PEPFAR retreat to Bagaanara

We were able to be Part of a PEPFAR retreat to Bagaanara!! We went with the leaders from USAID, UNAID, CDC, Peace Corps and the Ministry of Health. There was also the Washington DC based part of the PEPFAR Guyana team. They were putting together the plan for 2008. It was amazing to see them work, discuss programs and understand how PEPFAR unites all of these groups. It was also a beautiful resort on the Esiquibo river. We took a 2 hour bus ride and then a 1 hour boat ride to get to the resort. We were there for 2 days! We were invited by the USAID director Julia Reihwinkle-Roberts. She has been very kind to us. The picture is Annah and Asmita in the speed boat.

This is Annah doing Karaoke with two girls from the Washington DC PEPFAR Core team-Guyana. She tore it up for a song, but got self conscious. The other two girls sang it up for about half an hour. I played Ping pong with the Program directors daughter-Ashley. It was fun! We had a first big rain storm and it left many of our neighbors flooded with about a foot of water. It was crazy. Hope everyone is doing well! Rock on everyone!

Peace from Guyana

Lori and Annah

Assorted Tidbits

I am heading to Palo Alto later this week to get to this new job o'mine. For anyone who does not yet know, I accepted a position at Stanford at the Asian Liver Center as a Global Projects Coordinator. I am way excited, but finding housing has been frustrating. But I think I am almost there.

And Chels, I think it would be okay to pass on the sacred dart gun, but only if the new Second Years realize the incredible honor and trust that is being given to them!

I am loving reading what everyone has written, keep it up!

fuming but good

Hey guys!

I am so glad to hear about everyone's adventures. So glad to be out of school too. I still can't believe that we actually made it through our first year. We are pretty amazing!

As for me, I have been washing windows quite steadily for the past few weeks to earn some extra cash. Seeing that Grant and I did not recieve any money from the Fulton grant, I will have to wash a lot of windows to pay my way. I am still pretty upset as the reasons why we were not funded, but just don't get me started. Grant keeps me level headed about the whole thing, so I am glad he is around for that.

Nothing much else to report. If you we wondering, I have no boyfriend nor prospects at this time. That boy who will remain nameless that came to biostats that one time is no longer in the picture.

Well, wish Grant and I luck as we try to find some funding to go. Grant is unsure that he will go if he does not have funding. I don't really want to go by myself, but I will if I have to. Take care, and I will keep you all posted!

Amanda

Barefoot and Pregnant

Hi all!

I hope you are enjoying your summer. Mine has been nice and relaxing so far. I have done my baby shopping, studied my books on labor and delivery (I've even looked into Hypnobirthing, though my husband thinks its weird and my sister calls it "hippy birthing"), and I have a years supply of baby clothes (if I turn out having a girl, I'm in trouble--Girls can still wear blue can't they?). We bought a carseat, so I can bring the baby home when he comes. I'm full term now, so no premie. I am basically just waiting for the next couple of weeks until the baby comes. I've been catching up on my sleep and making baby quilts. This week I have been volunteering at the temple and getting things ready for our Enrichment activity. So far so good.

I'm kind of on the same page as Jonathon though, can anyone explain to me about the MPH practicum??? It is too bad that childbirth isn't listed as a fieldwork option. Maybe they'll consider it for next year. Anyway, I miss you all. I hope that you are having fun in your various adventures. Keep posting. Until later . . . Lisa Schiffman

Hi from LA

Hey Everyone!

Well, I'm loving my fieldwork and LA. Its beautiful here...you can go to the beach any time (not only do I go to the beach during the day...this week I took up going at night....so fun!) and its warm and really just lovely! I'm working on some great stuff with the show! The LA media market is simiar to New York's in many ways but is also a little different.

I've met some wonderful people here and am really enjoying my time. But I miss all you first years a lot! We were like a little family over the last 8 months and I honestly miss seeing you guys all the time!

I hope all of your fieldwork is going well! Take care everyone!

Teens with Babies and Dreams of Better Things

I relate so much to what all of you are saying...particularly the "overqualified/underqualified" bit. I was just beat out of an environmental health position by a PhD in Toxicology--why would a PhD accept a $19/hr job? I am still working at the YWCA Teen Home (for teens with babies). I am also a temp--yep, a temp--at the health department. The best irony is that I had previously turned down a second interview with the same people I am temping with because "it wasn't paying enough". Now I am eating my words since I am getting paid much less as a temp. Lesson learned? I'm not sure.
So, I just presented my research at the Utah Environmental Health Conference in Bicknell, Utah (does anyone know where that is...maybe chelsea). I am counting down the days before I head out to New Jersey and then Europe for other presentations. I miss school--at least you always knew what to expect.

Anderson's

Rachel and Maddy are doing well. We took Maddy in a few weeks ago to get her one year immunizations. They gave her 5 different shots and she didn't cry until the third one. She's tough like her mom.

I've been playing a lot of intramural sports: soccer, softball, kickball (yes, they play kickball here). I'm even thinking of lobbying for intramural 4-square. Who's with me?

We're having fun. I'm taking Organizational Behavior classes in Spring and Summer. They're going to count as my electives so I won't have to worry about taking any other elective classes, which is nice. I'll just have to worry about something they call the "practicum" in the handbook. Someone will have to tell me what that is.

I'm also working two part-time jobs and I've been golfing a little bit. I guess I'm getting two semesters worth of bottled energy out.

We'd love to hear about what everyone's doing over the summer, so be sure to post your journal entries here.

Duck hunting

I have been cleaning out my desk area here in SFH 74, as I will soon be kicked out in order to make room for the rising generation.
After much internal struggle and introspective debate, I have decided to leave the coveted dart gun here. The next group deserves to experience the joy of shooting the ducks, just as we have.
This is, of course, pending approval from M-Death. I believe she had the closest relationship with the gun and ducks...

Overqualified and Underemployed

So, I had a mtg w/ Kye Miner last week, and she advised NOT to go on and get a DrPH, as that would likely close a lot of doors for being overqualified. I thought to myself, "noooo....that's ridiculous. Who would not hire someone for being TOO good?!"
But as circumstance would have it, I just received a response from a Healthcare Software Management Company in Springville I half-heartedly applied to .... they "have chosen not to go forward with employment, as your [my] resume overqualifies you [me] for the position."
ARRRGHHHHH

Wanted: Fellow Administrator

I could use the help of a co-administrator of this blog. Please let me know if you can help with this. Duties would involve maintaining the blog by moderating posts/comments and encouraging appropriate parties to participate.

Thanks.

Guyana!

We have been rockin' Guayna. That's our place-it rocks and is very safe. We have 4 guard dogs. Since we have been here we have met with the country director of UDAID, had dinner with the CDC coutnry director, met the President of Guyana and haven't been shot yet! It's been great. We do work very hard and have been putting in 45-50 hour weeks. Lots of work to do down here! Here are some stories.

Lori's story-Today it was raining really hard and I tried to run out to see if it was our taxi. I walked towards the car and the guy made a motion, but I wasn't sure if it was "stay" or "come". So, I kept going and basically ended up trying to get into some guys car who was there to pick up his colleague. A bit embarrassing. Another taxi story, one of our taxi drivers was watching a music video while trying to drive us around. We thought we were going to die!

Annah's story-Another story involved Annah's white legs. A lady walking by nearly broke her neck staring at Annah's white legs and the look on her face was priceless!

Annah also has several men after her-Ray and Frankie, to just name two. (JK)

Good Idea!

This is a great idea! Props to Grant! And for anyone else who is concerned about me being in Missourah during these floods, my town isn't effected at all. I like you all!

BYU researcher helps show the cost of kids losing health insurance: more than $2,000 each

Not our faculty, students, or alumni, but still pertinent:

BYU researcher helps show the cost of kids losing health insurance: more than $2,000 each

Updates as of May 1st

I've heard from two of our cohort members who have left the greater Provo area.

First, Emily M. has arrived in Los Angeles. She lives very close to the LA Temple and it only took her 20 minutes to get to Paramount Studios where she started her internship TODAY! She's already been to the beach.

Christine W. is on the other side of the country now waiting for her ride from Cheryl S. (BYU MPP student interning at the Heritage Foundation's Health Policy office) at the Dulles Airport. She'll be living right next to the Pentagon in Pentagon City! YAY!

And I can't wait to hear more about everyone else's adventures!

Welcome to the BYU MPH Blog

MPH Mission Statement
Promote community and family-centered health by training public health professionals to strategically plan, implement, and evaluate health promotion solutions that improve health and well-being. Emphasis is placed on reducing preventable diseases, injuries and health disparities among underserved or at-risk populations in both domestic and international settings.

BYU MPH Blog Mission Statement
To support the MPH program's mission statement and provide a place for students, alumni and faculty to record their public health experiences.