SHSP Celebrates National Public Health Week

The Student Healthcare Executives (StuHE) in the School of Health Sciences and Practice (SHSP) hosted a week full of activities to celebrate National Public Health Week, an initiative of the American Public Health Association, during the week of April 3. This year's national theme was "Generation Public Health," a campaign with the goal of making the U.S. the healthiest nation in one generation-by 2030. Robert W. Amler, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the School of Health Sciences and Practice, led off the week with a special lecture "Environmental Field Investigations: Assessing Community Exposures and Health Effects," while students had the opportunity to participate in a resume writing workshop led by a health care recruitment firm.

A highlight of the week was StuHE's participation in a public health fair at the Greenburgh Health Center which is led by SHSP alumna Judith M. Watson, R.N., B.S.N., M.P.H. '07, executive director. The fair marked the launch of FitKid, a new public health program to promote physical activity and provide nutritional support to improve health behaviors to reduce complications associated with obesity. M.P.H. student Adesola Akinyemi, president of the StuHE chapter, is working with Ms. Watson on developing the program curriculum and evaluation tools.

Representatives from StuHE designed and led fun-filled educational activities for more than 50 children and their families. They covered topics including oral hygiene, body mass index (BMI) measurements, diet selection, hand washing, growing fruits and vegetables, dancing and relaxation exercises. StuHE faculty advisors Denise C. Tahara, M.B.A., M.Phil, Ph.D., associate professor of public health practice and director, M.P.H. Studies, and Michael P. Shakarjian, Ph.D., assistant professor and program director, M.P.H. Environmental Health Science Studies, and Barbara Greenberg, M.Sc., Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, were on hand to support the students. The event also featured the grand opening of a new pediatric fitness facility for patients and families of Greenburgh Health Center. View the photo gallery here.

The week concluded with a special Dean's Lecture, "Public Health Practitioners as Guardians of a Civilized Society: Making Practical Changes in Public Health Law," presented by Eli N. Avila, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., FCLM, distinguished visiting professor in the School of Health Sciences and Practice and commissioner of health for Orange County, N.Y. After the lecture, the SHSP Alumni Leadership Council sponsored a networking event for SHSP alumni to engage with fellow alumni and have the opportunity to speak with Dr. Amler and Dr. Avila. View the photo gallery here.