Center for Global Health Scholar Program

The University of Virginia's Center for Global Health established the CGH- University Scholar Awards to encourage UVa students to design and conduct interdisciplinary research projects related to global health. Prospective scholars are encouraged to work with UVa faculty within established research collaborations and building on the work of previous scholars is encouraged. Program includes funding and faculty mentorship and support.

These awards are open to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in all departments on Grounds. Students participating will be required to participate in the International Studies Office Orientation.

To apply, students must submit a completed application, budget, letter of support for the project from at least one UVa faculty mentor and the on-site/host country mentor, and interview with the selection committee, which is comprised of multi-disciplinary faculty, former scholars, and researchers.

Important dates:
Application Deadline: Friday, January 15th, 2016
Interviews: Friday, February 5th, 2016
Award Notification: Friday, February 19th, 2016

To learn more about the University of Virginia Center for Global Health, go to: www.globalhealth.virginia.edu

Mercer University College of Pharmacy Event

Mercer University College of Pharmacy invites you to attend an upcoming event to get a closer look at the programs offered in our College of Pharmacy (PharmD, PhD, PharmD/PhD, PharmD/MBA, PharmD/MPH).

Date: Thursday, December 17, 2015

Time: 2-4pm

Location: Mercer University’s Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus in Atlanta, Georgia 

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with faculty, admissions staff, and current students from Mercer’s College of Pharmacy.

More information about this event is available along with a registration link:  http://www.eventbrite.com/e/mercer-pharmacy-open-house-tickets-19619283806. 

Pre-Dental Students: Behind the Scenes for December 1 Decision Day

Dental schools begin notifying applicants, either orally or in writing, of provisional or final acceptance no earlier than December 1 of the academic year prior to the academic year of matriculation.

—ADEA Rules for Extending Offers of Admission to Dental School,
approved March 2010, ADEA House of Delegates

Written by Emil Chuk, PhD, Admissions Director
Case Western University School of Dental Medicine

The December 1 “Decision Day” is one of the most emotional days any predental student will experience. The admissions committees and officers who are part of this day work frantically to make such a day possible. Many of these officers have recruited their students, faculty and administration to send personal messages to applicants, even making phone calls of congratulations! It is often unappreciated just how much coordination Decision Day requires of each admissions office and committee, as decisions on hundreds of applicants need to be made before the crush of grading exams, reporting grades and planning Thanksgiving getaway vacations. For me in Cleveland, I cross my fingers to ensure no blizzards are in the forecast!

But no matter what happens, the best-made plans can only be controlled to a limit. On the night of November 30, the elements not controlled begin entering my mind. Will the emails actually go out at midnight? Will the star applicants I wish to come to my program be ecstatic with our decision, or have they always had other schools in mind that they prefer? I’m reminded of one of my students whose campus email server was being serviced the entire Thanksgiving weekend, so she never got any acceptance emails that were intended for her. She contacted me the next day in tears wondering why our office never sent an email to her (though we did). Five minutes later, she got the email through a different email account, and her despair quickly changed to joy. 

When will the schools release their decision? 
Do all interviewed candidates receive communication from the schools? 
How long do I have before making a final decision? 
Will I be notified of a scholarship when I receive an offer? 
Do schools fill up their classes with December admits? 
Do I need to do an academic update if I will finish taking classes before starting dental school?
After I receive an offer of admission, what else do I need to do? 
It's before December 1, and I got interviewed. Should I contact my number one choice? 

See answers to these questions and the full article here.
 

UVA Sports Medicine Volunteer Program

UVA Sports Medicine Volunteer Program – Applications Available!
The primary function of the University of Virginia Sports Medicine Department is to provide encompassing healthcare for our student-athletes that include prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries as well as emergency care during practice and games.
The department offers volunteer positions for students who are interested in athletic training, physical therapy, medicine, or other allied health professions.

Commitment:

• Students will be scheduled for 3 clinical shifts in the athletic training room (UHall or McCue) with a minimum time requirement of 9-10 hours per week.
• Students will attend one Sunday night in-service at beginning of the semester and a weekly educational in-service from 7:00-7:45 am on Wednesdays in the McCue Athletic Training room. Students may receive 2 credit hours for attending all of the in-services and completing the weekly competencies.
• Students will also be required to work at least one 3-hour shift at an UVa athletic event per semester outside of their clinic shifts.
• At the conclusion of the semester, students will be evaluated on their performance. Students that choose to continue with the sports medicine program may be eligible for a stipend and earn an assignment to work with an athletic team pending positive reviews by our staff.

Spring Semester 2016 Deadlines
Wednesday, December 2 – Spring Volunteer Applications due by 5pm
Wednesday, December 9 – Spring Volunteer Informational meeting (time TBD)
For more information and application, click here.

Physician Assistant Studies Open House

College of Osteopathic Medicine - Georgia Campus, in Suwanee, GA would like to invite you to the Physician Assistant Studies Open House!

Date: Friday, December 11^th

Time: 5:30-8:00pm

Location: College of Osteopathic Medicine - Georgia Campus, in Suwanee, GA

 

Students and faculty will be available to address any questions you may have about the program; tours of campus will be conducted that evening and light refreshments will be served. We hope you can join us!

2016 Medical Futures Program

Who: Pre-medicine college students and high school seniors
What: an informational session about medical school applications
Where: VCU School of Medicine Inova Campus in Falls Church, VA
When: Wednesday, January 6, 2016, 3:45-5:45pm

Keynote Speaker: Michelle Whitehurst-Cook, MD
Associate Dean of Admissions, VCU School of Medicine

Registration Instructions:
Send an email to sarina.petrocelly@inova.org with the following information:
1. Name
2. School / Institution Name
3. Year / Grade
4. Name of Guest (optional)
5. T-shirt size

You will receive an email with a payment amount and further instructions. Space is limited, so be sure to follow up if you do not get a confirmation email. Registration is based on date of email requests. Fees of $15 per student and $20 per guest will cover dinner and program supplies.

Gateways to the Laboratory Summer Program

Introducing the Gateways to the Laboratory Summer Program in New York City!

• Ideal for students who wish to pursue the combined MD-PhD degree (this program is run by the Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program).
• 10 weeks of independent research at either Weill Cornell Medical College, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center or The Rockefeller University (all in NYC).
• Present & participate in weekly journal clubs
• Scrub into surgeries at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
• Give an oral, written and poster presentation of your research in front of your family (who are flown in for the event), friends and colleagues.
• Receive on going mentorship by your "Big Sib" (a current MD-PhD student), as well as weekly meetings with the Program's leadership.
• Receive a stipend of $4,300 (minus the cost of housing).
• Gateways alumni are accepted and matriculate in the top MD-PhD Programs in the country!      

For further information (including eligibility) and an on-line application, please visit the website.

Program eligibility requirements:

·         1^st and 2^nd years (at time of application) only;
·         Underrepresented minority, disabled and/or disadvantaged backgrounds;
·         US Citizens/Permanent Residents;
·         Students who wish to pursue the combined MD-PhD degrees after college.

Applications now being accepted. Application deadline is February 1, 2016.

Families USA Career Opportunities

Families USA is searching for recent or soon-to-be graduates who are interested in careers in social justice and health policy.

Every year Families USA has two prestigious year-long fellowships for up and coming leaders in these areas. The application period is now open, so start your application today!

The Villers Fellowship for Health Care Justice was created to develop a network of young leaders who share a passion for health care justice. Each year, the Villers Fellow works in our health policy department and, through writing, research and outreach, assists our organization's efforts to improve access to health coverage for all Americans.

The Wellstone Fellowship for Social Justice advances social justice through health care advocacy work by focusing on the unique challenges facing many low-income and minority communities. Through this fellowship, Families USA hopes to expand the pool of talented social justice advocates from underrepresented economic, racial, and ethnic minority groups. The Wellstone Fellow’s primary responsibilities include performing research into health policy and developing content that promotes the reduction and elimination of disparities in health care.

The application deadline for the Villers Fellowship is January 29. 2016. The deadline for the Wellstone Fellowship is February 12, 2016.

Both fellows will start in August of 2016 and spend a year working for Families USA in Washington, DC. Selected fellows will receive a compensatory package that includes an annual salary of $38,000 and excellent health care benefits.

Please direct all applications and questions to villersfellowship@familiesusa.org and wellstonefellowship@familiesusa.org.

2016 UVA Global Health Case Competition

The UVa Global Health Case Competition, a student initiative launched in 2013, offers a unique opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students from diverse schools and disciplines to tackle some of the most intransigent, enduring global health issues.

All disciplines and years are welcome! The competition comes with the opportunity to win prize money, CGH grants, and/or the change to compete at the International Emory Case Competition.

Registration deadline: Tuesday, December 8th

Register at: www.uvaglobalhealthcasecomp.org

Ninth Annual Clinton Global Initiative Meeting

President Clinton and Chelsea Clinton will host the ninth annual CGI U meeting from April 1-3, 2016 at the University of California, Berkeley in the San Francisco Bay Area. The meeting will bring together more than 1,000 innovative student leaders to make Commitments to Action in CGI U's five focus areas: Education, Environment and Climate change, Peace and Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, and Public Health. Through the CGI University Network and other opportunities, over $750,000 in funding will be available to select CGI U 2016 students to help them turn their ideas into action.

Students: apply now for the CGI U 2016 meeting. The early decision and travel assistance deadline was October 16, 2015. The final application deadline is December 1, 2015.

Student attendees will have the opportunity to attend Plenary Sessions, Working Sessions, and other special events which will enable them to network with their peers, build skills, and identify potential partners. The program will feature dozens of topic experts, university representatives, and celebrities who will join students at CGI U to discuss effective solutions to some of world’s most pressing challenges. During the last day of the meeting, attendees will take part in a Day of Action in the local community.

To learn more go to: https://www.clintonfoundation.org/clinton-global-initiative/meetings/cgi-university

Global Health Project Assistant

The Institut Pasteur is hiring a Project Assistant for a 6-month internship to assist in the launch of the new Pasteur Center for Global Health. The intern shall be under the joint responsibility of the CGH Deputy Director Dr Golbahar Pahlavan and Director Professor Arnaud Fontanet, who is also responsible for the Sciences Po seminar on Global Outbreak Alert and Response, Director of the Unit Epidemiology of Epidemiology of Emerging Diseases, and Director of the Pasteur-Cnam School of Public Health.

Profile and required skills: 
-Recent graduate student or Master student in international relations, public health, etc.
-Knowledge and interest in global health (main challenges related to global health with particular interest in low- and middle- income countries) and/or health research
-Excellent oral and written communication skills in both English and French

Terms
-Duration of the internship: 6 months
-Full-time
-Compensation: 508, 20 Euros / month

For more information about the Institut Pasteur, position description, and additional qualifications, see the following link: http://www.pasteur.fr/sites/www.pasteur.fr/files/20151020_pasteur_cgh_internship_job_description_2.pdf

Former UVA Center for Global Health University Scholar, Christie Hercik, serves as a post-doctoral research fellow at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France where she will also be working with the newsly established Pasteur Center for Global Health under the direction of Dr. Arnaud Fontanet.

Opportunities at UVA

Mixed Drinks, Mixed Emotions: Alcohol Abuse and Mental Health
Date: Tuesday, November 17th
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Newcomb Hall Ballroom
This program addresses the ties between substance abuse and mental health. The goals are to break down the stereotypes surrounding expression of emotion in order to help young people function at their highest level and teach students effective coping mechanisms. Sponsored by the Women’s Center Counseling Program, Gordy CASE, U.Va. Athletics, and the Office of the Dean of Students 

Biology Department Seminar
Date: Friday, November 20th
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Gilmer 190
Julie Brill, PhD, professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto will present her research on how PIP signaling drives cell morphogenesis during animal development. 

Psychology Department Colloquium Series
Date: Friday, November 20th
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Gilmer 190
Abigail Marsh of Georgetown University  will present her research: “Empathy on a Sliding Scale:  Is Extraordinary Altruism the Inverse of Psychopathy?" 

More Than the Score - First Do No Harm: UVA’s Focus on the Patient
Date: Saturday, November 21st
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Alumni Hall Ballroom
Dr. Richard Shannon, Executive Vice President for Health affairs, will share UVA’s efforts to improve the safety and quality of its patient care—procedures and new ways to review and improve its practices. Dr. Shannon will explain the Situation Room, and he will provide real-life examples of how UVA’s care teams are addressing ways to reduce the risk of harm and improve patient safety and satisfaction. The University of Virginia Health System provides care to some of the region’s sickest patients. With so many ill patients receiving care to treat complex medical conditions in its clinics and hospital, disciplined real-time problem solving is crucial to ensure that errors are avoided and patient harm does not occur.

Minority Health & Health Disparities International Research Training

An NIH funded intensive research training and professional development opportunity available to under-represented minority students. The 10 week program includes one week of orientation and training held in May, followed by 8 weeks of mentored international site research. The experience culminates in a week long research reflection and presentation at the University of Virginia in July.

Program includes:

• Monthly stipend
• See indigenous animals
• Transportation
• Chance to try local foods
• Explore areas of scenic beauty
• Housing
• Chance to learn more about yourself
• Exposure to local language

Important dates!
Application due date: Sunday, January 10th, 2016
Interview: Thursday, January 28th, 2016
Award Announcement: Friday, February 5th, 2016

To learn more go to globalhealth.virginia.edu/MHIRT
For questions, email MHIRT@virginia.edu

Male Research Assistant Needed

Male research assistant needed for a medication study investigating the differential benefits of two ADHD medications on driving safety.  The RA will test male adult drivers with ADHD on a virtual reality driving simulator. Testing must be done in the evenings from now through the end of summer, 2016. An ideal candidate for this paid position would be a pre-medical student looking for clinical research experience. Publications and/or presentations are possible. 

For more information, send your CV to professor Daniel Cox, Department of Psychiatry  (djc4f@virginia.edu).

CGH Scholar Open House

Save the date for the CGH Scholar Open House! Join faculty leaders and former scholars to learn about opportunities to work in a global context.
Date: Wednesday, November 18th
Time: 5-7pm
Location: CGH Corner Office

To learn more about the Center for Global Health go to www.globalhealth.virginia.edu

Office Hours Cancelled - Thursday, 11.12

Please note!
Monroe Hall Office Hours 

are cancelled for Thursday, November 12th, 1:30-4:30pm. 

Regular Office Hours will resume next week, Monday - Thursday.

See the Pre-Health Events calendar for details.

Fall VCOM Open House

Opportunity to come visit with and learn more about VCOM and Osteopathic Medicine from faculty, clinicians, & students!  While you there, you will learn about our curriculum; hear about tips and tricks to the admissions process; talk with current students, learn why they chose VCOM and what it is REALLY like to be a medical student; and see one of our clinicians give an actual OMM demonstration while talking about osteopathic medicine.

 

Date: Saturday, November 14th

Time: 10am – 5pm

Where:  VCOM-Virginia Campus Main Building at 2265 Kraft Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060

RSVP:  http://www.vcom.edu/admissions/openhouseregistration.php?campus=virginia

Elect to take advantage of our Lunch with a Student feature, where you can sign up to have lunch (Dutch treat) with one of our current students.  When you come back, choose from various breakout sessions which will include touring our award winning Anatomy Lab, touring our Simulation & Technology Center, our VCOM Graduate Certificate Pre-Medical Program, or meet with one of us from Admissions for an opportunity to talk with some-one face to face and answer questions specific to you. We hope to see you there!

Upcoming Opportunities at UVA

Pain- A Political History: Liberal Relief and Conservative Care?

Date: Wednesday, November 11th
Time: 12:30-1:30 pm
Location: Jordan Conference Center Auditorium
When is pain real? Does too-liberal, overly compassionate relief create addiction? Is chronic pain a legitimate basis for disability claims and long-term benefits? What should we do when end-of-life pain care resembles physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia? Professor Keith Wailoo (Princeton University) explores the political and cultural history of these complex medical and social debates; how physicians, patients, politicians, and the courts have shaped ideas about pain and its relief; and how the question “who is in pain and how much relief do they deserve?” has became a microcosm of broader debates over disability, citizenship, liberalism, and conservatism in American society.

 

KOOLer Smokes

Date: Wednesday, November 11th

Time: 3:00-4:30 pm
Location: OpenGrounds
Professor Wailoo will introduce his current research on the mentholated cigarette, in the context of broader issues of smoking and public health, as well as race, gender, and targeted marketing. Everyone is welcome. 

 

Biology Department Seminar

Date: Friday, November 13th
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Gilmer 190
Benjamin Martin, PhD., Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University will present his research: "Tales of fish tails: what the zebrafish tailbud can tell us about stem cell biology and human disease.”

 

Modern Medicine and the Invention of Poetic Form

Led Professor Kiera Allison
Friday, November 13th

Time: 3:00 pm

This session explores the well-established, but so far under-investigated liaison between the medical sciences and the language arts in Modern Western culture. We’ll see in particular how these disciplines learned from one another how to manipulate the physical being—the pulses, nervous systems, and the brainwaves—of the public they were sometimes diagnosing, sometimes trying to heal and entertain. The father of modern cardiology (William Harvey, 1628) joins with the creator of modern verse (Shakespeare, perfecting the blank-verse “pulse” that’s been the standard ever since); two centuries later the Romantic school are reading up (in their spare time) on the science of the central nervous system. And one young pre-med, John Keats, is taking assiduous notes on human anatomy...only to find that poetry, not medicine, would be the better use for all this knowledge. Come along for an hour of deep reading, close listening, and plenty of open conversation to explore what those connections mean for the history of literature, and—most importantly—for our experience as readers.  To register for this FlashSem, please click here!

Careers for the Common Good Panel

Interested in careers that create social impact? Come learn from alumni and friends of the University who work in a wide variety of fields, including the nonprofit, public health, and community organization sectors. This panel is a great opportunity to network with mid-level professionals and discover how they applied their college experiences to public service careers.

All years and majors are welcome.

Date: Tuesday, November 17th

Time: 6pm

Location: Great Hall in Garrett Hall

We hope to see you there!

Perfect Illusions: Real talk about food and body image, and hope for those struggling

Save the date! You CAN make a difference! Join the University community for this open-mic style event where audience members have the opportunity to listen and share their own stories and experiences about body image, eating, and exercise concerns in a safe, supportive, and healing environment. Break the silence and help create a body positive community. Bring your experiences, questions, concerns, and passion to share. For more information, contact Nora Arkin at nma8ht@virginia.edu
Date: Wednesday, November 11th
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Newcomb Hall Commonwealth room

Also:

• Are you considering sharing your story? Click here http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/guidelines-sharing-your-story-responsibly for tips about how to do so responsible

• Interested in learning more about your own mental and emotional health?  Click here http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/screening/?keyword=UVAscreening for the Student Health CAPS anonymous, online eating disorders screening

• Do you want to get involved with more body positive initiatives at UVa? Check out HOPE (Hoos Open to Preventing Eating Disorders) on Facebook to get information about meetings and upcoming events! Email pao2bb@virginia.edu for more information.

George Washington Emergency Medicine Summer Research Internship

The Clinical Research Program offers students interested in research and medicine/public health the opportunity to complete a summer research internship in the George Washington Emergency Medicine department. The goals of the internship:

• Familiarize students with different study designs
• Teach students how to screen and enroll patients in studies and collect data in a busy, dynamic environment.

The clinical research projects that students will be involved in will range from simple patient surveys to complex randomized controlled trials.  The summer research internship consists of working clinical research shifts in the emergency department (ED) setting and attending bi-weekly research seminars by different ED faculty.For a brief description of our current projects, click here.

For more information, program requirements, and application process, click here.
Application now open!
Application deadline: January 10, 2016
Please direct any questions to Paige Kulie, Clinical Research Supervisor at emedresearchsummerinternship@gmail.com.

Pharmacists Provide Care Advocacy

Pharmacists are trained to provide primary care services, including patient assessment, point-of-care testing, low-level diagnosis, appropriate treatment therapies, and much more in their PharmD education. As an accessible healthcare professional, pharmacists regularly help patients live healthier, better lives. However, for decades, pharmacists have been one of the few health care professionals that lack recognition as health care providers in federal law. Nearly all other health care professional services are rightfully covered under Medicare laws, including services provided by chiropractors, PT and OT assistants, midwives, and dieticians, but not services provided by pharmacists. Pharmacists across the country are calling on Congress to pass a bill that would amend section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act to enable Medicare beneficiaries to access pharmacist-provided services under Medicare Part B. These services would be reimbursable under Medicare Part B if provided to patients in medically underserved communities and if the services are consistent with state scope of practice laws. Current legislation is proposed in both the House and the Senate and at submission of this article the Cosponsor Count is as follows: H.R.592 - 234 | S.314 - 33. If you are interested in becoming a pharmacist, getting involved and advocating for pharmacist provider status within federal Medicare legislation is an innovative way of becoming involved in the pharmacy profession. Visit www.pharmacistsprovidecare.com on how to get involved. *Source: National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) November 2015 Newsletter.