Public Health Alliance of CO Media Resources

U.S. Nominee Is Elected to Lead World Bank

WASHINGTON—The World Bank named Jim Yong Kim as its next president, maintaining a seven-decade U.S. lock on the post after the first challenge by candidates from other countries.

Dr. Kim said after his election on Monday that laying the groundwork for job creation would be his top priority, as the institution faces pressure to shift from making loans to supporting broader economic concerns.

"In every single country I've been to, they are really hoping private-sector growth can happen quickly so that jobs can be created," he said, in a telephone interview from Lima, Peru, where he was concluding a "global ... Click here for more!

2011 Call for APHA Awards Nominations

The American Public Health Association (APHA) is now accepting nominations for its 2011 APHA Awards Program. Nominate a colleague who exemplifies outstanding professionalism, dedication and contributions in the field of public health.  Membership is not required for nomination to several of APHA’s nine national awards.  Awards will be presented at the 138th APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition, Oct. 29-Nov. 2, 2011, in Washington, D.C.

The deadline for nominations is April 22, 2011.  Awards description, criteria and nomination forms are available at www.apha.org/about/awards.  For more information contact deborah.dillard@apha.org or 202-777-2442.

• Sedgwick Memorial Medal – recognizes an individual for outstanding accomplishments in the field of public health and is APHA’s oldest and most prestigious honor
• APHA Award for Excellence – honors a living individual for creative work in applying scientific knowledge or innovation to improve community health
• David P. Rall Award for Advocacy in Public Health – recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to public health through science-based advocacy
• Martha May Eliot Award – honors a professional worker in the field of maternal and child health
• Milton and Ruth Roemer Prize for Creative Local Public Health – is awarded to a health officer of a county, city or other unit of local government in recognition of outstanding creative and innovative public health work
• Helen Rodriguez-Trias Social Justice Award – is awarded to an individual who has worked toward social justice for underserved and disadvantaged populations
• Sidel-Levy Award for Peace – is presented to an APHA member who has made outstanding contributions to preventing war and promoting international peace
• Jay S. Drotman Memorial Award – recognizes the career of a promising young public health professional or student
• Student Assembly Public Health Mentoring Award – recognizes an APHA member for their  essential role of mentoring in public health and leadership development

Potent Partnerships: Varda's network analysis tool helps public health systems nationwide

When economists talk about the value of a university to a community, they always mention its role in supporting innovation.  Gather a group of smart people in one place, reward them for research, provide affordable labor from graduate students, and viola, amazing things happen.  Like Google.  Read more...

Leon Vinci: New Director of San Juan Basin Health Department

Durango Herald
1/31/2011

Leon Vinci had barely settled into his new job as director of the San Juan Basin Health Department when he was tagged to be co-chairman of the Health Alliance of La Plata County.

Vinci took the added responsibility in stride because the newly created alliance shares his goals – providing as much quality health care to as many residents as possible.  Read more...

Jeanne Nicholson elected to Colorado State Senate

 Jeanne Nicholson (SD 16) has been elected to Senator of Senate District 16, previously held by Senator Dan Gibbs.  As a nurse and resident of the district for 39 years, Jeanne Nicholson is a two-term Gilpin County Commissioner and serves of the Gilpin County Board of Health.  For 39 years, Nicholson has used a hands-on approach to making her community the best place to live, work and raise a family.  Jeanne's priorities include strengthening our economy and getting our citizens back to work, providing access to health care, protecting the quality of our water and fighting for our families in these tough economic times.  Read more...

 

Dr. Chris Urbina named Executive Director of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Gov.-elect John Hickenlooper announced today Dr. Chris Urbina will be the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Urbina, a native of Pueblo, is now the Director of Denver Public Health at Denver Health, where he is responsible for expanding the reorganization of public health services toward a more community-oriented approach while preserving the outstanding public health clinical services.

 In his new role, Urbina will also serve as the state's Chief Medical Officer.

"Dr. Urbina is uniquely qualified to oversee all aspects of the Department of Public Health and Environment," Hickenlooper said. "He is a physician and public health expert who knows Colorado and knows how to build consensus on complicated issues. Chris also has extensive experience finding community-based solutions that involve the environment, systems and policy changes. He will serve our state well."  Read more...

Sue Birch named Executive Director of Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

Governor-elect John Hickenlooper announced that Sue Birch will be Executive Director of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

Birch is now the Chief Executive Officer of the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association in Steamboat Springs.  She also helped start Club 20's Health Care task force, which focused on Western Slope health care challenges.  The task force evolved into Healthy 58, uniting 58 non-metro counties from the state on improving health care.

"Sue Birch has made herself an expert on how to provide medical care in rural areas with limited budgets," Hickenlooper said. "Her regional and collaborative approach will serve well to address health care issues on a statewide basis."  Read more...

Boulder named happiest, healthiest city in America

Happy and healthy employees contribute largely to a business' success. As CEO, you may not have complete control over the atmosphere of the office. In fact, how many endorphins your employees have may depend on where the office is located.  

The Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index uncovered the cities where people are overall the happiest and healthiest.

The poll surveyed more than 300,000 Americans, asking questions about their jobs, finances, physical health, emotional state of mind, and communities

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/best-places-for-a-happy-office-2010-12##ixzz1A20bSeCu

It Takes Many Villages to Create a Public Health Improvement Plan

Public health has gained attention in Colorado over the last four years as a result of a partnership that includes health foundations, the Colorado School of Public Health, the state legislature, and state and local health agencies. The first important accomplishment occurred in 2008 as the nation’s newest School of Public Health, which resulted from collaboration among three state universities (University of Colorado, University of Northern Colorado, and Colorado State University), received its inaugural class. Meanwhile, momentum was building through an effort to rethink the state’s public health goals and strengthen the infrastructure for public health in Colorado. Many interests aligned and led to legislative action (Senate Bill (SB) 194 or the Public Health Improvement Act) mandating the development and adoption of the state’s first Public Health Improvement Plan and also, for the first time, a requirement for the formal designation of a public health agency in each county. Read more from Chris Wiant...

Colorado School of Public Health wins $3.2 million grant to train public health workers

AURORA, Colo. (Sept. 14, 2010) – As health care and disease prevention play an increasingly prominent role on the national stage, the Colorado School of Public Health won a major federal grant Monday to establish its own comprehensive center to train public health workers.

The grant of nearly $650,000 a year for five years – a total of about $3.2 million - will fund the new Colorado Public Health Training Center which will be part of the school’s Center for Public Health Practice, directed by Tim Byers, MD.  Read more...