Scarletter
April 2020: COVID-19 Special Issue
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Keeping the 'Public' in Public Health
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Dear Rutgers School of Public Health,
In this moment when we are all challenged with the uncertainties created by COVID-19, public health is as important as ever.
As the leading providers of science-based information to our communities and decision-makers, public health professionals are at the forefront of the battle with COVID-19. Many of our alumni, faculty, staff, and students are struggling with the enormity of this pandemic and its consequences, even as we strive to keep equity and social justice at the center of the COVID-19 response. The role of philanthropy is more critical now than ever, as we look to your leadership and generosity during these uncertain times.
As I write to you, many of our students are encountering serious difficulties—transportation and housing issues, lost income, food insecurity, health insurance complications, and more—resulting from the pandemic. To help relieve such strains, School of Public Health students can apply directly to the
RBHS Student Emergency Fund
for immediate and direct support. Your consideration of a gift towards this fund today would be a tremendous help.
COVID-19 is the public health crisis of the moment, but others will surely follow, which is why we must commit to training the next generation of public health scholars. Your generous support is how we’re keeping the “public” in public health.
Lastly, please take the time to read more about Rutgers School of Public Health’s response to the pandemic, including our collaboration with the
Rutgers COVID Response and Pandemic Preparedness Center
,
efforts with the
New Jersey Department of Health
coordinating student support efforts in local departments of health, COVID-19 research,
and our extensive work with local, state, and national media outlets to communicate timely and scientifically sound information on the virus.
These are challenging times, and we must continue to work together to stop the spread of the virus. If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to reach out to me directly.
My thoughts are with all of you – be safe.
Sincerely,
Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH
Dean and Professor
Rutgers School of Public Health
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Remembering Alfredo Regala
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We fondly remember our colleague, friend, father, brother, and Nets fan - Alfredo Regala - who passed on Monday, April 6, 2020. He was a valuable member of our Office of Computing and Technology since 2015, sharing his smile and zeal for life with every member of the Rutgers School of Public Health family.
The School's annual staff award has been renamed in his honor and will be presented as the "
Alfredo Regala Distinguished Staff Award
" to outstanding members of the Rutgers School of Public Health family.
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Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal
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Inequities in COVID-19 are consistent with a history of discrimination and disinvestment in Black and Latinx neighborhoods. "
Our response should prioritize these communities hardest hit by the pandemic due to economic and environmental injustices rooted in structural racism," said
Devin English, PhD
, assistant professor in the
department of urban-global public health in a recent interview with
NJ.com.
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What it Means to Be Immune to the Coronavirus
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Around
one in four infected people
may have no symptoms, as far as experts currently know (the disease is new, so these numbers aren't
yet fully certain
. So, it leaves many of us with a burning question: Is it possible you were infected, but didn't get sick?
Vincent Silenzio, MD, MPH
, professor in the department of
urban-global public health
, spoke to Mashable about what we do know about COVID-19 immunity.
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A Guide to Promote Behavior Change During COVID-19
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Antonio Rodriguez | Adobe
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During this time of global uncertainty, COVID-19 has highlighted a lack of understanding about how prevention and health messaging should be crafted to help people change their behavior — and to maintain that behavior over time.
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Dangers of Homemade Cleaning Products
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With cleaning and disinfecting products running out of stock due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many people have resorted to trying to make their own. But mixing chemicals in the wrong way can at best create an ineffective product – and at worst result in poisoning.
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COVID-19 Center Names Public Health Leader
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We Can't Ignore HIV/AIDS Epidemic During our Battle with COVID-19
We can't forget the social, psychological, and biological needs of people living with HIV/AIDS during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an op-ed in
Out in Jersey Magazine
by
Kristen Krause, PhD
,
MPH
,
Rutgers School of Public Health
class of 2020 doctoral student, and
Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies
manager.
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Elephant in the Corner: We Need to
Address the Psychological Processes that are Undermining Our COVID-19 Response
We need to integrate public health and clinical care efforts to address fear and other psychological processes that too often shape and cloud our judgment when it comes to responding to our health and crises, according to
Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH
, dean and professor in the departments of
urban-global public health
and
biostatistics and epidemiology in a new op-ed with the
National Herald.
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The new hybrid DrPH - which is delivered online and through several in-person sessions- prepares mid- to senior-career public health professionals to gain knowledge and skills in leadership, practice, and research, which will assist them in assuming positions of greater responsibility and helping to achieve public health impact at local, national, and international levels. The new program is the only one in the state of New Jersey and comes at a critical time in our world’s history as we battle the COVID-19 pandemic and need agile public health leaders who are equipped with the skills necessary to address future health crisis.
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Getting Involved with COVID-19 Efforts
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The Rutgers School of Public Health is supporting local, state, and national COVID-19 response efforts through a variety of research, practice, and volunteer opportunities for faculty, students, staff, and others from across the University.
All Faculty, Staff, and Non-Rutgers School of Public Health Students:
Please fill out this
survey
if you ar
e interested in being notified about funding and volunteer opportunities as they become available.
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Saying 'Goodbye' to the GRE!
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Beginning Spring 2021, GRE scores will become
optional
for those applying to the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program at the Rutgers School of Public Health. Due to the COIVD-19 pandemic, the GRE has also been waived for Fall 2020 MPH applicants.
Applicants to the MPH-Biostatistics and MPH-Epidemiology concentrations will require students - who do not submit GRE scores - to show proof of successful completion of a college-level math course. The MS and PhD programs will still require GRE scores.
The School came to this decision after a thoughtful and thorough analysis of data and discussions with our faculty and students.This change aligns with a movement across many institutions and is informed by research which demonstrates that standardized tests can place a disproportionate burden on some of our applicants for numerous reasons including but not limited to the racial, ethnic, and culture biases inherent in such exams.
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The Rutgers School of Public Health will be virtually recognizing October 2019, January 2020, and May 2020 graduates via an online website hosted by MarchingOrder that will launch on May 15, 2020. Graduates will be able to share the website - that will individually highlight them – with their families, friends, and colleagues as well as listen to speeches by faculty, student, and alumni speakers.
Use
#RutgersSPH2020
to share your congratulatory messages on social media!
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Managing our Mental & Behavioral Health
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Join Rutgers School of Public Health alum and
founder of
MAD COOL FITNESS and MAD COOL COMMUNITY
,
Jennifer Turner, DrPH’19
, for “Managing Our Mental and Behavioral Health: Not Just Surviving but Thriving in the Health Crisis,” a 3-part webinar series (30-45 mins. + Q&A) to help you to learn how to live healthy during this challenging time.
Healthy Living – Nutrition and Exercise
Sunday, April 26, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.
- Nutrition 101 – the basics of healthy eating;
- How to eat healthy during the health crisis; and
- How to engage in physical activity during the health crisis
The MAD COOL FITNESS Behavior Change Framework
Sunday, May 4, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.
- Assessing our thoughts, behaviors, and social and physical environments, pre- and post the health crisis;
- Our Healthy Life Vision: What do we want our lives to look like? How do we make it a reality?;
- Goal Setting: How to set effective and achievable goals while also identifying barriers and facilitators to achieving them; and
- Making & executing a plan
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Raymond Clinkscale | Rutgers School of Public Health
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The Rutgers School of Public Health will be hosting three virtual practice days in Spring 2020 (May 6-8) so that MPH students may have the opportunity to present their practicum projects! If you are interested in attending any of the virtual sessions below, please contact
practice@sph.rutgers.edu
.
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Paving Your Professional Path During the Pandemic
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Join the Rutgers School of Public Health's Office of Career Services and Office of Practice for " Paving Your Professional Path During a Pandemic," webinar on
May 11, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
You'll learn how to:
- Make sense of the current public health hiring landscape
- Use new strategies for remote job, internship, and APE opportunities
- Prepare for the ASPPH Virtual Career Fair (May 15, 2020)
- Maximize your public health training in your search
Questions? Reach out to
sphcareers@sph.rutgers.edu.
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Join the
ASPPH virtual career fair
on Friday, May 15, 2020! The fair will be an opportunity for students and alumni to connect with employers around the country and also allows employers to reach more prospective applicants than ever before! The fair is free for students/alumni, while potential employers must pay a fee to participate.
Questions? Reach out to
sphcareers@sph.rutgers.edu.
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Photo courtesy of
Jason DeAlessi and Passaic County
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- Noor Siyam (May 2020 MPH) is volunteering with the Paramus Health Department. In addition to conducting contact tracing interviews and working with the Communicable Disease Reporting Surveillance System, Noor is supporting the department's efforts to communicate with long term care facilities daily.
- Samantha Posada (Certificate Student) is working in her newly expanded role as an ICU Secretary at Trinitas Regional Medical Center assisting with COVID-19 initiatives including providing nursing and IT support.
- Jason DeAlessi (May 2021 MPH) has helped Leslie Kantor, PhD, MPH, chair of the department of urban-global public health, create health education materials for United Way in Newark. He has also been assisting with registration at the drive-through Passaic County COVID-19 testing site.
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Got 60 seconds? Join the deBeaumont Foundation and public health leaders - like Rutgers School of Public Health dean,
Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH
- in sharing what you’re doing, seeing, or experiencing — and what people should know about the public health response to COVID-19. Your story can inspire and educate others and build support for public health professionals like you.
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Rutgers School of Public Health
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683 Hoes Lane West
Piscataway, NJ 08854
732-235-9700
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One Riverfront Plaza, Suite 1020
Newark, NJ 07102
973-972-7212
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Got 60 seconds? Tell us what you’re doing, seeing, or experiencing — and what people should know about the public health response to COVID-19. Your story can inspire and educate others and build support for public health professionals like you.
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