Happy Retirement Pat O’Kray, You Earned It!!!

Andy

“Happy Retirement to You, Happy Retirement to You, Happy Retirement Dear Pat, Happy Retirement to You!”

Today faculty, students, and staff met in the GLC Leadership Room to celebrate the illustrious career of Pat O’Kray.  Having served 15 years at the School of Public Health, she has amassed the greatest amount of knowledge and most importantly, respect, from the entire department.

These past few months, Pat has served as a confidant, resource, and friend to me and my many classmates. Without her guidance, I know with absolute certainty, my transition to graduate school life would have much more difficult. From internships, to class scheduling, to responding to a barrage of random emails, she is one word, wonderful.

Pat O’Kray did not work for the University of Michigan Health Management and Policy department, she embodied it. On behalf of the entire HMP 2014 class, we will miss you.

Andy Mychkovsky is a first year HMP student at the School of Public Health.

A Bit of Brazil in Ann Arbor

Ine

Much to my delight, in September the university announced its intent to strengthen academic collaboration with Brazil, beginning with President Mary Sue Coleman leading a group of researchers on a visit to Brazil. Perhaps in the spirit of this initiative the University Musical Society decided to bring one of Brazil’s most popular icons, Gilberto Gil, to Hill Auditorium last week. He is famous for pioneering tropicália, an experimental artistic movement in Brazil during the 1960s characterized by a fusion of traditional Afro-Brazilian rhythms with rock and psychedelia. However, instead of performing a string of his famous hits during his show, he primarily played forró songs from his latest album Fé Na Festa inspired by the forró  greats, Luiz Gonzaga and Jackson do Pandeiro.

Though I love Gilberto Gil’s classics, at the sound of forró I was filled with saudade, a nostalgic longing, for Recife, where I did my internship this past summer. Brazil is world famous for samba and bossa nova, yet there is more to the richness and diversity of Brazilian musical tradition that remains relatively unknown to the outside world. It was not until my internship that I learned about forró, a nationally popular genre of Northeastern Brazilian folk music that combines the sounds of an accordion, triangle, and zabumba. And just as samba has Carnival, forró has São João, a month-long Northeastern festival in June. I celebrated the festival on weekends in Recife and in the country side in Caruaru, “The Capital of Forró”, dancing at large open-air concerts and street parties lasting from sunset to sunrise, eating coxinhas and drinking Skol.

During the concert my Portuguese tutor Mari, a visiting scholar from São Paulo, and I ran to the stage to get close to Gilberto Gil and did our best to solo forró in the corner (it is usually a partner dance). People swarmed the edge of the stage, dancing with abandon. A group of women waved the Brazilian flag over their heads as they danced. Spotting them, Gilberto Gil two-stepped over, gathered the flag in his hands and kissed it.

And for that hour and forty-five minutes it felt like summer again.

Quick Note: Internship & Job Hunting!

Michelle

To all 2nd years who are still looking for internships in the great state of Michigan, check out: http://interninmichigan.com/

Or you can follow them on Twitter — I have found Twitter to be a great resource for job hunting! I follow the National Institutes for Health, the United Nations, and other great employers and job searching engines.

Here are some other recent ideas from U.S. News: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/01/04/4-little-known-tools-for-a-2012-job-hunt

Good luck with your search !

SPH Annual Poster Session / Speed Dating Last Friday!

Michelle

So I have never actually been speed dating, but I believe this past Friday’s SPH Poster Session was a similar experience. It’s chaotic with lots of new faces, lots to talk about, and little time to convey everything you want to! Maybe you’re even seeing people you sort of know or recognize…waving at others from across a crowded room…and sipping on water any chance you get, in hopes not to lose your voice while blathering on about yourself..

Anyways, here are some modified speed dating tips to prepare you for your poster session next year, first-years:

1. Prepare a Profile. (My version: Maybe just prepare?).
Basically, work on your internship elevator speech! I’m not sure if I prepared enough beforehand since my conversations went off into so many different directions (might be due to having two posters) but it’s a good idea to just have some points about your internship that you want to get across when speaking to the first-years or others who come visit. Keep it short and sweet, about 1 or 2 minutes long, and highlight the positive aspects of your internship.

2. Have Questions Ready.
Have a set of questions ready to ask each person who comes up to the poster for after you give your elevator speech. You want to ask about their interests and see how they can align with what you have done in your internships – or outside of the internships too. You can ask about their current classes or if they have a work study position. Find a way to make it more of a conversation instead of a presentation.

3. Have Confidence.
Yes, it really stinks talking about yourself for two hours straight, but remember that you could have a lot to give the newbies and try your best to stay positive…

4. Be Positive.
When the poster session begins, you may think there is no one there will come to talk to you. Thinking this way before the session even starts is a recipe for disaster. Keep your mind open and smile. Though you want to be positive in the way you speak about your internships, you should be honest about the barriers/problems you encountered in your experience.

5. Don’t be a flaw finder. (My version: Just because someone’s interests don’t match yours initially doesn’t mean that you should have them move on to the next poster! Find some common ground!)
This goes hand-in-hand with being positive and having questions ready above. But also important to remember is that you’re not just there to talk to the first-year students, but also professors, fellow students from other departments, professionals, and more. I actually had a long conversation with a freshman student who had been told I was working at the Center for Managing Chronic Disease and we talked about her pursuing public health for the rest of undergrad and maybe graduate school.

6. Avoid bringing personal baggage to the table. (My version: Don’t get to negative aspects of the internship right away, but do be honest about them).
Like mentioned above, it is your responsibility to be honest if there were negative aspects to the experience that someone who is interested in following in your footsteps should be aware of.

7. Be engaging.
I’m keeping some of what the Millionnaire Matchmaker said initially for this tip–  “Patti Says: ‘The conversation should become a ping-pong match…Respond to questions with positive energy and enthusiasm, and stay on neutral subjects…Witty banter is very important. Ask interesting questions, be a good listener as well as an active participant.’”
Say hi to everyone who walks by, even if they do NOT look interested initially. You can change their minds! I also tried to have an interactive component to my presentation with the ribbons’ colors and cancer awareness..

8. Go easy on the booze. (My version: While going easy on the booze should be pretty obvious …. Have a nonalcoholic beverage on hand).
Luckily, Kau’i was the poster next to me and went to get water for us, essentially coming the rescue when we were both dying of thirst!

9. If you’re interested, show some interest! (My version: If you and an individual are truly finding your interests align, put a little more effort in to make their experience a little better).
I ended up having some wonderful conversations and gave information to first-years about certain professors’ research, particular classes, and job/volunteer opportunities.

10. Mind your manners. (My version: Look nice, act professional, and engage with your peers and others).

Thank you to everyone I got to speak with on Friday – it was so much fun, even if you were just at my posters to snag some candy.

From left: Reva Berman, Bethany Buschmann, Leah Gacioch, and I at the 2011 SPH Poster Session for HBHE

Also if we didn’t get a chance to talk, or you have any additional questions for me about my summer internships at the Center for Managing Chronic Disease or the Cancer Support Community, please feel free to contact me! Thanks!

Tips modified based on two very credible sources:
http://www.ehow.com/way_5230035_speed-dating-tips.html
http://www.bravotv.com/the-millionaire-matchmaker/speed-dating/tips

An ELEGANT way to support those impacted by cancer!

Michelle

During my summer internship at the Cancer Support Community (CSC) of Greater Ann Arbor, I got involved in their latest initiative, The Brides Project. Based on a similar organization in Toronto, Canada, The Brides Project (TBP) is a non-profit run by volunteers dedicated to raising funds for the programs of the CSC through the resale of donated bridal gowns. Once-worn gowns donated by brides or unsold gowns donated by bridal shops are made available for purchase to brides-to-be at a considerable savings. All profits from the sale of the gowns go to the CSC to support programs and services for people touched by cancer.

The gowns are high quality and offered at costs of 50% below market prices. And the boutique is at 208 W. Liberty St. in downtown Ann Arbor, thanks to Mark Hodesh of Mark’s Carts and Downtown Home and Garden fame!

Lovely Front Door of The Brides Project Boutique!

I have been a volunteer at the Cancer Support Community for two years and it’s been wonderful every minute- but this project has gone above and beyond and shown me how creative you can be when you put your mind to it! My involvement with TBP started with many different planning committees – helping with anything I could along the way. I helped create the inventory system for the donated dresses and inevitably I ended up working at a bridal show…

Might be bad luck, but it was fun nonetheless! This upcoming weekend – I’m so lucky to be going with fellow HBHEr, Leah Gacoich, to an appointment at TBP boutique. She’s going to look so beautiful in all of the gowns! I will try to update the blog with some of her thoughts about the project after the appointment on Sunday.

Hope everyone is having a productive, fun Fall Study Break! Don’t forget to stop by my poster this Friday to learn more about The Brides Project and the Cancer Support Community!

Blog Spotlight: Emily Renda! HBHE Internship and Alumni Coordinator

Michelle

I’ll admit it — I stole this great idea from the wonderful Katie Sloter, who interviewed Jackie Cormany last semester. Another influential person, not only in the Health Behavior Health Education (HBHE) department, but throughout the School of Public Health (SPH), is Emily Renda.

An alumnus of the MPH program, I spoke with Emily about her role at SPH now –  Here are some snippets from our conversation:

M: What is one thing that you wish you knew when you were a student at SPH?

E: I wish I had known that it goes by so fast and when you’re in it, it feels like you’re slugging through… You’re taking Biostatistics, Epidemiology and you’re figuring out your internship. You’ve lost contact with all of your family and friends because you’re so busy. But the two years go by so fast, so try to take moments every once in a while to look around and appreciate and enjoy the position that you’re in.

M: What is your favorite part of your job now?

E: That I get to work with students! Absolutely – Far and above my favorite part.

M: I think we’re kind of obnoxious personally… (kidding, love you guys!)

E: Of course you are! That’s probably the hardest part too. It’s the best part, and at times the hardest part too. People are complicated and come with complicated situations – but that’s part of my position and I just so enjoy meeting people from all over the world. Everyone is so excited and enthusiastic and has great ideas and a lot of input to bring. So that’s definitely my favorite part.

M: Outside of your job, what do you enjoy?

E: I’m an outdoorsy-type of person. I’m pretty active- I enjoy running, swimming, yoga, biking. I have a dog – Mr. J. Brown, the light of my life. He’s a German Shepard mix, typical mongrel-type, six years old. So I spend a lot of time hiking with him and just doing things with him. I also enjoy movies and reading. Hanging out with my friends- I have a nice little friend base here in Ann Arbor; a lot of friends from when I was in school.

M: What do students come to you for?

E: I’m in the internship coordinator so students will come to me to talk about their internships. I’m also facilitating the new capstone course, so students will not have to come see me– they will have me in class. We’ll be doing an overview of internship requirements, M Portfolio, and professional development, as well as alumni and faculty panels, guest lectures. But I would encourage students to come to me for anything, whether it’s related to school or an issue with a class or colleague, or even personal – I would encourage students to come talk to me, my door is always open.

SUPER Quick Snippets:
How she’s feeling RIGHT now (well, at the time of the convo) = Excited!
She was born = In Cleveland, OH
Her favorite season of the year = Fall
She played this growing up = Swimming
She’s a huge fan of = UM & Cleveland sports (Indians, Browns, & Cavaliers)

While Emily primarily works with students in the HBHE department, she knows a LOT about SPH so she is definitely a valuable resource and feel free to contact her:

Office : 3782 SPH I
Phone: 734/763-6530
Email: erenda@umich.edu

Thank you Emily!

The Best Internship, Ever: Social Media Meets Health Care

Tasha Edwards

As the Social Media Intern at Henry Ford Health System, I had the opportunity of working in the two areas I love, new media and healthcare. The internship of my dreams. Sadly, the internship has come to an end, but the memories will last forever. The fact that I was able to practice exactly what I thought was my dream career, in and of itself, made for a great internship. Interning within the Marketing/Web Services Department, I was able to learn so much about marketing and internet marketing in the hospital environment. It was truly a great educational and professional development experience.

My internship preceptors were excellent at assigning me projects that they thought would be beneficial, as well as allowing me to develop my own assignments to hone my social media skills. All of the  individuals that I worked with in Marketing, Public Relations, and Communications were very hardworking, uplifting, and team oriented. As many people know, coworkers are just as important in overall job satisfaction as the actual work itself. (Side note: They even helped me the day my car was towed when I went to the dentist downtown on my lunch break. Life savers.)

Some people my say, “Oh, you interned in social media? So, you created a Facebook page. LOL.”

And to those people I say, “I am so happy you think that way. Here’s my card. You can call me in the future when the competition is passing you, because you do not understand the power of social media.”

Seriously, social media in the corporate environment is marketing, social responsibility, public relations, health communication and so much more. (Just check how many twitter accounts the CDC has created.) Practicing social media in health care is writing marketing strategies, developing communication plans, creating innovative campaigns, and pioneering Public Health Internet Applications. And if it is done correctly, a solid social media strategy can serve as a serious point of differentiation.

I love that I had the chance to intern in an area that joined social media and health care. They are two areas that bring me so much joy. I never feel as though I am working when the two come together.  Harnessing the power of social media for the good of Public Health, and health care in general, is now my solidified career goal. That is why my Henry Ford Health System Social Media intern experience was the best internship ever!

One Ford Place

5 Tips to Landing a Great Internship

Tasha Edwards

Let’s start by saying, I look nothing like this picture. I will post a picture of my current self below. My, how things have changed in a year. On to the point of this post, my internship. In the fall, I will be second year Master’s degree student at the School of Public Health in the department of Health Management and Policy. I believe that it is a requirement in all the Master’s degree programs to complete an internship between the first and second year of study. My internship is at Henry Ford Health System in the Web Services. The main component of my work in the development and implementations of social media strategies.

I am so lucky to have received this internship, because it is very fitted to goals and talents. The department of web services sits inside of Marketing and alongside Corporate Planning, Public Relations, Communications, and Media Resources. I live for this stuff! I feel that every project I am a part of or take charge of is helping me to hone my skills to be successful in the future. Awesome, right? I know!

So, how do you get an internship as great as mine? Here are 5 quick tips.

1. Speak up about your interest, experience, and goals. You never know who’s listening, who they know, or what they can offer you.
2. Be professional in your work, study, classes, and extracurricular activities. I am not saying you need to wear a suit everyday, but look presentable. Employers and alumni visit the school for interviews, recruitment, and workshops on a regular basis.
3. Do not procrastinate on deadlines, interviews, emails, etc. Someone else could just be waiting to take your place.
4. Have an idea about the type of internship that would best fulfill you or the place you would like to be live. If you don’t know, then no one else will.
5. Follow up with potential employers. Like I stated previously, you are not the only student trying to obtain an internship, so you have to make an effort to stay at the top of the list.

I really hope these tips helped. This is how I got my awesome internship, and hopefully you will have a similar story to tell.

How to divvy up life? (I am asking not telling.)

Katie Sloter

Kurt Vonnegut said something to the effect of “Please notice when you are happy, so you can say to yourself ‘if this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.’”

I am happy. However, I am feeling a sense of urgency, somewhat. I cannot believe it is the second semester of this year. There is so much I want to get in this life. A year in Uganda perhaps, two in El Salvador? Medical school, maybe five or six years working for Doctors Without Borders? Don’t forget that year in Italy to learn to cook, and maybe a family and/or motorcycling from Alaska to Chile?

I know this can be a stressful time for you—second years thinking about the immediate future. First years figuring out living arrangements for next year, juggling jobs and school and trying to find a (funded!) internship. The things we are doing now are in preparation for the coming years. The people we invest in, the jobs we choose, the internships we pick—it all matters a bit more now.

Time has somehow changed from a vague concept of something untouchable and mysterious, to something becoming more formed and planned. Which is good. Sobering, but good. In the best case scenario, I get 79.9 years, the average life span for a woman in the United States. What is worthy of this time? Investing in mind, spirit, or the creative things?

As I look around at you, my lovely classmates, I am amazed at how you will use your time. How much potential, and opportunity, sits in this room? Maybe 40 desks, three or four people per desk. How many teachers, coaches, sisters, pastors, parents, friends gave encouragement? “You will be great, I just know. You can be and do whatever you want to, I just know. You, my dear, will change the world. You must know this one for yourself, I think.”

So all the connections formed, all the pathways, all the investment of time and hope, and the hopes of people you might not even intend to affect are waiting to be used. Even as time is becoming more planned, we still have the freedom of how to apply what we are learning here. There is still freedom—and freedom makes me happy, and possibility, and a continued totipotency throughout life.  If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.

In the best-case scenario, I get 57 more years. How do we use the freedom well, so at the end we have lived with honor? How do we divvy the time and investment, of all the worthy things, of every person that waits, how do we decide which ones are most important and where to direct attentions?

Internship at the Washtenaw County Health Department

Carrie Rheingans

You know you’re a public health dork when… you leave a two-hour meeting at your internship with your head buzzing about the possibilities of health promotion programs in your community. For my social work field placement this academic year, I’m placed at the local health department, Washtenaw County Public Health. On my first day of orientation to SPH, I remember hearing someone say that if you’ve seen one local health department, you’ve seen ONE local health department – meaning that each local health department is so different from the next that there aren’t many generalizations that can be made about them. WCPH is fortunate to be able to do many health promotion programs that are in addition to their mandated public health duties as required by state or federal regulations.

Our division meeting included updates on a number of health promotion programs, from smoking cessation and healthy eating to biking to work and substance use prevention. It was reassuring to hear a lot of terms I’ve been learning in my graduate studies, and to see how health programs operate in my local community – instead of just reading about it from research articles. One staff member gave a report from a presentation at  statewide conference she had recently attended in which a health communication campaign out of Jackson, Michigan was discussed. I had heard about this campaign before in my health communication course last fall – it was a final project option for some of the students in my class! It was nice to see it come to fruition and be lauded across the state. You can learn more about it on their website – Most Teens Don’t!

Most Teens Don't Logo

Another major topic of the meeting was a big grant we’ve been writing for the last couple weeks for the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH). It’s been a fun process being part of this grant proposal. The MDCH has funded 16 community organizations and local health departments over the last year to do planning in their communities for addressing health disparities among various ethnic populations. Washtenaw County was funded to work with African-Americans and Latinos, and we just submitted our proposal for the next phase of the grant – implementation. Even if we don’t get funded, it was a great learning experience to be able to work on developing the programs for the Latino-focused part of the proposal, as well as the evaluation plan. I got to apply what I learned in HBHE 651 (Program Development) and what I’m learning right now in HBHE 622 (Program Evaluation), in addition to many of the theories I learned in HBHE 600 (Psychosocial Factors in Health-Related Behavior) and SW 502 (Organizational, Community and Societal Structures and Processes).