DCHNOW: a quick look around, 40707

Week of June 13, 2011
Welcome to DCHNOW: the latest news from across the agency, articles on timely topics and updates about what is going on in the organization. Consider this one of your major stops for news on anything DCH. We're happy to have you visit our site and if you would like to give us feedback on anything you find in DCHNOW, please e-mail: dchnow@dch.ga.gov.
Week of June 13, 2011
PH Monitors E.coli | Commissioner Address | PH Countdown | 107.9 Birthday Bash | Childhood Obesity | Tackling Infant Mortality
Public Health Closely Monitors E.coli Threat as Outbreak Spreads in Europe
More than 2,900 people in Europe have fallen ill as a result of a rare E.coli outbreak in Germany that has already claimed 29 lives. This E.coli is known as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O104:H4 (STEC O104:H4). The Georgia Division of Public Health has ramped up its 24-hour surveillance of E.coli cases and has alerted local epidemiologists to keep a sharp eye on any potential cases. So far, no cases have been reported in Georgia. Read more

Commissioner to Address Georgia State Medical Association
From examining the impacts of HIV and physician participation in clinical trials to implementing treatment strategies that specifically affect African-Americans, the Georgia State Medical Association (GSMA) is the voice of African-Americans and other minority physicians in the State of Georgia.
Department of Community Health (DCH) Commissioner David Cook has been invited to address the GSMA's 2011 Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly on Friday, June 17. Read more
Countdown to Public Health Transition
With less than 15 days to transition to the new Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), employees posed more questions about how things will work, especially in the areas of new policies and procedures. We heard from you. DCHNOW sought answers: Read more
Public Health to Celebrate Hot 107.9's Birthday Bash 16
So what do R & B singer Chris Brown, Rap artist Rick Ross and Public Health have in common?
As part of an ongoing partnership with Radio One Broadcast Group, Georgia Department of Community Health's (DCH) Public Health programs are reaching out to listeners by participating in this year's Hot 107.9 annual Birthday Bash event on June 18, 2011. Read more
DCH Epidemiologist Takes Personal Approach to Childhood Obesity

The results from the Georgia Student Survey (2009) are fairly grim: just over one in three (thirty-four percent) middle school students aged 11-14 and more than one in four (twenty-seven percent) high school students aged 1418 are either overweight or obese. No one wants their kids to be unhealthy and suffer long-term serious health problems in the future. However, one DCH staff member is teaching her family healthy behaviors about food.
"After working all day as an epidemiologist, being mom and chef at home are important jobs for me," said A. Rana Bayakly, Chief Epidemiologist for Chronic Disease, Healthy Behaviors and Injury, Epidemiology Section. "I am committed to making healthy meals that will help reduce childhood obesity." Read more
Tackling Infant Mortality and Low Birth Weight Babies
Babies born too small and too soon start life at a great disadvantage, if they're lucky enough to survive at all.
The largest contributor to Georgia's infant mortality rate is the birth of low birth weight and very low birth weight babies. Georgia ranks 45th in the nation for the number of low birth weight babies born each year according to 2007 birth data and rankings by the Kaiser Family Foundation. But now, there's a program that can help improve birth outcomes. Read more