CHHS News Archive

Dr. Robin Remsburg Selected for Fellow Status

August 25, 2009 - Dr. Robin Remsburg, Associate Dean, Director of School of Nursing, has been selected for Fellow status by the Health Sciences Section of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). GSA is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. Dr. Remsburg joins a group of highly accomplished members of the organization who are selected by their section peers for this honor. She will be recognized with other new Fellows at the 2009 Annual Scientific Meeting in November.

Continued Coverage on the Effect of Mothers’ Military Deployment on the Health of Women and Teens

August 19, 2009 - Although separation of a service member from their family is always a hardship, for mothers of adolescent children, deployment comes at even more of a personal sacrifice. A recent study completed by George Mason University researcher Mona Ternus found that a woman’s military deployment affects her health as well as that of her adolescent children. Read more about the study. This study was also published in Forbes.com and additional coverage was featured on ABC 7 WJLA (Video, Story).

School of Nursing Director Receives HRSA Grant to Develop Geriatrics Program

August 3, 2009 - Dr. Robin Remsburg, Associate Dean, Director of the School of Nursing, has been awarded funding from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to develop Partners for Education in Geriatrics (PEG). The three year program will prepare nursing faculty in geriatrics and provide opportunities to develop strategies to incorporate geriatrics content and experiences into the undergraduate nursing curriculum. The program will also prepare faculty to sit for gerontological nurse certification.

College Dream Tour

July 27, 2009 - Social work students sponsored an event called the College Dream Tour.  They invited at risk children on campus to tour with the goal of inspiring them to want to go to college. More pictures are available for viewing on the Social Work website.

Study Uncovers New Risk Factor for Pregnancy

July 20, 2009 - Research conducted by Dr. Pangoita Kitsantas, Health Administration and Policy, was recently published in the International Journal of Medicine.  The study found that women who suffered a previous child death were more likely to suffer an infant death or deliver a premature or low birth-weight infant in subsequent pregnancies.  Learn more about the study and its research implications in University News.

What's Swimming in Your Pool Water

July 13, 2009 - Dr. Kathryn Jacobsen, Global and Community Health, provides tips for summer pool hygiene and safety in this article by AOL Health.  Read the article.

CHPRE Director of Health Care Ethics Joins Prestigious Association

July 8, 2009 - Dr. Lisa Eckenwiler, CHPRE's Director of Health Care Ethics, has been invited to join the Association of Bioethics Program Directors.  More evidence that CHPRE and CHHS are fast-becoming leaders in bioethics and health care ethics.

Artist's Watercolor Rendering of New CHHS Building

June 26, 2009 - A watercolor artist's rendering of the new College of Health and Human Services building is available to view.  View the rendering.

Washington Health Policy Institute Participants visit Capitol Hill to meet with Legislators

June 17, 2009 - Above: WHPI Participants from the 11th District meet with U.S. Congressman Gerald Connolly (center) outside a hearing room. Learn more about the Washington Health Policy Institute.

School of Nursing Graduate Featured in the Mason Gazette
May 13, 2009 - Brad Snyder, School of Nursing Class of '09, is featured in the article "The Stories They Tell: Class of '09 Reflects Hard-Working, Ambitious Scholars".  Read the article.

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 News.  Watch the interview.

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.

New HAP Fellow
April 27, 2009 - Dr. Tony Yang, Department of Health Administration and Policy, has been selected as a NCHS/AcademyHealth Health Policy Fellow for one year beginning in September, 2009. Dr. Yang will spend most of his time at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) in Hyattsville, MD focusing on a health services research agenda. Congratulations Dr. Yang!

Quality Improvement of the Year Award Winners Announced
April 23, 2009 - The Quality Improvement of the Year Awards were held at a banquet on April 22, 2009.  Winners are as follows:

• Clinical Excellence Winner: Inova Fairfax Hospital/Inova Heart & Vascular Institute on Cool Therapy for Comatose Adult Survivors of Cardiac Arrest.
• Clinical Excellence Honorable Mention: Shore Health System of Maryland on Surviving Sepsis, Saving Lives
• Risk Reduction Winner: Mary Washington Hospital on MRSA Reduction Initiative
• Service Excellence: Mary Washington Hospital on Cancer Navigator Program

In addition, the judges added a new award called the Spirit of Quality Award for Mary Washington Hospital's unique program, "Shipwrecked: The Quest for Blood Sugar Control". Read more about the award.

Winners of the Quality Improvement of the Year Award.

CHHS Faculty Receives Award
April 23, 2009 - Congratulations to Dr. Frank Whittington on receiving the Gordon Streib Academic Gerontologist Award, presented by the Southern Gerontological Society at its recent meeting in St. Petersburg. Read more about the award.

High Achievements for SW Faculty
April 21, 2009 - Dr. Jalu Vakalahi of the Department of Social Work was recently selected to be a Fulbright Scholar.  She has also been appointed as a Hartford Social Work Faculty Fellow. Congratulations to Dr. Vakalahi.

Study Finds that Mothers’ Military Deployment Affects Health of Women and Teens
April 3, 2009 - Although separation of a service member from their family is always a hardship, for mothers of adolescent children, deployment comes at even more of a personal sacrifice. A recent study completed by George Mason University researcher Mona Ternus found that a woman’s military deployment affects her health as well as that of her adolescent children. Read more. This study was also published in Forbes.com.

Honors for GCH Faculty
March 31, 2009 - Dr. Frieda Butler has been named CHHS' latest Professor Emerita. Congratulations to Dr. Butler!

Dimensions 2009
March 19, 2009 - The latest edition of Dimensions, the official publication of the CHHS, is now available. Read the latest edition.

New Masters of Public Health - Program Information Update
March 3, 2009 - Program of Study for the Masters of Public Health is now available. To learn more about this program and other Global and Community Health Offerings, visit our Open House on Thursday, March 5, at 5:30 pm, in SUB II, room 1. Contact Allan Weiss at 703-993-3126 for more details.

Former CHPRE Director Appointed by President Obama to Head of HRSA
February 23, 2009 - President Obama today announced the appointment of one of the nation’s top rural health care professionals as Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Dr. Mary Wakefield, former Director of the Center for Health Policy Research and Ethics at George Mason, will oversee this critical agency, which helps to deliver health care to those who are uninsured and underserved by our current health care system. Read the Full Press Release.

Mason and Inova Health System Forge New Research Collaboration
February 23, 2009 - 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 Masters of Public Health Degree Approved
January 30, 2009 - The College is proud 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.

Dr. Mona Ternus Receives Federal Nursing Services Award
November 12, 2008 - Dr. Mona Ternus, Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, will receive the prestigious Federal Nursing Services Award for her original research paper entitled “Military Women’s Perceptions of the Effect of Deployment on their Role as Mothers and on Adolescents' Health.” This award is presented by the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States to a professional nurse in the federal nursing services whose paper would have a significant impact on nursing.

Dr. Robin Remsburg Receives 2008 Distinguished Service Award
November 12, 2008 - Dr. Remsburg was awarded the National Gerontological Nursing Association's 2008 Distinguished Service Award. This annual award is given to a member in recognition of his or her outstanding leadership, participation, and contribution toward achieving the goals of NGNA. Dr. Remsburg also attended the induction of Mason PhD in Nursing alum Dr. Karen Drenkard as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing View pictures from the event.

A Tragedy Unfolds: Mason Experts Comment on China’s Tainted Milk Crisis
October 23, 2008 - 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.

High Honors for CHHS Faculty
October 14, 2008 - 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.

Nutrition Education Program Battles Obesity in D.C. Schools
October 10, 2008 - Dr. Lisa Pawlsoki and Dr. Jean Moore have designed and tested a nutrition education program called “Color My Pyramid” to teach students how to evaluate their dietary intake and activity level. The program incorporates the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPyramid.gov for Kids Blast-Off Game, an interactive computer game that allows kids to win by fueling their rocket with nutritious foods and a healthy level of physical activity. Read more in the Gazette.

Call for Nominations - Distinguished Alumni Award
October 1, 2008 - The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes a professional graduate of the College of Health and Human Services whose contributions to the health care or human services fields merit special commendation.  If you or someone who you know should be considered for this prestigious award, we would like to hear from you. View the Nomination Form.

School of Nursing student selected for Research Apprenticeship Program
September 24, 2008 - Fakiha Jamal Khan of the School of Nursing has been selected as one of 20 undergraduates to participate in Mason's Undergraduate Faculty-Student Apprenticeship Program. The program funds students from any discipline working with faculty mentors at Mason on original research or a creative project. Ms. Khan will work with her faculty mentor, Dr. Ann Maradiegue, on a project entitled “Family History, Depression and Anxiety Screening in Primary Care.”

Annual State of the College Address and Introduction to New Faculty and Staff
August 25, 2008 - Dean Travis' Annual State of the College address took place on August 25. View slides from the presentation. Photos of the event.