Dear Friends of the College,
Congratulations to all our students who graduated last month! It was a wonderful Convocation ceremony at Centennial Hall. I am so proud of all our students who worked so hard to earn their degrees! I know you will go on to do great things as public health professionals. You can see photos and the video of the Spring 2022 ceremony on our Congratulations Graduates! webpage.
June has arrived and the daily high temperature often reaches triple digits here in Southern Arizona. It is already dangerously hot during the days for those without access to cool shelter, and some of our faculty are working on programs to mitigate the health risks of extreme heat.
June is also Pride Month where we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. We will continue to work across the university to build a more equitable institution for all, and to promote LGBTQ+ rights and justice everywhere we practice public health.
All of us have reacted with horror and sorrow in recent weeks as we have heard the news about so many mass shootings around the country. Gun violence is an epidemic in this country, and we must find ways to stop it using a public health approach. Public health methods have already proven effective in significantly reducing the high number of deaths from other causes, such as automobiles and tobacco.
Faculty, Staff, and Students: Honors, Profiles, and Awards
We are very proud of all that our students, staff, and faculty accomplish and appreciate the recognition that comes their way.
Please join me in congratulating the following:
Martin Celaya, MPH ’12, DrPH candidate at MEZCOPH and Chief, Bureau of Assessment and Evaluation, Division of Public Health - Prevention Services at the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) was recently honored at the Annual Conference of the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) with the Emerging MCH Professional Award for Region 9. This is a great honor for Martin, ADHS, and MEZCOPH.
Our alumna Laura Suppes, PhD ‘13, MPH, REHS, associate professor in Public Health and Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, has been named the 2022-23 Water Policy Scholar for the University of Wisconsin system.
Mohan Tanniru, PhD, received a Fulbright Award to study Indigenous Health at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Canada, this Fall 2022.
Reproductive Rights
In public health, we are always seeking to improve maternal and child health, and understand reproductive rights as an important part of women’s health. In response to the news that the US Supreme Court may overturn the Roe v Wade decision that has been national law since 1973, ourApplied Health Policy Institute put together an illuminating analysis of the change in Arizona laws related to women’s reproductive rights if the decision were overturned.
New Certificate Programs
We are pleased to announce some new Graduate Certificate programs, including the Graduate Certificate in Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology, the Graduate Certificate in Public Health Emergency and Epidemic Preparedness, that will both be coming in Fall 2022, and the Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Health coming in Spring 2023.
We also have new Undergraduate Certificate programs, including the Undergraduate Certificate in Safety and the Undergraduate Certificate in Public Health Emergency and Epidemic Preparedness starting in Fall 2022, and the Undergraduate Certificate in Global Health that launches in Spring 2023.
New Roles and Promotions
I want to congratulate Amber Richmond on her promotion to Manager of Alumni Engagement and Events. Amber has been doing an outstanding job building alumni engagement through various programs and projects, as well as planning and coordinating events. Thank you Amber!
Job Postings
We sent our first job postings email! Thanks to the work of Amber Richmond, we will now offer an occasional job postings email, sent to subscribers, that lists job postings provided to us by our partners and alumni. This subscription email is available to all interested alumni and recent graduates. If you want to receive the Job Postings email, please sign up here. If you have questions or want to post a job, contact Amber at amrichmond@arizona.edu.
Gratitude for Our Community
I thank all of you for your ongoing support of the College and our public health mission. I look forward to working with you to support our diverse communities, both locally and globally, with the best public health education, service, and research.
Best Wishes for your Health and Safety,
Iman
June Highlights
Student Scholars Support Global Health Research and Programs
Seven students will work internationally with public health programs this summer as part of the Global Health Institute (GHI) Scholars program, a unique educational experience that prepares students to deliver and evaluate health programs in different countries and cultures.
EPA-Funded Study Will Measure Soil and Dust Ingestion Levels in Children
Paloma Beamer, PhD, leads the regional site for this national study on soil and dust ingestion levels in children, funded by the EPA to use as benchmark data for research on exposure to harmful chemicals.
College Teams with Regional Partners to Promote Cooling Centers that Protect Against Dangerous Heat
Heidi Brown, PhD, works with regional partners to facilitate a network of “cooling centers” in Tucson that will protect vulnerable residents against dangerous heat during the summer, part of a CDC climate change grant.
New Book Provides Guidance on Occupational Health in Higher Education and Research Settings
Philip Harber, MD, MPH, senior editor of the new book Occupational Health for Higher Education and Research Institutions, coordinated an accomplished team of editors and writers to produce this insightful work focused on the unique occupational health challenges in higher education and research institutions, and how to manage them.
Experts Perplexed Over Number of People Getting Long COVID
Public health experts are divided over how many people are getting long COVID, a potentially debilitating condition that comes after a patient has recovered from COVID-19. The article cites a CoVHORT study in which MEZCOPH researchers that found about 2 out of 3 people who experienced mild or moderate cases of COVID-19 had long-lasting symptoms.
‘This American Life’ Radio Show: She Blinded Us with Science
Mary Koss, PhD, Regents Professor, discusses how she came to see what others could not as she conducted her sexual assault research, and what she did with that knowledge in the “My Lying Eyes” episode of the radio show.
A One Health Approach to Measuring Pollutants in Indigenous Communities
Frank von Hippel, PhD, leader of MEZCOPH’s One Health Initiative talks about tracking down sources of contamination that cause higher rates of cancer in tribal areas.
As Temperatures Rise, Workers in Southwest Face Health Issues
With temperatures rising due to global warming, outdoor workers in southwestern states are increasingly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. Heidi Brown, PhD, MPH, comments on a new research study about workforce risks due to heat. Note: This story has been picked up by more than 60 news outlets!
Americans, on the whole, are more protected against COVID now than they were during previous ‘waves’ when infections soared. Joe Gerald, MD, PhD, comments on the current spread of COVID.
The Arizona Rural Health Conference provides an environment for networking and dissemination of pertinent information among professionals and community members from rural Arizona and the Southwest. This year's conference theme is Critical Conversations to Invigorate Rural Health.
June 14-15, 2022. 7:00am to 2:00pm
Virtual and In-Person: High Country Conference Center - Flagstaff, AZ
Webinar: Myths, Stigmas, and Barriers in LGBTQ+ Health
Join us as we confront, dispel, and correct common LGBTQ+ health myths and discuss what everyone can do to help eradicate barriers to inclusive medical treatment and ensure representation in health research for all. Panelists include our own Dr. Amanda Sokan.
Tucson Juneteenth Festival is celebrating 52 years in Southern Arizona, recognizing the freed slaves of June 19, 1865, from Galveston, Texas. The University of Arizona is proud to be the Freedom sponsor of the festival this year. This huge family-friendly festival will be held at Kennedy Park.
June 18, 2022. 11:00am to 9:00pm
Kennedy Park, 3357 S. La Cholla Blvd.
JUN 30
Advancing Racial Equity Training Series
Organized by the UAHS Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center
Session 1: June 30, 2022, 12:00pm to 1:00pm Continuing the Conversation: Developing a Shared Language for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Session 2: July 28, 2022, 12:00pm to 1:00pm Systemic Racism and Substance Use Disorder: Anti-Racist Strategies
Official University of Arizona Fourth of July Holiday Monday, July 4, 2022
WAYS TO GIVE
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.
We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O’odham and the Yaqui. Committed to diversity and inclusion, the University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service.
