January 2020 Newsletter
Happy New Year from
The Region 6 South Central Public Health Training Center!
Happy 2020 from the 

May the new year bring happiness, new goals and achievements to your life. We wish everyone a year full of love, harmony and success.

"What the new years brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year." - Vern McLellan
News from the Oklahoma Public Health Training Center (OPHTC)
In September 2019, the Oklahoma Public Health Training Center (OPHTC) transitioned to a new principle investigator. Dr. Thomas A. Teasdale, Professor and Chair in Health Promotion Sciences at the OUHSC College of Public Health, named Kerstin M. Reinschmidt, PhD, MPH, Principal Investigator of the OPHTC.

Dr. Reinschmidt, Assistant Professor in Health Promotion Sciences at the OUHSC College of Public Health, has been with the OPHTC since the summer of 2017. She has ardently embraced her new role, which includes managing and implementing the OPHTC scope of work and daily operations, and collaborating with partners at the Region 6 South Central Public Health Training Center and in Oklahoma (Southern Plains Tribal Health Board; Oklahoma Public Health Association). With the continued support of Dr. Teasdale, who is deeply invested in the OPHTC, and with help from her Graduate Research Assistant Mr. Olawale Dudubo, Dr. Reinschmidt aims for valuable contributions and continued success of the OPHTC.  
An interview with R6-SCPHTC
Student Placement Alum Megan Herring
Tell us about your background.
I graduated from East Tennessee State University in 2013 with a B.S. in Psychology & a B.A. in Exercise Science. Before applying to graduate school, I felt that getting some “real world experience” would be best. I worked for Frontier Health , a local community mental health organization in East Tennessee. After some time, I found myself in Norfolk, Virginia. A new city, and a new job, I worked as a Therapeutic Day Treatment Counselor where I worked one-on-one with the most “at risk” youth in our program. During that time, I realized that the best way I could help people on a grander scale was to go back for my master’s degree. I began my program at The University of Texas Medical Branch in August of 2017 (yes, right before Hurricane Harvey).

How did you find out about the student placement opportunity?
During the first semester, professors poked and prodded students in various directions hoping that they would find their niche, leading to their capstones and thesis. It was during this time that I realized just how severe the health disparities are for those in the Trans community. Thus, my fire was lit. I began working on my capstone, where I met Danny Roe. Danny is a local activist in Galveston for the Trans community. He was assisting my preceptor and me in my capstone work. Afterwards, I received an email from him asking for my resume and my interest in a new project. I jumped at the opportunity, which is where I met John Oeffinger, who is the Director of eLearning & Training at Texas Health Institute and would be my preceptor for this program. Together, we began our work.

What was the most beneficial thing about your student placement experience?
Without a doubt, it was having a seat at the table. I was able to better advocate for the Galveston County Trans community as well as learn more about what goes behind systemic changes.

What are you doing now? Did your student placement help you in your job search?
My current title is Patient Navigator & Program Support. In this role, I have jumpstarted our patient navigation program as well as assisted in the roll out of several services, trainings, and systemic changes. I whole-heartedly believe that my practicum placement was instrumental. It was an instant resume builder, showed my adaptability, project management and program development experience.

What advice would you give to future student placement students?
My advice would be first—to listen. Watch those “at the table”. Figure out how that system works. Secondly, work hard. We all work hard, I know. Nevertheless, this opportunity can be one of a lifetime. Make it worth it. Lastly—never be quiet! Be the voice for those who cannot shout their needs from the rooftop. Be the advocate, be the charge horse, and use your privilege; we are all here for the betterment of healthcare.

Lagniappe: Anything else you’d like to add.
I would like to personally thank John Oeffinger. His guidance, patience, and enthusiasm continues to inspire me. “A mentor empowers a person to see a possible future, and believe it can be obtained.” –Shawn Hitchcock
New Project ECHO Learning Series Starts Soon
The National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) is offering two new project ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes) this spring. Click here to learn more about NNPHI's Hurricane Response Hub (HRH) Project ECHO Series.

Details of NNPHI's Spring 2020 ECHO series are listed below.
Designed for public health professionals responsible for or engaged in ground-level response to hurricanes, this six-session series, participants participants will learn to facilitate individual and workforce strategies focused on managing stressors induced by prolonged hurricane emergencies.
 
Two class options:
Every other Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. - Noon ET
February 5 - April 15, 2020
February 12 - April 22, 2020

Environmental Health Communication Strategies in a Hurricane Emergency 

Designed for state, regional, or local health departments and hurricane preparedness, response, or recovery organizations, this six-session series will support professionals with optimizing their public outreach, diversity engagement and use of communication media to better manage environmental
health challenges. 
Schedule:
Tuesdays at 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. ET
January 28 - March 3, 2020

Are you looking to advance your career in Public Health and improve your earning potential?   Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine's online Master's degrees in Public Health and Graduate Certificate program s, focused in Occupational and Environmental health, provide mid-career professionals a crucial level of flexibility , permitting students to maintain their career while completing an accredited Master's degree or Graduate Certificate program. With options to concentrate your Master's in Public Health in Disaster Management, Occupational Health and Safety Management or Occupational and Environmental health; pursue an online Master of Science in Public Health with a focus in Industrial Hygiene; or secure a Graduate Certificate in any of our offered concentrations, Tulane's programs offer unique opportunities to help you reach your professional and career goals. 

Visit   https://caeph.tulane.edu/content/request-info   for information on how to apply. Applications for the Summer and Fall 2020 semesters are currently being accepted.
Course Spotlight:

This training will provide public health professionals, students, Tribes and Tribal-serving organizations with information, tools, and resources on the use and function of Service Animals, Therapy Animals, Emotional Support Animals, and pets.

Learning Objectives for this training
are listed below:

  • Recognize the breadth and depth of the field of Service Animals

  • Explain the differences between, and benefits of, Service Animals, Emotional Support Animals, Therapy Animals and pets

  • Describe the advantages of the use of Service Animals in today’s society, including current evidence-based research

  • Define the current laws/regulations

  • Recognize legal/ethical considerations for professional interactions with individuals using Service Animals


For more information about
this training, please click here.
Featured Course Bundle:
Safe Water Program Improvement e-Learning Series (SWPI)

The Safe Water Program Improvement e-Learning Series (SWPI) helps health department programs strengthen services to people that use wells, cisterns, springs, and other private drinking water systems not covered by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Oversight for these systems vary, but core elements of successful, sustainable programs are similar.

SWPI walks through the 10 Essential Environmental Public Health Services and the Environmental Public Health Performance Standards, and provides examples of using them to identify and fill program gaps in these types of drinking water programs.

For more info about the Safe Water Program Improvement (SWPI) course bundle, click here .
Looking for more training on a specific topic in public health? Need additional training on a current public health hot topic? We want to help you address these needs. Please email us and let us know about your current training needs/interests/issues. We will evaluate our current trainings to see if we have something that can address your area of interest. 
Email us at   r6-phtc@tulane.edu .
We look forward to your feedback!