HappyNewYearandwelcometothe2025SpringeditionofourquarterlyMD/MPHProgramnewsletter!Asweusherin thenewyear,wereflectonthemanyaccomplishmentsandmilestonesofthepastyearattheUniversityofMiamiMiller SchoolofMedicine.OurMD/MPHcommunityhascontinuedtothrive,andweareexcitedtobuildonthatmomentum in2025.
Inthisedition,wefocusonatimelyandsignificantissuethatinfluencespublichealthprofessionalsandthepopulations theyserve.Theintegrationofhealthcare,publichealth,andculturalcompetencehasbecomeincreasinglyvitalin addressingthediverseneedsofourcommunities.Recentresearchonmotivationalinterviewingprovidesinvaluable insightsintoyouthbehavior,demonstratingtheimportanceofevidence-basedinterventionsinreducinghealthrisks. Thisresearchalignswithourprogram'scommitmenttoincorporatingbehavioralhealthstrategiesintopublichealth educationandpractice.Ourfacultymembers,includingthosespecializinginpreventionscience,continuetoinspireand mentorthenextgenerationofpublichealthleadersthroughcourseworkandappliedresearch.
Wealsotakeprideintheworkofourstudents,suchasoneMD/MPHstudentwhoseresearchonculturalperspectives inhealthcarehasilluminatedthecriticalroleofculturalsensitivityinaddressinghealthdisparities.Thisproject exemplifieshowourprogrammergesclinicalandpublichealthtrainingtocreateimpactfulsolutionsfordiverse communities.
Additionally,wehighlightthecollaborativeeffortsoflocalprogramsthatareaddressinghomelessnessthrough innovativehousingstrategies,suchastheHousingFirstmodel.Theseinitiativesdemonstratehowpublichealth frameworkscanworkalongsidecommunityorganizationstotacklecomplexsocialchallenges.Ourstudentsareactively engagedintheseefforts,contributingthroughresearchandcapstoneprojectsthataimtoimprovethelivesof vulnerablepopulationsinMiami.
Asweembarkonthisnewyear,weextendourheartfeltgratitudetoeveryonewhomakesourprogramsuccessful.We lookforwardtoanotheryearofimpactfulworkandtransformativeeducation.
Wishingyouallaprosperous,healthy,andfulfilling2025!
ACloserLookatDr.EricC.Brown'sContributionstoPreventionScienceandPublic Health . exemplifieshisdedicationto advancingpreventionscience.Hisprojectsincludethe "BusinessesThatCare"initiative,aplace-basedalcohol preventionprograminZacatecas,Mexico;thecreationofa comprehensiveregistryofyouthATODinterventionsacross LatinAmericaandtheCaribbean;andamultisitestudyonalcohol misuseandmentalhealthissuesamongPuertoRicanfamiliesaffectedbyHurricaneMaria.In addition,Dr.Brownexaminescross-culturalriskandprotectivefactorsbetweenColombianand U.S.familiesandoverseestheadaptationoftheCommunitiesThatCarepreventionsystemin Brazil.
Anactivecontributortothefield,Dr.BrownhasservedontheBoardofDirectorsfortheSociety forPreventionResearch(SPR),co-chairedtheSPRTaskForcefortheUpdatingoftheStandardsof KnowledgeforPreventionScience,andremainsanintegralmemberoftheSPRInternational Committee.
IntheMD/MPHprogram,Dr.BrownteachesEPH617:DiseasePreventionandHealthPromotion, whichhehastaughtto493MD-MPHstudentsoverthepastnineyears(includingFall2024). Beyondtheclassroom,hementorsMD/MPHstudentsoncapstoneprojects,courseassignments, andpublications,fosteringacademicandprofessionalgrowth.
mentoringfutureleadersinpublichealthmakehimaninvaluablememberoftheMD/MPH programfaculty.Hisworkcontinuestoinspirestudentsandcolleaguesalike,highlightingthe importanceofinnovative,community-centeredapproachestopublichealthchallenges.
FromResearchtoRepresentation:OrlyMorgan'sExplorationofCultural HealthcareChallenges
InspirationandImpact
IntegratingMD/MPHTraining
Orlycreditsherdual-degreetrainingforequippingherwiththetoolstonavigatethiscomplexresearch. HerMDtrainingbroughtaclinicalunderstandingofcancertreatmentandsexualdysfunction,whileher MPHcourseworkemphasizedtheimportanceofaddressinghealthdisparitiesandfosteringcultural sensitivity.
prioritizetheirlivedexperiences."
OvercomingBarriersinResearch
Delvingintoasensitivetopiclikesexualdysfunctionwithinaculturalframeworkpresentedunique challenges.Tofostertrustandopenness,interviewswereconductedinSpanishbyHispanic interviewers,creatingasafespaceforparticipantstosharetheirstories.Thisapproachunderscoredthe importanceofrepresentationinresearchandtheneedforculturallytailoredmethodologies.
AVisionfortheFuture
-centeredcareandaddressinghealthdisparitiescontinuestoguidehercareer aspirations.Currentlyapplyingforresidencyinemergencymedicine,sheenvisionsintegrating qualitativeresearchintoherpracticetobetterunderstandandservediversepatientpopulations.
"Iwanttomakehealthcaremoreaccessibleandequitable,especiallyforunderservedcommunities,"
Acknowledgments
Orlyextendsherdeepestgratitudetothepatientswhoparticipatedinherstudy,whosestoriesmadethe researchpossible.ShealsoacknowledgesherCapstoneFacultyAdvisor,Dr.AlbertoCaban-Martinez, forhisinvaluableguidanceandencouragementthroughouttheproject.
Withherfocusonculturalsensitivityandpatient-centeredcare,OrlyMorganexemplifiesthe transformativeimpactofMD/MPHtrainingonthefutureofhealthcare.
Sinceitsinceptionin1991,theCityofMiamiHomelessDivisionProgramhasbeenavitalresourcefor comprehensivesupportservices.Guidedby itsmissiontodeliveroutreach,assessment,placement,referral,andtransportationserviceswithcompassionand professionalism,theprogramhashelpedthousandstransitionfromhomelessnesstostabilityanddignity.A uniquehallmarkoftheprogramisitsemploymentofformerlyhomelessindividuals,leveraginglived experiencestocreatemeaningfulconnectionsandfosterhope.
whoonceexperiencedhomelessnesshimself.Hisvisiontoempowerindividualsthroughtrainingand employmenthasbecomeacornerstoneoftheprog DepartmentofHumanServicesunderscoresasharedcommitmenttodismantlingdisparitiesandensuring equitableaccesstoresourcesthatuplifttheentirecommunity.
TheHomelessDivisionaddressesthemultifacetedchallengesof homelessnessthroughanarrayofservices,includingemergency shelterplacements,housingnavigationusingtheevidence-based HousingFirstmodel,specializedjailreleaseoutreach,hospital dischargeplanning,andreferralsformentalhealthandsubstance usetreatment.Additionalofferingsincludefamilyreunification services,workforcedevelopment,anddisasterresponse.Since July2024,theHousingFirstmodelhasbeenintegraltotheir strategy,prioritizingstablehousingasafoundationfor addressingotherbarriers,suchasemploymentandhealthissues.Thisapproachhasproveneffective,withthe programsuccessfullyhousingnearly50individualsinpermanentandsupportivehousingoverthepastyear.
DevelopmentHousingFirstpilotproject,targetingahigh-densityhomelessencampmentindowntownMiami. Fromaninitialgroupof39individualswithseverementalillnessandsubstanceusedisorders,23were successfullytransitionedintostablehousing.Buildingonthissuccess,theprogramcontinuestorefineits outreachandexpanditsimpact.
Despiteitsachievements,thedivisionfacessignificantchallenges.TherecentlyenactedFloridaBillHB1365 restrictspubliccampingandsleeping,creatingnewbarriersforunhousedindividuals.Additionally,systemic issueslikedifficultiesinaccessingidentificationanddwindlingshelterresourcesfrompartnerssuchas CamillusHouseexacerbatethecrisis.Recognizingthesehurdles,theprogramisexploringinnovativesolutions, includingmodularhousing,navigationcenters,andenhancedpartnershipswithlocalorganizationstoexpand capacityandaccessibility.
TheMD/MPHprogramhasauniqueopportunitytocollaboratewiththedivisioninmeaningfulways.Students andfacultycancontributethroughdatacollectionandresearch,mobilehealthoutreach,andcapacity-building initiatives.Capstoneprojectsofferhands-onexperiencewhilesupportingongoingeffortstoaddress homelessness.
Lookingahead,theHomelessDivisionenvisionscreatingsustainable,inclusivestrategiestoreduce homelessnessandimprovecommunitywell-being.Upcomingprojectsincludehotel-to-housingconversions, modularhomedevelopments,andestablishingnavigationcenterstoprovidelow-barrier,high-supportservices. Withstrongcommunitypartnershipsandinnovativepractices,thedivisioniscommittedtodrivinglasting
Formoreinformationortogetinvolved,contacttheCityofMiamiHomelessDivisionProgram.
AgroundbreakingstudyledbyFranciscoCardozoandhiscolleagues,includingMD/MPH facultymemberDr.EricChristopherBrown,delvesintotheuseofbriefmotivational interviewing(MI)interventionstoreduceyouthalcoholuse.PublishedinTheJournalofHealth Communication,theresearchhighlightstheimportanceofmoderatedmediationofmotivation andself-efficacyinfosteringlong-termbehavioralchangeamongadolescents.Dr.Brown's involvementinthisstudyaddstothediversityofhisresearchareasandoffersvaluableinsights forMD/MPHstudents,particularlythoseinterestedinbehavioralhealthinterventionsforyouth.
1.Whatistheroleofmotivationalinterviewinginreducingyouthalcoholuse?
Motivationalinterviewing,aclient-centered,directivemethodforenhancingintrinsicmotivation, hasshownpromiseinaddressingriskybehaviorssuchasalcoholuseamongyouth.Inthisstudy, CardozoandhisteamfoundthatMIinterventionseffectivelypromoteself-reflection,helping youngindividualsrecognizethepersonalconsequencesofalcoholuseandencouraginghealthier choices.Theresearchersutilizedamoderatedmediationapproach,examininghowmotivationand self-efficacyinteracttoinfluencebehavioralchange.Thestudyconcludedthatawell-structured MIinterventioncanbeakeytoolinpreventingearlyonsetalcoholconsumption,particularly
2.Howdomotivationandself-efficacycontributetothesuccessoftheseinterventions?
Thestudyunderscoresthecriticalrolesofmotivationandself-efficacyindeterminingthesuccess ofinterventionsaimedatreducingalcoholuse.Motivationreferstotheindividual'sdriveto change,whileself- makeandsustainthatchange.Inthe contextoftheMIintervention,whenbothmotivationandself-efficacyareproperlynurtured, youtharemorelikelytoadopthealthierbehaviorsandengageinsustainedchange.Byintegrating thesefactorsintotheintervention,theresearchersdemonstratedthatyouthwhofeltempowered andconfidentintheirabilitytoreducealcoholconsumptionexperiencedbetteroutcomes, reinforcingtheimportanceofpsychologicalaspectsinbehavioralhealthinterventions.
3.Whatimplicationsdoesthisresearchhaveforpublichealthstrategiestargetingyouth?
Thefindingsofthisstudyofferimportantinsightsforpublichealthprofessionalslookingto designeffectiveinterventionsforyouthalcoholuseprevention.Byintegratingmotivational interviewingtechniqueswithafocusonenhancingself-efficacy,publichealthprogramscan bettersupportyoungindividualsinmakinglastingbehavioralchanges.Additionally,this approachcouldbeadaptedtoaddressotheradolescenthealthissues,creatingaflexiblemodelfor preventionandinterventionthatprioritizesindividualempowerment.Asyouthalcoholuse onthepotentialforevidence-basedstrategiestoreduceriskybehaviorsandpromotehealthier futuresforyoungpeople.
Cardozo,F.,Brown,E.C.,Mejía-Trujillo,J.,&Perez-Gomez,A.(2023).Moderatedmediationof motivationandself-efficacyinabriefmotivationalinterviewinginterventiontoreduceyouth alcoholuse.TheJournalofHealthCommunication,28(3),239-245. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2023.2167649
