Health Beat
August 2024
College of Health newsletter
All the news that's fit to print
We encourage you to scroll through the whole page, but if you want to skip ahead to a particular section, select from the following.
Visibility
In the news
These stories are predominately made up from the college's alumni magazine, press releases from OSU News and Research Communications, and media mentions.
From Iraq to Oregon and beyond
Massarra Eiwaz-Ransom, an applied anthropology and public health alumna, leverages her personal journey as a refugee to enhance the inclusivity of community programming.
Belonging boosts health
OSU-Cascades, OHSU researchers confirm connection in Central Oregon between community belonging and health.
Honoring former dean Kinsey Bass Green 1938-2024
Dean of the College of Home Economics, now the College of Health, from 1984-2000, Kinsey Bass Green was a recognized expert on public policy, demographic trends, and economic factors affecting the home economics professional and not-for-profit organizations.
Be Well Project helps Oregonians learn about contaminants in their well water
Millions of Americans rely on private wells for drinking water, yet many are unaware of potential contaminants like arsenic and nitrate.
Jonathan Garcia on health disparities and LGBTQ+ well-being
College of Health researcher fights for health equity in LGBTQ+ communities
Students and Alumni
Internship spotlights
See how COH students are applying classroom knowledge, building professional networks, and testing out fulfilling careers in health and well-being.
Meet all the internship spotlight students.
Public health, MPH
Botswana Global Health Initiative
Nutrition - Professional dietetics, MS
Dietetic internship rotations
Kinesiology - General, BS
KidSpirit
Good News!
Good News for August 2024
Our faculty, staff and students do amazing things!
They receive national, university and college honors; publish books and articles; serve on editorial boards and much more.
Did you or someone you know do something we should share? Let us know by submitting some Good News.
Byungmo Ku, PhD '19, and Ming-Chih Sung, PhD '22, former College of Health kinesiology alumni, reunited at the Asia Society of Adapted Physical Education conference in Japan.
Recent College of Health grad Joe Page, MPH '24, is taking on an exciting new role. He's landed a position as a health care policy intern in the office of U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse at the United States Senate in Washington, D.C. Congratulations, Joe!
Ximena Nava Diaz, a public health student and summer intern at OHSU, won the best poster award at the Internship Symposium on Friday, August 16. Her poster, titled “Neighborhood characteristics associated with firearm injuries in children and adolescents across the U.S.,” was presented as part of the Equity Research Internship Program. Congrats, Ximena!
The symposium provided a platform for all interns to showcase their research and internship experiences. Learn more about the Equity Research Program.
Kaycee Headley, project director for the AgriStress Helpline in Oregon, and Allison Myers, associate dean for Oregon State Extension and Engagement, discussed the helpline's purpose of supporting agricultural and forestry communities in crisis.
Franziska Loetzner, PhD, has joined the School of Exercise, Sport, and Health Sciences as a postdoctoral scholar.
Franziska has recently been honored by the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) for her outstanding leadership while serving on its board.
Congratulations to Franziska on this recognition, and welcome to our school and college.
Research
Publications for the month of August
Check out the recent publications from researchers across the college over the past month. See if you can guess the researcher(s) based solely on publication titles:
These findings show that new shoe technology isn't just changing race times - it's actually changing how runners move. This could affect things like running efficiency, injury risk, and how we design future running shoes. It also raises questions about fairness in competitions.
This study challenges the idea that all older adults respond to stress in the same way, and it highlights the complex factors that can affect stress resilience during challenging times like a pandemic.
The study investigates social connections as a protective factor against problematic sexual violence-related attitudes, finding that workplace connections reduce rape myth acceptance and hostile sexism, while family connections protect against disapproval of sexual consent, rape myth acceptance, and hostile sexism. Additionally, the research reveals that connections to religious social groups may increase risk rather than provide protection.
This study highlights the need for a better understanding of the inequalities experienced by carers to inform crisis mitigations and promote gender equality in the care economy.
This article describes the development and evaluation of a Public Health Preceptor ECHO program aimed at enhancing the knowledge and confidence of public health preceptors who mentor students during internships. The program, delivered over six sessions, resulted in increased skills in communication and provided valuable resources, ultimately leading to initiatives like grant submissions for student internship stipends and housing support for rural students. Project ECHO is identified as an effective approach for training future public health preceptors.
This research suggests mHealth apps have the potential to empower patients and improve care experiences, particularly for marginalized groups who may face barriers in traditional healthcare settings. However, it also raises important questions about the ethics of discontinuing such programs after pilot studies end.
The research examines the impact of roadway construction and traffic congestion on nearby housing prices, finding that homes near major roads tend to sell for less. While congestion-reducing improvements lead to small average increases in home prices, the negative effects on housing values are primarily due to the proximity to major roads, regardless of traffic levels.
This comprehensive risk assessment of vitamin E tolerable intake provides an important evidence-based foundation to inform regulations, supplement recommendations, and clinical practice guidelines related to vitamin E consumption and safety across different demographics.
This paper provides important insights into the current state of care coordination for high-risk Veterans and identifies key areas for improvement and future research that could enhance care for complex patients both within and outside the VA system.
This study examines the central role of psychosocial factors in determining SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) utilization among farmworkers and farm owners in Oregon. Findings highlight the unique challenges faced by agricultural communities in accessing food assistance and suggest opportunities for policy improvements to enhance food security in rural areas.
The research investigates the factors influencing Veterans' choices between receiving care at VA facilities and VA-purchased care from non-VA providers. It finds that quality of care is a primary motivator, while distrust and travel distance significantly affect the likelihood of choosing VA facilities, with those living far from VA centers and experiencing high distrust being less likely to choose VA care.
Research seminars will be back fall term.
Save the dates! (Schedule will be posted first week of fall term)
October 4, 11, 18, 25
November 1, 8, 15, 22
December 6
Research seminar videos
Events
Mark your calendars!
September 19 Fall College Meeting & Luncheon
Faculty & Staff
Meeting
10 - 11 a.m. Milam Auditorium (MLM 026)
Luncheon
11 a.m. - noon Women’s Building Gym (WB 112)
September 27 COH Town Hall: Budget
2:15 - 3:30 p.m. Milam Auditorium
September 24 College of Health Welcome Luncheon
12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Women's Building
Incoming undergraduate first-year and transfer students are invited to attend the College of Health's 2024 Welcome Luncheon! Come and enjoy a free lunch catered by Jimmy Johns, meet with faculty members and win prizes! After the event we will all walk over to OSU's convocation together. We hope to see you there!
October 4 COH Town Hall: Strategic Plan
2:15 - 3:30 p.m. Milam Auditorium
Bonus!
ASPIRE Children's Environmental Health Center
August is Water Quality Month!
The State of Nursing Facilities in Oregon
The State of Nursing Facilities in Oregon project produces an annual report that informs stakeholders, the Legislature, and the public about skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) in Oregon. It addresses topics including licensed bed capacity, admissions and discharges, resident demographics, length of stay, residents' needs for care, payment sources, and quality measures.
Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative (OPEC)
OPEC publishes useful information for families, caregivers, and professionals who support children and families.