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Inside Public Health | July 2021
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Dear Friends of the College,
I hope your summer has been restful and restorative. We rejoice that the monsoon rains have come to the Sonoran Desert! Classes begin at the University of Arizona on Monday, August 23, 2021, just a few weeks away. Yet at the same time, the rise of the COVID-19 Delta variant in Arizona and around the country among unvaccinated populations raises serious concerns for all of us. You can see the sharp rise in Arizona’s COVID infection numbers in the weekly data reports from Dr. Joe Gerald. Due to the evolving threat from the Delta variant, President Robbins will resume his University Status Update briefings alongside our alumnus Dr. Richard Carmona on an as-needed basis, including a briefing this Monday, August 9, 11am, go to arizona.edu/live.
I urge everyone to follow the CDC’s guidance and wear masks indoors in public settings, even for those who have been vaccinated. We must all work together to support vaccine distribution and to convince all those who are hesitant to take the vaccine. The vaccines are safe, they’re effective against the Delta variant, and the more people who get vaccinated, the sooner we can move beyond the pandemic and get back to work and back to school.
Delivering Vaccines to Communities
The UArizona vaccination POD closed at the end of June, along with many other State of Arizona PODs, and now vaccination efforts are focused on bringing the vaccine to underserved communities. The campaign continues to vaccinate as many Arizonans as possible, even as the highly contagious delta variant spreads rapidly among the unvaccinated. The college’s Mobile Health Units (MHUs) in Phoenix and Tucson have delivered hundreds of vaccine shots to rural and border populations through vaccination events.
The MHU-Phoenix has focused on communities and workers in Maricopa County, often outside the urban areas. And the MHU-Tucson has been delivering vaccines to rural and border communities in Cochise County, Santa Cruz County, and Yuma County through the MOVE-UP program (Mobile Outreach Vaccination and Education for Underserved Populations). Dr. Cecilia Rosales appears in this video with Congressman Raul Grijalva urging Arizonans to get vaccinated, and she appears in an Arizona Public Media story about the MHU vaccination campaign.
Pima County Health Department (PCHD) also continues to host vaccination events at churches, community centers, and schools. Our own Academic Health Department (AHD) continues to partner closely with PCHD to support their efforts. Coordinator Emily Waldron recently worked to establish the college’s newest AHD partnership with Graham County Health Department, a welcome addition to the existing AHD partnerships with Cochise, Pima, Pinal, and Yuma County Health Departments. MEZCOPH works with all these Arizona counties to support vaccination efforts.
To more successfully communicate the facts about the COVID vaccines to diverse communities, a team of MEZCOPH graduate students led by Maiya Block has convened workshops for community members that provide guidance on how to communicate about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine with friends or family members that are not yet vaccinated.
Welcome Andre Dickerson, Thanks to Retiring Staff
Please join me in welcoming Andre Dickerson, our new Assistant Dean of Student Services and Alumni Affairs who will start on Monday, August 9. Andre was previously the Director of the Center for Leadership & Community Engagement at Central Washington University. An experienced leader, he brings more than 10 years of progressive success in the fields of higher education, student affairs, social and health services, and non-profit administration with a focus on diversity and inclusion. Our Office of Student Services and Alumni Affairs team is excited to work with Andre! At the same time, we will all miss Chris Tisch, who is retiring, and we thank her for her commitment, compassion, and sense-of-humor in support of the college and its students for so many years.
In normal years, the University of Arizona hosts an annual dinner event for all retirees. Due to the pandemic, that could not happen this year, so Human Resources created an Annual Retirement Thank You webpage for all the faculty and staff that retired in 2020-21 with a video message from President Robbins and a message from me. Thanks to all our MEZCOPH retirees for all you gave to our college community!
MEZCOPH 20 Years Anniversary and Annual Awards Homecoming Event
Because of the pandemic, we have been apart, and on zoom, for more than a year now. Vaccinations continue, the vaccines are highly effective, and with the necessary precautions, the university will reopen this fall. To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the College we plan to have an in-person event and present our annual alumni and leadership awards. We will host the event on Thursday, November 4, outside the Drachman building so we can bring together our alumni, faculty, students and supporters in celebration of all we have accomplished across the past 20 years, and over the past 18 months fighting COVID-19. I hope you will join me for this re-connection gathering!
Faculty, Staff, and Student Awards
You can learn about the recipients of the annual MEZCOPH Alumni and Leadership Awards in our Highlights section below.
Please join me in congratulating the following:
- Amanda Wilson, PhD, MS, received a 2021 Health Sciences Career Development Award for research on asthma, workplace microbial exposure, and risk perception among healthcare workers.
https://healthsciences.arizona.edu/connect/honors/dr-amanda-wilson-recognized-health-sciences-career-development-award
- Purnima Madhivanan, MBBS, PhD, MPH, received the UArizona’s Maria Teresa Velez Outstanding Mentor Award that recognizes individuals with an outstanding commitment to mentoring students.
https://healthsciences.arizona.edu/connect/honors/dr-purnima-madhivanan-recognized-outstanding-mentorship-award
- Among the 2021 University of Arizona Team Awards for Excellence, awards were given to the Public Health Advisory COVID Team (PHACT) and the COVID-19 Testing Team. Several of our faculty continue to serve on the PHACT, and we also had representatives on the Testing Team. Congratulations to everyone on both teams and thank you all for giving your time and expertise to guide the university through the COVID crisis!
https://uaatwork.arizona.edu/lqp/2021-awards-excellence
- James Hollister, MS candidate in Biostatistics, was selected as the MEZCOPH representative for the Data Science Ambassadors Program.
https://datascience.arizona.edu/ambassadors/data-science-ambassadors-program
- Public health undergraduate student Shari Betsoi was one of the students to receive the 2021 Udall Scholars award. Congratulations Shari!
https://honors.arizona.edu/news/2021/07/4-uarizona-students-named-2021-udall-scholars
- Felina Cordova-Marks, PhD, received recognition from Ben's Bells for her involvement in the community and promotion of kindness.
https://tucson.com/news/local/giving/bens-bells-felina-cordova-marks/article_87b9fae4-dab2-11eb-9a97-0b905afdb47b.html
Gratitude for Our Community
Thank you for your ongoing support of the College and our public health mission. I welcome everyone back for a safe and productive fall 2021 semester, and I look forward to working with all of you to support our diverse communities locally and globally with the best public health education, service, and research.
Best Wishes for your Health and Safety,
Iman
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AZ HEROES Research Study Awarded $15M from CDC to Continue COVID Research
Jeff Burgess, MD, MPH, MS, leads the AZ HEROES research study focused on COVID-19 immunity and vaccine effectiveness in frontline workers that will now expand to include children.
More >
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Public Health Students Advance Global Research Through NIH Fellowship Program
Six fellows under the mentorship of Dr. Purnima Madhivanan will conduct research in nations around the world as part of this year’s Global Health Equity Scholars fellowship program funded by the National Institutes of Health Fogarty and Fulbright Programs.
More >
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MEZCOPH Alumni and Leadership Awards, 2021
Our alumni and leadership awards highlight the dedication and service of our alumni, faculty, staff and advocates in support of public health and health equity in diverse communities.
More >
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Public Health Voices in ‘Indigenous Stewards’ Journal
Agnes Attakai, MPA, and Felina Cordova-Marks, DrPH, MPH, both contributed articles to the recent issue of Indigenous Stewards, a journal from the UArizona’s Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center. The journal provides a platform for Native Americans to discuss the environmental issues that impact their everyday lives, health, and communities.
More >
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During the pandemic there have been too many media interviews with our faculty to list them all. A few highlights are included below. We thank all of our faculty for doing so many interviews even as they work every day on COVID-19 response initiatives and research, and continue to support our regional and state public health officials.
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COVID-19 Delta Variant Drives Increase in Infections
Dr. Kate Ellingson and Dr. Jeff Burgess, both researchers with the AZ HEROES research study focused on COVID immunity and vaccine effectiveness, discuss the Delta variant.
Story on KVOA News4 Tucson >
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Arizona COVID Cases Climb Rapidly in July Due to Delta Variant
As Arizona reports over 1,000 COVID-19 cases for 4th straight day in mid July, Joe Gerald, MD, PhD, advises that we immediately adopt mitigation strategies.
Story from Associated Press >
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Rural Communities in Arizona Hit Hard by COVID-19 Delta Variant Due to Low Vaccination Rates
Dr. Daniel Derksen discusses what is happening in rural hospitals and counties in Arizona when it comes to vaccinations and the delta variant.
On Arizona Horizon from Arizona PBS in Phoenix >
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MEZCOPH Partnership with Pima County Health Department Featured by CDC
The Academic Health Department internship program and partnership with Pima County Health Department, guided by Emily Waldron, MPH, was highlighted by the CDC in its Field Notes section.
More >
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BA in Wellness Provides Career Options
Velia Leybas Nuño, PhD talks about MEZCOPH’s new BA in Wellness degree that will be available starting fall 2021.
Story on Inside Tucson Business >
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C A L E N D A R
'Lavender Graduation': A Ceremony to Honor LGBTQ+ Students
- Lavender Graduation is an annual graduation ceremony conducted at universities to honor LGBTQ+ students and acknowledge their accomplishments and contributions.
- Hosted by the University of Arizona Health Sciences LGBTQ+ Interest Group with keynote speaker, Russ Toomey, PhD
- August 11, 2021. 12:00pm to 1:00pm
- Register Here: http://bit.ly/lavender_grad
COVID-19 Vaccine Conversations Workshop: UArizona Community
- This workshop is designed to help you build skills to have productive conversations about the COVID-19 vaccine with family and friends who are not yet vaccinated. Included in the workshop are common misconceptions about the vaccine, conversation tips and role plays.
- August 16, 2021. 5:00pm
- Please register using the link: https://bit.ly/CovVacAug16
- Please complete the pre-test prior to the workshop: https://forms.gle/wQvxFYGZEEHy53568
2021 Fall Semester Classes Begin at University of Arizona
University of Arizona Health Sciences – Phoenix Campus Tour
Annual Scholarship Luncheon
- At the annual Scholarship Luncheon the college shows its appreciation for our generous supporters who open doors for our students in need, and we celebrate the scholarship students, many of whom have risen above great odds to pursue their college degree.
- October 18, 2021
APHA 2021 Annual Meeting and Expo
- This year's APHA Expo theme is "Creating the Healthiest Nation: Strengthening Social Connectedness."
- In-person attendees will participate at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO, while virtual attendees can participate online from anywhere globally. All attendees will have access to high-quality scientific sessions, inspiring presentations and many opportunities to connect with peers.
- October 24 thru October 27, 2021
- Register here: https://www.apha.org/Events-and-Meetings/Annual/Registration-Information
MEZCOPH 20 Year Anniversary Homecoming Celebration
- It has been a long time since we've been able to gather in person due to the pandemic, and we're excited to reconnect. At this outdoor Homecoming event we will hold an awards presentation for the winners of our 2021 Alumni, Faculty, Staff, and MEZCOPH Community Leaders Awards. Together we can recognize all that we’ve been through and celebrate all we have accomplished across the past many months, including the 20th Anniversary of the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health!
- Thursday, November 4, 2021. 6pm
- Registration and more information coming soon, save the date!
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Support Our COVID-19 Research and Shape the Future
All the funds raised for the “Dean’s Fund for Excellence” go to COVID-19 research. You can support this targeted fund by going to our UA Foundation page and making a contribution.
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Discover ways to give to the College of Public Health by visiting
publichealth.arizona.edu/support/ways-to-give
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