"I Want to Know What You Did Last Summer" Brownbag

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Now playing: The Special A.K.A. - Guns of Navarone [Live]
via FoxyTunes

School beginnings, Reunions -- Fall 2007

Trying out the 2nd Year Student Lab and still playing with Lisa S's baby:

Cohort IV Reunion!

Fieldwork and Project

So the new student council leaders asked some of the 3td (!) years to jot down some ideas and thoughts on their fieldwork and project experiences. I should start by saying that if any new first years or the new second years have questions or anything, call me (573.239.7706) or email me (meredithbergin@hotmail.com)!

My project and fieldwork were combined. That is THE WAY to do it. It is possible to do them seperately, but you are signing yourself on for some misery in my opinion. I went to Amman Jordan with a International Volunteers group led by the amazing Hala and carefully monitored by the fantastic team of Carl (first three weeks) and Ray (last three weeks). I had a team of seven undergrads and we worked with the ministry of health on an anti tobacco campaign for college students. Well, technically i had two things going on. My technical fieldwork was doing presentations on nearby campuses and my project was designing curriculum and then implementing a small-group oriented tobacco cessation group. However, midway through the summer, my tobacco cessation group tanked, so I switched (with approval from my committee) the offical titles and made the university presentations my official project and the small group my fieldwork.

I sent emails to my committee once a week, and for the last half of the trip I was lucky becuase Ray, my chair, was in-country. If you do go internationally, go somewhere fun! But preferably not when the surrounding countries declare war on each other. It was definitely a growing and stretching experience. I didn't know that I could do half the stuff that I ended up doing.

You probably feel a little overwhelmed, and you should - its healthy! But remember that your committee is there to ensure that you succeed! Get to know your profs as soon as you can, find their research interests, and get the show on the road!

Guyana to Barbados to Puerto Rico to America

Ok, I love to see pictures more than read stuff, so this is gonna be tons of pics. This is me with the last group of youth that I helped trained to be HIV/AIDS peer educators. It was a very diverse group.
This is me and Matthias in Lethem. He helped by biking me to different houses to that I could administer a survey to the youth in this hinterland region. This region has Amerindins-indiginous people- and they are so kind! Lethem is right on the boarder of Brazil and so I crossed into Brazil for an afternoon to eat some beef on a stick and drink some Guarana.

These are some of my soccer boys. I would play soccer with neighborhood kids most nights after work, that is, if the field wasn't flooded from all the rain. They were always happy to see me cause I brought the ball-yes, I brought a soccer ball to Guayana. Once a PE teacher, always a PE teacher.
These last two fotos in Guyana are my favorites! Every Saturday they would have baptisms at the chapel. It was a little crazy at first to see them get baptized in chocolate brown water(which is how all the water is in Guyana) but very special and powerful!
This is a photo with a few of the kids in the primary which I taught for 3 weeks because the primary president had gone inactive. I had 17 kids, ranging from ages 2-12, for 2 hours. To make this more of an adventure, 3 were recently baptized and 12 were there because their parents were investigating the church. It was crazy town, but behaved pretty well because I promised them each two cookies. Oh, the power of a cookie!
I loved Guyana, but the beautiful beaches of Barbados were heaven! Megan and I covered the island by riding busses all over the island and had one relaxing day on a cruise to swim with the turtles and fish! So fun.
On my flight home from Barbados, I had an 8 hour layover in Puerto Rico. I could just sit in the airport, so I jumped on a bus to see the city. I went near the castle and cathedral in San Juan and then went to the beach. I was back at the airport with 45 min. till my flight left. It was pretty sweet, but not advisable if you don't speak the language! I almost didn't make it back on time. Anyway sorry if this is really long, but I had a great time and can't wait to hear about everyone elses adventures!

A discussion with TBAs in rural Cambodia

Hi again everyone!

I finally got some pictures up. Internet (let alone anything fast enough to upload an image or video) is hard to come by here in Pursat. Hopefully you'll enjoy this update, I had to work hard to make it! =D
I was privileged to be a part of a focus group with 12-14 TBAs at a health center here in Pursat Province, Cambodia. When we showed up, it was pouring rain hard and all these 60-80-something women were all waiting patiently inside on the floor. They were just beaming with wisdom.


This woman greeted us (that's Miss Panak with me, she's the Assistant Director for RACHA in Pursat Province) in traditional Khmer fashion and shared a story about a pregant woman she heard about in her village who gave birth in a rice field while she was working and he the baby in her pants while trying to walk out of the rice field!! Yikes!!!

The Ministry of Health and RACHA have developed a wonderful relationship with these TBAs through exhibitions of respect and training sessions. All of these TBAs wholeheartedly stated that the health centers and hospitals are the ideal place for a woman to give birth due to possible obstetric complications. They also receive a small cash bonus for every birth they refer to the health facilities.

Here's a video of an adventure of mine coming back from church last week -- http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5754722944766258461&hl=en

Can't wait to hear more of your adventures too!
Grant

From the sticks of Cambodia!

Hello from Pursat, Cambodia!

We've it's been almost 3 weeks since flying into Phnom Penh. Now I'm in the countryside and really loving the fresh air and great hospitality! I've visited 3 health centers and one hospital so far in this province. Every road except the main interprovince road (and a few in the main town) are dirt and during the rainy season (now) they're especially bad, but not impossible! I had a real treat yesterday when I was driven to Pramoy ("elephant's trunk") to visit their health center. What a wonderful mountain village with even better fresh air and great views of their mountains! The health center has a minimum staff and very few members of the villages they serve can make the long arduous trip to receive services.

I was just visiting with Dr. Khoy Dy, the Provincial Coordinator for RACHA in Pousat, the other day and it was a treat to hear his vision for the province, … how he sees the different units of RACHA supporting each other (safe motherhood, infectious disease, malnutrition, etc…), … how his staff helped the province prepare for the dengue fever season and have seen the lowest incidence rate in the country, … how he is working to establish locally sustainable programs such as a pilot community-based health insurance program, … WONDERFUL!

Missing all of you!
Grant

Responses

I am so proud that I guessed the closest due date for the MPH baby! I am coming to Utah just to pick up my prize, congrats!
In response to questions about classes and computers: You are an idiot if you do not take grant-writing! Alright, that might be a strong statement, but I can't think of anywhere you could end up where it would not be useful. I think taking it second yeaer wasa good choice. And I think that taking one elective per semester is just about perfect. I did not feel that a laptop was at all necessary, you'll only end up surfing the web and not paying attention.

I love public health!

drugs or grants?

It's me again! I am trying to put my schedule together and wanted to ask how the electives work. Basically does it turn out to be one elective per semester? How come the electives are on Tues/Thurs? That kind of messes up my plans (ha ha). I am interested in the grant writing class. Is is a lot of work? Would I be better off taking substance abuse first semester and saving grant writing until second year? I don't want to kill myself off right out of the gate. Words of wisdom second years?

Thanks,
Kristin Brown

Mac or PC?

Hey all,

As an incoming student I was curious how many of you brought laptops to class for notetaking, internet stuff, etc. I know there are carols with computers that are assigned to us, but I wondered how useful a laptop might be----(imperative? helpful? a luxury?) Anyone with advise?

Kristin

Who guessed Baby Schiffman's B-Day & Weight

The Doctor guessed Ammon's birthday (Schiffman says that he doesn't count though) -- 6/6/07

Emily M., Megan D. & Meredith B. were the real winners since they all guessed 6/5/07

Becky & Whitney came the closest to guessing his weight -- 8lbs. 2 oz. (compare to actual below)

Prizes will be given out once school starts!

New Arrival!!!

Well, luckily the human gestation process does not last approximately a year as was suggested by one first year MPHer (and Aaron's wild guess for the birthday). I don't remember what people guessed for the date and weight, but our MPH baby has arrived! I'm sure someone guessed the right day and perhaps even the weight. (It wasn't I! I was hoping for a May delivery!).

Birth Date: June 6, 2007, 10:56 pm

Length: 20 inches

Weight: 8 lbs 4 oz

Mom and baby are both doing fine! The baby is a night owl, so I have been trying to adjust to my new schedule. My husband blames me for staying up late to finish my homework. But I never stayed up as late as this child does! He is a sweetheart and laughs in his sleep. He looks mostly like his father. He had Jaundice the first week after he was born and had to sleep under the Billy lights for a few days. So if he looks like he has a dark tan, that is really the Jaundice. He is doing fine now.

It has been fun to follow peoples' postings though I haven't been on the internet for a couple of weeks. I'm glad that everyone is having an adventurous summer!

BYU professor creates Spanish anti-smoking ads for Utah Hispanics

Again, not a MPH faculty member or student, but still related.

BYU News Release.

Videos of the series of 4 ads.

New job!

Hi people -

You are reading a post from Utah County United Way's newest employee!

I had the 3rd interview today, and must have really done a good BSing job, because they just love me and think I'm fabulous and offered me a FT position starting June 18th! The title is "Resource Developer." The office is less than 2 miles from our house, so that's a big plus.

So - if you end up employeed out in the big, bad corporate world.... remember - become a United Way sponsor!

Oh - Brian and I just returned from an awesome week vacation in Denmark. Had a blast. Little upset that they didn't have free water fountains or bathrooms though.....

PAHO: This just in....finally

Dear Everyone!!!!

I have been meaning to do this weeks ago. I am so excited about our MPH blog and say hats off to Grant for using his mad-technical skills to improve our lives, our program, and bring us all together during our summer adventures away. I echo Emily, that I miss you all. We really do have an amazing cohort and I miss seeing you every week, day, almost every night. I look forward to more good times in the Fall, but for now am so excited that we get to all have the time our lives in different corners of the world.

So Washington, DC and PAHO. Fantastic. I'll post pictures of the crazy PAHO building on 23rd street. Definitely wins the award for the most unique building design of the area. I think the UN or WHO have a special knack for that. Anyway, I work on the 8th floor with Chris and a bunch of other people. It is a place I affectionately call, "DC's little Latin world" because the people who work there all speak spanish (and working english), come from Latin American countries, and can spend their lives living and working in DC without having to speak much english. My cubicle is 827E, in case you want to come visit. Oh, and don't forget to check in with the security guard/reception table by the front door before getting on the elevator as I did my first day. They get all excited. ;-)

I spend my days doing research, particularly on Peru. I'm putting together a health profile of Peru, but which is more like a background-of-partnering groups for the LDS/PAHO Partnership which is coming underway. They plan to begin implementation of some IMCI projects starting in the Fall. I'm learning TONS and reading a lot in spanish, including the webpage for the Ministry of Health there in Peru. Sadly, I don't think I'll be flying there this summer for any related project, however, there still remains hope for possibilities during the school year. We shall see...

There are several other interns...mostly M.D.'s: 2 from Haiti and 1 from Nicaragua, and a medical student from Arizona in her 3rd year. Also, there is Andrea, another 1st year MPHer just like me, from Vancouver, BC. Actually, she is from Austria, but studied in Norway and Canada, and is hoping to get accepted to a medical school in the US. She's a lot of fun. Tonight we are going to a ballet together at the Kennedy Center, which is just a short walk down from PAHO after work. I'm excited!!!

Sight-seeing opportunities have been enjoyable. On Memorial day I went to Arlington Cemetery and heard the President speak. I went to a Poetry reading at the National Library of Congress. We've been to the DC temple!!! A group of ward friends went to Mount Vernon for an afternoon. I've toured the National Masonic Temple in Alexandria. Right behind my apartment building (and across the freeways) is the Pentagon and the new Air Force Memorial which we call "homebase." I've enjoyed a National's baseball game, and lunch at the World Bank. My roommates are really great. One works for Senator Harry Reed as a scheduler, one is from Ukraine, and one is trying to get into the Peace Corp or work for a non-profit organization. They're all amazing.Marin and I are in the same ward!! So that makes us very happy! I ran into Erin's brother on the Metro one Sunday after church! Crazy. And then Dr. Mirta Roses was at Tobacco Free World Day in Conference room A, which is when I got to take a picture with her. A day before there was a random firedrill and we all cleared the building and I saw her on the sidewalk talking to a man next to us. Random. She's pretty busy and travels a lot, so she's not always here at PAHO.

Well, there is so much to say but not enough time! I hope this gives you a glimpse into my PAHO internship! I'll post more later. Love you guys!

Christine