative includes the investigation of tobacco use and cessation among Appalachian Ohio women at risk for cervical cancer.

NEW FACULTY Division of Environmental Health Sciences Jiyoung Lee, PhD, joined the College’s Division of Environmental Health Sciences on Sept. 1 as an assistant professor.

She was hired through the Public Health Preparedness for Infectious Diseases initiative and has a joint appointment with the Department of Food Science and Technology.

Lee’s specialization is environmental microbiology. Her research interests include the rapid detection of waterborne and food-borne diseases, and how to prepare the public for an outbreak.

Lee is also interested in the detection and

ANNUAL REPORT | 2008

Jiyoung Lee, PhD

Jianrong Li, PhD

decontamination of bioterrorism agents, pathogens deliberately released into the environment to cause illness or death.

“Human beings depend on food and water to survive” Lee said. “I feel that obtaining safe food and water is a human right, and through my work, I want to enhance its microbial safety.”

Lee received her PhD from the University of Michigan’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences, and an MS and BS in microbiology from the Seoul National University in Seoul, Korea. She previously served as president of her own research company called Lee Biotech, Inc., and vice president of NanoFacture, Inc., both in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Jianrong Li, PhD, joined the College’s Division of Environmental Health Sciences on May 1 as an assistant professor.

He was recruited as part of the research initiative on Public Health Preparedness for Infectious Diseases and has a joint appointment with the Department of Food Science and Technology.

Li’s research interests include the viral sources of food- and water-borne diseases and the development of new strategies, such as vaccines, to prevent such illnesses.

“My research seeks to understand the mechanism of replication and gene expression of food and waterborne viruses and other public health related viruses,” Li said. “It facilitates the rational design

Courtney Lynch, PhD

Liz Klein, PhD

for new vaccines and anti-viral drugs that will improve food safety and public health worldwide.”

Li received a PhD in molecular virology and immunology from the College of Biomedical Engineering at Zhejiang University in China, and an MS in veterinary virology and immunology and a BS in veterinary medicine from Zhejiang University’s College of Animal Science.

He previously worked as a postdoctoral research fellow for Harvard Medical School’s Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in Boston, Mass.

lege of Public Health, and a BA in biology from Wittenberg University. She previously worked as a staff scientist at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md.

Division of Epidemiology

youth and young adults.

“This is a very exciting time of growth and positive change for the College of Public Health,” Klein said. “I look forward to the research and teaching opportunities that lie ahead.”

Klein received her PhD in Behavioral Epidemiology from the University of Minnesota, an MPH in Epidemiology from the University of California at

Courtney Lynch, PhD, joined the College’s Division of Epidemiology on March 31 as an assistant professor. Her research interests include the identification of modifiable risk factors for fertility problems, pregnancy loss and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.

“Sadly, many families experience the heartache of infertility and pregnancy complications,” Lynch said. “There is a dearth of data, however, regarding what places couples at risk for having these problems. Through my work, I hope to identify things that couples can do to decrease their risk factors.”

Lynch received her PhD from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, an MPH from Ohio State’s Col-

Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion Liz Klein, PhD, MPH, will join the Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion as an assistant professor. Her research interests include the social and ecological predictors of behavior change around obesity and tobacco use among

Berkeley and a BS in Community Health Education from Western Michigan University.

Klein’s recent experience includes working as a senior research associate at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where she led a team in the design of an obesity treatment program for preschoolers.

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THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

MHA alumnus lands in Abu Dhabi

Erick Vidmar, MHA, 2006 22

Alumni in the College of Public Health often traverse far from home to spread the knowledge they gained at home.

You can’t get much farther away from Columbus than Erick Vidmar, who is working as a senior analyst and project manager at Sheikh Kahlifa Medical City

States has given him a newfound appreciation for the U.S. health-care system.

“We may not have all of the answers back at home, but we are much more equipped with the appropriate tools and resources to make informed decisions,” Vidmar said. “Abu Dhabi is moving in the

Cleveland Clinic, include budgeting, strategic planning, and physician productivity. Aside from teaching him the ins and outs of hospital management, Vidmar said the College of Public Health taught him to stand up for “the good of the patient.”

in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Vidmar received an MHA from the College in 2006 and said working in an entirely different culture from the United

right direction but is fairly primitive in data collection and availability.”

Vidmar’s responsibilities at the 500bed hospital, which is managed by the

“Whether the patient is a millionaire from the UAE or a poor laborer, everyone deserves the highest quality of care,” he said. ■

MPH grad counsels students on sexual health There are many paths that students in the College of Public Health can take while they’re in school. Alumna Brandy Reeves suggests specializing in something you’re passionate about.

Reeves, who earned an MPH in Health Behavior and Health Promotion in 2007, discovered that she enjoys helping young people with an often delicate subject: sexuality. Reeves is in training to become a sexuality educator certified by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists.

In her current position with an Ohio company called Pure Romance, Reeves travels to colleges to speak with students about sexual health, sexuality and relationships. She also participates in a cancer outreach program that focuses on the relationship between cancer and sexuality.

Reeves said her interest extends to helping people with HIV and AIDS. “Not everyone fully understands public health and why it is so important,” Reeves said. “I enjoy educating people and providing them with the information that they need.”

Brandy Reeves, MPH, 2007

To view these complete profiles and for more Alumni Spotlights, visit our web site at http://cph.osu.edu/alumni/spotlight.

ANNUAL REPORT | 2008

CPH Alumni Fall Meeting

Sophia Tolliver, MPH

Alumni raise awareness of diversity issues in health care College of Public Health alumni are doing their part to raise awareness about diversity in health care.

Sophia Tolliver (MPH, 2008), program manager of the Diversity Enhancement Program at The James Cancer Hospital since August 2007, developed a faithbased program called Healthy Spirits, Healthy Bodies that provides information on breast health to underserved women living on Columbus’ East Side.

“Our mission is to provide education and outreach to underserved and minority populations about cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment,” said Tolliver, whose background is in biological sciences and nutrition.

In addition, the College’s HSMP Alumni Society last year formed a diversity committee through a grant from Ohio State’s Alumni Association. The committee embraces all aspects of diversity.

The committee hosts an annual Diversity Breakfast. It also supports students and alumni with education and tools to improve their knowledge and understanding of all aspects of diversity that impact the heath care industry.

“Attention to diversity will continue to play an increasingly important role in health care delivery,” said Alicia Smith (MHA, 1993), chair of the diversity committee. “The face of our nation is changing daily, and inevitably, the country won’t look like it does today.”

The College of Public Health Alumni Society held its annual fall meeting Sept.

5, at Longaberger Alumni House.

The keynote speaker was Dr. David Hothersall, Ohio State historian.

The society also presented the Mary Plummer Scholarship to Hanna Park, a first-year MPH student in the Division of Epidemiology; Student Choice Awards to Jason Marion (MS, PhD), Jake Snoble (MPH) and Lisa Saslaw (MPH/PEP); and the William R. Gemma Distinguished Alumnus Award which was given to Kathy Cowen of Columbus Public Health.

Panel shares career tales The CPH Alumni Society hosted a spring career panel for students called “Public Health Tales from the Field.”

The session gave students an opportunity to pose questions to those who are already in the workforce.

The panel was organized by Jen Luca (MPH, 2006), CPH Alumni Society member and Tobacco Initiatives Program Manager for Columbus Public Health.

“It’s beneficial for students to learn about what CPH alumni do,” Luca said.

“Students can learn about their own career paths by learning what others in their field are doing and how they got there.”

Other panelists included: Brandy Reeves (MPH, 2007), health education coordinator, Pure Romance; Beth Pierson (MPH, 2006), epidemiologist, Franklin County Board of Health; Ann Gregg (MS, 2007), researcher, Battelle; Ruth Shrock (MPH, 1999), grant coordinator, Ohio Department of Health; and Holly Englehardt (MS, 1997), cancer epidemiologist, Ohio Department of Health.

Ohio State honors MHA alumnus Corbett Price (MHA, 1975) received The Ohio State University’s Distinguished Service Award at Summer Commencement 2008.

ALUMNI NEWS

Price, chairman and chief executive officer of Kurron Shares of America, has a long history of serving the university through the creation of scholarships, helping to establish the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, time on several university boards and committees and many other leadership roles.

Within the College of Public Health, Price helped establish an endowed professorship in the Division of Health Services Management and Policy (HSMP).

“Corbett Price’s commitment to Ohio State certainly illustrates the meaning of distinguished service with a lasting impact. The student scholarships, HSMP professorship, and the Kirwan Institute are contributions that will continue to support future generations of students, especially those in health care management,” said Dean Stanley Lemeshow.

HSMP Alumni Society’s Annual Chicago Dinner About 50 students and alumni attended the annual HSMP Alumni Society Dinner in Chicago on March 11. The event was part of the American College of Healthcare Executive’s Congress on Health Care Leadership. Pictured (from left) are Kathy Najarian (MHA, 1995), senior director of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago; William Jennings (MHA, 1991), president of SSM St. Mary’s Health Center in St. Louis; Kyle Dorsey (MHA, 2009); and Maria Fondriest (MHA, 2009).

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THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

CPH BY THE NUMBERS

322, total number of graduate

students in CPH programs for the past academic year

46 percent, increase in the number of students over 5years

27.5 percent, increase in the number of applicants over 5 years 24

66 percent, the percentage of female students in the College

70 percent, the percentage of female students enrolled in all accredited schools of public health

9, total number of Graduate School Fellowships

74, total number of Graduate Associates

180, number of professionals

attending the 2008 Summer Program in Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiological Methods

800, number of professionals

attending workshops and programs offered by our Office of Workforce Development over a 12-month period

$13.5 million, CPH budget for 12 months ending June 30, 2008

$9.1 million, grants awarded to CPH faculty in FY08

$5.33 million, grant expenditures in FY08

21st, rank of OSU’s College of

Public Health, according to latest US News & World Report

12th, rank of OSU’s MHA program

according to latest US News & World Report

19th, rank of The Ohio State

University in US News & World Report’s list of best public universities

ANNUAL REPORT | 2008

DEVELOPMENT

To Market, To Market The 2008 Farmer’s Market was held on the front lawn of the Columbus Public Health department.

Columbus Public Health department’s 2008 Farmer’s Market kicked off its fourth season in July with record attendance.

The market, funded in part by the College of Public Health, provided nutritious food options to Columbus’ Downtown and East Side neighbors who live in areas with limited access to fresh produce. The College’s participation was made possible by a grant from Women & Philanthropy at The Ohio State University Foundation.

More than 3,000 people attended each of the three market days held this summer.

Held on the front lawn of Columbus Public Health, the market accepted food stamps and payment vouchers from customers participating in government-assisted programs. Women, Infants and Children (WIC) issued 4,200 coupon books, and 442 income eligible persons ages 60 and older received coupon packets from Life Care Alliance.

Mayor Michael Coleman enjoys the bounty of the market.

Dean Stanley Lemeshow joined Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman in welcoming attendees to the market’s first day.

More than 3,000 people attended each of the three market days.

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COLLEGE OF

PUBLIC HEALTH College of Public Health The Ohio State University M116 Starling-Loving Hall 320 W. 10th Ave. Columbus OH 43210