Category: Section Announcements

As APHA members and Section leaders, we cheer and applaud you for working with Al Gore and partners to revive the cancelled CDC conference on Climate Change. Many of us were seriously concerned with the self-censoring by CDC as a harbinger of worse things to come. The solution supported by APHA is a great inspiration to us.

We vigorously urge you to continue taking strong positions against Executive Orders and laws that would jeopardize the health, safety, and lives of women, children, and men in the U.S. and around the world.

We look to you, as Executive Director of APHA, to lead our 25,000-member strong professional association in speaking out against laws and policies that harm health. With regulatory protections, programs, and budgets for public health now under attack, it is incumbent upon us as public health professionals to remain true to our values, principles, and responsibilities. This may require extraordinary courage in the coming months and years. But that’s APHA’s role. If there is any time in the history of APHA to take a strong stand it is now. Taking the lead to educate the President, his staff, the Congress, and the American people on the science of public health is clearly within the mandate of APHA. Urging Congress to maintain programs and budgets to avoid illness and save lives of women, children, and men who could be denied their right to health and health care is critical. The undersigned APHA Sections, Caucuses, Committees and Student Assembly are particularly concerned most immediately about the executive order that reinstates and expands the scope of the Mexico City Policy (also known as the “Global Gag Rule”) and other threats of massive cuts in foreign assistance for health. Other major issues of concern abound.

If you need support to assist with external communication for this urgent and ongoing endeavor, please call on us as members to help draft press releases or whatever communication is needed. APHA’s many policy statements on climate change, global and domestic maternal, infant and child morbidity and mortality, global and domestic reproductive health and family planning, HIV/AIDS, malaria/zika/other infectious tropical diseases, tobacco control, gun control, war, refugees, ACA, social and health inequity in the U.S., etc. include information on the science for our arguments that can be quickly translated into press releases and other forms of communication. Your efforts in representation of the public health professional community are greatly valued and appreciated.
Signatories to this letter on behalf of their respective APHA Component

International Health – Chair, Laura C. Altobelli, DrPH, MPH

Aging and Public Health – Chair, Caryn Etkin, PhD, MPH

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs – Chair, Linda J. Frazier, MA, RN, MCHES

Chiropractic Health Care – Chair, Michael Haneline, DC, MPH

Community Health Planning & Policy Development – Chair, Ashley Wennerstrom, PhD, MPH

Disability – Chair, Willi Horner-Johnson, PhD

Environment – Chair, Megan Weil Latshaw, PhD, MHS

Epidemiology – Chair, Elquemedo Oscar Alleyne, DrPH

Ethics – Chair, Stephanie St. Pierre

Health Administration – Chair, Brian C. Martin, PhD, MBA

HIV/AIDS – Chair, Randolph D. Huback, PhD, MPH

Injury Control and Emergency Health Services – Chair, Lara McKenzie, PhD, MA

Integrative Complementary Traditional Health Practices – Chair, Dr. Sivarama Prasad Vinjamury

Maternal and Child Health – Chair, Deborah Allen, ScD

Medical Care – Chair, James C. Wohlleb, MD

Mental Health – Chair, Margaret Walkover, MPH

Oral Health – Chair, Scott L. Tomar, DMD, MPH, DrPH

Physical Activity – Chair, Andrew T. Kasczinski, PhD

Public Health Nursing – Lisa A. Campbell, DNP, RN, APHN-BC

Public Health Education and Health Promotion – Chair, Heather M. Brandt, PhD, CHES

Population, Reproductive and Sexual Health – Chair, Lee Dooley, MPH, MCHES

Public Health Social Work – Chair, Julia F. Hastings, PhD, MSW

School Health and Services – Chair, Julie Gast, PhD, MCHES

Vision Care – Chair, Glen T. Steele, OD, FCOVD, FAAO

Student Assembly – Chair, Mrs. Rachael N. Reed

February 6, 2017
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Additional signatories to this letter to Dr. Benjamin on behalf of their respective APHA Component since February 6, 2017:

Applied Public Health Statistics Section – Chair, Charles DiSogra, DrPH, MPH

American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Caucus – Chair, Babette Galang

Asian & Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health – Chair, Gabriel M. Garcia, PhD, MA, MP

Black Caucus of Health Workers – Chair, Apryl Brown

Committee on Health Equity – Chair, Jack Tsai, PhD

Committee on Women ́s Rights – Chair, Constance Jackson, MPH, CEIO

Peace Caucus – Chair, Robert M. Gould, MD

Spirit of 1848 Caucus – Chair, Nancy Kreiger, PhD

Women’s Caucus – Chair, Sarah Gareau, DrPH

February 21, 2017

The Communications Committee has recently recruited two co-Chairs to revitalize the Section’s outreach and communications, and to ensure that the Section continues to be an active contributor to the global health community. Please welcome Sophia Anyatonwu, our new social media manager, and Jean Armas, our new blog admin!

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I am from Austin, Texas and have always had an interest in using my skills to make a global impact. I received my Masters in Public Health in 2015 and currently work as an Epidemiologist. In my role as the Section’s social media manager, I hope to further develop my social media skills and remain up-to-date on current trends and breaking developments in global health. Additionally, I am excited to help get the word out about what IH members are working on and passionate about. In the future, I would like to evaluate health services and policies that impact humanitarian aid and economic development.

Growing up, I was fortunate to travel to many places across the world with my family and saw how difficult life could be for others who had much less than I had. This left a strong impression on me and after many years working in public health in the US, mostly in the areas of chronic disease, health technology, and innovation, I began my career in global health. I currently work for a global health non-profit where I have helped my organization’s partners in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia introduce technology solutions to help them track vital medicines for survivors of gender-based violence, improve the care for children living with HIV, and tackle the challenging problem of reducing newborn mortality. I have always felt strongly about promoting social equality through public health practice and look forward to continuing to promote APHA’s mission of health for all including finding unique ways to keep our members informed and engaged with their section and the wider global health community, especially during these challenging times.

The 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo will be held in Atlanta, November 4-8. APHA 2017 will bring more than 12,000 public health professionals to Atlanta to learn, network and engage. This year’s theme is “Creating the Healthiest Nation: Climate Changes Health.”

Become a presenter and submit an abstract

Deadlines range from Feb. 20-24, depending on topic area. Authors are encouraged to submit abstracts on the theme as well as current and emerging public health issues.

You do not have to be an APHA member to submit an abstract. However, if your abstract is accepted for presentation, the presenting author MUST become an individual member of APHA and MUST register for the Annual Meeting.

Click here for more information and to start your submission.

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Watch this short video from last year’s meeting to learn more about the urgent need to address climate change and its impact on health.

Recognizing our finest in International Health (IH) through the IH Section Awards

Each year, the International Health (IH) Section of the American Public Health Association (APHA) recognizes outstanding contributions of its members through its Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in International Health, its Mid-Career Award in International Health, the Gordon-Wyon Award for Community-Oriented Public Health, Epidemiology and Practice, and the Distinguished Section Service Award. The Section is now seeking nominations for deserving candidates for these awards, to be presented at its Awards Ceremony at the APHA Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia in November 2017.

The Carl Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award in International Health was created by the IH Section to honor the visionaries and leaders in APHA who have shaped the direction of International Health.  The evaluation criteria for the Lifetime Achievement Award include: (1) Quality/creativity/innovativeness of the individual’s contributions to the field of International Health; (2) The individual’s contributions to the development of APHA or the IH Section; (3) Application of the individual’s work to service delivery (as opposed to primarily theoretical value); (4) The individual’s contributions as a leader/visionary/role model; (5) The volunteerism/sacrifice associated with the individual’s contributions; and (6) Membership in APHA (preferably with primary affiliation with the IH Section), a State affiliate, or a national public health association that is a member of the World Federation of Public Health Associations. No self-nomination is allowed.

Prior winners of the Carl Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award in International Health include: Jeanne Foster, Joe Wray, Carl Taylor, Milton Roemer, Warren and Gretchen Berggren, John Wyon, Derrick Jelliffe, Tim Baker, Cicely Williams, Bud Prince, Veronica Elliott, Moye Freymann, Dory Storms, Tom Hall, Samir Banoob, William Reinke, Michael Latham, William Foege, Clarence Pearson, Stanley Newman, Jack Bryant, Richard Morrow, Ray Martin, Miriam Labbok, Douglas Huber, Henry B. Perry, III, and Peter Berman.

The Mid-Career Award in International Health is intended to recognize outstanding young professionals in the IH Section. The evaluation criteria for the Mid-Career Award include: (1) The individual must have committed herself/himself to the promotion and development of primary health care in a cross-cultural setting over a period of 5-15 years [Primary health care is meant here to encompass a broad array of public health issues, including HIV/AIDS prevention and environmental health]; (2) The individual must have demonstrated creativity in expanding the concepts pertinent to the practice of public health with an international focus; and (3) Membership in APHA (preferably primary affiliation with the IH Section), a State affiliate, or a national public health association that is a member of the World Federation of Public Health Associations. No self-nomination is allowed.

Prior winners of the Mid-Career Award in International Health include Laura Chanchien Parajon, Margaret Henning, Elvira Beracochea, Laura Altobelli, Matt Anderson, Padmini Murthy, Gopal Sankaran, Jean Capps, Tim Holtz, Kate Macintyre, Sarah Shannon, Adnan Hyder, Stephen Gloyd, Luis Tam, Marty Makinen, Colleen Conroy, Mary Ann Mercer, Irwin Shorr, Walter K. Patrick, Dory Storms, Clyde “Lanny” Smith and Theresa Shaver.

The Gordon-Wyon Award for Community-Oriented Public Health, Epidemiology and Practice is intended to reward outstanding achievement in community-oriented public health epidemiology and practice. This award was established in 2006 by the IH Section. It is administered by the Community Based Primary Health Care Working Group. John Gordon and John Wyon were pioneers in this field, so encouraging and recognizing others in this field is one important way of honoring their memory. The evaluation criteria for this award include: (1) The candidate must have had a central role in an outstanding achievement in community-oriented public health and practice; (2) The candidate must have demonstrated creativity in expanding the concepts pertinent to the practice of community-oriented public health with an international focus; and (3) The candidate must have membership in APHA or one of its affiliates (either a State affiliate or a national public health association that is a member of the World Federation of Public Health Associations. No self-nomination is allowed.

Previous winners of the Gordon-Wyon Award for Community-Oriented Public Health, Epidemiology and Practice are Rajnikant Arole, Carl Taylor, Henry B. Perry, Bette Gebrian, Jaime Gofin, Warren and Gretchen Berggren, Tom Davis, Jr., Malcolm Bryant, Sandy Hoar,  William Robert Brieger and Mizan Siddiqi.

In addition, the Distinguished Section Service Award is intended to honor outstanding service to the IH Section. Award criteria are: (1) Dedication to the IH Section mission and goals as demonstrated by continuing exceptional contribution to its activities; (2) Serving on the section elective positions or chairing its committees with remarkable or unusual effort and achievements; (3) Distinguished achievement in the international health field with a remarkable career; (4) Excellence in leadership and strong ability for team work with peers in the IH Section and the APHA.  Current membership in APHA is essential.

Nomination Process

Award nominations should include:
i)      A detailed letter explaining why the individual nominated should receive the award, addressing the criteria for the specific award; and
ii)     A current curriculum vitae of the nominee.

Both documents (the nomination letter and the curriculum vitae) should be forwarded as e-files (Word or pdf). Only nominations with required documentation will be considered for the awards. Nominations should be submitted by email to Gopal Sankaran (gsankaran@wcupa.edu), Chair, Awards Committee, International Heath Section.

Deadline for Nominations

Please submit the required documents by Monday, May 1, 2017.  Late submissions will not be reviewed.