February 2017

PUB
HEALTH-OLOGY Vol 2 # 1
A newsletter from the Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health

Inside Pub Health-ology: Announcements:

Announcements We passed our Accreditation with flying colors!
Climate Change and
Health We are working to incorporate the new CEPH
Public Health Week
Challenge
accreditation criteria competencies to our
Spotlight
curriculum. We held a kick-off event, Re-
Just A Thought
Imagine CEOMPH on March 1.
World Health Day
Public Health Week is April 3-9, 2017
National Health Ob-
servances
If you are planning on graduating, make sure to
Global Health
apply in time!
Professional Training

Climate Change and Health:

Who is at Risk?
This years American Public Health Associations (APHA) topic for their 2017 National
Conference is: Creating the Healthiest Nation: Climate Changes Health. APHA states,
The science is clear: Climate change is a serious threat to human health. Science is not
an option. It is evidence. (APHA 2017). Climate change impacts include changes in pre-
cipitation resulting in flooding and droughts, warming temperatures and extreme heat
waves, rising sealevels, intense hurricanes, disease migration, and degraded air quality.
These impacts threaten our health by increasing toxins in the air we breathe and water
we drink, by affecting our food sources, and the weather we experience. These impacts
are especially detrimental to the health of those who have specific social and health de-
terminants, including the elderly, children, pregnant women, the homeless, the chronical-
ly ill, the mentally ill, those with birth defects, those of lower socio-economic status,
those living in urban society and Appalachia, and those in areas lacking necessary re-
sources and access to care. These impacts lead to situations such as loss of resources,
loss of income, loss of access to care and medications, access to food, clean water and
shelter, increase in the stress of daily living, loss of transportation and loss of life..

Due to drought and flooding, our food and water resources are destroyed, and lead to
increases foodborne illnesses, food insecurities and malnutrition. Drought and flooding
also lead to an increase in use of pesticides and herbicides due to an increase in bug ac-
tivity and weeds. Due to excessive heat, individuals with cardiovascular disease, diabetes,
the elderly and infants are at increased risk of heat related illnesses. Excessive heat also
increases algae blooms, which lead to an increase in biotoxins in fish, seafood and water
sources. Changes in our air pollution due to toxic pollutants, increased number of dust
storms, wild fires, volcano activity and lack of rain directly affect children, the elderly,
those with lung conditions such as asthma, those with outdoor allergies, and those who
work outdoors. Climate change increases the migration of disease by increasing vectors,
such as mosquitoes, ticks and fleas, which carry viruses, bacteria and protozoa from ani-
mals to humans. All of these natural and man-made environmental and health stressors
have a profound effect on our mental health and well-being. These disruptions do not
just affect individuals at their locality, they cause health, environmental and economic
issues on a global level.
Climate Change: Continued from
Page 1

How can we, as public health

professionals positively con-
tribute to health issues relat-
ed to climate change?
Begin to better under-
stand the connections
between climate change
and health issues by
conducting and contrib-
uting to research that
focuses on the impacts
of climate change and
the incidence, exposure
and migration of diseases.
Continue to work towards combating social determinants of health through collabora-
tion, outreach, and policies that focus on population health.
Influence our law makers and create policy changes at our local and state levels that
will increase public health services, decrease barriers to those services and impact indi-
viduals through the lifespan.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Climate effects on health. National center for environmental halth. https://www.cdc.gov/
climateandhealth/effects/.
Crimmins, A., Balbus, J., Gamble, J.L., Bears, C.B., Bell, J.E., Dodgen, D., Eisen, R.J., Fann, N., Hawkins, M.D., Herring, S. C., Jantarasami, L., Mills, D.M., Saha,
S., Sarofim, M.C., Trtanj, J., and Ziska, L. (2016). Climate and health assessment. The impacts of climate change on human health in the united states: a
scientific assessment. U.S. Global Change Research Program. Washington, DC. http://dx.doi.org/10.7930/J0R49NQX. https://
health2016.globalchange.gov/
National Institute of Environmental Health Science. (2017). Health impacts of climate change. National Institutes of Health. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/
research/programs/geh/climatechange/health_impacts/index.cfm.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2017). Climate change impacts. Climate impacts on human health. https://www.epa.gov/climate-
impacts/climate-impacts-human-health.

Take a Shot: Spotlight: We want to congratulate the

Adult Vaccines following students on their recent achievements.
Emily Mattern (YSU class of 201 5) has started
Adults need vaccines too. Below is the her first year of medical school here at NEOMED.
vaccine schedule as recommended by the
CDC for normal, health adults ages 19 and Austin Hilt (YSU class of 201 5) has started his
older. first year of medical school at NEOMED. He has
received the Paul Ambrose Scholarship Award and
Influenza: 1 dose annually is attending the APTR Student Conference to pre-
sent in April.
Td/Tdap: Booster every 10 years
Molly Peterson (CSU class of 201 4) has accept-
MMR: If needed, 1-2 doses ed a position as a Health Program Representative
VAR: If no immunity, 2 doses at the Minnesota Department of Health in their
Vectorborne Disease Unit of the Infectious Dis-
HZV: 1 dose at age 60 and older ease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
HPV: 3 doses by age 26 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

PCV13: 1 dose and another over age 65
HepA: 2-3 doses
HepB: 3 doses
Td/Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), MMR (measles,
mumps and rubella), VAR (varicella/chicken pox), HZV (Herpes
zoster/shingles), HPV (human papillomavirus), PVC13 (Prevnar/
pneumococcal), HepA (Hepatitis A), HepB (Hepatitis B).
Source: CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
schedules/hcp/imz/adult.html
Ashley Bukach (CSU class of 201 4) has accept-
ed a position as a Research Associate at the Be-
gun Center for Violence Prevention Research and
Education at Case Western Reserve Univeristy in
Cleveland.
Surekha Appikatla (UA class of 201 4) has ac-
cepted a postion as a Research Assistant at The
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Just A Thought: US Veterans Facing Disparities

Veterans are a special population that faces specific disparities. As our veteran population
grows, so do the issues they face. Some of these issues are PTSD and other psychiatric con-
cerns, joint replacement, prosthetic needs, end of life care, care for women veterans, physical
strain and injury from repetitive movements and high impact activities, and access to care. Some
of the disparities that veterans face include lack of education, homelessness, lack of access to
care, barriers to care for women, mobility challenges, lack of healthcare, increases in healthcare
costs, lack of support, racial and ethnic disparities, and specific disparities linked to deployment
such as exposure to chemicals, violence and distress. Although the VA provides some support
for veterans, cuts to the VA have made it even more difficult to reach their intended popula-
tion. Community programs can be used to reach out to this population where they live and offer
programming that will help to fill in the gaps where the VA cant provide services. Yet, this is an
area that has its own gaps. Not many community programs include veterans health in their goals
and objectives. As this population grows, we as public health professionals need to find ways to
reach them and their families through community programming that meets their needs. I en-
courage you to find out how you can help fill the gaps within your own current programs, in the
grants you write and in the services you provide.
World Health Day: Depression: lets talk.
World Health Day is April 7, 2017, and an annual celebration to mark the founding of the World
Health Organization (WHO). This years theme is depression. The goal is to get people talking
about depression as a vital component of recovery and, to help alleviate the stigma surrounding
mental illnesses by better informing the general population about depression, its causes, possi-
ble consequences, suicide risk, available help, resources, prevention and treatment, and by urg-
ing people with depression to seek help and services, and for families, friends and colleagues of
people living with depression to provide support.

The overreaching messages for the campaign are that depression is a common mental disorder
that affects people of all ages, from all walks of life, in all countries. The risk of being de-
pressed is increased by poverty, unemployment, life events, physical illness and problems
caused by drugs and alcohol. Depression can impact an individuals ability to carry out even the
simplest daily tasks and may have devastating consequences for relationships. Untreated de-
pression can prevent people from working and participating in family and community life. At
worst, depression can lead to suicide. It can be effectively prevented and treated through
therapy, medication, or a combination. Overcoming the stigma associated with depression will
lead to more people seeking help. Talking with people is a first step toward recovery.

http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2017/campaign-essentials/en/

National Health Global Health: New Developments for 2017

IntraHealth International has put together their annual list of global
Observances: health issues to watch. They are:
Superbug: Drug-resistant bacteria. A superbug is a bacteria that
is immune to the 26 antibiotics we have to treat with today. Su-
February is National perbugs killed 700k people last year, and they are spreading
Heart Month world wide.
Complacency around HIV. There have been great strides, howev-
March is National Col- er, in parts of the world, such as Namibia, where the rates are
orectal Cancer Aware- 31%, it is thought to be a normal part of life. We have the means
to stop AIDS, yet 2.1 million were infected in 2016 world wide.
ness Month Reproductive health care on the precipice. Abortions and teen
birth rates are at their lowest rates ever recorded. However,
April is National Dis- while most of the world was reducing its maternal mortality rate,
tracted Driving the U.S. went up. Reproductive rights are under attack, which will
cause this to rise even more.
Awareness Month
Zika settles in. Zika isnt going anywhere and is now seen as an
ongoing menace like malaria and yellow fever. However, there isnt
May is Global Employ- a vaccine as of yet.
ee Health and Fitness A race for new vaccines and the struggle to uphold the ones we
Month have. Vaccines for Ebola and Zika are being worked on. However,
we still have outbreaks of measles and chickenpox.
June is Men health Strikes, shortages and other labor woes in the health workforce.
In Haiti, 19 hospitals have been on strike since Dec. 2016. Jamai-
month ca has nurses leaving the country en masse for jobs in the U.S.
and Europe. Kenya a massive strike has left millions without care.
July 28 is World Hepa- Locally, Summa just cut ties with their ER physicians.
titis Day The uncertain future of global health and international aid. This
year the WHO will elect a new director-general and will inherit a
global organization that is low on budget and high on bureaucracy.
With the U.S. changes in leadership, there is uncertainty of fu-
Find these and more at https://
ture U.S. support.
healthfinder.gov/NHO/nhoyear.aspx?
year=2017
Nathe, M. (2017). Give a damn, News and analysis of the fight against inequity. Global health.
7 global health issues to watch in 2017. 23 January 2017. Humanosphere

Professional Training and Conferences

AOHC 2017 Public Health Combined Conference; Worthington, OH, May 15-17:
Leadership for Health People and Communities: http://www.aohc.net/aws/AOHC/pt/sd/
calendar/46529/_PARENT/layout_details/false
APHA 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo; Atlanta, November 4-8: Creating the Healthiest Na-
tion: Climate Changes Health http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
NACCHO 2017 Annual Meeting; Pittsburgh, July 11-13; Public Health Revolution: Bridging
Clinical Medicine and Population Health http://www.nacchoannual.org/
SOPHE 2017 National Conference; Denver, March 30-April 1: Scaling New Heights:
Health For All http://www.sophe.org/annualconf2017.cfm
APTR 2017 Annual Meeting; Savanna, April 5-7: Teaching Prevention 2017: Aligning Cur-
riculum to Achieve Health Equity http://www.teachingprevention.org/
Check the Public Health Partners website for a list of upcoming 2017 conferences and meet-
ings: https://phpartners.org/conf_mtgs.html

The Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health program, a partnership between: Cleveland State University; Northeast
Ohio Medical University; Ohio University; The University of Akron; Youngstown State University.

Newsletter created by Kim MK Trowbridge, M.Ed., CEOMPH Program Coordinator

Contact/visit us: Phone: 330.325.6179 ; pubhlth@neomed.edu