School of Public Health student news and stories from around campus.

Public Health in the Wild

  Public Health in the Wild A glimpse of Public Health off-campus, in this issue we take a look at a law firm specializing in Habitability Law. Written by Marcus Chapman  Los Angeles, California is a prettier place in the tourist imagination than it is to the naked eye. A closer look at the city of Angels not included in the star maps or tourist routes shows a different city. Tucked away below the L.A. skyline and hidden behind billboards of smiling movie stars are people living in less than habitable conditions.

Homeless But Not Worthless

The LA region has been referred to by some as the homelessness capitol of America, with estimates of over fifty thousand homeless people trying to survive each night. The long faces and cardboard signs have tugged on hearts at one time or another, and as sad as these images are, more tragic is what we do not see. The National Center for Family Homelessness estimates that over 1.6 million children will be homeless at some point each year.

Connect

If you have an idea for a feature or would like to contribute a story please email sphcommunications@llu.edu with Public Health Story in the subject line. If possible, attach at leastone writing or blog sample. No academic/research papers, please. We will get back to you within a week of your submission.  In the interest of furthering the communication philosophy and mission of the Loma Linda University School of Public Health, the blog seeks to address local and global issues through individual stories and perspectives.

Global Health, Life in Chad, Whole Communities, Whole Individuals, community resilience

Shaking Hands with a Leper

By Zachary Gately, MPH Living in Bere has opened my eyes to how it was like in biblical times. The stars come alive living in a city with no electricity. The Fulani people carry their houses along with all their possessions on the backs of donkeys (in N’djamena they use camels but rainy season is too long here for them). The houses are made from mud and the roads are unpaved.

Global Health, Travelgiveworklove, Whole Systems

Football and Global Health

by Taiwo Adesina from travelgiveworklove Last night the 49ers played their final game of the season, losing in the NFC Championship to the Seattle Seahawks by 6 points and thus losing their chance to meet the Denver Broncos in the 48th Superbowl in New York. For Bay Area residents who had spent all week deliberating, praying and preparing for last night’s game, it was a huge disappointment and a major loss.

Global Health, Life in Chad, Whole Individuals, community resilience

Christmas in Béré!

By Zachary Gately, MPH As you can imagine, holidays away from home can be an emotional roller coaster for many people. First it was Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and now it will be New Years. It seems like only last week I boarded my first flight out of Reno, NV, to head over hear and now we are entering 2014! Thankfully, I have supportive family and friends (I think) who still keep in contact countries, continents, and oceans away. I can't say that it's always enjoyable being so separated from those you love or that it is easy being forced into a new community. We make due though.

Global Health, Life in Chad, Whole Communities, Whole Individuals, community resilience

Madness!

By Zachary Gately, MPH Madness! This week has been compete madness! We have been conducting our Community Health Worker (CHW) Trainings for the new members as well as having to plan for the entire next year, and prepare for next week's Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) trainings. Josh also returned from the States last Friday, giving us an extra pair of hands again. It's finally Friday which means the training will be completed and at least we can rest tomorrow. I have stopped counting the weeks I've been here.

Global Health, Life in Chad, Whole Communities, Whole Individuals, community resilience

Good Relationships are Hard to Come by

By Zachary Gately, MPH - zgately.com Béré is a happening place! It does not seem like it on a day-to-day basis but looking back over the last few days, I realized I stopped a lot of things 18 November. Most emails I need to respond to are from around that date, all my receipts from them on were not entered, and I haven’t blogged since then. I had a few great ideas for blogs: “Birthdays in Béré,” “Holidays without Hype,” or “Too much Food for Thought.” Alas, the timing came and went so here I am writing now.

Health Education, Health Promotion, Leadership in Health Systems, Population Medicine, Whole Communities, Whole Systems, community resilience

Health Disparities and Prevention through the Lens of Race

Sam Soret, Associate Dean for Public Health Practice, LLUSPH - An Ethical Imperative and a Matter of Effectiveness.  How can it be possible, and acceptable, that in the wealthiest nation on the planet, African Americans live an average of six to seven years less than Whites; or that, a Black woman has four times greater risk of dying from pregnancy complications than a White woman?  How can the public health profession engage in any type of prevention discourse without addressing such persistent disparities?

Global Health, Health Promotion, Population Medicine, Whole Communities

Volunteer for the Philippines Disaster Response

Dr. Ryan Sinclair PhD, MPH - http://gaiadesert.blogspot.com/ The LLU is known as a global hub for all aspects of health. Our Public Health Disaster Assistance and Relief Team (PH DART) exists to respond to these types of disasters. Our team is now working with ADRA international to conduct a rapid needs assessment on water and sanitation, logistics, and shelter among other topics in select regions of the Philippines. I believe that we have the institutional responsibility to respond to disasters of this magnitude and we have devoted effort to a relevant response.