As the end the academic year draws to a close, I am looking forward to celebrating with the first class of SPH students (596 of them!) to graduate since I became dean. Our School of Public Health commencement ceremony on May 20 at the Xfinity Center will include an address by kinesiology alumna Joy Bauer ’86, the nutrition and health expert for NBC’s TODAY show and a charismatic advocate for healthy living.
This has been an exciting and busy semester and I am pleased to have had many opportunities to get to know students, faculty and staff better. We launched a monthly “conversations with the dean” about key public health topics in the news, and have explored varied issues including vaccines, gun violence and opioid addiction. I invite you to join us as we continue the series this fall or to make time for the exercise-inducing and thought-provoking scheduled “talk and walk” with the dean. Take a break from your computer and bend my ear about whatever is on your mind! Read more >>
While he signed no executive orders, Dean Boris Lushniak worked tirelessly throughout his first 100 days to energize the School of Public Health community and connect with students, staff and faculty members. He took bold action to get students moving, promote prosperity and hold our elected officials accountable. Take a look at some of the most memorable moments of his first few months as our fearless leader! Read more>>
Behavioral and Community Health Professor Robin Sawyer is retiring after more than 30 years as one of the most popular teachers at the university. Long before the School of Public Health was even established, Dr. Sawyer was raising awareness about date rape and STDs at UMD and college campuses throughout the country. Terp magazine interviewed Dr. Sawyer this spring about how things have changed over the course of his years teaching more than 22,000 students. The SPH honors his legacy of teaching excellence and wishes him well in retirement. Read more>>
Between 2013 and 2015, there was a 6.7 percent decline in the rate of medical financial burden for people who purchased health coverage directly from insurance companies, according to a study led by Health Services Administration Assistant Professor Michel Boudreaux. The decrease in financial burden due to health expenses was concentrated among people with low-and-moderate- incomes. Boudreaux says It is likely that we could see a reversal to these trends if consumers lose the financial protections that still currently exist through the ACA. Read more>>
A new "Health in All Policies" bill, signed into law by Gov. Hogan on May 4, will engage the UMD School of Public Health’s Center for Health Equity (M-CHE) in advising state lawmakers on healthy public policy. With support from Md. Senator Shirley Nathan-Pulliam and others, M-CHE Director Stephen Thomas recommended the collaborative approach outlined by the American Public Health Association, which aims to ensure that policymakers and stakeholders include health considerations in their decision-making across sectors and policy areas. Read more>>
Could the initiation of a simple walking exercise program help older adults to reverse declines in key brain regions? A new study led by Kinesiology Professor Dr. J. Carson Smith offers hope that it may be possible to reestablish some protective neuronal connections. A 12-week walking intervention with older adults, ages 60-88, positively affected functionality of a brain region known to show declines in people suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer’s disease. Read more>>
A report published by School of Public Health, in collaboration with the Hazelden Betty Ford Institute for Recovery Advocacy, raises concerns about health risks from the ever-increasing potency of marijuana and new methods of consumption. The two organizations report that several recent studies point to rising potencies, a new method of consumption called "dabbing" and the use of synthetic marijuana as areas of concern. Read more>>
A 2017 PhD graduate and two undergraduate alumnae of the School of Public Health have been awarded Fulbright scholarships for research and teaching projects in Senegal, the Philippines, and Thailand. Sana Haider (pictured at left), B.S. ’16 (Behavioral and Community Health), has been awarded a 2017-18 Fulbright to conduct research in the Philippines focused on understanding the challenges of implanting a school-based HPV vaccination program for underprivileged elementary school girls. Theresa Kim, Ph.D. ’17 (Health Services Administration) has been awarded a 2017-18 Fulbright for research in Senegal on family planning and the influence of health care workers on the adoption of long acting reversible contraception (LARCs). Shelly Spence, B.S. ’11 (Kinesiology), M.A. has been awarded a Fulbright Teaching Assistantship to Thailand for the 2017-18 academic year. Read more>>
On Maryland Day 2017, Steve Jordan led a “No Excuses Workout” session and an attempt to break the record for the largest group holding a plank at one time. Learn more about Steve's inspirational story and his career as a personal trainer. View the video of his energizing Maryland Day event!
Gurleen Kaur, Global Public Health major and alumna of the Global Public Health Scholars Program, will spend this summer in Chandigarh, India on a Critical Language Scholarship—a two-month immersive summer language study program funded by the U.S. Department of State. Combining interests in global health and development, Kaur crafted her own major through the Individual Studies Program, under the guidance of Dr. Elisabeth Maring. Read more >>
More than 100 researchers from diverse institutions submitted posters at the 5th annual Public Health Research@ Maryland day. The best of the posters presented by undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students were recognized with awards. Read more about the winning posters, including topics ranging from exercise and brain health to environmental hazards in childcare settings and much more. Congratulations to all! Read more>>
