In this week’s edition

:: Beyond romance and betrayal, new soap opera delivers colon cancer message
:: Save the date – MAP ERC 2^nd Annual Energy Summit April 12,2012
:: Save the date – 2012 Research Conference: The Contribution of Epigenetics in Pediatric Environmental Health
:: Bistro Elaia to Take the Guessing Game Out of Healthful Eating on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Beyond romance and betrayal, new soap opera delivers colon cancer message

Story originally published by Kim Chriscaden on Colorado Cancer Blogs

Like traditional telenovelas or Spanish-language soap operas, “Encrucijada: Sin Salud No Hay Nada” or “Crossroads: Without Health, There Is Nothing” is full of romance, conflict and suspense. But there’s a twist. The overly dramatic plot also carries important health messages.

Building off the success of Encrucijada’s first season, which aired in 2009, the Colorado Health Foundation decided to fund a second season to help combat the state’s health disparities and call viewers to action.

Between family fights and love triangles, the show’s main characters confront issues pertaining to heart disease, mental health, colon cancer, obesity and teen pregnancy, among others. Unlike traditional public service announcements, Encrucijada packages health messages into a thrilling format that’s widely popular among Latinos.

“We know that telenovelas are one of the best ways for Latinos to get health information,” says Cristina Bejarano, health content director for Encrucijada 2. “While not every episode can be very dramatic, the telenovela format allows us to deliver health messages in a compelling way.”

Continue reading online.

Save the date – MAP ERC 2^nd Annual Energy Summit April 12, 2012

Join MAP ERC on April 12, 2012 for the 2^nd Annual Energy Summit: Promoting Occupational Health: Recognizing and Controlling Risks during Natural Gas Development.

This conference will bring together academic and government researchers, engineers, industry experts, medical professionals, occupational health and safety professionals to discuss and share strategies for evaluating the risks, solutions and research areas that will enable natural gas exploration and production companies to reduce potentially hazardous exposures to their employees. This platform will provide an opportunity for leaders in the field to highlight occupational health and safety “best practices” in natural-gas development as an attractive topic to target with research funding, policy development, education and prevention programs.

Topics that will be covered at the conference:

• Assessment of worker health and safety risks
• Successful industry advancements in OSH practices
• Engineering enhancements to protect worker
• Policy development and advancement

Conference Details:

April 12th, 2012 | 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Ben Nighthorse Campbell Building, Shore Family Room

Participants must register to participate | Click here for more information

Save the date – 2012 Research Conference: The Contribution of Epigenetics in Pediatric Environmental Health

Join The Children’s Environmental Health Network from May 30 – June 1, 2012 in San Francisco, CA for the 2012 Research Conference: The Contribution of Epigenetics in Pediatric Environmental Health. The conference will highlight the role of epigenetics in determining the impact of the environment on pediatric disease and children’s current and future health.

This conference is intended for research scientists in the fields of environmental health, epidemiology, and environmental toxicology, as well as for public health professionals. Students in these disciplines are encouraged to register. Register now at: www.regonline.com/CEHN.

Conference Objectives:

• To foster collaborations across different scientific groups/disciplines to further the understanding of the role of epigenetics in pediatric environmental health.
• To identify research gaps and explore the contribution of pediatric environmental exposures to epigenetic regulation and how they vary by exposure, timing and host characteristics (diet, age), including among disadvantaged populations.
• To translate research findings on epigenetic regulation important to pediatric health outcomes and inform the scientific and public community of the rapidly growing science (i.e. the etiology and prevention of abnormal neurodevelopment, asthma/allergy, obesity, endocrine disorders, etc.) to relevant sectors including public health, medical, policy, and business.

For more information visit the conference website at www.regonline.com/CEHN.

Bistro Elaia to Take the Guessing Game Out of Healthful Eating on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Story originally published by the Colorado Center for Health and Wellness Press Room

Bistro Committed to Offering Its Customers Good Nutrition with a Surprisingly Great Taste

Bistro Elaia, an exciting addition to the Colorado Center for Health and Wellness, which opens its doors on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in April, promises to eliminate the everyday dilemma of compromising good taste when eating healthfully. Whether patrons eat at the Colorado Center, grab-and-go or use their catering service, the Bistro will focus on real food that provides the campus community with healthy offerings each day.

At the helm of the new Bistro is a group of experts – Chef Paolo Neville and his culinary team, Dr. Holly Wyatt, Associate Director of the Colorado Center, and the area’s leading dietitians – who have developed a menu of sensible, wholesome foods that are better for you and taste surprisingly great. This winning lineup will compliment the Colorado Center’s healthy living goals.

Filling an Unmet Need

A recent survey of the Anschutz Medical Campus community conducted by KRC Research suggests that Bistro Elaia will fill an unmet need. Nearly half of the students, faculty and staff surveyed (48 percent) indicated that the healthfulness of food was the most important factor when deciding what to order from on-campus restaurants. Yet at the same time, the study noted that meal and snack options designed to meet specific dietary needs, as well as an item’s nutrition information, have rarely if ever been available on campus.

“The menu puts our customers’ eating woes to rest. Whether you’re gluten-free, lactose-free, vegetarian, have other dietary restrictions, or just want to eat healthfully, you’ll be able to find an array of satisfying and wholesome foods at the Bistro that taste great,” says Chef Neville. “We will also ensure nutrition information is accurately portrayed, and readily apparent. What we eat shouldn’t be a guessing game.”

Continue reading online.

Public Health Matters

Upcoming Events | View details about these events online
:: February 21 – Executive Council
:: February 23 – Getting Hired
:: February 27 – Public Health Seminar
:: February 27 – Colorado School of Public Health Seminar

In the News | Visit Public Health Newsroom
:: Chicago Tribune “FDA alerts have mixed record, U. of C. study finds”  
:: ScienceBlogs “When I grow up, I wanna be a public health worker”

Public Health Job Opportunities | View details about these opportunities online
:: Business Analyst – Denver, CO
:: Health Center Analyst – Denver, CO
:: Visiting Instructor – Durango, CO
:: SAS Internship – Colorado Springs, CO
:: Statistical Analyst – Denver, CO
:: Clinical Social Worker or Psychologist – Denver, CO
:: Research Nurse – Denver, CO
:: Motor Vehicle Crash Data Analyst – Denver Metro
:: Travel Nurse Practitioner – Colorado
:: Postdoctoral Fellow – Fort Collins, CO
:: WIC Manager – Boulder, CO
:: VP of Development – Denver, CO
:: Database Developer/Analyst – Denver Metro
:: Viral Immunology Laboratory Technician – Fort Collins, CO
:: Summer Intern – New York, NY
:: Call Center Assistant – Denver Metro
:: Epidemiologist – Richmond, CA
:: Epidemiology Surveillance Coordinator – Lincoln, NE
:: Tenure Track Faculty – Colorado School of Public Health
:: Outreach Specialist – Denver Metro
:: Policy Coordinator – Fort Collins, CO
:: Healthcare Research Assistant – Denver Metro
:: Healthcare Fellow/Resident – CA
:: Epidemiologist – San Carlos, AZ
:: Nurse Practitioner (RH Administrator) – Broomfield, CO
:: Pres. & CEO – Aspen
:: Biostatistician I – Englewood, CO

@theForefront | Colorado School of Public Health
13001 E. 17^th Place, B119 | Aurora, CO 80045 | 303.724.4585
http://publichealth.ucdenver.edu | http://attheforefront.ucdenver.edu

In this week’s edition

:: A heart-healthy Valentine’s Day
:: 9Health Fair Volunteer Online Educational Module

A heart-healthy Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day brings out the sensitive nature in many women, giving public health researchers a chance to promote your sweetheart’s heart health.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, and Colorado School of Public Health researchers are focused on identifying risk factors and means of preventing the disease.

Epidemiologists John Hokanson, PhD and Madiha Abdel-Maksoud, MD, PhD know that triglyceride, a type of fat found in your blood, plays an important role in your risk of heart disease.

“Triglyceride is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease for both men and women,” states Hokanson. “But triglyceride plays a particularly important role in the risk of heart disease among women.

According to Hokinson’s research, triglyceride is an independent risk factor for heart disease, but the risk for women is twice as great as with men.

Continue reading online.

9Health Fair Volunteer Online Educational Module

The Center for Public Health Practice has partnered with 9Health Fair to develop an online educational module for the 15,000+ 9Health Fair volunteers across Colorado.  The module contains information on the:

• Health of people in Colorado
• Factors that affect our health
• Important role of health screening in finding disease and improving health outcomes
• Ways to learn more and do more to improve access to health and healthcare

You don’t need to be a volunteer to go through the online module.  To find out more, go to http://9healthfair.publichealthpractice.org/.

Support for this project was provided by a grant to the 9Health Fair through the Colorado Trust’s Building Public Will to Achieve Access to Health Initiative.  The focus of this initiative is to achieve access to health for all Coloradoans by building public will through: raising awareness of the problem, clearly understanding the problem, and then developing support for shared solutions to address the problem.

For more information about 9Health Fair or to learn how to become a volunteer, go to:  www.9healthfair.org.

Public Health Matters

Upcoming Events | View details about these events online
:: February 14 – Global Health Lecture Series
:: February 15 – Public Health Nurses Association of Colorado
:: February 20 – President’s Day (No Class) | CU
:: February 21 – Executive Council
:: February 27 – Public Health Seminar
:: February 27 – Colorado School of Public Health Seminar

In the News | Visit Public Health Newsroom
:: Valley Courier “Valley students work together for change”
:: US News & World Report-Health Day “When mom has pregnancy diabetes, breast-feeding curbs child obesity”
:: High Country News “Air quality and energy development”

Public Health Job Opportunities | View details about these opportunities online
:: SAS Internship – Colorado Springs, CO
:: Statistical Analyst – Denver, CO
:: Clinical Social Worker or Psychologist – Denver, CO
:: Research Nurse – Denver, CO
:: Motor Vehicle Crash Data Analyst – Denver Metro
:: Travel Nurse Practitioner – Colorado
:: Postdoctoral Fellow – Fort Collins, CO
:: WIC Manager – Boulder, CO
:: VP of Development – Denver, CO
:: Database Developer/Analyst – Denver Metro
:: Viral Immunology Laboratory Technician – Fort Collins, CO
:: Summer Intern – New York, NY
:: Call Center Assistant – Denver Metro
:: Epidemiologist – Richmond, CA
:: Epidemiology Surveillance Coordinator – Lincoln, NE
:: Tenure Track Faculty – Colorado School of Public Health
:: Outreach Specialist – Denver Metro
:: Policy Coordinator – Fort Collins, CO
:: Healthcare Research Assistant – Denver Metro
:: Healthcare Fellow/Resident – CA
:: Epidemiologist – San Carlos, AZ
:: Nurse Practitioner (RH Administrator) – Broomfield, CO
:: Pres. & CEO – Aspen
:: Biostatistician I – Englewood, CO
:: Health Economist – Englewood, CO
:: Health Data Analyst – Englewood, CO
:: State Nurse Supervisor – Cheyenne, WY
:: EHS 1 – Leadville, CO

@theForefront | Colorado School of Public Health
13001 E. 17^th Place, B119 | Aurora, CO 80045 | 303.724.4585
http://publichealth.ucdenver.edu | http://attheforefront.ucdenver.edu

In this week’s edition

:: Breast feeding slows BMI growth among infants at risk of childhood obesity
:: GLBT smokers in Colorado not thinking about quitting
:: Accepting applications to the certificate programs, deadline Feb 15
:: Associate Dean Byers on tobacco and the decline of heart disease
:: CDPHE now accepting nominations for Public Health Standards Workgroup

Breast feeding slows BMI growth among infants at risk of childhood obesity

Children of diabetic pregnancies are at a greater risk of childhood obesity, but new research from the Colorado School of Public Health indicates that breast feeding can reduce this risk.

Epidemiologist Tessa Crume, PhD, MSPH and colleagues tracked 94 offspring of diabetic pregnancies and 399 offspring of non-diabetic pregnancies from birth to age 13, to evaluate the influence of breast-feeding on body mass index (BMI) growth, an indicator of obesity among children.

“There are critical perinatal periods for defining obesity risk, pregnancy and early infant life,” stated Crume. “We looked at children exposed to over-nutrition in utero due to a diabetic pregnancy to determine if early life nutrition could alter their risk of childhood obesity.”

Of the children of diabetic pregnancies, those who were breast feed had a slower body mass index (BMI) growth extending into childhood than those who were breast feed less than six months.  A similar pattern emerged for offspring of non-diabetic pregnancies.

According to Crume, researchers know that children exposed to diabetes or obesity during gestation are at higher risk for childhood obesity and metabolic diseases.  Now researchers know there is a second critical opportunity to normalize BMI growth, by supporting mothers to breast feed for the Academy of Pediatrics recommended six months.

“Breastfeeding support represents an important clinical and public health strategy to reduce the risk of childhood obesity,” stated Crume. She hopes that the research will provide stronger support to encourage mothers to breast feed, especially those who experienced a diabetic pregnancy. “We can work with pediatricians, obstetricians and the public health community to give these women targeted support immediately following birth.”

Crume and colleague’s research “The impact of neonatal breast-feeding on growth trajectories of youth exposed and unexposed to diabetes in utero: the EPOCH Study,” appears in the latest edition of the International Journal of Obesity. The research was conducted as a partnership between the Colorado School of Public Health and Kaiser Permanente of Colorado.

GLBT smokers in Colorado not thinking about quitting

Story originally published by Kim Chriscaden on Colorado Cancer Blogs

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Coloradans who smoke are not thinking about quitting or getting ready to quit, and a quarter are uncomfortable approaching their doctors for help, report University of Colorado Cancer Center researchers in a recent article published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research.

These and other findings from the study may help identify new approaches to encourage GLBT smokers to quit.

“Among most smoking populations, we almost always find 20 percent getting ready to quit and another 40 percent are thinking about quitting,” says Arnold Levinson, PhD, MJ, investigator at the CU Cancer Center and the paper’s senior author. “But the rates from our study were half of what we expected.”

For more than 70 percent of the GLBT smokers who were surveyed in Colorado, quitting was not on their agenda. GLBT adults are roughly twice as likely as heterosexual adults to smoke cigarettes. And little research has been done to determine which smoking cessation methods the group might prefer.

The GLBT Community Center of Colorado and other GLBT organizations across Colorado approached Levinson to create the survey of 1,633 Colorado GLBT smokers to see if they were less likely than other smokers to use “proven” cessation methods such as nicotine replacement therapy or telephone counseling.

Continue reading the piece online at Cancer Center Blogs.

Accepting applications to the certificate programs, deadline Feb 15

A graduate level certificate program is a great way to retool, refine and reinvest in your professional development or academic interest.  The Colorado School of Public Health offers two certificate programs, the Certificate in Public Health Sciences and the Certificate in Global Public Health, and is looking for qualified candidates interested in applying for the summer term.

Public Health Science

The 15-17 credit hour Certificate in Public Health Sciences offers you the opportunity to enroll in graduate public health courses as a standalone program or as an entry point for the Master of Public Health. The certificate is offered at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Northern Colorado.  Program courses include Foundations in Public Health, Biostatistics, and Epidemiology, in addition to several elective course options.

Global Public Health

The 15-17 credit hour Certificate in Global Public Health is designed to cultivate a graduate-level, public health perspective of globalization and global health issues, programs, and best practices.  You’ll learn how to use public health methods to address global public health challenges. The certificate is a suitable program for health and environmental professionals who work, or will work, in prevention, research or clinical practice. Program courses include Public Health in the Global Community, Global Health Policy and Economics, Geographic Perspectives in Global Health, Biostatistics, and Epidemiology, in addition to global health oriented elective course options.

Additional information, access to the admissions application and instructions, cost of attendance, and gainful employment information and statistics are available online. The school accepts applications February 15 for a summer semester start and September 15 for a spring semester start.

Associate Dean Byers on tobacco and the decline of heart disease

Originally published by the Center for Public Health Practice Blog, Tuesdays with Tim

In the January 5, 2012 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine Drs. Nabel and Braunwald presented a review of the history of the decline of deaths from coronary heart disease in the second half of the Twentieth Century.  That paper chronicled the progress we have made in understanding the causes of heart disease and in fashioning various cures. The paper included a striking line graph of death rates from heart disease in the past 70 years, showing the peak in about 1970, followed by a steady decline of about 75% through 2009.  Advances in hypertension control, cholesterol management, ICU treatments, and various other drugs, devices, and surgical techniques were all highlighted.

I was struck by the nearly complete absence of discussion of tobacco control in that review.  In fact, the word “tobacco” appeared only once in the paper, near the end, where tobacco was mentioned among the future challenges for global health.  We cannot fully motivate other countries to control tobacco unless we can clearly describe the impact of tobacco control on cardiovascular mortality in our own country.  In 1965 about 44% of U.S. adults smoked, but by 2009 only 22% smoked.  Assuming a 2.5-fold increased risk for cardiovascular mortality from tobacco smoking,that historic reduction in smoking caused a 20% reduction in cardiovascular mortality, which is a substantial proportion of the dramatic decline in heart disease deaths since 1970.  Surely the 1964 Surgeon General’s report  and the subsequent halving of tobacco smoking in the U.S. were as impactful as were internal defibrillators, fibrinolysis, or several of the other factors that were highlighted in that otherwise comprehensive review.

It is striking how easily we forget the obvious.  We have made great strides in tobacco control, but one in every five adults still smokes in the US.  Our great strides are only a good start, really.  As we look forward to even better progress in heart disease we should not fail to highlight the low hanging fruit of continued progress in tobacco control.

For past editions of Dr. Byer’s blog, visit http://publichealthpractice.org/blogs/tuesdays-tim.

CDPHE now accepting nominations for Public Health Standards Workgroup

The 2009 Colorado Public Health Improvement Plan (COPHIP) which supports SB 08-194 calls for a set of public health standards to complement the core public health services.  CDPHE is seeking local and state public health representatives that have the time, interest, and expertise in public health standards to help us craft these statewide standards. The Public Health Standards Workgroup will be accepting a maximum of 15 participants.

The purpose of the Public Health Standards Workgroup is to:

•       Develop the set of “minimum quality standards” that will be promulgated into rule.

•       Review the Standards section of the current Colorado Public Health Improvement Plan and provide guidance and update on expected activities.

•       Develop a list of system improvement recommendations, related to standards.

It is anticipated that the time commitment will be at least 6 meetings in Denver between March and August 2012. Conference calling will be available; however, in-person attendance is ideal. Contact Corrina Quintana at Corrina.Quintana@dphe.state.co.us for the nomination form and more information.

Public Health Matters

Upcoming Events | View details about these events online
:: February 8 – Prospective Student Information Session
:: February 9 – ASPH Virtual Career Fair
:: February 14 – Global Health Lecture Series
:: February 15 – Public Health Nurses Association of Colorado
:: February 20 – President’s Day (No Class) | CU
:: February 21 – Executive Council
:: February 27 – Public Health Seminar
:: February 27 – Colorado School of Public Health Seminar

In the News | Visit Public Health Newsroom
:: New Scientist “Fracking health risks: Drilling into the unknown”
:: Washington Park The Profile “Children’s Affairs to Help Hancock Hone Agenda”

Public Health Job Opportunities | View details about these opportunities online
:: Database Developer/Analyst – Denver Metro
:: Viral Immunology Laboratory Technician – Fort Collins, CO
:: Summer Intern – New York, NY
:: Call Center Assistant – Denver Metro
:: Epidemiologist – Richmond, CA
:: Epidemiology Surveillance Coordinator – Lincoln, NE
:: Tenure Track Faculty – Colorado School of Public Health
:: Outreach Specialist – Denver Metro
:: Policy Coordinator – Fort Collins, CO
:: Healthcare Research Assistant – Denver Metro
:: Healthcare Fellow/Resident – CA
:: Epidemiologist – San Carlos, AZ
:: Nurse Practitioner (RH Administrator) – Broomfield, CO
:: Pres. & CEO – Aspen
:: Biostatistician I – Englewood, CO
:: Health Economist – Englewood, CO
:: Health Data Analyst – Englewood, CO
:: State Nurse Supervisor – Cheyenne, WY
:: EHS 1 – Leadville, CO
:: Health Services Director – Boulder, CO
:: Nurse Practitioner – Aurora, CO
:: Health Care Business Analyst – Denver Metro
:: Engagement Specialist – Greenwood Village
:: Environmental Health Land Use – Denver Metro
:: STI/HIV Statistical Analyst – Denver, CO
:: Family Resource Center Program Specialist – Denver, CO
:: Content Architect – Denver, CO

@theForefront | Colorado School of Public Health
13001 E. 17^th Place, B119 | Aurora, CO 80045 | 303.724.4585
http://publichealth.ucdenver.edu | http://attheforefront.ucdenver.edu

 In this week’s edition

:: New partnership targets Denver preschoolers in effort to head off obesity
:: School seminar opens forum to rethink obesity prevention
:: Women not following through with recommended breast screening MRI
:: February 1 Admissions Deadline
:: Alumni invited to attend virtual career fair

New partnership targets Denver preschoolers in effort to head off obesity

Denver preschoolers are getting a jump on healthy living thanks to a new partnership between the Colorado School of Public Health and the City and County of Denver aimed at curbing obesity through proper diet and exercise.

“Denver’s children deserve a healthy head start,” said Mayor Michael Hancock. “As Mayor I made a commitment to Denver families that we will improve educational outcomes for our children.  By ensuring that Denver’s youngest residents are healthy, they will be ready to learn.”

The partnership is funded by a $1 million grant from the Colorado Health Foundation designed to create the “Culture of Wellness in Preschools” program within several Denver area preschools. The program connects the school of public health’s Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center (RMPRC) with Denver Great Kids Head Start to increase daily healthy eating and physical activity among students, staff, and parents.

“We are thrilled to join the mayor in announcing the new program for Denver’s Head Start preschools and their families,” said Jini Puma, Ph.D., RMPRC project director.

Like many states, Colorado is seeing a rise in childhood obesity. According to Puma, children who are obese in their preschool years are more likely to become obese adolescents and adults. They are also at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

In an effort to address this, the new program will provide schools with nutrition education classes, structured physical activity opportunities, improvements to school policies and environments and health promotion training for parents and school staff along with other services.

Puma’s team partnered with Head Start Health Administrator Gloria Richardson and more than 200 Denver parents and preschool staff to identify barriers families and schools face in raising healthy children.

The team was told that a lack of preschool time devoted to wellness and a lack of playground space present barriers to promoting healthy living. They also found that families face individual barriers to health including lack of time, financial resources, transportation, education, support, and motivation when setting a healthy example for their children.

“It is hard to get motivated at home,” said one parent. “If we brought [wellness] classes to Head Start, it would be easier to come to the school and be healthy.”

The three-year program will run through 26 Denver preschools and be jointly administered by the Denver’ Great Kids Head Start program and the RMPRC. For program information, please contact Jini Puma, jini.puma@ucdenver.edu 303.724.4390 or Gloria Richardson, gloria.richardson@denvergov.org or 303.570.0166.

School seminar opens forum to rethink obesity prevention

Obesity rates continue to climb because individuals and society haven’t yet been given a good enough reason to reverse the trend.

That was one of the key messages delivered by John C. Peters, PhD, chief strategy officer and associate professor of medicine at the Colorado Center for Health and Wellness, at a presentation today. About 75 people attended his talk “The Skinny on Obesity Prevention” on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

“We’re going to have to figure out a way as a society to be accountable for changing” the behaviors that contribute to obesity, Peters said.

Helping people to realize that obesity in society has a personal consequence on them – much like second-hand smoke does – will be a critical step toward addressing the problem, according to Peters.

Colorado ranks as the skinniest state, having the lowest obesity rate nationwide, but children in the state rank in the middle of the pack, Peters said. Overall, obesity rates in the state are increasing, so “we’re catching up.”

“We must move away from linear, proximate solutions,” he said. “With this kind of problem, we have to look at it a little differently.”

Continue reading online

“The Skinny of Obesity Prevention” was hosted by the Center for Public Health Practice as part of the school’s monthly public health seminar series. To learn more about Colorado School of Public Health seminars, including access to seminar videos, visit the Center for Public Health Practice.

Women not following through with recommended breast screening MRI

Story originally published by Garth Sundem on the University of Colorado Cancer Center Colorado Cancer Blogs website

A study of 64,659 women, recently published in the journal Academic Radiology, found that while 1,246 of these women were at high enough breast cancer risk to recommend additional screening with MRI, only 173 of these women returned to the clinic within a year for the additional screening.

“It’s hard to tell where, exactly, is the disconnect,” says Deborah Glueck, PhD, investigator at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and associate professor of biostatistics and informatics at the Colorado School of Public Health, the paper’s senior author.

But no matter the disconnect, the result is clear: women who should be getting breast screening MRI are not.

Along with her PhD student, John Brinton, Glueck got interested in the data of MRI breast screening soon after the 2007 recommendation by the American Cancer Society that women at elevated lifetime risk for developing breast cancer be screened with MRI in addition to yearly mammograms. In fact, despite most major health insurances offering coverage, few clinics put the recommendation into practice.

An exception is Invision Sally Jobe Breast Centers, in the researchers’ Denver, Colo. backyard.

“The Invision Sally Jobe Breast Centers and our collaborators, Dr. Lora Barke, Mary Freivogel and Stacy Jackson have been invaluable partners in our research,” Glueck says.

Continue reading online at Colorado Cancer Blogs

February 1 Admissions Deadline

Applicants to the Colorado School of Public Health DrPH, PhD and MS programs are reminded to submit admissions applications and materials by tomorrow’s deadline of February 1, 2012.  Instructions and application information are published online at http://publichealth.ucdenver.edu/admissions

Alumni invited to attend virtual career fair

Colorado School of Public Health students and alumni are invited to attend the upcoming ASPH Virtual Career Fair February 9 and 10. Hosted by the Association of Schools of Public Health, the virtual fair allows attendees to upload resumes, download recruitment materials, and chat with recruiters national health agencies and companies. Visit ASPH to learn more.

Public Health Matters

Upcoming Events | View details about these events online
:: February 1 – DrPH Admissions Deadline
:: February 1 – PhD Admissions Deadline
:: February 1 – MS Admissions Deadline
:: February 1 – CBH Faculty Meeting
:: February 3 – DEADLINE: Application for Diploma Due (May 2012 Grads) | CU, CSU, UNC
:: February 3 – DEADLINE: Last Day to Drop/Add | CU, CSU, UNC
:: February 6 – CSPH Staff Meeting
:: February 6 – Grand Rounds – Dr. Gibbs
:: February 8 – Prospective Student Information Session
:: February 14 – Global Health Lecture Series
:: February 15 – Public Health Nurses Association of Colorado
:: February 20 – President’s Day (No Class) | CU
:: February 21 – Executive Council
:: February 27 – Public Health Seminar
:: February 27 – Colorado School of Public Health Seminar

In the News | Visit Public Health Newsroom

Public Health Job Opportunities | View details about these opportunities online
:: Call Center Assistant – Denver Metro
:: Epidemiologist – Richmond, CA
:: Epidemiology Surveillance Coordinator – Lincoln, NE
:: Tenure Track Faculty – Colorado School of Public Health
:: Outreach Specialist – Denver Metro
:: Policy Coordinator – Fort Collins, CO
:: Healthcare Research Assistant – Denver Metro
:: Healthcare Fellow/Resident – CA
:: Epidemiologist – San Carlos, AZ
:: Nurse Practitioner (RH Administrator) – Broomfield, CO
:: Pres. & CEO – Aspen
:: Biostatistician I – Englewood, CO
:: Health Economist – Englewood, CO
:: Health Data Analyst – Englewood, CO
:: State Nurse Supervisor – Cheyenne, WY
:: EHS 1 – Leadville, CO
:: Health Services Director – Boulder, CO
:: Nurse Practitioner – Aurora, CO
:: Health Care Business Analyst – Denver Metro
:: Engagement Specialist – Greenwood Village
:: Environmental Health Land Use – Denver Metro
:: STI/HIV Statistical Analyst – Denver, CO
:: Family Resource Center Program Specialist – Denver, CO
:: Content Architect – Denver, CO

@theForefront | Colorado School of Public Health
13001 E. 17^th Place, B119 | Aurora, CO 80045 | 303.724.4585
http://publichealth.ucdenver.edu | http://attheforefront.ucdenver.edu

In this week’s edition

:: Colorado identifies winnable battles
:: Faculty insight: “Garfield County should pursue health impact studies as designed”
:: Center for Research Strategies Developing Public Health Online Training Series

Colorado identifies winnable battles

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment today identified 10 Winnable Battles that are key public health and environmental issues where progress can be made in the next three-five years.

Chris Urbina, executive director and chief medical officer for the department, said, “We selected these 10 Winnable Battles because they provide Colorado’s greatest opportunities for ensuring the health of our citizens and visitors and the improvement and protection of our environment. All partners and stakeholders are needed and welcomed in helping address these Winnable Battles. With collective efforts, we can make a difference.”

The identified 10 Winnable Battles for public health and the environment are:

•               Clean Air
•               Clean Water
•               Infectious Disease Prevention
•               Injury Prevention
•               Mental Health and Substance Abuse
•               Obesity
•               Oral Health
•               Safe Food
•               Tobacco
•               Unintended Pregnancy

Urbina said, “Many public health and environmental health agencies at the local level already have embraced certain of these battles where they will be focusing some of their efforts in the next few years. In addition, we are working with our counterparts at the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to coordinate our efforts in these areas.”

Visit CDPHE online to learn more

Faculty insight: “Garfield County should pursue health impact studies as designed”

Roxana Witter, MD, MPH, originally published by Glenwood Springs Post Independent, January 23, 2012

Public health professionals in Colorado and around the country have legitimate concerns about possible exposures and related health effects associated with natural gas development and production. As yet, public health professionals have not had the opportunity to perform the research needed to determine the extent to which these hazards impact the health of those living very close to natural gas wells.

Researchers — including myself and Lisa McKenzie, PhD, MPH; Lee S. Newman, MD, MA; and John Adgate, PhD, MSPH, at the Colorado School of Public Health — have fulfilled their contract with Garfield County and submitted designs for five studies to evaluate the effects of natural gas development on human health.

These study designs address information gaps identified in the Battlement Mesa Health Impact Assessment, address the requests of the Battlement Concerned Citizens petition to the Garfield Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), and meet the scope of work agreed upon with the county commissioners.

The first design is for air, water and soil monitoring throughout the well development and gas production processes. This monitoring will provide information to Garfield County health officials, natural gas operators, researchers and the general public about the ongoing impacts of natural gas development, the effectiveness of pollution control technology and whether natural gas activities have or have not contaminated the environment in which we live.

The second and third designs will systematically identify and measure the chemicals (some of which have not yet been measured) emitted into the air during all phases of natural gas development. These designs also will measure hazardous chemicals at Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission setback distances and at distances proposed by Antero and the Battlement Mesa citizens. This information can be used to develop emission factors and models of dispersion to develop natural gas permitting and policy making that protects the public’s health.

The fourth and fifth designs are for monitoring the health and well being of citizens and communities in Battlement Mesa and other parts of Garfield County where natural gas is being developed. These designs include annual analysis of existing health and community information, as well as a survey of residents in these areas which can identify health effects not covered by existing data bases.

The designs for monitoring air, water, and soil, as well as the health and well-being of citizens and communities were purposefully developed to address the estimated 30-year lifetime of a well.

The impacts of some exposures are understood. Emissions from natural gas development operations include ozone precursors, and producing regions are at risk for ground level ozone formation. Ozone can impact the health of all people, and especially some of our most vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma.

Continue reading Dr. Witter’s comments online

Center for Research Strategies Developing Public Health Online Training Series

Earlier this year, the Center for Public Health Practice of the Colorado School of Public Health solicited proposals from individuals working in any aspect of public health in Colorado for financial support for a 12 month project. The funding for these projects was sponsored by the Colorado Health Foundation. The general purpose of this fellowship is to support scholars to create novel and useful products, as well as to provide academic enrichment for those working in public health fields in Colorado to enhance their professional work.  The Center for Research Strategies’ (CRS) proposal to develop a series of online trainings for the Center for Public Health Practice was selected as one of the Scholars in Public Health Practice awards. A portion of the project manager’s salary was supported with this award.  Kim Riley is the Director of Health Education at the Center for Research Strategies, a client-centered evaluation firm in Denver.

Kim Riley, MPH, is developing a series of six short “crib note” style online trainings to be posted on the Center for Public Health Practice website for access by public health professionals in the workforce.  Each training module consists of a 20-minute slide presentation about a different public health evaluation topic and includes accompanying worksheets and quick tips designed to assist busy professionals to develop and apply evaluation skills in their work.  The trainings cover a wide range of topics, including: communicating evaluation results, developing online surveys, identifying stakeholders, conducting key informant interviews, designing and facilitating focus groups and employing nominal group technique as a needs assessment method.  The trainings complement the more in-depth, in-person workshops and trainings being conducting by staff of the Center for Public Health Practice, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and other public health partners. These trainings appeal to busy professionals who want to get a brief overview of a particular topic and practical tools they can apply in their everyday work.  These training modules will be available online soon.  To view these and other public health training opportunities, visit the training Colorado Public Health Training Center page.

The Center for Research Strategies is a mission-driven company, focused on translating research into action.  It is a woman-owned, small business that provides policy, research, and evaluation services to non-profit, for-profit, state and federal agencies. The CRS team prides themselves in their ability to work in partnership with clients to improve their ability to serve their intended clients while building program capacity.  All projects operate on team principles with professional staff members collaborating across projects depending on the demands of the project and the expertise that is required.  For more information please visit www.crsllc.org.

Visit the Center for Public Health Practice online at http://publichealthpractice.org

Public Health Matters

Upcoming Events | View details about these events online
:: January 25 – Biostatistics Program Information Session
:: January 30 – Public Health Seminar
:: January 30 – Colorado School of Public Health Seminar
:: February 1 – DrPH Admissions Deadline
:: February 1 – PhD Admissions Deadline
:: February 1 – MS Admissions Deadline
:: February 1 – CBH Faculty Meeting
:: February 3 – DEADLINE: Application for Diploma Due (May 2012 Grads) | CU, CSU, UNC
:: February 3 – DEADLINE: Last Day to Drop/Add | CU, CSU, UNC
:: February 6 – CSPH Staff Meeting
:: February 6 – Grand Rounds – Dr. Gibbs
:: February 8 – Prospective Student Information Session
:: February 15 – Public Health Nurses Association of Colorado
:: February 20 – President’s Day (No Class) | CU
:: February 21 – Executive Council
:: February 27 – Public Health Seminar
:: February 27 – Colorado School of Public Health Seminar

In the News | Visit Public Health Newsroom
:: Colorado Public Radio – “Hospitals’ Infection Numbers Flawed”

Public Health Job Opportunities | View details about these opportunities online
:: Policy Coordinator – Fort Collins, CO
:: Healthcare Research Assistant – Denver Metro
:: Healthcare Fellow/Resident – CA
:: Epidemiologist – San Carlos, AZ
:: Nurse Practitioner (RH Administrator) – Broomfield, CO
:: Pres. & CEO – Aspen
:: Biostatistician I – Englewood, CO
:: Health Economist – Englewood, CO
:: Health Data Analyst – Englewood, CO
:: State Nurse Supervisor – Cheyenne, WY
:: EHS 1 – Leadville, CO
:: Health Services Director – Boulder, CO
:: Nurse Practitioner – Aurora, CO
:: Health Care Business Analyst – Denver Metro
:: Engagement Specialist – Greenwood Village
:: Environmental Health Land Use – Denver Metro
:: STI/HIV Statistical Analyst – Denver, CO
:: Family Resource Center Program Specialist – Denver, CO
:: Content Architect – Denver, CO
:: Environmental Health Specialist – Broomfield, CO
:: Disease Control Specialist – Broomfield, CO
:: Assistant/Associate Professor – West Chester, PA
:: Assistant Professor – Rochester, MI
:: Researcher I – Denver, CO
:: Research Projects Coordinator – Denver, CO
:: Health Center Manager – Stapleton, CO
:: OSHA – Washington, DC
:: Research Coordinator – Denver, CO
:: Biostatistician – Denver, CO

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