Public Health News
Council on Education for Public Health Accredits Falk’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health
Syracuse University today announced it has received accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) for the bachelor of science degree offered through Falk College. Among the first college and universities in New York State to earn CEPH accreditation, Syracuse University’s five-year term extends through December 31, 2021.
CEPH accreditation is based on the quality of an institution’s educational program that prepares students for entry into the public health field as practitioners, health educators and other professionals who carry out broad public health functions in local, state, national and international settings. To earn and maintain accreditation, programs must meet specific educational quality standards related to leadership, management and governance, resources, faculty qualifications, curriculum, program effectiveness, advising and diversity.
“For prospective undergraduate students and their parents in the college selection process, CEPH accreditation provides assurance that programs meet important, accepted standards for the education of undergraduate students in public health,” notes Professor Maureen Thompson, a member of the public health faculty who led the CEPH accreditation team. “For prospective employers, accreditation indicates our curriculum covers essential areas critical to the practice of public health. And for our graduates, this accreditation helps enhance employment opportunities for positions that base eligibility upon graduation from an accredited program.”
By 2020, the United States will need 250,000 additional public health professionals, according to estimates by the Association of Schools of Public Health. The Department of Labor reports employment of health educators will increase through 2020. Falk College’s focus on experiential learning, in addition to its recent CEPH accreditation, is beneficial not only for students but the local community as well.
“Falk College’s public health program utilizes a service learning approach to integrate community-based learning opportunities with classroom instruction. Students complete 480 service hours while being engaged in promoting health, planning, implementing or evaluating health education, understanding diversity, and improving health literacy. This service learning culminates with a nine-credit, 400-hour internship that demonstrates student expertise in a practice setting. Our public health students provide an estimated 30,000 hours of service work to the Syracuse University and regional community each year,” adds Dean Diane Lyden Murphy, Falk College.
The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and public health programs offered in settings other than schools of public health. These schools and programs prepare students for entry into careers in public health. The primary professional degree is the Master of Public Health (MPH) but other baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees are offered as well.
For more information on Falk College’s bachelor of science in public health, as well as its portfolio of public health offerings at the undergraduate and graduate levels, contact Falk College Office of Admissions at (315) 443-5555.
Your chance to have an impact: What a graduate degree means at Falk College
When students think graduate school, they think curriculum, campus, community, but most of all, what the degree will mean for their lives. It’s not until after completing their degree that Falk College graduate students realize the profound difference it made not just for themselves, but for the lives of those around them as they discover new and exciting opportunities to have a positive impact. That’s what a graduate degree from Falk College means: it means our graduates can do more—more for the community, for society, and for the world. And they do!
Join prospective Falk College graduate students interested in child and family studies, food studies, public health, marriage and family therapy, nutrition science, social work and sport management at Falk’s Graduate Program Information Session on Friday, November 4, 2016 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Grant Auditorium in White Hall, part of the Falk College Complex.
The presentation will provide detailed information on Falk College graduate programs in:
- Child and Family Studies M.A., M.S., Ph.D.
- Marriage and Family Therapy M.A., Ph.D.
- Addiction Studies M.A.
- Food Studies M.S.
- Global Health M.S.
- Nutrition Science M.A., M.S.
- Public Health M.S.
- Social Work M.S.W.
- Sport Venue and Event Management M.S.
- Dual Degree Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapy M.A./M.S.W.
Information and advising will be available regarding Falk’s Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) programs including child therapy, trauma-informed practice, addiction studies, food studies, global health, and intercollegiate athletic advising and support.
Falk research experience is key to success for public health alumna
There are few experiences more exciting than being submersed in a community with vibrant diversity. That’s why Samadhi Moreno ’14 took a leap, leaving her home in Puerto Rico to study at Syracuse University.
“I wanted to go somewhere the complete opposite of home,” says Moreno. “I needed to go somewhere else and meet different people.”
At SU, Moreno started off studying medicine. She was always interested in healthcare. “There are a lot of issues with access to care where I’m from. So I said, ‘OK, medicine it is.’” But after taking a few public health classes, she was exposed to something new. “I got into this whole other aspect of healthcare. It’s not necessarily being a doctor, but prevention, treatment, and community issues.” She switched from biology to public health in her second year.
Through the Falk College Office of Research Development, Moreno got involved with the Syracuse Lead Study led by Brooks Gump, Falk Family Endowed Professor and Graduate Director of Public Health. The study explores the relationship between blood toxicant levels and cardiovascular risk factors in children. Moreno had a lot of interaction with members of the Syracuse community. “You need to know how to be culturally competent when you are dealing with people who are different from you.”
As part of the Syracuse Lead Study, Moreno and other students developed a wide variety of research-related skills. Moreno recalls working in data collection, surveying, and participant recruitment. “Students engage with participants in a complex protocol involving a blood draw, numerous psychosocial assessments, and measures of cardiovascular functioning,” notes Gump. “In this context, a great deal of experience is gained with respect to interfacing with participants in a compassionate manner, collecting data in difficult situations, and then managing that data.”
For Moreno, the Lead Study gave her a foundation to land a managerial role as a research assistant in graduate school at Boston University, where she continued her studies in public health, focused on healthcare management and policy. “I was supervising someone who was doing more of the day-to-day work and I was overseeing all the processes and the workflows.”
Now Moreno works at Upstate University Hospital, where data collection and analysis, Moreno says, is “what I do every single day.”
“The process of data collection is the bedrock for research,” Gump says. “Our research relies on the dedication of undergraduates and graduates working to gain the best data possible. These skills are readily transferable to the many instances of data collection as we continue to move to greater digitization of medical records. The proper treatment and processing of data at the ‘front end’ is integral to the quality of research findings.”
Public health student competes to present sustainable housing design in France
Fast-forward to the year 2050. What will sustainable housing look like? That’s precisely what architecture students Sarah Ritchey ’17 and Emily Greer ’18, engineering graduate student Riley Gourde, and public health senior Kate DeWitte are competing to answer in the international Well Building 2050 competition.
Well Building 2050 is an international design competition, open to students at universities all across the globe, in which teams compete to invent the best model for sustainable, urban housing in the year 2050.
Although this sounds like a job for architects and engineers, the team recruited DeWitte, a public health senior from Falk College. “Without a well-rounded team, it would be impossible to address all the concerns and opportunities surrounding the future of urban housing,” said Greer. “Modern thinking includes not just ideas about good design and sustainable technology, but how these will affect the health and well-being of human occupants and the surrounding environment.”
Although they were not able to release details as the competition is still underway, the team was able to reveal that their project focuses on a multi-family housing complex on the Syracuse South Side.
Environmental health has always interested DeWitte, but this is the first opportunity she has had to investigate these kinds of challenges in such depth. For the project, she is responsible for researching the environmental health issues in Syracuse using data from the Environmental Protection Agency, New York State Health Department and Onondaga Health Department. She then brings her findings back to the team and translate them to their 2050 housing plan.
“The biggest challenge is trying to think futuristically. The building that is being designed is to be theoretically built for the year 2050. This is a challenge but can also be fun because it makes for more creativity to think if these health aspects will still be a problem and how we can fix that to better the lives in the community.”
DeWitte explains that working in a multi-disciplinary team has helped her realize the universal nature of public health, as well as sharpened her research and communication skills. “It is my job to tell the rest of the team what I see as an issue with the health of the community, so it is important to make sure I effectively communicate these issues,” said DeWitte.
The team has worked very closely through each step to produce both an imaginative and comprehensive model. “Each design move is carefully analyzed by all team members to ensure it is both beneficial to future residents as well as creative and valid in its mission to ensure the safety and quality of the surrounding environment,” said Greer. And the collaboration has not only strengthened the final product, but the students, as well.
DeWitte said collaborating with her teammates on the project has broadened her perspective. “By working with architects and engineers, I am able to see their perspectives on these environmental issues and we can work together to see how the needs of the community can be met.”
The feeling is mutual. “We wouldn’t have such a strong proposal if it wasn’t for Kate’s insight,” said Greer.
Contestants will submit their projects by October 19. The teams are then invited to the Build & Connect colloquium November 23 in Strasbourg, France, where three prize-winning teams will present their designs. For more information about the competition, visit www.wellbuilding2050.com.
Falk College hosts author, nutritionist Jill Castle October 6
Falk College and its Nutrition program will host the Second Annual Ann Selkowitz Litt Distinguished Speaker Series featuring childhood nutrition expert and author, Jill Castle, MS, RDN, CDN, on Thursday, October 6, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. in Grant Auditorium. Her presentation, “Fueling the Growing Athlete: What’s In, What’s Out, & What’s Essential,” is free and open to the public. It will cover:
Appropriate sports nutrition advice for young athletes.
How to understand and avoid the food and feeding pitfalls that commonly plague growing athletes, such as back-loading food intake and unhealthy food environments.
The hierarchy of food and nutrients when it comes to growing strong, healthy, performance-enhanced young athletes.
Castle has practiced as a registered dietitian/nutritionist in pediatric nutrition for over 25 years. She is a national and international speaker, addressing the topic of childhood nutrition and feeding to a wide variety of groups, including medical professionals, allied health professionals, parent, school, and other interest groups.
Castle is the author of Eat Like a Champion: Performance Nutrition for Your Young Athlete, co-author of Fearless Feeding: How to Raise Healthy Eaters from High Chair to High School, and creator of Just the Right Byte, a childhood nutrition blog. In addition, Castle has been published in peer-reviewed journals, textbooks, consumer books, and other blogs. She is the nutrition expert at Bundoo.com, and has been a regular contributor to USA Swimming, U.S. Rowing, and About.com.
Ann Selkowitz Litt ’75 (1953-2007) was a nationally known nutritionist who helped children and adolescents with eating disorders and assisted developing athletes in reaching their full potential. The nutrition consultant to CosmoGirl magazine, Litt was the author of The College Students’ Guide to Eating Well on Campus, Fuel for Young Athletes, and the American Dietetic Association Guide to Private Practice. She was the nutritionist for the NFL’s Washington Redskins and served as spokesperson for several media campaigns during her career, including the Got Milk campaign. After her death, the Ann S. Litt Foundation, Inc. was created to support nutrition education. Through a generous gift from this foundation to Falk College, the Ann Selkowitz Litt Distinguished Speaker Series was created at Syracuse University in 2015.
This event is approved for 1.5 CEU credits for Registered Dietitians.
Student Wins Regional Award from University & Professional Continuing Education
When Timothy Bryant graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse University through the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program in May 2015, he fulfilled a lifelong dream. Attending SU was a golden opportunity that he embraced with great enthusiasm.
One of Bryant’s latest achievements is being accepted into SU’s Ph.D. program in sociology, with four years of funding. He began the program this semester.Despite the challenges of work, family responsibilities and a limited formative education, Bryant excelled in the academic environment at SU. He not only made the dean’s list every semester on his way to a bachelor in public health, he also received the Chancellor ‘s Award for Public and Community Service—one of the highest honors SU bestows on a student.
Bryant was recently informed by University College Dean Bea González, that he has been named University & Professional Continuing Education’s (UPCEA) Outstanding Student for 2016 in the Mid-Atlantic Region. He will accept his award at the conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in October.
From Eileen Jevis with SU News.
Falk College attends graduate school fairs across New York, U.S. this fall
Falk College will attend many graduate school fairs this fall to connect with prospective graduate students in person and discuss interests and opportunities. This season’s travel schedule will take Falk College graduate admissions staff to many regional events in New York State and to major cities across the United States, such as Philadelphia, Boston, San Diego, and Washington D.C.
Falk College highlights graduate programs at November 4 information session
Syracuse University faculty, staff and current students will welcome potential graduate students interested in Falk College graduate studies in child and family studies, food studies, public health, marriage and family therapy, nutrition science, social work and sport management during its Graduate Program Information Session on Friday, November 4, 2016 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Grant Auditorium in White Hall, part of the Falk College Complex.
The presentation will provide detailed information on Falk College graduate programs in:
In addition, information and advising will be available regarding Falk’s Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) programs including child therapy, trauma-informed practice, addiction studies, food studies and global health.
There will be time for a question-and-answer session, as well as a time to meet with faculty, staff and current students. Light refreshments will be served.
Genesis Health Project launches Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia caregivers support program
A $500,000 grant from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) will fund programming to deliver Alzheimer’s Disease and caregiving support to the African American community in Syracuse —including respite care and connections to community resources—as part of the Genesis Health Project. This initiative, led by Syracuse University’s Falk College, is part of the NYSDOH’s Alzheimer’s Disease Program, which implemented a $25 million strategy in 2015 to support people with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias and their caregivers.
The goals of the African American Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregivers Support Program (AADCS) are to provide Alzheimer’s and dementia education to inner-city African Americans and increase use of available resources to diminish caregiver stress. The programs include educational seminars and cultural competency training for community-based partners. A 12-Week Healthy Living Program was launched August 13, encompassing Alzheimer’s Disease and nutrition education, exercise sessions and yoga and meditation.
Launched in 2004, the Genesis Project is part of a larger minority health initiative, in partnership with Falk College, corporate donors, government agencies and other regional partners. The multi-year, community-based initiative aims to reduce health disparities and to promote healthy lifestyles among African Americans. Targeting underserved populations in the area through a network of health advocate volunteers at local churches, the Genesis Project has focused on health issues such as diabetes prevention and management, obesity, and prostate and breast cancer awareness and education in addition to its newest focus on Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia caregiving.
Under the leadership of Falk College public health professor Luvenia Cowart, Ed.D., R.N., co-founder of the Genesis Project, collaborating with co-investigator Maria T. Brown, L.M.S.W., Ph.D., an assistant research professor at Syracuse University’s Aging Studies Institute, the project will implement multiple strategies, including:
- creating opportunities for partner organizations to offer education, assessments, referrals;
- offering funding to support caregivers’ involvement in GHP;
- supporting community members as they explore and consider available resources and services, and; provide self-care and stress management education for caregivers in African American faith-based communities.
Dr. Cowart’s academic interests are focused on public health and health education among minorities, community partnerships and interdisciplinary collaborations, health disparities and mental health issues. Dr. Brown is a social gerontologist who studies later-life experiences of socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, women, and racial, ethnic, and sexual minorities.
Falk College now offering MSPH
Falk College is now offering a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH). Available beginning Fall 2016, this degree prepares graduates for research careers in a variety of local, national and international public health settings. Unlike applied training in public health offered by Master of Public Health (MPH) or other health-related master degree programs, the MSPH focuses on research methods and biostatistics competencies in concert with mentored research culminating in a thesis. With the rapid increase in accessible health information and the proliferation of global health initiatives, graduates will be well-positioned for careers in these growth fields.
Public health faculty come from diverse backgrounds with extensive experience in the Caribbean, Canada, East Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, offering students valuable exposure to issues and lifestyles of these cultures. The variety of faculty disciplines offers students in-depth knowledge from multiple perspectives. With a deliberate focus on research methods and biostatistics, complemented by mentored faculty research and a thesis project, the 42-credit program will position graduates to meet a research and analytic need that continues to grow.
The program includes two core areas of study. In the public health core, students will gain skill in the development and evaluation of global health programs, examine social and behavioral determinants of health, and apply epidemiologic principles to global public and environmental health issues. In addition to this public health core, a research and statistics core provides students with the tools needed to conduct a mentored independent research project. Additional details about the MSPH are located in the Syracuse University Course Catalog.
Students in the program select one of the following two tracks of study:
The Biostatistics Track involves advanced study of biostatistical tools (e.g., logistic regression, meta-analysis, survival analyses, and geographic information systems) and the application of these tools to a novel research question developed by the student working with a faculty advisor.
The Global Track incorporates some of these analytic skills to the study of global health issues such as cultural health norms and practices, historical experiences of ethnic groups, and culturally determined patterns of dealing with issues of health, illness and disability. Students will complete an independent research thesis under the guidance of a faculty advisor.
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