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National Public Health Week at Creighton

April 1-7, 2024

Protecting, Connecting and Thriving: We Are All Public Health

April 1-7, 2024

The American Public Health Association (APHA) brings together communities across the United States to observe National Public Health Week as a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving our nation's health.

Creighton Sponsored NPHW Events 

Public health is more than just health care. It's the steps we take to make sure our neighborhoods and environment are free from pollution. It's making sure our food and water are safe to eat and drink. It's also the relationships we foster in our communities. We're all interconnected. When we all come together to support public health, all of us — individuals, families, communities, and the public health field — can achieve the goals of public health. 

The content of the webinars is solely the responsibility of the presenters and does not necessarily represent the official views of Creighton University or the School of Medicine.

If you have any questions about the webinars, email MPH@creighton.edu.

Creighton University’s Juvenile Justice Clinic: Taking Action to Address Social Problems for At-Risk Youth

Access recording here

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Joy M. Suder, JD – Assistant Professor, Director, Juvenile Justice Clinic
Creighton University School of Law

 

 

 

 

 

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Karla Dush – Director, Community Connections
Creighton University School of Law

 

 

 

 

Resources:

Conservation Nebraska – Omaha Climate Resiliency Summit Film Screening

Film Screening of 2040

6:30 p.m. – Mike and Josie Harper Center, Ahmanson Ballroom, Creighton University

Panel discussion prior to the film with City Council President Pete Festersen, Marco Floreani (City of Omaha), a representative from Pale Blue Dot and Dr. Jesse Bell from the UNMC COPH. Brought to you by Conservation Nebraska and PHAN (Public Health Association of Nebraska).

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Conservation Nebraska
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PHAN - Public Health Association of Nebraska

Tickets available in advance: Omaha Climate Resiliency Summit : What We Do : Conservation Nebraska (neconserve.org)
 

Health Professional Action in the Climate Crisis

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Cecilia Sorenson, MD
Director, Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education, Columbia University

Explore the current climate impacts on health, the impacts on health sector activities and ways in which health professionals are called to action. You are invited to view a previously recorded webinar.
Listen to the recording (shared with permission)

Biography
Dr. Cecilia Sorensen is the Director of the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education at Columbia University, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Columbia Irving Medical Center, and Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. As a physician-investigator at the nexus of climate change and human health, translating research into policy, clinical action, and education to build resilience in vulnerable communities are all focus of her research. Her recent work spans domestic as well as international emergent health issues related to climate change, including extreme heat, degraded air quality, extreme weather events, emerging infectious diseases, women’s health, and worker health. Dr. Sorensen is a member of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change and serves on the National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative for Decarbonization of the U.S. Health Sector. She is the co-editor of the textbook Climate Change and Human Health: From Science to Practice.

Creighton Community Collaborative – Supporting Healthy Futures

Introduction to Creighton Community Collaborative

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April Dixon, MPH - Program Manager with Creighton Community Collaborative, Creighton University

Learn about the Creighton Community Collaborative.
Listen to the introduction to Creighton Community Collaborative

 

 

 

 

Interview: Breaking Generational Cycles of Incarceration

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Erin Cooper, MS-CJC, Director of Research & Evaluation at RISE
In this interview, Erin Cooper shares insights into RISE’s focus on services to help the health and wellbeing of the person incarcerated, their family, their children and their community. To date, more than 200 system-impacted families are taking the first steps at healing, restoration and ending cycles of incarceration for their family. seeusrise.org

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RISE

Interview: Health Prevention and Promotion with Local Latina Women and their Families

Virginia McGill, Executive Director, Families In Action/Familias En Accion
Lillian Miranda, Associate Director, Families In Action/Familias En Accion

In this interview, Virginia McGill and Lillian Miranda share how the initiatives they are passionate about align with their mission to come together as women and families to promote health, well-being and knowledge and to be role models for our children and community. Families In Action/Familias En Accion are a catalyst for hope and healing in the South Omaha community. This interview is offered with both English and Spanish responses. interfaithhealth.org

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Families in Action logo

Syphilis: A Case-based Review

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Sara Bares, MD
Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases
University of Nebraska Medical Center

You are invited to view a previously recorded webinar of a case-based review of syphilis.

Objectives:

  • Review the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and natural history of syphilis.
  • Understand how to interpret syphilis serology.
  • Identify appropriate treatment for syphilis based on clinical staging.

Listen to the recording here (shared with permission)
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Biography

Dr. Bares joined the HIV/Infectious Diseases team at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in July 2013. She is an Associate Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases. After receiving her undergraduate degree from Amherst College, Dr. Bares obtained her medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. She trained in Internal Medicine at the University of Chicago where she was an intern, resident, and chief resident. Following her residency, Dr. Bares stayed on at the University of Chicago to complete a fellowship in Infectious Diseases. Dr. Bares is bilingual in Spanish and English. Her clinical and research interests include HIV treatment and prevention, HIV-related comorbidities, and HIV in women.

Guided Meditation 

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Lindsay Decker

Lindsay Decker 
500-Hour certified yoga instructor, Training with the Center for Trauma and Embodiment Yoga Program 

Registration Link: Meeting Registration - Zoom

Playlist for Guided Meditation 

3 Simple Guided Meditation Scripts (PositivePsychology.com) 

Take some time to slow down over the lunch hour to breathe and be present for 30 minutes. 

APHA Sponsored Events

To view and register all APHA sponsored events for 2024 National Public Health Week, including webinars for continuing education credit, hot topic discussions and recordings, please visit their events webpage.

Get Connected

Creighton University’s Master of Public Health Program is offered as an online program ideal for individuals looking for a rewarding career promoting healthy individuals, families and communities by solving public health issues.  

The program is committed to promoting the health and well-being of all people and communities. We would love to connect with you! 

Visit our Facebook, YouTube and webpage for more information.  

American Public Health Association (APHA) is a professional organization that works to improve the health of all communities and people. They are focused on being a pillar for public health professionals and continue to use their 150-year-old network to improve the public's overall health. The APHA is a leading organization in addressing current public health issues and advocating for numerous federal policies. 

Visit their Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and webpage for more information.  

Resources

Want to learn more? During NPHW many excellent resources are shared. Our team at Creighton has compiled additional resources surrounding public health to help you on your learning journey:

Equity, Inclusion, Diversity and Belonging  


Research, Evaluation and Public Health Practice 


Self-care 

Access past recordings, information and resources from National Public Health Week

Centering and Celebrating Cultures in Health
April 3-9, 2023

The American Public Health Association (APHA) brings together communities across the United States to observe National Public Health Week as a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving our nation's health.

Creighton Sponsored NPHW Events

  • Recordings and resources are available for the 2023 sessions.
  • The content of the webinars is solely the responsibility of the presenters and does not necessarily represent the official views of Creighton University or the School of Medicine.
  • If you have any questions about the webinars, email MPH@creighton.edu.

Leveraging Community to Benefit the Public’s Health: Local Perspective

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Stephen B. Jackson, MPH

Stephen B. Jackson, MPH 
Former Chief Operating Officer, North Omaha Area Health (NOAH) Clinic

View the video here and the slide deck here.

Join us as Stephen Jackson examines the various dimensions of community and its critical role in an effective public health response. This critical role has been a fundamental concept as it pertains to population health for many years, however making the public health response equitable within a fragmented public health system has been difficult to achieve. This presentation takes a local look at what happens when technology and research end and the role of the community in achieving population health gains begins.    

Objectives

  • Describe the various dimensions and complexities of our local community 
  • Discuss equality vs. equity 
  • Highlight the intersections between public health and community  

Biography

Stephen B. Jackson has spent his career fighting for civil rights, human rights, health equity and social justice. Jackson is a former president of the Omaha Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, inaugural chairperson for Creighton University’s Center for Promoting Health and Health Equality Advisory Board, former chair of the United Way of the Midland’s Heartland Blueprint, former chairperson for the Nebraska Urban Area Health Education Center, a former president of the Susan G. Komen Great Plains (Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota) Affiliate, a former public member of the Nebraska Advance Practice Registered Nursing Board, a site visitor for Public Health Accreditation Board and a board member of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska.  

Jackson served as the Chief Operating Officer for the North Omaha Area Health Clinic (NOAH). He was responsible for creating the strategic direction of the organization by overseeing the day-to-day operations while analyzing and articulating community health issues, proposing solutions and evaluating the organization’s work.  

Mr. Jackson has obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Jackson State University and a master's in public health degree from the University of Iowa alongside completion of some additional medical and graduate level courses. He is happily married to Dr. Donna Stewart, a licensed child psychologist. They have two children: Myles (16) and Arie (13). 

Rethinking Violence Prevention from a Systems Lens 

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Ace Devlin, PLMHP

Ace Devlin, PLMHP (name|they|all)
Mental Health and Wellness Manager, Black & Pink, Inc. 

View the video here and the slide deck here.

Many of the systems we have created to prevent interpersonal violence and promote public health have low buy-in and trust from the public, rendering them ineffective. The burden of this disconnect is often misplaced, sometimes onto the very individuals and communities experiencing violence. In this session, we will explore ways that public health systems are contributing to violence in the lives of the people and communities we serve, and how we as individuals can be a part of a movement for change.  

Objectives

  • Identify at least two ways that violence prevention/public health systems cause harm 
  • Describe how violence and control are connected processes 
  • Identify one change you can commit to that will address this problem 

Biography

Ace Devlin (name|they|all) is a provisionally licensed mental health provider. They hold a masters in science from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in Marriage & Family Therapy, with a minor in Medical Family Therapy. Ace is the Mental Health and Wellness Manager at Black & Pink and has an online private therapy practice. They serve on the board of the Nebraska Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.  

Ace has worked in public health for nearly 10 years. Their work has encompassed sexual health education, health promotion and mental health. Their primary focus and specialization is working with LGBTQ+ people who have experienced interpersonal violence. 

Reimagining Black Maternal Health 

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Ashlei Spivey

Ashlei Spivey
Executive Director, I Be Black Girl

View the slide deck here.

This session will explore the framework of reproductive justice and how I Be Black Girl is using the approach to reimagine Black Maternal Health in Nebraska. 

 

Objectives

  • Participants will be able to define reproductive justice
  • Participants will explore how to apply justice frameworks into their medical institutions
  • Participants will challenge their assumptions related Black people with the capacity for pregnancy

Biography

Ashlei Spivey is a bold leader that actively works to create just communities. In her work as an ecosystem builder, philanthropist and social entrepreneur, she champions racial and gender justice to create catalytic and sustainable system change. Ashlei founded I Be Black Girl five years ago when she saw the deep community need to create spaces specific for Black women, femmes and girls, and she has built the organization in service of expanding meaningful access to resources in Nebraska. 

Guided Meditation 

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Lindsay Decker

Lindsay Decker 
500-Hour certified yoga instructor, Training with the Center for Trauma and Embodiment Yoga Program 

Playlist for Guided Meditation 

3 Simple Guided Meditation Scripts (PositivePsychology.com) 

Take some time to slow down over the lunch hour to breathe and be present for 30 minutes. 

 


Public Health-Meeting the Needs of Diverse Communities 

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Donna Polk, PhD, LMHP

Donna Polk, PhD, LMHP 
Chief Executive Officer, Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, Inc.  

View the video here and the slide deck here.

In recent years, all the major public health and medical organizations have come to understand racism as a public health issue. Despite this acknowledgement, our increasingly diverse American population is still plagued by disparate outcomes for some of its members. Additionally, the public health workforce does not reflect the diversity of society. Amplifying the voices of the communities most impacted by these disparities is key for public health practitioners. How can practitioners use community assessments as an opportunity to partner with community members? What role can community members play in the assessment process? 

Objectives

  • The audience will better understand what public health involves 
  • Gain an understanding of the role that communities have within public health 
  • Explore the strengths and weaknesses of public health programs locally 

Biography

Dr. Donna Polk has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition (NUIHC) since 1991. NUIHC’s service area includes Omaha, Lincoln and Sioux City, Iowa. Programs and services include behavioral health, transitional housing, primary care, suicide and meth prevention, tired moccasins elders and transportation. She also supervises interns and practicum students from area colleges and universities. Polk describes her proudest, most recent accomplishment as the construction of the Eagle Heights Apartments, affordable housing located in South Omaha. Her local volunteer portfolio includes No More Empty Pots, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center Community Advisory Board, St. Francis Community Advisory Board and Creighton University Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity. 

Dr. Polk received her doctoral degree in Administration, Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her dissertation topic was “A Study of The Cultural Beliefs of Advanced Practice Nurses.” She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in University Studies and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, both from UNL. She is the author of Black Men and Women of Nebraska. Polk is a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner. 

APHA Sponsored Events

To view all APHA sponsored events for the 2023 National Public Health Week, including recordings, please visit their events webpage.

APHA’s Daily Themes for Health Week

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