Dr. Cooper Speaks at the 10th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health
On Tuesday, December 5, 2017, Dr. Cooper spoke at a plenary session, entitled “Achieving Health Equity: The Role of D&I Research”. She told the audience that currently, in health equity research, there is a gap between where we are and where we need to be, which she called an “implementation gap”. She then used an ecological intervention model to demonstrate that we have not made more progress in closing this gap because: 1) issues are complex, 2) there are multiple levels of influence, and 3) building strong relationships between and among key stakeholder groups takes time and commitment. Dr. Cooper then shared lessons learned from the creation of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity as well as our current work in the RICH LIFE Project, as part of the Hypertension Disparities Reduction Program Partnership. She classified the lessons into three domains – respect, relationships, and resources, and used the image and metaphor of the iceberg concept of culture to show the importance of using “the three R’s of health equity research” to address factors beneath the tip of the iceberg – such as values, beliefs, role orientations, and mental models - that are essential for researchers working together with partners from all sectors of society - to achieve health equity.
Dr. Lisa Cooper speaking at the 10th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health.
Community Advisory Board Holiday Meeting Tomorrow
The next Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity Community Advisory Board (CAB) meeting will be held tomorrow, December 12 at Sisters Together and Reaching at 901 North Milton Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205 from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm. This will be an opportunity to reflect on the last academic year and create new goals for the coming year. We will be discussing a few very important topics, including, but not limited to, the proposed topics for the CAB retreat in early 2018, getting new members involved with our CAB, and upcoming grant opportunities. We would like to thank you all of our dedicated members for your dedication and commitment last year. We wish each of you a very peaceful and joyful holiday season with your family and friends, and we look forward to continuing to work towards our vision for health equity for all in the New Year.
Jessica Yeh Selected to be on the American Diabetes Association National Health Disparity Committee
Congratulations to Jessica Yeh, Associate Director of the Johns Hopkins Welch Center and Associate Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Oncology for her new appointment to the American Diabetes Association’s Health Disparities Committee! The American Diabetes Association National Health Disparities Committee serves as an advisory and steering committee for the Association’s work around reducing inequities facing populations disparately affected by diabetes. The Committee will provide expert guidance in the areas of effective community support, program criteria and evaluation, trends in health equity strategies as applicable across the spectrum from consumers to providers and clinics to community, and strategies for the Association to effectively contribute to the diabetes ecosystem as it relates to disparities reduction. This new appointment will be for two years.
Jessica Yeh, PhD, Associate Director of the Welch Center and Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Upcoming Health Equity Jam Session
The next Health Equity Jam Session is coming up on Wednesday, December 13 from 3:00-4:30 pmin the Powe Conference Room, mezzanine level 1-500Q, 2024 E. Monument Street. Emily F. Boss, MD MPH FACS, Associate Professor, Pediatric Otolaryngology and Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health will present: “The BuZZZZZ about Tonsillectomy: Social Differences in Treatment, Communication, and Surgical Decisions for Children Who Snore”.
The Baltimore Sun: In Clifton-Berea, convergence of 'every bad thing' leads to lowest life expectancy in Baltimore
In a recent issue, The Baltimore Sun staff writer Yvonne Wenger, reported on the many factors contributing to the Clifton-Berea neighborhood’s alarmingly low life expectancy, including: poverty, unemployment, youth violence, and low educational attainment. Furthermore, she discussed ways in which academic, governmental, and community-based organizations are fighting this disparity. One of the organizations she highlighted, the Men and Families Center, is headed by our Center’s Community Advisory Member, Leon Purnell. When describing the challenges faced by Clifton-Berea residents in an interview with Ms. Wenger, Leon stated “they’ll never think about their health,” and “they’re worried about being evicted or their gas and electric being off – it’s about the stress. It’s about the quality of life. The income level. The education level. All of those things are interconnected.” To read more about the impactful work Leon’s organization is doing to improve the lives of those living in the Clifton-Berea neighborhood, read the full article by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/ybc3jn6t.
Leon Purnell, director of the Men and Families Center.
Opportunities
Centro SOL Scholars Program. A program created to expose bilingual students to careers and opportunities to pursue higher education. In collaboration with Hopkins affiliated professionals, and external organizations, Centro SOL plans to host 9 high school students (new and returning) during summer 2018. The application will open December 11, 2017 until January 15, 2018. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/2AV1rKJ.
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions Pilot Project Awards. The overall goal of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions (HCHDS) Investigator Development Core (IDC) is to create a more diverse biomedical and public health workforce by building the capacity of a cadre of new investigators who are committed to a research portfolio focused on health disparities and minority health research at JHU. The IDC of the HCHDS is soliciting proposals for pilot projects that have potential to advance the scientific understanding of place-based determinants as it relates to health disparities and minority health. Applicants must be a post-doctoral fellow, junior faculty (Assistant Scientist, Assistant Professor or equivalent), or other ESI as defined by NIH at JHU. Applicants from historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Funds up to $50,000 are available for three one-year pilot projects. Applicants should submit electronically to (HCHDS@jhu.edu) by 5:00 pm, December 15, 2017. For further information, please see this request for proposals.
Bloomberg American Health Initiative Health Equity Request for Proposals. The Equity Working Group of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative invites proposals for seed grants to support teams of Johns Hopkins researchers to begin or expand interdisciplinary research projects related to designing healthy communities. The seed grant program will provide up to $10,000 for pilot projects which will develop, implement, and promote sustainable, resilient and equitable communities. Proposals must be led by a full‐time faculty member, research scientist, or research scholar affiliated with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. This affiliation does not need to be a primary appointment, and other collaborators (co‐PIs) may be from any Johns Hopkins division. Collaborators can include faculty, staff, and doctoral students in any division of Johns Hopkins University. Staff of government agencies and nonprofit organizations may also collaborate in seed grant proposals. The deadline for proposals is January 15, 2018. For more information about the seed grant program, criteria, and proposal requirements, please click here.
Postdoc Diversity Program. Faculty members are invited to nominate scholars for the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship, which will support one or two years of salary and provide fringe benefits and a small research award for individuals who will contribute to the diversity of his or her division and academic community. Applications must be mailed to (facultyaffairs@jhu.edu) by January 15, 2017. Nominations are welcome from any area of study, and priority consideration will be given to nominees in fields where there are fewer women or underrepresented minorities and to individuals whose funding has been exhausted. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/2zZ6SWa.
Upcoming Events
Diversity in Leadership: Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Leadership Panel. This panel will be a moderated interactive discussion with several of Johns Hopkins’ emerging leaders including Renee M. Johnson, PhD, MPH; Tanjala Purnell, MPH, PhD; Roland J. Thorpe, Jr. MS, PhD; Damani A. Piggott, MD, PhD; and Herschel Wade, PhD. This event will be held in Becton Dickinson Hall W1020, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm on December 13, 2017. Following the event, a catered reception will be provided. For more information, please click here.
Happy Child, Happy Family – Holiday Celebration. Are you looking for a way to give back this year? Centro SOL, with a mission to promote equity in health and opportunity for Latinos by advancing clinical care, research, education, and advocacy at Johns Hopkins and beyond, is having their annual holiday drive. Donations should be made by December 11, 2017 and can include monetary donations, winter clothing for boys and girls, non-perishable food items, and toys. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/2j0gBaG.
Monthly Meetings
RICH LIFE Project
The Data Collection and Recruitment workgroup meet every Thursday of this month from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm in the Conference Room (2-526).
The RICH LIFE Patient and Stakeholder Engagement workgroup will meet the first and second Thursday of this month from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm in the Conference Room (2-526).
The Collaborative Care workgroup will meet on the second Tuesday of this month from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm in the Whelton Room (2-603).
The CHW workgroup will meet the first and third Monday of this month from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm in the Whelton Room (2-603).
The BP Standardization workgroup will meet the first and third Wednesday of this month from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm in the Conference Room (2-526).
Five, Plus Nuts and Beans for Kidneys
The next Investigators’ Meeting for the Five, Plus Nuts and Beans for Kidneys Research Study will be on Wednesday, December 13th from 10:00 am – 11:00 am in the Powe Conference Room (1500Q).
