Department of Global and Community Health

News

Convocation 2009
Images from Convocation 2009 are now available.  Click on a thumbnail below to view a larger size.

Mason Epidemiologist Discusses Swine Flu and What to Do About It
Update: May 4, 2009 - Dr. Kathryn Jacobsen comments on the recent swine flu outbreak. Read the article. Dr. Jacobsen was also interviewed on WJLA.  Watch the interview.

More Honors for GCH Faculty
April 28, 2009 - Lorraine Rudowski of Global and Community Health will be honored as the 2009 recipient of the Margaret C. Howell Award. This annual award is granted to employees who have performed work that promotes respect, diversity and individual dignity throughout the university and the community.

CHHS Honors Retiring GCH Faculty Members
April 24, 2009 - Dr. Frieda Butler (Gerontology Programs Coordinator), and Professor Lorraine Rudowski (Global Health Programs Coordinator) will be retiring effective summer 2009.  A deeply saddening day for Global/Public Health and Geronotology.  In their honor the College of Health and Human Services has held  a retirement reception for both Global and Community Health faculty members. View pictures from the event.

Honors for GCH Faculty
Dr. Frieda Butler has been named the CHHS latest Professor Emerita. Congratulations to Dr. Butler!

Research Grants for Graduate Students
The Department of Global and Community Health seeks applicants from graduate students enrolled in Masters programs within the department for two research related grants.  Grants range from $300-$750.00 each.

Students must identify a faculty mentor who will oversee their work and complete an application, which includes their research proposal as well as a projected budget.  Applications are due April 1st, 2009.   Please return the application to aweiss2@gmu.edu. Download the application.

Master of Public Health Program Information Update
Program of Study for the Master of Public Health program is now available. Read more.

Mason and Inova Health System Forge New Research Collaboration
For more than nine years, researchers at Northern Virginia's Inova Health System and George Mason University have been collaborating on groundbreaking research on obesity, liver disease and cancer. Now, the two have taken the relationship one step further with the establishment of the Inova Life Sciences Research Collaboration Fund - GMU. Read more at the Mason Gazette.

New Faculty Publication
Congratulations to Lila Fleming (MS'08, International Health), whose paper "Bullying and Symptoms of Depression in Chilean Middle School Students" has been published in the March 2009 of the Journal of School Health. Lila conducted this analysis of data from the Global School-based Health Survey as part of her Certificate in Epidemiology. The abstract for this paper is available online.

Mason Launches Northern Virginia’s First Master of Public Health Degree
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia recently approved Mason’s new Master of Public Health (MPH) for launch in the fall of 2009. The degree will address a critical shortage in public health professionals by preparing an estimated 100 graduates per year to respond to disasters and improve the health of vulnerable populations. Read the full article in the Mason Gazette.

Rethinking the Global Food Regime?
Dr. Marchione was recently published in Anthropology News.

Big News:  Dr. Jekyll joins the Faculty
Dr. Henry Jekyll joins the faculty as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Global and Community Health.  That’s right, and Mr. Hyde too!  Last semester, students in GCH 332 examined Stevenson’s portrayal of good and evil as metaphors for health and disease.  They  wrote profusely in response to the novel, and here are some examples. Student writings from this class.
  
Note:  Professor James Metcalf routinely incorporates literary classics into his health science classes.  Read more at The Gazette.

Masters of Public Health APPROVED!
The Department and College are pleased to announce that SCHEV (State Council of Higher Education) has approved our newest degree program - Masters of Public Health, which will be coming soon - Fall 2009.  For more information please plan to attend the MPH Forum on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 5:30 pm in the Johnson Center's Dewberry Hall-North. 

Upcoming Conference
"Food, Famine and Future Technologies: Ethical Dilemmas in a Hungry World"
New York City, May 22-23, 2009
Conference Website

Offering a Guiding Hand
Dr. Sue Palsbo and Dr. Lynn Gerber are featured in this article on their research into improving handwriting in The Register-Guard. Read the article. Watch a 3 minute video on the device on Youtube.

Frankenstein as Deadbeat Dad: Literature Complements Health Science Courses
Dr. Jim Metcalf is featured in this article from the Mason Gazette on the connection between classic literature and current health issues. Read the article.

Students Publish with Faculty Mentorship
Congratulations to Li Yang (MS'08, Epidemiology & Bio statistics), whose paper "A systematic review of the association between breastfeeding and breast cancer" was published in the December 2008 issue of the Journal of Women's Health. Li conducted this systematic review as a capstone project for her master's degree. The abstract for this paper is available online. Congratulations also to Jeannie Padgett (MS'07, International Health), whose paper "Loiasis: African eye worm" was published in the October 2008 issue of the Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Jeannie wrote this review article as part of her Certificate in Epidemiology, which she will complete in December 2008. The abstract for the paper is available online.

More Coverage on America's Healthiest Grocery Stores
This article featuring Dr. Lisa Pawloski has been picked up by CNN. View the article.

Diabetes, Carbs and Kids
Dr. Lisa Pawloski was interviewed by "Gab with the Gurus" radio show on the Color My Pyramid project. Listen to the Podcast.

Healthy Living: America's Healthiest Grocery Store

Dr. Lisa Pawloski was interviewed for this web article on healthy grocery store options. View the article.

A Tragedy Unfolds: Mason Experts Comment on China’s Tainted Milk Crisis
Dr. Lisa Pawloski (GCH), Dr. PJ Maddox (HAP), and Dr. Lisa Eckenwiler (CHPRE) present their views on the tainted milk crisis in China in this Mason Gazette article. Read the article.

Move Over Multivitamins
Dr. Pawloski was interviewed by Medill News Service for their story on energy drinks as dietary supplements. View the Medill video.

Dr. Lisa Pawloski in the News
Dr. Pawloski was interviewed by News Channel 8 for her research into childhood obesity and the "Color My Pyramid" project. View the Channel 8 video.

Congratulations to our Faculty
Dr. Lynn Gerber has recently been elected to the Institute of Medicine. This is one of the highest honors one can receive in health and medicine. View the press release.

Archive of previous news items.

New Programs in Global and Community Health

Masters of Public Health

Master of Science in Global Health

Certificate in Global Health

Certificate in Epidemiology

Certificate in Nutrition

Certificate in Rehabilitation Science

Job Openings

Associate Professor of Nutrition
The Department of Global and Community Health invites applications for a tenure-track position in nutrition at the level of Associate Professor to begin August, 2009.  Successful candidates will bring an active research program which contributes to significant new developments in the discipline and whose interests complement the strengths and priorities of the Department of Global and Community Health including chronic disease and disability, global health, epidemiology, and community health.

Electronic submissions are required in order to apply for the position described below. Position Number: F6695z.

Read the full job description.

Important Announcement
MS in Health Science, Concentration Gerontology

The Department of Global and Community Health has suspended admission into the Gerontology Program indefinitely.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Although, the MS in Health Science, Concentration Gerontology degree program is "on-hold", students may still be able to enroll in the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology.  For more information on the gerontology certificate please contact Lisa Pawloski.

Student Quote
"We learn not only from the professors, but also from each other.  Everyone attracted to the program has traveled or lived elsewhere and has such a broad knowledge base to share."
--International Health Master's Student, Grace Breidy, quoted by The Mason Gazette.

Faculty Quote
"It's truly a rewarding experience to know that our graduates are working to improve health issues, and subsequently people's lives, all over the world."
--Dr. Lisa Pawloski, Department Chair, quoted by The Mason Gazette on the International Health Program.