El Presidente!

Dr. Dan Perales took office as the new president for SOPHE at this year's annual conference!  Dr. Perales offered an eloquent speech that left all in attendance motivated and somewhat emotionally charged to continue the good work that we do in public health. San José State had about 40 members in attendance, all of whom cheered and celebrated our very own Dr. Perales as he stood to the podium to accept his position. As the new president for SOPHE, Dr. Perales will be responsible for helping the organization navigate upcoming opportunities and challenges. We look forward to supporting Dr. Perales' agenda and priorities during the upcoming year. Congratulations!

SOPHE 2010

The 60th Annual SOPHE conference ended with a bang. Please visit for more updates on SOPHE happenings and highlights as Harbinger contributors write them.

Policy Theory Applied to Public Health?

April Allgrove & Claudia Mendivil
Staff Contributors

The Annual SOPHE meeting held a session on Health Education and Promotion Theory, which included a presentation by Tyler Watson, MPH, CHES, titled, "How policy theory can improve public health advocacy." Mr. Watson discussed the significant contributions policies have made to public health, and in particular focused on three common policy theories for understanding and implementing policy; Three Streams Theory, Punctuated Equilibrium Theory, and the Advocacy Coalition Framework. He explained that while professionals in public health have mastered theories of behavior, they are much less versed with how policy theories can be applied to public health to achieve positive health outcomes in populations. He urged us to challenge ourselves not only to look at policy as an effective method for improving population health, but also, as suggested by the Advocacy Coalition Framework, to work with those groups who share similar policy interests but might sit on the opposite aisle of us, as this may be what allows us to make some of the greatest advances in public health. Mr. Watson made an excellent case for the necessity of the inclusion of policy theory into the field and curriculum of public health, and left most students who were present wanting more.

Support SJSU Students, Faculty, and Alumni at SOPHE and APHA

The SOPHE and APHA annual meetings are just around the corner! Here's a schedule of student, faculty, and alumni presentations at SOPHE and APHA. Please support the SJSU MPH family by attending these sessions. We're looking forward to seeing you in Denver!

View the presentation schedule here.

Are You Concerned About School Food? Help Propel the Revolution! | Healthy Child Healthy World

Are You Concerned About School Food? Help Propel the Revolution! | Healthy Child Healthy World

Is Public Health Social Enough?

As ubiquitous as social media has become, it offers a new and convenient avenue for public health professionals to conduct social marketing. What distinguishes new social media, often referred to as the "web 2.0" movement, from traditional media is the ability of people to contribute and more fully engage the messages they come into contact with. New social media replaces the "old school" relationship that kept people in a passive role, limited to only consuming the media.

A very innovate approach, dare I say cutting-edge, to social marketing has been Get Yourself Tested . Kaiser Permanente and MTV partnered to develop a unique campaign using FourSquare, a location-based social networking service, to motivate users to get tested for STD's.

Here are some more examples of public health efforts in this area:

Public Health Campaigns Using Social Media

What do you think of social media? Can it be useful in our profession, or is it too dependent on social fads to be useful? Please share your thoughts by commenting below.

Join CPHA-N for Free

Did you know that all MPH students are eligible to join the California Public Health Association-North (CPHA-N) for free? CPHA-N is our regional professional organization affiliated with the American Public Health Association (APHA). CPHA-N provides leadership in public health in California by assessing and analyzing public health issues and initiating and supporting action--including education and legislative efforts--to address these issues.

Student membership fees are waived for those enrolled in public health related professional programs for up to 3 years. To join, simply complete the online membership registration form or register by mail. (Note: The joint APHA/CPHA-N membership is $60 and is handled through APHA.)

Learn more about CPHA-N membership or about CPHA-N's mission and membership benefits.

To register by mail, send your name, address, email address, and phone number; name of college or university; and name of faculty advisor and program you are enrolled in to:

CPHA-N

555 12th Street 10th Floor
Oakland, CA 94607

Quick links:

CPHA-N website: www.cphan.org

CPHA-N membership options

CPHA-N online membership registration

About CPHA-N: Member benefits, mission, and activities

Last Day for SOPHE Annual Meeting Pre-Registration

Today is the last day to pre-register for the  SOPHE 61st Annual Meeting, Healthy People 2020: Scaling New Heights. Student pre-registration conference fees are $200 through today. The onsite registration fee increases to $215 after today.The SOPHE Annual Meeting will take place November 4-6 at the Marriott City Center in Denver, Colorado. See SOPHE.org for more information about the annual meeting or to register online.

Following SOPHE, stay in Denver for the APHA 138th Annual Meeting, "Social Justice: A Public Health Imperative," from November 6-10, 2010. Go to the APHA website for more information and to register.

Are you coming to Denver to celebrate our own Dr. Daniel Perales' installation as SOPHE President? Be sure to let us know if you plan on attending either conference. Please complete our brief survey to let us know when you'll be in town and if you are interested in being connected with other students for group accommodations.  Go to the survey.

More about accommodations: The SOPHE hotel rate is $205/night plus tax at the Denver Marriott City Center Hotel. This rate is based on availability and can be booked online through October 13. As of this post, the $205 rate is still available for some nights; however, November 7-9 are sold out.

We welcome other  creative solutions for keeping student lodging costs down - please email sjsumph.professionalorgs@gmail.com with your suggestions.

We're looking forward to seeing you in Denver.

“Corn Sugar”: HFCS Seeks a Makeover

by Primavera Richeson
Staff Contributor

Last week the Corn Refiners Association made a move with the FDA to change the name of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to “corn sugar”. The name change is an effort to shake off the bad reputation that HFCS has developed over the last few years in its association with the rise in obesity that can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary heart disease (www.mayoclinic.com).

Travel Scholarships Available for SOPHE and APHA Annual Meetings

Applications are due to the Health Science office by September 29 at noon
Last week the Health Science department announced travel scholarships for the SOPHE and APHA annual meetings. Be sure to review the announcement and apply by the September 29 deadline.


View the announcement.
View the application.

Global Health Career Night

Wednesday, September 29, 5-7 pm 
SJSU Campus, Engineering Room 189
Interested in a career in Global Health? Join the SJSU Global Health Association and the MPH-SA Global Health Committee to hear from speakers from The Peace Corps, San Jose State, and UCSF Medical School. Light snacks and coffee will be provided.

Reminder - SOPHE Early Registration Deadline is September 17

Are you coming to Denver to celebrate our own Dr. Daniel Perales' installation as SOPHE President? The SOPHE 61st Annual Meeting, Healthy People 2020: Scaling New Heights,will take place November 4-6 at the Marriott City Center in Denver, Colorado. See SOPHE.org for more information about the annual meeting or to register online.

Following SOPHE, stay in Denver for the APHA 138th Annual Meeting, "Social Justice: A Public Health Imperative," from November 6-10, 2010. Go to the APHA website for more information and to register.

Be sure to let us know if you plan on attending either conference. Please complete our brief survey to let us know when you'll be in town and if you are interested in being connected with other students for group accommodations.  Go to the survey.

More about accommodations: The SOPHE hotel rate is $205/night plus tax at the Denver Marriott City Center Hotel. This rate is based on availability and can be booked online through October 13. As of this post, the $205 rate is still available for some nights; however, November 7-9 are sold out.


We welcome other creative solutions for keeping student lodging costs down - please email sjsumph.professionalorgs@gmail.com with your suggestions.

We're looking forward to seeing you in Denver.

Professional Development Opportunity - Doctors Without Borders Information Sessions

Doctors Without Borders is hosting information sessions in San Jose and San Francisco in late September. If you are interested in working as a medical or non-medical aid worker globally, learn more about how you can put your public health ideals into practice at one of these info sessions:


San Jose event information
Date & Time: September 28, 7 pm
Location: REI Saratoga
400 El Paseo De Saratoga
San Jose, CA  95130


San Francisco event information
Date & Time: September 29, 7 pm
Location: The Women's Building - Auditorium
3543 18th St.
San Francisco, CA  94110


Learn more and register for either event on the Doctors Without Borders website.

Flavors of Oaxaca: Cultural Exchange and Health Promotion

by Nell Curran and Antonio Nuñez
Staff Contributors
Open-air markets selling goats, pigs, and cows to be used for meat or farming; a quincieanara celebrating a teen’s exit from childhood; delicious homemade tamales sold street side by an elderly grandmother ; churches adorned with purple and white decorations in celebration of Holy Week and Easter; mariachi bands, dressed in traditional attire, entertaining late night visitors to the town plaza ….such a list represents a snapshot of the many experiences of the 5th annual San Jose State Health Science Intercambio in Mexico, March 26-April 2, 2010.

What started in 2005 as a few students accompanying Health Science Chair, Kathleen Roe, to a rural town in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, has evolved into a rich, ongoing cultural exchange. Arrazola, famous for its hand carved and intricately painted woodcraft, has established a cooperative of artisans who welcome SJSU students into their community to share their work, cuisine, traditions, and values. In addition to sharing a home with families, this year’s trip included structured visits to public health services such as the Canica Program which provides education to youth living and working on the streets, and participatory activities such as distributing meal kits at a local food bank.

The most anticipated event of the week was the premier Health Fair, held in partnership with the local clinic, for more than 400 individuals and families. SJSU students prepared interactive educational booths covering topics from diabetes to oral health. Community members prepared complimentary food and beverages and arranged for music and dance from all corners of Mexico. SJSU peer health educators also led the first sex education workshop of its kind for over 60 youth. The local health director was impressed with the quality of SJSU efforts and pleased with her community’s response; she is eagerly anticipating Health Fair number 2!

Similarly, the Health Science department looks forward to Oaxaca 2011! For students (undergraduate, graduate, and alumni) interested in attending, please check with the health science department in fall 2010 for dates, fees, and application details.

June 5 Beach Cleanup

The MPH-SA Community Service Committee and Social Committee hosted the MPH-SA's third beach cleanup and bonfire (a.k.a. tasty 'smores-eating gathering) on Saturday, June 5th. Thirteen MPH students, brand-new alumni, professors, family, and friends came together to pick up and enumerate trash at Main Manresa State Beach in Santa Cruz. 

Former Community Service Committee Chair Linda Pham reports that out of the three beach cleanups, we had probably picked up a total of 70 pounds of trash. Great job in helping the environment!

Linda also formally passed the reigns - and Quaker granola bars - on to new Community Service Committee Chair Shristi Reddy at our June cleanup.

Stay tuned for details about our fall beach cleanup on September 25 - National Beach Cleanup Day. We hope to see you there.

Photos courtesy of Linda Pham

Faculty Profile: Brian R. Grossman, Ph.D.

By The Harbinger Editorial Staff
Brian R. Grossman earned a B.A. in Psychology and Communication from Rutgers University; an M.S.P.H. in Health and Social Behavior from the Harvard School of Public Health; and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, San Francisco. He joined the Department of Health Science as an Assistant Professor in the spring of 2010. Prior to this position, Dr. Grossman taught as a part-time lecturer for the Department, as well as for both the Department of Sociology and the Graduate Program in Gerontology at San Francisco State University.

In 2007, Dr. Grossman was awarded the Diversity Curriculum Award from the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at San Francisco State University for a course he developed entitled Disability and Inequality. Currently, he teaches HS 15 – Human Lifespan, GERO/HS 117 – Social Policies and Services in Aging, HS 140 – Human Sexuality, and HS 295 – Research Design and Methodology, and coordinates the fieldwork projects for the Gerontology Program. He is also one of the two undergraduate advisors for the Department of Health Science and the Concentration Coordinator for Option 3 (B.S. in Health Science with a Concentration in Gerontology). Dr. Grossman’s research is focused on disability and old age as categories of social, political, and economic exclusion, with a particular emphasis on both the construction of social identity and patterned experiences with social policies including Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Through his work with the Center for Personal Assistance Services at the University of California, San Francisco he conducted research on the limited and disparate state coverage of services and supports that allow people with disabilities and older people to remain living at home and in their communities. Dr. Grossman’s research has been published in Aging and Social Policy, Health and Social Policy, Home Health Care Services Quarterly, and Sexuality Research and Social Policy. He is co-editor of the volume, Social Insurance and Social Justice: Medicare, Social Security, and the Campaign Against Entitlements (Springer, 2009).

An Earthquake in Haiti Sheds Light on the Important Role of Public Health Professionals

By The Harbinger Editorial Staff

As the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, Haiti has long been plagued by a weak political, economic, and environmental infrastructure as well as an insufficient public health system and high rates of disease. Nearly half the population is illiterate, more than 80% are unemployed and 2/3 live in abject poverty, sustaining themselves on less than $2 US dollars a day. Less than half the Haitian population does not have access to primary care, and HIV/AIDS rates are strikingly high.

On January 12, 2010 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated the capitol city of Port-au-Prince, killing over 200,000 residents and leaving millions homeless. The aftermath of this natural disaster further highlighted how vulnerable populations, such as those in Haiti, disproportionately suffer.

Much like Hurricane Katrina exposed the economic, educational, and health disparities of poor, African-American families living in the destitute neighborhoods of New Orleans, Louisiana, the earthquake in Haiti forced the world to reflect on why the Haitian people suffered so severely. Within the opening months of this year, earthquakes ranging from 7.2 to 8.8 magnitudes also struck Mexico, California, Chile, and Turkey yet damage in these countries was significantly less; comparatively, only 57 died in Turkey and 531 died in Chile. Haiti’s wreckage was a direct result of its abject poverty, as weak building standards and shoddy construction led to the collapse of built structures and a devastating death toll.

Healthcare for the Undocumented

By Antonio Nuñez
Thousands of undocumented workers arrive in the United States each day. They face a potentially hostile environment, vulnerable to harassment and deportation on a daily basis, for the opportunity to work the jobs deemed most undesirable by Americans. For working in these conditions undocumented immigrants receive no commendation, no hazard pay or benefits. Yet their contributions to our community are unmistakable because they have an impact in almost every industry and have a major role in feeding us, clothing us, and providing us with shelter. As legal residents, we have the comfort of having three of our basic necessities provided by illegal residents but in exchange we do not allow illegal residents access to another necessity: healthcare. For this reason, denying healthcare to the undocumented is a human rights violation because those who sustain us are not allowed to sustain themselves.

Health is a universal need, but today has become a dichotomized condition pitting “right” versus “privilege” as definitions. In essence, we argue over whether there should be criteria for utilizing healthcare, and if so what constitute fair requirements. Two prerequisites for healthcare commonly used to deny its provision are income and legal status. Historically, rights have been reserved for those with privilege, and have only been shared following radical change. The right to vote, for example, was originally reserved for white men and reinforced by the requirement to be a land-owner, their exclusive privilege, in order to qualify. Successful social movements eventually made room for women and people of color in the voting booth.

Your Great-Grandparent’s Diet

by Primavera Hernandez
Staff Contributor    

    We are what we eat. The proof is in the pudding, so to speak. Increasing rates of heart disease, certain cancers, obesity and diabetes are gross epidemics associated with our nations lifestyle and diet.  As graduate students of public health our job is to learn ways in which we can promote healthy behaviors and elicit positive behavior changes.


    Take improving ones eating habits, for example. As a certified Nutrition Educator, I have learned over time that asking someone to change his or her diet is a very difficult and personal matter. No one likes their favorite comfort foods taken away from them. Be prepared to run because you might get hurt if you try to take away someone’s donuts, ice cream and soda - especially coffee.

Are you coming to Denver for SOPHE and APHA in November?

Reminder - SOPHE 61st Annual Meeting, Healthy People 2020: Scaling New Heights, will take place November 4-6 at the Marriott City Center in Denver, Colorado. Join us as we celebrate our own Dr. Daniel Perales, DrPH, as he takes the reigns as SOPHE president. See SOPHE.org for more information about the annual meeting.

Following SOPHE, stay in Denver for the APHA 138th Annual Meeting, "Social Justice: A Public Health Imperative," from November 6-10, 2010. Go to the APHA website for more information and to register. Early bird registration ends August 27!


Be sure to let us know if you plan on attending either conference. Please complete our brief survey to let us know when you'll be in town and if you are interested in being connected with other students for group accommodations.  Go to the survey.


More about accommodations: The SOPHE hotel rate is $205/night plus tax at the Denver Marriott City Center Hotel. This rate is based on availability and can be booked online thought October 13. As of this post, the $205 rate is still available. We welcome other  creative solutions for keeping student lodging costs down - please email sjsumph.professionalorgs@gmail.com with your suggestions.


We're looking forward to seeing you in Denver.

Sexual Diversity Event: Health Care Access for the LGBTQI Community

by Contributing Writer Hannah Bronsky

In March, after a lot of hard work, the Sexual Diversity Committee put on another stellar event. This year, the theme was Health Care Access in the LGBTQI communities through different lens. After a delicious spread where students and faculty sat at tables arranged and covered to look like a rainbow, and got to enjoy their beverages out of mugs designed by the committee to give out as parting gifts, a panel of speakers from the community answered questions and talked to the audience about their personal experiences with health care access. As health care professionals it is important to be informed about the unique needs of the communities we serve. This event helped open our eyes to the issues that LGBTQI individuals face when seeking health care services. For example, “Physicians need to know the right questions to ask…few doctors are asking their patients to get an HIV test even after the CDC has recommended everyone get the tests despite their sexual practices,” says Troy May, panel member and editor of ON (Out Now) magazine.

The event had 190 people in attendance which is wonderful for not only the success of the event but the future of the Sexual Diversity Committee and the future of the relationship between the Health Science department and its commitment to LGBTQI issues. It’s also important to reach out to the community and educate kids at a younger level as well as provide services to the elderly LGBTQI community, says Committee Chair Michele Mashburn. “More advocacy needs to be done and programs need to be done to address the needs of the LGBTQI community and not just a once a year event,” she says. The take home message of the event was to open people’s eyes to just some of the issues that the LGBTQI community face. The Sexual Diversity Committee can be proud of sending that message loud and clear.

Building Resiliency Through Community Service

by Contributing Writer Linda Pham
  
    On April 12, 2010, the MPH-SA Community Service Committee and Dr. Roe's HS: 104, Community Health Promotion, joined forces to support a health fair at Escuela Popular Learning Center. The purpose was to promote community health and build assets mainly within the Latino community. This was the Learning Center’s third annual health fair and first time collaborating with San José State University. Nearly 600 participants including representatives from different organizations were present.
    The Committee partnered up with non-profit group Save Out Shores to adopt Manresa State Beach in Santa Cruz. The participants and committee members completed two beach cleanups on September 19, 2009 and February 7, 2010 with a third scheduled for June 5, 2010. Participants collected more than 50 pounds of trash on both service days.
    “The beach clean-up was an awesome experience.  It felt really good to do something to improve the condition of our beaches.  I'm really glad I went and I can't wait to participate again in June!” said first year MPH student Amina Adofoadom.
    For more questions about the beach cleanup or to join the Community Service Committee in 2010 - 2011, contact Shristi Reddy at sreddy03@gmail.com.

Join us in Denver for SOPHE and APHA November 4-10!

The SOPHE 61st Annual Meeting, "Healthy People 2020: Scaling New Heights," will take place November 4-6 at the Marriott City Center in Denver, Colorado. Join us as we welcome our own Dr. Daniel Perales, DrPH, take the reigns as SOPHE president. Enter SOPHE's Student Health Education Marketing contest for a chance to win free registration and a $500 travel scholarship. Book your hotel now - see SOPHE.org or more information. Registration information is coming soon - stay tuned.

Following SOPHE, stay on for the APHA 138th Annual Meeting, "Social Justice: A Public Health Imperative," from November 6-10, 2010 in Denver, CO. Go to the APHA website for more information and to register. Early bird registration ends August 27!

Be sure to let us know if you plan on attending either conference. Email sjsumph.professionalorgs@gmail.com to let us know when you'll be in town.

Attend one or both! We're looking forward to seeing you in Denver.