CPHI is Celebrating 15 Years of Public Health! 

The Center for Public Health Initiatives (CPHI) and the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program are thrilled to celebrate the anniversary of 15 years of public health on Penn's campus. From the inception of the MPH degree program in 2002, to the formation of CPHI in 2007, public health has grown tremendously at Penn. We continue to celebrate this growth, as well as the accomplishments of our students, faculty, fellows, and community partners.

Read our Anniversary Report to learn about the exciting activities and initiatives
National Academy of Medicine  

CPHI Fellows  Flaura K. Winston  and  Therese S. Richmond  were elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Election to the National Academy of Medicine is a prestigious honor, and we congratulate Dr. Winston and Dr. Richmond on this tremendous accomplishment.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Editorial Board

CPHI Fellow  Karen Glanz  has recently been appointed to a position on the editorial board of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (AJPM). As a member of the AJPM editorial board, Dr. Glanz will peer review publications, recommend other reviewers, serve as a guest editor for supplemental materials, and take on the role of an ambassador for the journal. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine is a highly-esteemed journal in the fields of public health and prevention, and we congratulate Dr. Karen Glanz on her appointment.
American Academy of Nursing

CPHI Senior Fellow  Catherine C. McDonald  has been inducted as a 2017 Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN). Fellows are selected on a basis of significant contributions to nursing and health care as well as how one's career has influenced health policies and the health of patients overall. We congratulate Dr. McDonald on this impressive accomplishment!
CPHI Seminars
Pushing Boundaries in Public Health: Precision, Prevention, and Entrepreneurship
Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 12:00 PM | Lunch Provided 
Amado Recital Hall in Irvine Auditorium

Flaura Koplin Winston, MD PhD
Chair, Science & Medical Advisory Committee for Entrepreneurship and Innovation,  The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
How do we push boundaries in public health to improve health outcomes? What is "Precision Prevention" and how has it contributed to the dramatic public health achievements for children over the past 100 years? These questions will be addressed in a talk by Dr. Flaura Winston, Distinguished Chair of Pediatrics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She will draw from her successes in the field of pediatric injury prevention, and describe a public health future that is built on a tiered risk framework -Precision Prevention - that goes beyond universal level interventions in order to meet the needs of those at highest risk. Throughout her talk, Dr. Winston will emphasize the importance of public health entrepreneurship to ensure successful and sustainable implementation.

Flaura Koplin Winston, MD PhD is an internationally recognized, Board-certified, practicing pediatrician, a doctorally-trained engineer, a public health researcher, Scientific Director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention and Science, Director, National Science Foundation Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies, and Medical Advisor for Innovation at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and a professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Other CPHI Events
8th Annual Community Driven Research Day 
December 5th from 9am-12pm
Temple University 

CDRD encourages collaborations between researchers and community based organizations (CBOs) and community groups who have research questions that they are interested
in answering, specifically in ways that address local solutions to health challenges. Through an interactive panel discussion and poster session, CBOs and community groups will highlight their questions to CDRD participants, who will include area non-profits, community groups, public sector partners, and researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Drexel University, and Thomas Jefferson University. CBOs, community groups, academic researchers, and students will be able to meet and discuss potential, mutually-beneficial collaborations.

Visit this website for more information and links to registration. 
2018 Winter Institute on Qualitative Methods 
January 10-12, 2018 
University of Pennsylvania (lectures) and Jefferson University (lab) 

This comprehensive institute is designed to develop skills that are useful in qualitative and mixed methods research, including:
  • Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations
  • Common and alternative data collection approaches
  • Structuring and conducting an interview
  • Organizing and facilitating a focus group
  • Ethical challenges and navigating the IRB 
  • Ethnography and observation 
  • Managing, coding, and analyzing data
  • Recruiting an engaging participant
  • Writing findings and publishing your work
  • Use and application of NVivo software

Wellness Walks for Penn Employees 
Friday's from 12:00-1:00 beginning at College Green 

Fall 2017 Dates: 
November 17
December 15

We meet at the Ben Franklin statue in front of College Hall at 12 noon. The walk begins with stretching, followed by a 2 mile walk around campus and beyond. This is a great opportunity to get away from your desk and walk with others. Plus- you'll receive points for Penn HR's "Be In the Know Campaign" if you are a Penn employee. 
 
Visit the HR website to sign up. 
DEAL Study for Penn Employees
 CPHI Fellow Highlights and Publications 

Jennifer Pinto-Martin
Where Is the Road Map for Glioblastoma?

CPHI Executive Director Jennifer Pinto-Martin recently wrote this moving and informative essay on her personal experience with Gliobastoma. " We felt lost, but a road map would have made all the difference. The Alzheimers caregiver community has established such a road map, and it is time for the glioblastoma caregiver community to follow it." The essay can be found here. 

Lessons from the field: the conduct of randomized controlled trials in Botswana

MPH Alumni Janice Bonsu and CPHI Fellows Rosemary Frasso and Allison Curry recently published a paper on the increase of RCTs in Botswana.  This study offers a first-hand account of individuals engaged in conducting RCTs in Botswana, a nation that is experiencing a rapid increase in research activities. Findings provide a foundational understanding for researchers in Botswana and trial managers in similar settings when planning RCTs so that the conduct of research does not outpace the ability to manage, support, and regulate it. More here. 

Patient experiences of trauma resuscitation

CPHI Senior Fellows Sara Jacoby , Therese Richmond , and Douglas J. Wiebe examine patients' perspectives regarding patient-centered care within trauma units. Patient-centeredness in the trauma bay is especially important, as responders may be able to avoid retraumatizing patients. Through a series of interviews and observations, the researchers aimed to define patient experiences of trauma resuscitation as well as identify areas for improvement. Results show that patients "drew satisfaction from trauma team members' demeanor, expertise and efficiency, and valued clear clinical communication, as well as words of reassurance." These results lead to the conclusion that emphasizing communication in trauma units could improve patient experience and engage in patient-centeredness. Read more.

The Association between Urban Tree Cover and Gun Assault: A Case-Control and Case-Crossover Study

CPHI Senior Fellows Therese Richmond and Douglas J. Wiebe, and colleagues investigated whether an association exists between green space and gun assault, in an urban environment. This study focused on adolescent subjects, aged 10-24 years, who suffered gunshot wounds in Philadelphia. Subjects and controls were asked to map their activity path using GIS programming, from the start of day until the assault or until they went to bed, in the case of controls. This mapping was cross-examined with data displaying the tree cover in Philadelphia. The investigators found that there exists an inverse relationship between tree cover/green space and gun assault. This potential for violence and gun assault reduction would be a positive implication of efforts to expand urban green spaces. Read more.

An interrupted time-series analysis of ridesharing and motor vehicle crashes in us cities

CPHI Senior Fellows Douglas J. Wiebe and Sara Jacoby , alongside collaborators, explore the effects of ride-share services on the incidence of motor-vehicle crashes in several cities. Cities differ in regard to driving norms and traffic patterns, and because of this, the efficacy of ride-share services like Uber may differ as well. Wiebe, Jacoby, and team investigated the rates of motor vehicle crashes through a study of State Department of Transportation in four U.S. cities, namely Las Vegas, Portland, Reno, and San Antonio. These cities were selected, as it is these cities in which Uber was launched, ceased operations at some point, and then resumed again. The results were mixed; the number of alcohol-related incidents decreased as Uber resumed operations in Portland and San Antonio, but not in Reno. There was also not conclusive evidence that the rate of overall incidence of motor-vehicle accidents decreased following resumed ride-sharing operations. Penn Medicine News discusses the study here , and the article can be found here  .

Lasting impression of violence: Retained bullets and depressive symptoms

CPHI Senior Fellow Therese Richmond  and collaborators have demonstrated an association between retained bullets and symptoms of severe depression. In a cohort study of Black males in an urban Level I trauma center, the researchers found that gunshot victims experience adverse psychological effects following injury, and that retention of the bullets in the body is associated with depressive symptoms. Results show that these patients rated their health as "very good" or "excellent" less often than their counterparts without retained bullets, and 61% of these patients did not return to work. The researchers call for an epidemiological study that assess prevalence, cost, interventions, etc. to offer further guidance regarding the psychological and physical impact of retained bullets. Read more.

The relationship between consumer, clinician, and organizational characteristics and use of evidence-based and non-evidence-based therapy strategies in a public mental health system

CPHI Fellows Rinad Beidas , David Mandell , and collaborators explore factors affecting the implementation of evidence-based practices in a youth-serving behavioral health setting. Specifically, the researchers evaluate several factors, namely consumer, clinician, and organizational factors, and their relationship to behavioral health clinicians' use of cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is an evidence-based practice, and psychodynamic therapy, which is a non-evidence-based practice. With many health systems tending to implement evidence-based practices, the factors identified by this study could serve as areas in which to focus and strategize to allow for effective implementation of evidence-based practices. Read more.

The house is not a home: The great residential divide in autism care

CPHI Fellow David Mandell explores the history of psychiatric treatment institutions in comparison to modern residential patterns for those afflicted by serious mental and developmental illnesses. Mandell explains that the transition from institutional care to community-based care was supposed to be an improvement, but instead has resulted in placement in circumstances such as "psychiatric ghettos." Today, there are a variety of housing options, ranging from unmonitored apartment-like settings to intensely-monitored farming communities. Mandell calls for more research in the subject of residential patterns, specifically in examining the interests of the individual, as he claims that little research exists that looks into important indicators of well-being such as health, life satisfaction, and happiness. Read more. 

Effects of State Insurance Mandates on Health Care Use and Spending for Autism Spectrum Disorder

CPHI Fellow David Mandell and collaborators examine the efficacy of insurance mandates on the use and spending on services treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Currently, 46 states and the District of Columbia have enacted such mandates. The researchers found that there was an positive association between insurance mandates and use and spending on services related to ASD. In fact, their results show that there was a 3.4% increase in monthly use of such services, and spending increased by $77 per month on ASD-related services. These results show that insurance mandates are effective in granting greater access to illness-specific services. Read more.

Developing a Community-Wide Initiative to Address Childhood Adversity and Toxic Stress: A Case Study of The Philadelphia ACE Task Force

CPHI Fellow Joel A. Fein and collaborators examined the evolution of the Philadelphia ACE Task Force (PATF). The PATF began as an initiative to implement screening for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in healthcare settings. However, over the course of its existence, the PATF has expanded to encompass multiple sectors for a more community-based approach to managing ACEs. Read more.


Discrete choice model of food store trips using national household food acquisition and purchase survey (FoodAPS)

CPHI Senior Fellow Amy Hillier and associates analyzed data from the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS) to understand purchasing patterns and their relation to store type and distance travelled. FoodAPS collected data about food purchasing behaviors from a sample of 4826 households. Hillier and associates found that race and ethnicity, rather than income as measured by enrollment status in programs such as SNAP, were important factors in determining food store type and location. Ethnicity has a significant interaction effect on choice of food store type, as indicated by Hispanic families choosing full-service supermarkets most often. Race is also significant, as indicated by the willingness of White families to travel further for grocery shopping than non-White families. These findings demonstrate the importance of race and ethnicity on where families shop for groceries, and this could have implications for health outcomes and public policy. Read more.

Recall of "The Real Cost" Anti-Smoking Campaign Is Specifically Associated With Endorsement of Campaign-Targeted Beliefs

CPHI Fellow Robert C. Hornik and colleagues examine the effectiveness of health campaign advertisements by analyzing the relationship between the recall of select advertisements from the FDA's "The Real Cost" anti-smoking campaign and targeted anti-smoking beliefs. This study was conducted by surveying non-smoking youths following exposure and recall to four "The Real Cost" advertisements and one fake advertisement. The results demonstrate a significant relationship between recall of the four specific "The Real Cost" advertisements and the targeted ad-specific beliefs, which embed the ideology of having no intention to smoke. The association established in this study demonstrates that beliefs about smoking can be targeted and influenced by health campaigns such as "The Real Cost" campaign. Read more.

Infectious Disease Careers in Healthcare Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Stewardship

CPHI Senior Fellow Ebbing Lautenbach writes on the importance and trendiness of individuals invested in the careers of healthcare epidemiology and antimicrobial stewardship. In recent years and for the foreseeable future, both the government and the general population have become invested in addressing healthcare-associated infections and antibiotic resistance, areas in which healthcare epidemiology and antimicrobial stewardship are especially relevant. Lautenbach highlights the various roles and responsibilities that fall under these diverse fields, including focus on non-acute care settings, development of definitions of adverse events, and the creation of appropriate risk adjustments, among others. Read more.

Special Issue on Social Determinants of Health

CPHI Fellow Terri Lipman and collaborator have conducted a review of recent, innovative research pertaining to social determinants of health in pediatric patients. As stated by Lipman, social determinants of health account for over 75% of health outcomes, and are thus exceedingly important to address in pediatric care. The articles reviewed in this piece features a variety of pediatric populations, including those afflicted by diabetes, obesity, juvenile arthritis, and bullying. Read more.


"Nonvoluntary Psychiatric Treatment is Distinct from Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment"

CPHI Fellow Dominic A. Sisti discusses the ethical challenges and implications surrounding the use of phrases "involuntary" and "nonvoluntary" in psychiatric treatment. Sisti defines "involuntary" treatment as that which is imposed on a person who in some way is coerced or incapacitated. Conversely, "nonvoluntary" treatment is that which is given to a patient, despite their current refusal, on the basis of previously expressed values and desires; in other words, there exists sound reason to believe that a patient would have agreed to treatment. Justification for nonvoluntary treatment could include psychiatric advance directives or testimony from family or case managers. The concern with using a phrase such as "involuntary" is that treatment providers are risking the patient's autonomy and individual liberty. Sisti closes with a call for a reevaluation of the term "involuntary" by healthcare professionals and policy makers. Read more.

U.S. Hospital Employment of Foreign-Educated Nurses and Patient Experience: A Cross-Sectional Study

CPHI Associate Fellow Hayley Germack and colleagues explored the relationship between patient satisfaction with care and the rates of employment of foreign-educated nurses in the United States. Germack and colleagues used data from patient care surveys, nurse surveys, and administrative data for hospitals in four states: California, Florida, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. California, Florida, and New Jersey are among the top five states with the highest rates of foreign-educated nurses. They found that there exists a significant association between lower patient satisfaction and employment of foreign-educated nurses. These findings are consistent with similar studies in other countries. Read more.
Want to become a CPHI Fellow?
CPHI welcomes new voices and representations from various sectors related to health. 
To become a Fellow, please visit our website and apply!

Other Public Health Events

Academic Coaching and Writing FREE Webinars 
In this webinar you will learn how to identify essential documents to include in book proposal submissions, understand the purpose of each of the sections of an academic book proposal, select the best press for your work, and communicate with academic editors.  REGISTER HERE

The Evolving Nature of Senior Living
What if everything you were told about aging was wrong?  Our keynote speaker, Dr. Bill Thomas, is challenging how Americans think of aging, the models we have for senior housing, and how connectedness can overcome the lonliness that often plagues the lives of the elderly.   Provider Magazine has called Dr. Thomas' Green House Project the "pinnacle" of the culture change movement in senior housing and the Wall Street Journal has called him one of the nation's "top ten innovators" changing the future of retirement. More information and registration. 

The American Healthcare Debate: What's Next?
The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia will host  The American Healthcare Debate  - a panel discussion focused on our healthcare system, what needs to be fixed (and according to whom?), and whether bipartisan efforts can lead to a solution.

With the extraordinary growth of America's health spending, an aging population of Baby Boomers to care for, and a heightened debate on whether universal healthcare is right or wrong for the United States, it's no wonder this topic has become one of the leading political issues.

Our panelists-including representatives from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Independence Blue Cross, the CATO Institute and more-will help shed light on this complex issue. Registration here. 

Global Health & Innovation Conference: Call for Abstracts 
April 14-15, 2018 | Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
The 15th annual Global Health & Innovation Conference at Yale  is the world's largest and leading global health conference as well as the largest social entrepreneurship conference .  Register during August for a highly reduced registration rate (50% lower than the regular rate).

Abstracts are currently being accepted for research presentations, program presentations, and for the social impact pitch presentations, including submissions for the $10,000 and $5,000 GHIC Innovation Prize. The  first abstract deadline is August 31. For those submitting a research or program abstract,  October 15th is the final deadline.
Public Health Job & Fellowship Opportunities

CHOP PolicyLab  Senior Program Lead-Health Equity Portfolio
Position plays key leadership role in the PolicyLab Health Equity portfolio, in particular responsible for implementation and external stakeholder aspects of the portfolio.  Position also serves as member of PolicyLab strategy team.  Position undertakes specific cross-center, strategy projects as identified with PolicyLab Health Equity Faculty Leads and Center Director and Deputy Director. More information and application. 

Data Manager- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health 
This individual will be responsible for assisting project teams in creating and maintaining high-quality research databases to be utilized in statistical analyses for a broad number of studies involving: (1) population health research and programs; (2) clinical trials; (3) EMR data; (4) payor data; and (5) behavioral economics. Duties include developing the organization and structure of analytic data sets; managing and harmonizing data transfers; performing analyses independently with guidance from the PI and/or Senior Research Investigator; developing standards for data integrity and data security; generating clinical reports; and developing programming tools and documentation to promote efficiency within projects; and maintaining appropriate written documentation of all data set components. Posting and more information. 

Logan University is seeking a Program Director of Nutrition & Human Performance
The Program Director of Nutrition and Human Performance provides administrative oversight and supervision of the nutrition and human performance program. The Director is responsible for the management of program and course outcomes; developing and maintaining evidence informed curriculum; faculty hiring, training, and supervision; management of student issues related to the nutrition and human performance degree program; and the implementation and management of the program effectiveness plan.Link to the posting. 

A.J. Drexel Autism Institute Assistant Professor 
The Policy and Analytics Center at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute seeks a non-tenure track Assistant Professor to focus on health and social policy research. This Assistant Professor position will be a part of the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute's commitment to achieve public health impact.  In addition to the Policy and Analytics Center, the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute houses three research program areas and three cores. Learn more about the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute at www.drexel.edu/autism. The goals of this position are to support and build projects that lead to the development and implementation of effective social and health policy. The focus of the Policy and Analytics Center is both to create applied policy products and to generate traditional academic grants and publications. An ideal candidate would focus on both, but an approach leaning toward one or the other contributes to the goals of the Policy and Analytics Center. Existing projects at the Policy and Analytics Center provide opportunities to engage in research and applied policy partnerships, and engagement with other projects and faculty at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute are encouraged. Faculty at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute are expected to generate grant proposals, manage research projects, developing scholarly articles and presentations, and disseminate findings to advocates and policy makers. Ideal applicants must strive to work in an applied research environment directly impacting policy. Applicants with a doctorate in disability studies, economics, public health, health services research, and public policy are encouraged. Applicants should submit a curriculum vita, three reference contacts, and a 1-page statement of research interests.
 
Submit application to: Lindsay Shea, Director, Policy and Analytics Center at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute,  [email protected]


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