"It is better to be making the news than taking it; to be an actor rather than a critic." 
- Sir Winston Churchill

Here is a brief listing of recent news and events sponsored by the Department of Community Medicine and Health Care.

News

September, 2005 - Tulane Student Calls MPH Program Home. Rebecca Schrier of Washington, Conn. was attending Tulane pursuing advanced degrees in social work and public health when Hurricane Katrina swamped her school. As part of the recovery effort, the national Association of Schools of Public Health was coordinating with programs around the country to place displaced Tulane students. The association asked if our graduate program in public health could accommodate as many as four students and the immediate answer was “Yes.” When the arrangements were complete, only one was back home and able to attend. Ms. Schrier said she’s still a bit shocked. She was on the road for two weeks after evacuating and beating the storm out of New Orleans by 24 hours. “I knew the best thing was to go home,” she said. “I want to have a routine and a schedule and I thought I could pick up a few classes. The course offerings at the Health Center were just right.” “We followed the direction of the president of the University of Connecticut,” said Dr. Gerald Maxwell, associate dean, Graduate School, “to be as helpful as possible to students displaced by the hurricane.” The policy guidelines said students would be admitted as quickly as possible and without tuition. “That’s what we did,” Dr. Maxwell said. He added central administration of the graduate school and the grad school student services center worked very efficiently to prepare for the enrollments. “The graduate school has been outstanding and accommodating, the Bookstore has been great, and the faculty have really risen to the challenge,” said Dr. David Gregorio, director, Graduate Program in Public Health. “Public health is something we do collectively for all of us. But public health at this university, is also a commitment to take care of public health students.”

Dr. Stephen L. Schensul, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for International Community Health Studies, Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, has been appointed by Governor M. Jodi Rell to be the honorary chair of the Connecticut observance of United Nations Day to take place on October 24, 2005.

July, 2005 - Schensul Named to NIH Study Section. Dr. Stephen L. Schensul, Associate Professor, Community Medicine and Health Care, has been named a member of the Health Services Organization and Delivery Study Section, Center for Scientific Review, N.I.H., for the term beginning July 1 to June 30, 2009. “Membership on a study section represents a major commitment of professional time and energy as well as a unique opportunity to contribute to the national biomedical research effort,” stated Dr. Brent Stanfield, NIH. “Members are selected on the basis of their demonstrated competence and achievement in their scientific discipline as evidenced by the quality of research accomplishments, publications in scientific journals and other significant scientific achievements, honors and activities.”

Dr. Stephen L. Schensul, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for International Community Health Studies, Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, has been appointed by Governor M. Jodi Rell to be the honorary chair of the Connecticut observance of United Nations Day to take place on October 24, 2005.

May, 2005 - Grad Class Cites Dr. Wetstone’s Teaching. Dr. Scott Wetstone, Administration and Asst. Professor of Community Medicine, got an unexpected but pleasant surprise when his graduate class in public health presented him with a plaque for his excellence in teaching. The class was Biostatistics and Epidemiology II and students specifically cited his “tireless efforts in providing an outstanding quality educational experience.” “We felt it was unprecedented having an outstanding professor who took the time to write us a textbook that was very well received by all,” said Dr. David Dayye, a class member. The class also cited Janice Vendetti and Bonnie McRee, both Community Medicine and Health Care, for the excellent work they do.

April 25, 2005 - Bailit Cited for Educational Contributions. Dr. Howard Bailit, Professor Emeritus of Community Medicine & Health Care, was presented with a Presidential Citation at the American Dental Education Association annual session held last month in Baltimore. Dr. Frank Catalanotto, ADEA president, presented the award to Dr. Bailit and several other outstanding faculty members who have influenced dental education on a national level. “In a variety of exceptional ways,” President Catalanotto said, “ each of the remarkable individuals being honored has helped dental and allied dental education and ADEA move forward in dealing with the issue of access to care. With these awards, we acknowledge and thank these recipients.” The award specifically mentioned Dr. Bailit’s work as co-director of the Pipeline, Profession, and Practice: Community-Based Dental Education program, based here and at Columbia University. “Your career has focused on ways to improve access to health care for all people through a brilliant use of economic and forecast modeling,” said President Catalanotto. “Your recent work with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Macy Foundation shows great promise in extending this work as it affects the dental and allied dental education communities.” The ADEA is the leading national organization for dental education. Members include all U.S. and Canadian dental schools, advanced dental education programs, allied programs, corporations, faculty, and students.

April 7, 2005 - Artificial Light Could Be Causing Breast Cancer. The World Health Organization says that women in the industrialized world get breast cancer much more frequently than those in the third world and scientists don't know why. Dr. Richard Stevens, Epidemiologist and Associate Professor of Community Medicine, is looking at the the possibility that artificial light may play a role. » Listen to his interview with Heather Claborn of WNPR Connecticut Public Radio. Real Audio Required.

February 27, 2005 - Revenue Isn't the Only Consideration. Dr. Thomas F. Babor, Chair of the Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, OpEd commentary in the Harford Courant on two pieces of proposed legislation: increasing taxes on the sale of alcohol, wine and spirits and extending the sales of alcohol on Sunday. Dr Babor argues that revenue should not be the only consideration that the legislature and the public should consider when judging the merits of these two pieces of proposed legislation. Public Health research shows us the clear choice on which proposal is better since alcohol is no ordinary commodity.  » Read the OpEd.

January 2005 - Humanities at the Heart of Health Care. The Division of Medical Humanities, Health Law and Ethics and the Medical Humanities Interest Group are delighted to present “Literature & Medicine: Humanities at the Heart of Health Care.” A program of the Connecticut Humanities Council, Literature & Medicine allows participants to attend a series of monthly book discussions facilitated by experienced literary scholars. Readers will explore works of fiction, poetry, drama and nonfiction that illuminate issues central to caring for people, be they sick, well, or dying. The program gives health care providers the opportunity to come together and through literature, reflect on their professional lives. Discussion dates are Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m., Jan. 26, Feb. 23, March 23, April 27 and May 25. Books include Patrimony by Philip Roth; Pale Horse, Pale Rider, by Katherine Anne Porter; Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf; The Shawl and Rosa by Cynthia Orzick; Angels In America, by Tony Kushner and a selection of short stories and poetry. To sign up for the series or for more information, please contact Theo Ungewitter, x5495 or e-mail ungewitter@nso.uchc.edu. The program is free and open to all members of the Health Center community: faculty, staff, students, residents and volunteers.

December 13, 2004 - Graduate Program in Public Health Spring Registration. The MPH Program is accepting registration forms for the spring semester, that begins January 18. The schedule of courses is in the registration booklet, which also includes course descriptions and registration procedures. The booklet is available at http://grad.uchc.edu/mph/mph_intro.html. Registration forms for non-degree students can be found at http://grad.uchc.edu/current/pdfs/nondgfrblank.pdf. Questions? Contact Ms. Barbara Case at bcase@nso.uchc.edu.

August, 2004 - Morse Receives Ergonomist Certification. The highest level of certification in ergonomics has been awarded to Tim Morse, Ph.D., ErgoCenter and Occupational and Environmental Health and Associate Professor of Community Medicine and Health Care. The designation of certified professional ergonomist was awarded to Dr. Morse by the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics in Bellingham, Wash., an independent nonprofit certifying body for the practice of ergonomics. Certification requires an extensive review of education and experience as well as a day-long examination. Congratulations Dr. Morse!

August 23, 2004 - Massey Auditorium Dedicated. Robert U. Massey, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Community Medicine and third dean of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine was honored by the UConn Health Center when the second of two largest auditoriums on campus was named in his honor. Dr. Massey arrived at the Health Center in 1968 and became dean in 1971. In 1985 he stepped down to teach and write and lecture "and to be a role model for all of us in academic medicine," said Dr. Peter Deckers, dean of the School of Medicine and the Health Center's executive vice president, adding that dedicating the auditorium to Massey was long-overdue. Throughout his tenure, he provided outstanding academic leadership to the faculty and served as a mentor and educator to both medical and dental students. He served as editor of Connecticut Medicine and was editor of the Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences. Massey had a long-standing personal interest in the history of medicine and taught it in the medical school as an elective. "I'm in very good company here," Massey said. "The Lyman Maynard Stowe Library is named after the first dean of medicine, and the Patterson Auditorium is named after the second dean of medicine and the first executive director, in a place where we all huddled together in the early days of this academic setting." The newly dedicated auditorium flanks the Academic Entrance on campus. Read the complete story in the September 7, 2004 edition of the UConn Advance.

June, 2004 - Dr. Richard Stevens, Associate Professor of Community Medicine, this past spring got some media attention in Germany for his light and breast cancer work. He was quoted in the popular magazine “Gesundheit” and also in Ärzte Zeitung online, a physicians’ newspaper. He was also featured on German national TV.

May 24, 2004 - Inside The Brain Of A Gambler: One Researcher Directs A Study. Rob Pietrzak, MPH '04, a 24 year old research assistant in the Department of Psychiatry was profiled in a Hartford Courant article describing his work on gambling problems among the elderly. See an archive of the entire story in the Hartford Courant.

April 15, 2004 - Lazzarini Nominated for Associate Professor. Zita Lazzarini, JD, MPH, Director of the Division of Medical Humanities, Health Law and Ethics was recently recommended by the Senior Appointments and Promotions Committee for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor. “We should be very proud of Zita, who has had a great record of achievement since joining the department,” says Dr.Thomas Babor. “This is just another indication of the high academic quality of the faculty in this department.” Congratulations Professor Lazzarini!

April 7, 2004 - Babor Participates in Alcohol Screening Web Cast. Dr. Thomas Babor, Professor and Chair, Department of Community Medicine and Health Care was among four invited panelists to participate in "Alcohol and Drug Use Screening, Intervention, and Referral: Changing the Nation’s Approach to Comprehensive Health Care" as part of the Road to Recovery 2004 Multimedia Series. The webcast discusses innovative efforts to educate healthcare professionals on appropriate screening, intervention, and referral procedures that can easily be incorporated into clinical settings. The hour long webcast premiers at 3:00 pm on April 7th and will be archived. Web Cast Details » [Overview] [PDF Flyer] [One Minute Trailer - Windows Media Player Required]. 

April, 2004 - April is Alcohol Awareness Month. This April, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, now in its 60th year, will sponsor a month-long campaign to raise public awareness about alcohol-related problems. April 8 is National Alcohol Screening Day. For more on Alcohol Awareness Month visit http://www.health.org/seasonal/aprilalcohol/default.aspx.

March 29, 2004 - Tennen Receives Highest Honor for Faculty. Howard Tennen, Ph.D. is among five faculty members cited for exceptional distinction in scholarship, teaching, and service and has been selected as one of this year's Board of Trustees Distinguished Professors, the University's highest honor for faculty. No more than five percent of the active faculty may hold the title at any one time. He and the other honorees will be honored during a reception on April 8, at 3 p.m. in the Alumni Center on the Storrs Campus. Members of the University community are welcome to attend. Read the entire story in the March 29, 2004 article in the UConn Advance.

March 15, 2004 - Ungemack Named as 'Woman to Inspire' March is Women’s History Month with the theme: Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility. The Office of Diversity Programs, in observing the month, sought nominations from the Health Center community of women who served to inspire, encouraged others to do great things, overcame obstacles, or demonstrated the range of possibilities. Nominees include eight women, faculty and staff, from a variety of endeavors that are indeed reflective of the Health Center’s diversity.  Community Medicine's own Jane Ungemack, DrPH, Assistant Professor, is among the nominees. She and seven others will be honored at ceremonies Wednesday, March 17, from noon to 1 p.m. in Keller Auditorium. Congratulations Dr. Ungemack! Read the entire story in the UConn Advance vol 22 no. 25 issue.

November 17, 2003 - Babor Discusses New Book on Alcohol Policies Worldwide. Thomas Babor, PhD, MPH, chair of the Department of Community Medicine, discusses his recent edited book, Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity - Research and Public Policy (Oxford University Press, ISBN: 0-19-263261-2; September 2003; 301 pgs) in a recent issue of the UConn Advance. The book describes evidence-based and effective policies for the prevention and management of alcohol-related problems. Read the entire Babor interview in the UConn Advance. Details about the book and ordering information can be found on the Oxford University Press website.

August 11, 2003 - Bioterrorism Seminar Ends with Ricin - “Ricin and Botulinum Toxin as Biological Weapons” is the topic for the last presentation in the popular Bioterrorism Seminar Series. The speaker is Dr. Anthony Carbone, a consultant in biosecurity and public health preparedness, a former U.S. Army nuclear, biological and chemical warfare officer, and a recent fellow in biosecurity at Harvard. The presentation will be held Aug. 20 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Link Room. The talk is free and no registration is required.

June 2, 2003 - Seminar Looks at Response to Bioterrorism - “How to Operationalize Your Weapons of Mass Disaster Plan” is the title of the next presentation in the Bioterrorism Seminar Series scheduled for June 10 at 6 p.m. in the Link Room. Dr. Kent LaGasse, New York Institute of Technology will address a variety of organizational responses using the incident command system; describe the differences among local, state, and federal assets when these are available; the difficulties in planning and training without available funds; and more. This seminar is one of several designed to enhance public health professionals’ knowledge and preparedness in bioterrorism emergencies. It is presented by Community Medicine in collaboration with the Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All health providers, public health professionals and interested community members are invited. There is no cost to attend and pre-registration is not required.

May 12, 2003 - Many Substances Can Be Weapons, Says Biodefense Expert - Anthrax's success as a biological weapon is well known since its use in this country in a still unsolved attack two years ago that killed five people and sickened at least 17 others. But there are more than 30 biological agents that would be relatively easy to weaponize, biological weapons expert Dr. Kenneth Alibek told an audience interested in preparing for bioterrorism last week. The seminar was sponsored by the Department of Community Medicine and the Connecticut Department of Public Health in collaboration with the CDC. Read the entire Alibek story in a recent issue from the UConn Advance.

March 25, 2003 - Bioterrorism Seminar Series. The Department of Community Medicine in collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will launch a series of seminars designed to enhance public health professionals' knowledge and preparedness in bioterrorism emergencies. The first seminar is slated for April 14 at 6:00 PM in the Health Center's Link Room will feature Major General Donna Barbisch (President, Global Deterrence Alternatives, Washington, DC) presenting Strategic Issues in Bioterrorism Response. Future seminars will include: The Psychological Effects of Bioterrorism on April 21 by Lt. Col. Ross Pastel and Biological Weapons: Threat and Defense on May 5 by Ken Alibek, MD, PhD, ScD. Three additional seminars will be held in June. While the seminar is free, seating is limited to 70 participants and is on a first-arrival basis. Certificates of participation will be awarded to attendees. For further information, call Theo Ungewitter at (860) 679-5495.

March 24, 2003 - Gregorio Named Director of Public Health Program. After a national search, Dr. David Gregorio, Associate Professor in the Department of Community Medicine, has been appointed as Director of the UCONN Graduate Program in Public Health and Associate Department Head for Education effective April 1, 2003. Dr. Gregorio’s appointment follows the retirement of Dr. Holger Hansen from the School of Medicine. Dr Gregorio has been on the faculty since 1985. He has considerable experience in public health education. His research focuses on public health surveillance of health disparities across communities and the use of such information in disease control efforts targeted at populations at elevated risk of poor health outcomes. He also conducts research into effects of economic and social disparities on the health of communities. In his new position, Dr. Gregorio will coordinate the Department’s teaching activities in both medical/dental education and the public health program. He will oversee enhancement of the current MPH curriculum and possible development of a doctoral degree. 

March, 2003 - Protecting Human Subjects. Professor Zita Lazzarini, Assistant Professor of Community Medicine, will present "Protection of Human Subjects: the Legacy of Human Experimentation in the Twentieth Century" at the next History of Medicine Seminar Wednesday, March 26, at 5 p.m. in the Green Auditorium. "Key advances in medical science often depend on research done with human subjects. During the 20th century, there were rapid advances in medicine and public health on all fronts and exploitation of human subjects in ways that shamed the professions of medicine and public health," said Lazzarini. "One question for the 21st century is whether, in our efforts to prevent abuse of human subjects, we are unduly hindering the process of scientific research. How we choose to regulate human subjects’ research will have an important impact on the research itself and those who perform it." The presentation will explore some of the evidence for increased concern over regulation and protection of human subjects. All are welcome and refreshments will be served. If you would like to attend this seminar and have not signed up, please register with the Call Center at (860) 679-7692 or 1-800-535-6232.

February 24, 2003 - Health Center Researcher Works to Stem HIV, STD's in India. Stephen L. Schensul, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Community Medicine and director of the Center for International Community Health Studies is profiled for his work on the RISHTA project funded for five years by the National Institutes of Mental Health to examine Indian men's cultural concerns about sexual dysfunction as an opportunity to get men involved with health services that can help them with prevention and early treatment of STD's and HIV. Read the entire story in a recent article from the UConn Advance.

The Office of Communications at the University of Connecticut Health Center provides public relations and news media services for the Health Center(s three main units; the School of Medicine, the School of Dental Medicine and the UConn Health System. Some excerpts provided above are from the Office of Communications. For other Health Center news releases that are not specific to the Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, visit the Office of Communication's web site.

Events

February 3, 2005 - "Redefining Readiness: Terrorism Planning through the Eyes of the Public” is the topic of a seminar to be broadcast by satellite from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in Keller Auditorium. The seminar presents the results of a study conducted by the New York Academy of Medicine, in which ordinary Americans describe how they would react to a terrorist attack by smallpox or dirty bomb. The information is important because emergency and contingency plans have been prepared based on assumptions public reaction. The seminar explores genuine public reactions. Investigators believe that if the planners’ assumptions about the public are incorrect, the plans will not work as expected, and a large number of people who should be protected will be at risk of serious harm. The broadcast is being presented by Community Medicine and Healthcare and the Connecticut Department of Public Health. The speaker is Roz Lasker, M.D., Division of Public Health and the Center for Advancement of Collaborative Strategies in Health, New York Academy of Medicine. The broadcast is appropriate for state and local public health professionals and healthcare professionals, EMS personnel, law enforcement, and media representatives. For more info contact Barbara Case, x1510, bcase@nso.uchc.edu. » Flyer [PDF; 42 KB]

March 18, 2005 - "ER meets Law and Order: Medical Problem Solving in Ancient Greece” presented by Walter A. Borden, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine. A Community Medicine Seminar Series Presentation. 12:00-1:30 PM. Academic Research Building Large Conference Room (EG013). Lunch provided. For more info contact Theo Ungewitter, x5495, ungewitter@nso.uchc.edu. » Presentation Details

April 26, 2005 - "Artificial Nutrition and Hydration: An Ethical Perspective on Advanced Alzheimer's Disease and the Persistent Vegetative State” presented by Stephen B. Case, Ph.D., Professor of Bioethics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. A Community Medicine Seminar Series Presentation. 12:00-1:30 PM. Link Room. Lunch provided. For more info contact Theo Ungewitter, x5495, ungewitter@nso.uchc.edu. » Presentation Details

April 28, 2005 - "What CABG Teaches Us About Innovation” presented by George J. Agich, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University. A Community Medicine Seminar Series Presentation. 12:00-1:30 PM. Link Room. Lunch provided. For more info contact Theo Ungewitter, x5495, ungewitter@nso.uchc.edu. » Presentation Details

May 13, 2005 - MPH Night at the Rockcats, New Britain Stadium. All MPH Students, Alumni and Faculty Invited. Tickets are $9.00 per seat. For more info contact Barbara Case, x1510, bcase@nso.uchc.edu. » Flyer [PDF; 42 KB]

May 25, 2005 - "Biodefense, Social Justice and the Ecological Imagination in Public Health” presented by Lisa A. Eckenwiler, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Philosophy, Old Dominion University. A Community Medicine Seminar Series Presentation. 12:00-1:30 PM. ARB EG013. Lunch provided. For more info contact Theo Ungewitter, x5495, ungewitter@nso.uchc.edu. » Presentation Details