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Challenge Grant Update

CHHS alumni and students made it happen! We reached the goal of 150 donors and will receive $15,000 for priority needs. Thank you for your support.

 

CHHS News

Center for Health Policy Research and Ethics

Center for Study of Chronic Illness and Disability

College of Health and Human Services

Department of Global and Community Health

Department of Health Administration and Policy

Department of Social Work

School of Nursing

 

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CHHS Calendar

 

Who's Who at GCH

Lisa Pawloski
Chair, Department of Global and Community Health


Undergraduate Program

Nancy Freeborne

Undergraduate and Internship Coordinator

 

Graduate Program

Constance Gewa

and Dr. Lisa PawloskiCoordinators
Public Health,

Global Health Concentration, MPH

J. Dewitt Webster and Lisa Lindley, Coordinators
Public Health, Community Health Concentration, MPH

Kathryn Jacobsen and Cara Frankenfeld

Coordinators
Public Health, Epidemiology Concentration, MPH

Tim Henderson Coordinator
Public Health, Public Health Administration Concentration, MPH

 

General Inquiries  mph@gmu.edu

(703) 993-3126

(703) 993-1850

 


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Dirt on the Grape, the Next Course

Saturday, October 2
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Mason Hall, Meese Conference Room

$15/alumni; $10/additional guests

Register Now

grapes photoThe CHHS Alumni Chapter Board invites CHHS alumni and guests to re-connect with friends and colleagues and enjoy an evening of socializing. Sommelier Mary Watson-DeLauder returns and joins Chef Sandy Amato (Owner, Cooking with Sandy) to educate and tantalize your taste buds with desserts cake photoand dessert wines.

For more information on the Dirt on the Grape, the Next Course, contact CHHS at (703) 993-6018. You can also view photos from last year's event.

Dirt on the Grape, the Next Course is held in conjunction with Alumni Weekend. Registration for all events is now open.

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Health Administration and Policy Alumni Affinity Meeting (Open to All Alumni)

Saturday, October 2
4 - 5:30 p.m.
Mason Hall, Room D3

The second Health Administration and Policy Alumni Affinity event will take place Saturday, October 2 as part of Alumni Weekend.

Speakers from a variety of fields in health management will discuss hot topics in management, technology, and other issues. For additional information contact us at (703) 993-6018.

At the April 1 HAP Alumni Affinity meeting, Harry Greenspun, MD, CHHS Advisory Board member and chief medical officer of Dell Systems, made a presentation to the department’s alumni and faculty. After the formal presentations, he was able to meet with one of the attendees, a recent graduate of the Department of Health Administration and Policy.

Dr. Greenspun made the following comment after the meeting: "Despite softness in other areas of the economy, demand for well-prepared personnel to meet the needs of health care and health IT roles is growing rapidly. As a senior executive at the largest provider of health IT services worldwide, I feel this pressure particularly acutely. Faced with a critical open role, our recruiters tapped into our worldwide network of potential candidates. George Mason University's College of Health and Human Services was able to provide one immediately who met all my criteria of education and experience. Within two weeks, I had an outstanding new member of my team with the skills and energy needed in such an important role."

 

Spotlight on Alumni

The following recent GCH alumni share their internship experiences:

Alexander Marfo, BS '10

Marfo photoMy internship with Management Sciences for Health (MSH) in Arlington, Virginia, was an amazing opportunity. I recommend every student have an internship before graduation. Studying Global and Community Health at George Mason University as an undergraduate has been a challenge. The field of public health is competitive, complex, and delicate, requiring in-depth knowledge and experience needed for a successful career. As part of my college course work, real world experience coupled with classroom methodology is needed. My college counselor, Professor Nancy Freeborne, offered to edit my resume to improve my candidacy for a highly competitive internship programs in the field of public health. I applied to several agencies and organizations and MSH offered me an opportunity to intern with them.

I entered into the internship program on January 26, 2010, and the first day on the job was a challenge. My preceptor took me through a rigorous full-day orientation concerning the vision and mission of the organization as well as scope of work that would be my responsibilities. I was amazed with the title they assigned to me, “Strategic Intelligence Intern”, and I began to wonder about the details of the job. I was assigned to do research on HIV/AIDS projects in some of the poorest developing countries such as Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Uganda. Also I attended global health events and reported to the agency. I said to myself, “Can I really perform the task that has been assigned to me?” I could not even believe myself giving a thoughtful report from the first event I attended at the Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C. The meeting was about how Haiti’s health systems can be strengthened  after their catastrophic earthquake.   

I was astonished when I saw my report on the first event on MSH’s e- news publications. Thanks to George Mason University’s innovative Global and Community Health Program in the College of Health and Human Services,  students are taught not only the content of the program but also to be creative and analytical. My undergraduate experience at Mason has helped me to execute the tasks given me effectively in an actual job situation. The internship has equipped me with hands on real-world experience and has also helped me to fully understand the course work. Additionally, it has also given me a strong resume to be a good competitor in the field of public health job market.

 

Megan McConville, BS '10

McConville photoWhen looking for an internship I had high expectations. I searched every where trying to find an internship that fit the goals I had and work with a group whose mission inspired me. I interviewed for many and finally accepted an internship position with Joint Council on International Services in Alexandria, Virginia. Joint Council is a non-profit advocacy group that advocates for children and orphans, all over the world to have a loving and permanent family. It was always my expectation that the first day of my internship would be filled with get-to-know-yous and office overviews but walking into the office January 13 I had no idea what was to come.

My first day at the office was the day after the devastating Haiti Earthquake that left hundreds and thousands of children without food, shelter, and families. I was immediately thrown into a whirlwind of press phone calls and legislation information where we advocated and tried to get children who were in the process of being adopting united with their families. I was overwhelmed with the kindness and support that the people of Haiti received from our membership organizations and how passionate people in the field were to save these children. The drive and motivation that people around me had pushed me to be successful in my internship.

The aftermath of the earthquake is going to take years to mend. Although Joint Council is still working with legislators on developments in Haiti, numerous issues are coming up daily on international children’s welfare. We have been working on many other projects that I am much honored to be a participant.

I was recently hired as a full-time employee as the research and education programs manager where I will be helping with professional webinars and the annual conference. I was very fortunate to have been surrounded by such great teachers and people during my internship experience. The skills and opportunities that I have had would not have been developed without working with the Joint Council team.

 

Serina Zorilla, BS '10 

Zorilla photoThis past May, I completed an internship with the Maryland -National Capital Area Chapter of the March of Dimes. I worked under the state director of program services, a former NICU nurse, doing research for special projects. I shadowed her at different tasks such as attending conferences, lobbying events, the March for Babies kick-offs and walks, and lectures she held. My preceptor worked tirelessly for a good cause she truly believed in - educating the public, assisting NICU families, and ensuring every pregnancy resulted in a healthy baby. It was inspirational to see someone so passionate about her work.

The most rewarding experience I had during my internship was at the annual Washington D.C. March for Babies. My assignment that day was to help with the “Mission Tent," where the March of Dimes gave out health information to families, provided entertainment for children, and allowed for  walkers and March of Dimes mission families to share their personal stories. At the tent, I met many former NICU babies, ranging in age from two to 28. Meeting these now healthy children and adults, as well as hearing the stories of support families received from the March of Dimes, was truly rewarding.

It was because of this experience that I became convinced that I wanted a career which would allow me the opportunity to serve others the way the March of Dimes serves its communities. I am returning to Mason this fall to begin the Accelerated Bachelor's in Nursing program and pursue a second degree in Nursing. It is my hope to one day become a nurse practitioner and work in the public health field in that capacity.

 

Danielle Gatling, GCH '11 (Current Student)

Gatling photoMy experience as a Learning and Professional Development (LPDP) Unit intern at the American Public Health Association (APHA) has been very enlightening and fulfilling. I have had the fortunate opportunity to work in several sections in the APHA headquarters and interview various professionals in diverse public health fields. Throughout this experience, I have found everyone to be eager, knowledgeable, and passionate about what they do. Their willingness to assist and educate me in understanding more about public health has been both beneficial and valuable.

More specifically, the LPDP Unit I worked in focused on providing opportunities for physicians, nurses, health educators, and public health professionals to earn continuing education credits. As an intern in this unit, I was primarily responsible for revising key documents to include in a nursing manual; sending surveys to APHA members; creating a new web page for the unit; and performing other administrative duties.

As a graduating senior in the Global and Community Health (GCH) Department at George Mason University, I was able to utilize, in this internship, several tools, skills, and relationship experiences acquired from GCH. For example, I have been privileged to be surrounded by individuals who really cared about me and provided advice, direction, and support to assist in making my internship a success. One person in particular, Dr. Nancy Freeborne, played a major role in guiding me through the application process. Whether it was proof reading my writing samples or preparing me for the interview she helped me every step of the way and I am very appreciative.

This experience has greatly influenced my future. After graduating in 2011, I plan on working in the environmental public health field—possibly with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Department of Agriculture. Later, I plan on attending the University of Maryland, where I will get my nursing degree and continue on to get my masters in environmental public health nursing. 

 

 

CHHS Alumni Chapter Board

The Alumni Chapter Board was established for the educational, professional and social purposes of its members and to support goals and objectives of its members and to support the goals and objectives of George Mason University, the College of Health and Human Services and the GMU Alumni Association.

The CHHS Alumni Chapter events throughout the year target social, educational, and networking needs of alumni. In the fall, the Chapter hosts a signature event, in conjunction with Mason's Alumni Weekend. Throughout the rest of the year, chapter events are held to keep you in touch with the latest findings in health care and provide networking opportunities with other CHHS alumni and faculty.

Meet the Alumni Chapter Board members:

Lisa Callahan, BS '03, MSW '04
Co-President


Callahan photoLisa Callahan enjoys her work with the Alumni Chapter Board and looks forward to connecting with CHHS alumni, especially with her colleagues and fellow alumni in social work. She currently works for Fairfax County government in the Department of Family Services as a long term care ombudsman.

Callahan enjoys relaxing with gardening, bird watching, reading, knitting, and antiquing.  She enjoys reading books by Stieg Larsson including The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. A favorite eating place is Aladdin Restaurant in Burke where she enjoys hummus, lentil soup and mint tea.


Lori McLean, MSN '96
Co-President

McLean photoLori McLean has lived in the Fairfax area for 30 years.  She is a family nurse practitioner for Fairfax County Health Department and has been in this position for four years. She also worked for the county health department for nine years earlier in her career.  McLean was an adjunct faculty member of the School of Nursing for four years, teaching to undergraduate nursing students. She has been involved with Alumni Chapter Board for several years.

When McLean received her MSN in 1996, she felt “Patriot Pride” as she participated in the commencement ceremony. Joining fellow students and faculty, as family and friends looked on with encouragement, “I felt so 100% Mason,” she said.

In her free time, McLean enjoys reading, traveling, and daydreaming about retirement. She enjoys books by James Michener and John Grisham. She cheers for her favorite Boston teams –Celtics, Red Sox, and Patriots, and it goes without saying she is a proud Mason Patriot fan.  Her favorite restaurants are Italian and she rates the newly opened Mason Inn as a “fabulous dining experience.”

 

Bridget Nesko, BSN '06
Vice President – Membership

Nesko photoBridget Nesko currently works part-time and has served as healthcare legislative and policy advisor to various political candidates, including those seeking office in the U.S. Congress, the Virginia State House of Delegates and the U.S. Presidency.

Nesko graduated from George Mason University School of Nursing in 2006, receiving the Kitty Parker Leadership Award at graduation. She has served on the Board since 2006. Nesko was introduced to the alumni chapter when a previous instructor invited her to an alumni event. She thoroughly enjoys the networking and social opportunities of an active alumna with the college. Nesko loves mingling with new grads to encourage them professionally and to hopefully share the many perks of being a member of the CHHS Alumni Chapter.  

Nesko's hobbies include reading, cooking, politics, walking, and anything having to do with sand and surf. Her favorite dining spot is Pulcinella, a quaint Italian restaurant located in McLean, Virginia. 

 

Kathleen Ross, MSW '08
Vice President – Membership

Ross photoKathleen Ross’s position with the board gives her an opportunity to keep in touch with Mason alumni. This past spring she represented the Alumni Chapter Board at the Social Work MSW presentations.

Ross said, “I was impressed by the creativity and professionalism of the projects.” She also attended last year’s CHHS Signature Alumni Event, Dirt on the Grape. “I also truly enjoyed meeting some phenomenal people at the Dirt on the Grape event.”

Ross teaches adaptive swimming classes for children with disabilities, and loves seeing someone grow to be safe and have fun in the water. In her leisure time, she enjoys swimming, walking, tasting wines, spending time with her almost one year old, Alexander, and her husband, Keel. Ross and her husband enjoy ethnic restaurants, and their favorites are Thai Basil and Picante in Chantilly, Virginia. She also enjoys reading and her favorite book is The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell.

 

Bette Burch, BSN '80
Vice President -   Scholarships & Awards

Burch photoBette Burch enjoys her position with the board and eagerly looks forward to attending Mason’s scholarship and awards receptions to keep in touch with students and alumni. 

This past year, Bette was featured in an article on the Mason website at a scholarship reception held on March 31.  The annual event provided an opportunity for donors to meet the students who benefit from their gifts and for students to thank donors for their generosity. Nursing major Augusto Paredes-Ubillus, spoke to guests about receiving the Bette Burch Scholarship Endowment. Burch has generously supported scholarships for School of Nursing students since 1997.

Burch is happily retired and enjoys knitting and reading. Her favorite food is seafood and enjoys dining at Coastal Flats and Sweetwater Tavern. 

 

Robin Patton BS '81, CERG '06
Secretary

Patton photoRobin Patton has been a member of the Fairfax Community and has been employed by the County of Fairfax for 25 years. She is currently the director of the land acquisition division for the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. 

She is a valuable member of the Alumni Chapter Board and says, “I’ve always enjoyed coming back to the campus and seeing all the growth and changes! I continue to feel connected to GMU and I hope other alumni will enjoy staying connected.”

Patton lives with her husband, Jay, in Annandale and in her leisure time, enjoys reading, cooking, visiting the Eastern Shore, and watching old movie classics.

 

Bita Hassannia BS '09
Board Member at Large

Hassannia photoBita Hassannia is a recent alumna of Mason and graduated from the Department of Health Administration and Policy. 

"I attended several alumni events which all made me feel part of a community that was filled with sense of belonging to a group of people who had a common root of GMU education. The first event I attended was an alumni dinner boat outing in Old Town Alexandria, then the wonderful event of the Dirt on the Grape. It was at that event I realized how great it was to be an alumna and to stay in touch with CHHS, and I decided to become a board member."

In her leisure time, Hassannia enjoys yoga, biking, running, reading, and cooking. Her favorite foods include sushi, Thai, Italian, and most of the Middle Eastern cuisines. Her favorite book selections are The Da Vinci Code and Eat, Pray and Love.



Mimi Sodhi, PhD, MSW, LCSW
Faculty Social Work Liaison


Sodhi photoMimi Sodhi has recently volunteered to serve on the board as faculty liaison for the Department of Social Work. She moved to the Fairfax area a year ago to accept the position of MSW field director in social work.

Sodhi has two adult children who live in Georgia and she is “re-developing” herself. Her leisure time activities include playing in a Fairfax women's soccer league, taking golf lessons, and trying to get into tennis. She is looking for people to explore the area with and introduce her to  good, non-tourist spots in the D.C. area. She loves to travel and looks forward in continuing to broaden her understanding of different cultures.


As a CHHS alumna/us, you can continue to be part of the invigorating environment and stay connected with classmates, friends, and faculty by joining the Alumni Chapter. You will have many opportunities to expand on your experiences that began at Mason.

 

College News

Reston Hospital Donation Names

Healthcare Technologies Innovation Lab

Reston Hospital Check photoReston Hospital Center has donated $50,000 to Mason’s College of Health and Human Services (CHHS). As a result, the college will honor the hospital by naming the Reston Hospital Center Healthcare Technologies Innovation Lab. The naming gift was announced at the May 12 graduating nurses’ pinning ceremony, which was also sponsored by the organization.

"Giving back is something important to all of us at Reston Hospital Center, but this gift is all the more special to me," said Cindy Glover, RN, BSN '77, vice president and chief nursing officer at Reston Hospital Center. "As an alumna of George Mason, I’m proud to give back to a university that has helped me achieve so much in my own career and that has had such a positive impact on the nursing workforce at Reston."

Pictured above (left to right): Robin Remsburg, Cindy Glover, Shirley Travis




Students Receiving Department Awards

at May Commencement

Undergraduate Community Health Service Award
Megan McConville, BS

Undergraduate Excellence in Writing Award
Emily M. Fincher, BS

Graduate Epidemiology and Biostatistics Award
Richa Mehta, MS

Graduate Public Health Award
Ghada Khan, MS

 

New Faculty

Michael Mink, PhD(c), MPA

Mink photoMichael Mink, PhD(c), MPA, will be joining the faculty this fall. Mink is a health educator, researcher, and community health advocate with more than 15 years of experience in public service. He has worked with academic, government, and community-based organizations to promote policies and programs that encourage holistic wellness. Mink holds a PhD in health promotion, education and behavior from the University of South Carolina, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is currently an assistant professor of health sciences and MPH program coordinator at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia.

Mink teaches courses in program planning and administration, public health management, health promotion methods, research and evaluation, nutrition, and stress & coping. His research interests include obesity prevention, violence and drug use prevention, stress & coping, and media influences on health disparities. During Spring 2011, Mink will oversee the practica/internship courses for the department.

 

Faculty News

Nancy Freeborne,  DrPH, MPH, PA-C

Freeborne photoNancy Freeborne,  DrPH, MPH, PA-C, discussed the importance of affordable preventive health care on Wednesday, July 14, during a press conference with First Lady Michelle Obama, Jill Biden and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Under the Affordable Care Act, new insurance plans are required to provide preventive care without cost sharing, which will remove financial barriers for many Americans to preventive services such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and immunizations, help prevent disease and reduce costs. Freeborne was invited to represent clinicians and introduce Biden.

Freeborne spoke of how necessary preventive services are for patients and how difficult it can be to get patients the care they need.

“In my experience, patients face two big hurdles to getting the preventive care they need,” she said. “First, you have to convince them that the inconvenience, or sometimes discomfort, of a mammogram or colonoscopy is worth it – [and] that it might just save their life. Second, you have to be sure that they have the money to pay for it.”

Freeborne explained that in her 25 years as a PA, she has worked with many patients with health insurance, but often, their health insurance just didn’t provide enough coverage for preventive services.

“For seniors on limited incomes and the working families who live paycheck to paycheck, even a modest co-pay can be too much,” she said.  “Often, the choice comes down to preventive care, or their groceries, or their metro fare. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, fewer Americans will have to make those hard choices. It will be easier for primary care providers like me to make sure that our patients get the preventive care they need before it’s too late.”   

To see the full video, please visit the White House website.

Freeborne, coordinator of the undergraduate community health internship program at GMU still works clinically as a PA once a week at GWU Student Health.  She is a 1985 graduate of the GWU PA program.

 

Carlos E. Sluzki, MD, Professor

 

Sluzki photoCarlos E. Sluzki, MD, professor, has been engaged in a consultation with the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. His task was focused on trauma and stress in the ICC investigators, who are exposed to extremely violent environment, and the harrowing narratives from witness and victims of crimes against humanity. The goal of this consultation is to develop a set of recommendations toward reduction and prevention of secondary trauma for the ICC personnel. While in Europe, Professor Sluzki has also delivered keynote addresses at conferences and conducted seminars in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Madrid, Padova, Paris, Rome, Rotterdam, and Valencia.

 

Kathryn Jacobsen, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor and

Lila Fleming , MS, CHES, Graduate Student 


Fleming photoJacobsen photoKathryn Jacobsen, PhD, MPH, and Lila Fleming , MS, CHES, in their ongoing work, have examined the health effects of bullying in adolescent boys and girls from  lower- and middle-income countries. Bullying among teenagers is a global problem that can take a toll on teens’ health, Mason researchers have found. Read more. Lila Fleming also is faculty in the GCH department while working on her PhD.




George Mason University College of Health and Human Services
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703-993-1901

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