In today’s world there are lots of public health issues being addressed, but do you actually know much about them? You may have heard about them or know a little bit, but UPHA thinks it is important to stay educated, that way we can eventually be the change and make the world a better place. That’s why we’ve started this new post called “What You Need to Know”. Whenever there is a public health issue relevant in the media that we feel should be discussed, we will provide the facts in this segment and open up the conversation. Feel free to comment or join us at our weekly meetings (Tuesdays at 8:30 in PSY B39) to talk more about any of the topics we post about, or email us at upha@bu.edu if you have any ideas about something you think should be featured as a WYNTK.
Category: Uncategorized
Volunteer Opportunities in the Greater Boston Area
1) Boomerangs (http://action.aac.org/site/PageServer?pagename=boomerangs_volunteering) – Thrift store to raise money for the AIDS Action Committee
2) Boston Health Care for the Homeless (http://www.bhchp.org/ongoingopportunities.htm) – Many specialized roles to help homeless people in Boston access the care they need
3) Health Leads (https://healthleadsusa.org/get-involved/volunteer/) – Become an advocate for patients, connecting them to resources
4) Peer Health Exchange (http://www.peerhealthexchange.org/join-us/volunteer/) – Teach health workshops in local schools
5) Lemuel Shattuck Hospital (http://www.shattuckpartners.org/) – Public Health Hospital which provides care to patients referred primarily by public agencies and private health care providers
6) Cradles to Crayons (http://www.cradlestocrayons.org/boston/volunteer/families-individuals) – Inspect, sort, and package all donations into individualized packages for children in need
7) Boston Rescue Mission (http://www.brm.org/individuals.php) –
Many opportunities available to help the homeless in Boston
8) Check out groups at the CSC! (http://www.bu.edu/csc/opportunities/community-service-center-programs/)
Fitness Apps You’ll Want to Use
By: Dea Biancarelli
Taking care of your body is one of the most important things you can do for
your health. We all know that eating right and being physically active are necessary
to prevent the health problems that are associated with overweight. Technology has
caught on too, produces games such as Wii Fit and creating hundreds of apps that
claim to make us healthier, stronger and happier. With so many apps on the market
though, how do you know which ones will be useful and which ones will just take
up valuable space on your phone? After testing out some of the most popular apps, I
created a top 5 list of fitness apps that are simple and useful.
1. Most Useful Gym App: Nike Training Club Cost: Free
If you want to start working out but don’t know what to
do, need to squeeze a quick workout in at home, or lose
motivation half way through your workout this app is for
you. Nike Training Club has tons of workouts for beginners,
intermediate or advanced. It also has different workouts for
your fitness goals, whether you want to get lean with cardio,
toned with light weights or build some serious muscle. It also
has a category called “Get Focused”, 15 minute workouts that
target specific areas. Each move has pictures and a short video
clip that teach you how to do each move. Once you click “Do
Workout” Nike Training Club leads you through the workout,
telling you what move to do, giving tips on form throughout
and a few motivational words. It beeps to alert you of the next
move. The app tracks your progress and unlocks rewards and
badges once you’ve hit certain goals. It’s like a personal trainer
in your phone (and for free)!
2. Most Useful Overall Health App: Argus Cost: Free
There are tons of apps on the market that allow you to track
how many calories you consume and how much activity you do
each day, but I find that I stop using these apps after a few days
because of inconvenience. Argus is different. By using timers
and pictures to record data instead of having you painstakingly
enter in your information approach, Argus is user friendly. The
set up is a fun, cool design, similar to a Facebook timeline that
shows you what choices you’ve been making throughout the
day. It can track all health aspects of your life: eating habits,
sleep cycle, fitness, a pedometer and even water intake. Argus
allows you to set goals and gives you notifications throughout
the day to help you reach them.
3. Most Useful App for Those Who Hate to Run: Zombies, Run! Cost: $4.99
Although the price tag is a little pricey for an app, Zombies,
Run! is a great way to make running interesting. It’s similar
to a real life video game. The app tells you a story of a zombie
outbreak, which you star in as the hero. The story continues as
you run, so you don’t continuously have to touch your phone
while working out. Players can create an account and log in to
compare scores with other zombie runners across the country.
4. Most Useful App for the Busy: Human Price: Free
Do you barely have time in your busy schedule for physical
activity? Are you craving something simple, easy and laid back?
Try Human, an app that helps you reach the recommended 30
minutes of physical activity. This simple app challenges you to
“get your daily 30” by adding up all physical activity that your
phone records if stuck in your pocket or attached to your arm.
It’s perfect for those of us who are too busy to be updating an
app or don’t have time for a daily hour workout but still want
to get the necessary amount of activity. It tracks your activity
for the current week, your weekly average and your streak of
daily fitness.
5. Most Useful App for the Charitable Cardio Fan: Charity Miles
Why not do some good during your next cardio session?
While there are tons of great apps on the market for those who like to run or
bike, from ones that record a run via GPS to tracking your pace and calorie
count, but an app I believe all runners and bikers can make use of is Charity
Miles. Charity Miles donates money to a charity of a user’s choice for every
mile they complete. It tracks walking, running and biking. The app is simple.
After selecting your charity, just press start and it records the distance you’ve
travelled. Although 75 cents may not seem like much, all those miles can
really add up!
All of these apps I believe are easy to use in your everyday life and can help
you achieve your fitness goals. Agree? Disagree? What fitness apps do you
like to use? Comment your thoughts below!
Dear Government; Sincerely, Public Health
By: Stephanie Smith
Dear Government,
For almost a full week now, you’ve been shutdown—stemming from disagreements between the Senate and the House of Representatives over the passage of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. But aside from the effect that the new act has on the accessibility and affordability of health insurance for Americans, this shutdown is also affecting the national public health agenda.
We’ve seen photos of National Parks and Monuments with information about the unfortunate closure taped to the entrance, but did you think about the implications that this shutdown would have on your agencies involved in health care? Here’s a break down of everything that’s shutdown in the public health sphere, that needs to be restored.
Clinical Trials Halted The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is unable to accept any new participants or patients to research studies or their hospital, in Maryland. Any clinical trials that were planned to begin are being put on hold. However, it is important to know that those already enrolled in research studies or are already patients in the hospital, prior to the shutdown, are being treated in the same manner that they would have been before October 1st.
CDC Disruption The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is unable to support the seasonal flu program and outbreak detection. The CDC will lose the opportunity to continue monitoring infectious disease rates during this shutdown. Though there are still several programs running, only about 4,000 of the 13,000 employees of the CDC are working at this time.
FDA Impairment The Food and Drug Administration will be unable to support the usual food safety, nutrition, and cosmetics activities. Routine inspections involving compliance and enforcement, the monitoring of imports and lab research needed to inform public health decisions are closed.
Aside from these issues, seniors and children that receive healthy food through government-funded organizations will not have access to these services. The employees of all of these agencies are also suffering from the closing of their workplaces.
So please, for the sake of the nation, figure out a way to compromise.
Sincerely,
All Americans That Care About the Health of the Nation
International Public Health: What is It?
By: Jenny Gilbert
When I tell people I study public health, there are two images that usually come to their minds: a doctor or an aid worker in emergency relief abroad. While both of these tracks of work can definitely be involved in public health, studying the health of populations is a lot broader than the movies make it look. Today I’m going to focus on the second one – the idea that public health is purely humanitarian. While non-profit organizations make up a huge portion of public health, for-profit researchers, governmental figures, consultants, and many others are also key players in health around the world. This post will largely focus on international health efforts, though its concepts are relevant to domestic projects as well.
While I was working on a research project last summer, I was surprised to hear one of the doctors mention her concerns of organizations that saw public health as purely charity and volunteering. We’ve moved so far beyond that image of a doctor or aid worker coming in with money and fixing everything, she explained, adding that communities can take ownership of projects by making them sustainable enough that outside money is no longer needed. Her words struck a cord. Of the many NGOs that exist in the world, relatively few that I’ve seen managed to circumvent heavy corruption, especially in poorer regions of the world. One of my biggest concerns on college campuses today is that students in volunteering and fundraising groups sometimes do not understand the NGOs they are donating to well enough to know if the funding is going toward activities which will actually help others. Public health projects don’t just need frontline workers. They also need people in the background who are grounded in research, operations, finances, and a variety of technical skills to keep large projects running smoothly.
Only so many people with these types of backgrounds will be willing to work for purely humanitarian reasons. Very few people enter public health without wanting to help others, but it’s rarely easy or effective to send foreigners abroad to countries and areas they don’t know well for extended periods of time. Rather than sending someone who both doesn’t fit in well and may build tensions, many programs today are focusing on hiring only within the area where their project takes place while sending foreigners to check in. People often argue that foreigners should not be involved at all outside of their countries, but without oversight of where the money goes, especially in poorer areas, corruption will likely occur. The aim, then, should not be for public health projects to make the highly educated into heroes on center stage, but rather quiet teachers and operations workers behind the curtains until the project is no longer their own. In an ideal world donations will be temporary until the project becomes permanent, and those who kept it running smoothly might not have taken photos with a “saved” foreign child in their arms, but will know of the lives they’ve supported when they see the results speak for themselves.
First UPHA Meeting
Hi everyone! On Thursday, September 27th at 5pm, we will have our first meeting in CAS 522.
We will be discussing what exactly public health is, as well as letting you know what UPHA is all about! We have a lot planned for the semester, including various volunteer opportunities, fundraising events, career panels, and more! Also, our advisor, Dr. LaMorte (and possibly Professor Godley briefly) will be joining us to talk about the Public Health Minor, the 5-year BA/MPH and the 5-year BS/MPH.
We hope to see everyone there!!
NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK!
Hi UPHA!
Happy National Public Health Week! The Undergraduate Public Health Association has a week full of exciting events planned for you. Check them out and bring your friends!
National Public Health Week is next week, Monday, April 2 to Friday, April 6 and the Undergraduate Public Health Association has an exciting week planned for you all! Make sure to bring all your friends 🙂
Monday, April 2: Healthy Eating and Active Living Day
Stop by the GSU LInk for 5-minute yoga sessions! Learn how to get involved with other BU orgs like Running Club and Sargent Choice! Also keep a lookout throughout campus for signs that tell you how many calories you burned walking to the GSU, CAS, and Sargent from West, South, or East!
Tuesday, April 3: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Day
“Speed Date with Drug Experts” – GSU Academy Room, 8PM
This FREE mocktail event sponsored by Students for Sensible Drug Policy will host Dr. Kathleen Kantak, professor of psychology at BU for a stimulating conversation complete with delicious drinks!
Wednesday, April 4: Communicable Diseases Day
“You, Me, and STIs: Everything You Need to Know About Sexually Transmitted Infections” – STH B19, 6:30PM
Join Dr. Rebecca Perkins, BUMC gynecologist, Ariel Watriss, Fenway Health, and Marion McNabb, DrPH Candidate BUSPH to discuss the national and local scope of STIs and what you need to know about getting tested.
Free HIV Testing – CGS, 10AM-2PM
Thursday, April 5: Reproductive and Sexual Health Day
Stop by the GSU Link for free condoms and an interactive map of reproductive and sexual health rights in your home state.
“(Sex)abled: Disability Uncensored” – CGSA, 6:30PM
A 15 – minute film by the UC Berkeley Disabled Students Union which focuses on the intersectionality of sexuality and disability.
Friday, April 6: Mental and Emotional Well-Being Day
Join us for a Stress Buddy workshop hosted by the Student Health Ambassadors for stress management tips and tools.
All our events are free and open to the public so make sure to bring all your friends! If you have any further questions, feel free to post on the wall or e-mail us at buupha@gmail.com.
[Events planned in collaboration with Project Hope, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Unite for Sight, CGSA, and SHA]
For more information, visit our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/events/193210764126828/
Games for a New Climate
Hi UPHA!
We hope you all had a great spring break! We would like to share with you an opportunity to be involved with “Games for a New Climate”.
Boston University will convene a day-long workshop titled “Games for a New Climate” on Tuesday, March 27, 2012. The overarching goal is to explore the potential of participatory games for accelerating learning, fostering dialogue, and promoting action affecting the longer-range future. The emphasis will be on humanitarian and development decisions, particularly those involving climate risk management.
In addition to the five game sessions, two panels made of experts from the Task Force will discuss how and why games can be used, their experience using games as a learning tool, and the future of games as a tool for increasing the understanding of climate risks.
It will be held at Barristers Hall at the BU School of Law. This event is open to Boston University students and faculty. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required.
For more information, including a schedule for the day’s events and a description of the participatory games, please visit: http://www.bu.edu/pardee/research/task-force-meeting-and-gaming-session-games-for-a-new-climate/.
Best,
UPHA E-Board
Public Health Career Panel 2012!
Hi everyone!
The Undergraduate Public Health Association is sponsoring the 2012 Public Health Career Panel featuring Dr. Wayne LaMorte, The Assistant Dean of Education at BUSPH, Maria McCarthy, Director of Career Services at BUSPH, and Nancy Scott, Instructor of International Health at BUSPH. Anyone interested in the exciting field of public health should join in on the presentation by the panelists! An overview of the different concentration areas at the Boston University School of Public Health and their related careers will be discussed. There will also be an opportunity to ask any questions regarding careers and the 4+1 program. This is an eventful and personable opportunity to meet and engage with a fantastic professor and a knowledgeable mentor in the field of public health.
The Panel will be held this Wednesday, February 29 at 5:30 PM in CAS B25B. Be sure to come and bring your friends too!
Check our our facebook group for more information: http://www.facebook.com/events/360809587270367/
Best,
UPHA
First General Meeting!
Hey UPHA!
Welcome back! To kick things off for the semester and share with you the packed event schedule we have for spring, we’ll be having a general interest and members meeting Tomorrow, January 31st at 6pm in CAS 324. Stop by to reconnect or meet UPHA for the first time, and get an idea of what public health activities will be happening this semester, including National Public Health Week, Healthy Beverages Project, Global Health Guest Speaker and more! We’ll also be launching our SPH Student Connection Program, something you definitely want to hear about!
BUT FIRST….please LIKE our Facebook Page and save this blog to your bookmarks! These will be two very important resources to learn about new public health opportunities including: internships, volunteering, events, speakers, lectures, conferences and MORE!
Thanks and we look forward to seeing you at our first members meeting of the semester!
Best,
Undergraduate Public Health Association
Boston University Undergraduate Public Health Association 