Follow Us! Commissioner Welcomes Special Advisor for HIV, STDs, Viral Hepatitis, and TB I am pleased to announce that, as of Submit your story suggestions, ideas, comments or a story of your own! this week, Melanie Thompson, M.D., will be consulting with the Department of Public In This Issue Commissioner's Special Advisor Health as my Special Advisor for HIV, STDs, Viral Hepatitis, and TB. As many of you know, Dr. Thompson Cobb School Blazes Trail Chatham Goes Smoke-Free DFCS Workers Walking The Obesity Epidemic Be the Match Senate: PH Leadership has worked collaboratively with several of our divisions Melanie Thompson, M.D. (center), pictured with Patrick O'Neal, M.D., Dir., Div. of Health Protection (left), and Commissioner Brenda J. since 1989 through the Fitzgerald, M.D.(right), will be consulting with AIDS Research the Department of Public Health as the Special Consortium of Atlanta Advisor for HIV, STDs, Viral Hepatitis, and TB. (ARCA). She is a leader in HIV research and clinical care who currently chairs the PHEVENTS International AIDS Society-USA Antiretroviral Guidelines Panel and the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care Guidelines Board of Public Health Meeting Apr. 10 1 p.m. 5th Floor Board Room 2 Peachtree Street Panel on Entry Into and Retention in Care and Antiretroviral Adherence. She previously chaired the National Institutes of Health's Office of AIDS Research, Therapeutics Research Working Group, on which she still serves. In the early 1990's she was a founding member of the State of Georgia's Task Force on AIDS. Throughout her other activities, she has always maintained an active role in providing medical care for persons with HIV, STDs, 83rd Annual GPHA Meeting and and hepatitis. Conference Apr.12 - 13 Crowne Plaza Atlanta Ravinia 4355 Ashford-Dunwoody Road Atlanta, GA 30346 Cobb School Blazes Trail in Promoting Students' Health To register, click here. Superpuff Saturday: Asthma Day Camp Natalie Rogers knows health and exercise. She is a retired Apr. 21 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Northside Baptist Church, Valdosta For children 6-12 years old and their parents Sponsored by Children's Medical Services & South Health District Camp offers a fun-filled day of games, food and prizes while increasing your knowledge about asthma, its treatment, how to cope with the illness and special needs associated with asthma. For more information contact CMS at 800-848-5728 or 229-245-4310. Submit Calendar Entries to askdph@dhr.state.ga.us professional ballerina, a former pre-med student at UGA and currently a fitness instructor who values healthy living. A few years ago, Rogers was distressed by the lack of physical activity and the poor Sope Creek students, parents and faculty take nutritional quality of care of their school's produce. Photo courtesy of cafeteria food that her Natalie Rogers now 10-year-old daughter experienced at Sope Creek Elementary School in Cobb County. PHRECIPE But Rogers said everything has changed for the better in the last few years. "We got a new principal, Martha Whalen, and she just totally gets it," said Rogers, who became Sope Creek's PTA Health and Nutrition Committee co-chair in 2007. "She totally gets the connection between the brain and the body." Quick Broiled Halibut Servings: 2 Total Time: 15 min Click Here for Full Recipe PHBRIEFS Nursing Excellence Awards: Call for Nominations Each year in commemoration of National Nurses Week and in celebration of Florence Nightingale's birthday, founder of nursing as a modern profession, the Department of Public Health Office of Nursing recognizes nurses at the state, district and county levels for their contributions and commitment to excellence in public health nursing. Award recipients will be announced at the Nurses Week Celebration on May 3, 2012. Contact Meshell McCloud by April 2, 2012 for nomination forms. Georgia Board of Public Health Chair Named Legendary Philanthropic Leader The Georgia Center for Nonprofits' Legendary Philanthropic Leader designation is awarded to an individual who has invested significant efforts to the Georgia philanthropic community. This year, the Georgia Center for Nonprofits honors Dr. Gary Nelson, chair of the Georgia Board of Public Health, for his vigorous commitment to the well-being of all Georgians. Dr. Nelson is President of Healthcare Georgia Foundation, Inc., a private independent foundation in Atlantawhere he is responsible for executive management of the Foundation's program, financial, and management operations. Working with the Foundation's Board of Directors, Dr. Nelson oversees the Foundation's grant-making program dedicated to advancing the health of Georgia's citizens and expanding access to affordable, quality healthcare for underserved individuals and communities. PHTRAINING MS Access Basics Training Mar. 21 9:15 A.M. - 12:15 P.M. To register in SABA, click here Contact Lisa Miller for training manual and location information Performance Management Process Mar. 22 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 2 Peachtree St., 7th floor, room 2 1-day course for new supervisors and managers to learn the four phases of the Performance Management Process (PMP) To register in SABA, click here Program Evaluation: Using Logic Models to Create an Evaluation Framework Mar. 28 1 p.m. -3 p.m. 2 Peachtree St., Atlanta, Room 16- 105 or VICS This 2-hour session will build on the previous logic models training and will focus on using logic models to create an evaluation framework. To register click here Health Communications Skills for the Public Health Practitioner Mar. 29-30 Dolce Atlanta-Peachtree Peachtree City, GA This hands-on two-day training course will provide practical tools and strategies on how health communication can be used in public health practice. RSVP: Mar. 23 For complete training details and to register click here. Click on Upcoming Events. Email Tara Redd with questions Larval Mosquito ID class Apr. 16-17 Chatham County Mosquito Control facility, Savannah Free mosquito ID classes open to environmental health specialists, mosquito control techs, PCOs, and anyone else with an interest in learning to ID mosquitoes To sign up, email Rosmarie Kelly Sope Creek now combines an exercise program and good nutrition with solid academic performance that has been recognized on a state level. Chatham County Goes Smoke-Free Chatham County, Georgia, will be a healthier place to live, work, and play thanks to a Smoke-free Ordinance passed by the Chatham County Commission on February 24. By a vote of 7-1, the Commission adopted the most comprehensive smokefree ordinance in the state of Georgia. Young members of the Coastal Health District Flash Mob Dance Crew get ready to perform at a February 22 event celebrating the city of Savannah's one-year anniversary of being smoke- free. Effective March 25, 2012, the ordinance applies to any business that allows the public inside or has at least one non-family member employee. All bars, restaurants, outdoor serving areas and private clubs will now be smoke-free. Electronic smoking devices known as "e-cigs" are also prohibited in all businesses and public places. The Chatham ordinance is even stronger than the smoke-free air ordinance that was implemented by the city of Savannah in 2011. The county ordinance tightens up ambiguities in the city ordinance by prohibiting Hookah bars and lounges. DFCS Workers Walking the Stairs for Health's Sake: How My Walks Caught On As a full-time employee of the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), mother, and student, my days and nights are extremely busy. Often times, hectic lifestyles and stress go hand in hand along with a variation of other health ailments. Due to my packed schedule, I was bothered that I did not have time to work out to achieve my fitness goals. To my astonishment, I was wrong. In DFCS, the stairs were DFCS workers started a Get Fit Club and they literally staring at me walk the stairs to improve fitness during their each floor day as I on the 18th walked toward work day at 2 Peachtree Street. From bottom to top of stairs: Dorethea Durden, Valerie Parker, Roxanne Dearro, and Tacia Bazile. the elevator. I realized one day that I had the time and just needed to incorporate exercise into my work schedule. That's how I began to walk the stairs and invited other DFCS workers to join me for the Get Fit Club. I work on the 18th floor at 2 Peachtree Street in Atlanta, which is the starting point, and walk to the 28th floor, and then back down to the 18th. This amount of walking certainly gets the heart rate up and the blood pumping. With each step, you increase the muscle movement and toning in your legs and hamstring. Going up the stairs is a way to raise the heart rate and walking down will gradually bring it back down to a resting rate. I began to invite more of my colleagues, and to my surprise they were eager to join me with similar goals. Now we try to walk the stairs together, but find ourselves still taking the challenge alone if our schedule doesn't permit us to walk together as a team. It's great to do it alone or in a group! In a group you may experience the encouragement to push a little further when you don't want to. At about the 5th flight, you can feel your muscles stretching and your heart pounding. Occasionally, you can hear someone encouraging the team to "keep moving" or "we can do this" as we walk toward our fitness goals. When taking the stairs alone you can have a moment to yourself to clear your thoughts and decompress. Every other week, we add two more flights of stairs. We're currently walking from floors 18th to 32nd, two times a day. The Obesity Epidemic: Looking Beyond the Obvious Adult Mosquito ID class May 21-22 Hinesville Free mosquito ID classes open to environmental health specialists, mosquito control techs, PCOs, and anyone else with an interest in learning to ID mosquitoes To sign up, email Rosmarie Kelly Submit Calendar Entries to askdph@dhr.state.ga.us PHTECHTIP Create a List with Checkboxes in Word 2007/2010 Here's an easy way to add a list with checkboxes in Word: Create a bulleted list Select the list On the Home tab, in the Paragraphs group, click the arrow on the Bullets If a checkbox does not appear on the Bullets drop-down menu, click Define New Bullet Under Bullet Character, click the Symbol button From the Symbol menu, click on a checkbox symbol and click OK You can also select another font, such as Wingdings, and choose a checkbox from this font before clicking OK This is a quick and simple way to create a checkbox list for printing. However, it does not allow you to click the checkbox on the screen and check the item off the list. Next week's tip will cover this more advanced technique for creating checkbox lists in Word. -by Lisa Miller, Human Resources Information Systems, Georgia Department of Public Health Is it possible that chemicals we're exposed to everyday could be a big part of the national obesity epidemic? Lawton Davis, M.D., director of South Central Health District, joined employees at 2 Peachtree to talk about obesogens- compounds found in everyday objects like some cans, water bottles, nonstick pans and shower curtains. The effect of these chemicals on cells is significant enough to interrupt the body's system that controls your weight-increasing fat cells and decreasing the calories Lawton Davis, M.D., director of South Central Health District, shares research on obesogens, you burn. compounds that interrupt the body's system that controls your weight, with employees at 2 Dr. Davis described the Peachtree during a recent lunch and learn. growing obesity and overweight trend in the U.S. Both have risen dramatically in the nation over the past 30 years. Dr. Davis described the traditional focus on combating obesity as "just eat less and exercise more." But then he posed a great question. "What about all those children and adolescents who are getting fat and developing diabetes and hypertension? Are they simply the victims of an overfed and under-exercised culture?" PHNEWS Be the Match: SNS Planner Donates Bone Marrow to Save a Child's Life NFL players tout healthy living to Middle Georgia kids Diet FAQs for Georgians Publication Gives Schools 'How To' Ideas for Involving Parents in School Health One in four TB cases is a recent transmission, CDC reports Duluth parks first in Gwinnett to ban smoking Warm, dry winter leads to 'intense' allergy season CDC issues warning on C. difficile infections Bill Targets Vacant Properties Health officials issue warning over rabid kitten found at Starbucks PHWEEK Seven years ago after donating blood, Gerald Gifford, Strategic National Stockpile Planner for Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments, signed up to be a bone marrow donor by sending in a cheek swab to the National Marrow Donor Program. As the years passed, he didn't give the process much thought... At least not until November 11, 2011 when his phone rang, "We think you're a bone marrow match Gerald Gifford, Strategic National Stockpile for a one year old child. Are you still available?" Gifford's Planner for Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments donated bone marrow that helped save a young child's life. emotions ran the gamut from "How painful is this going to be?" to "Let's do this!" Editor Kimberly Stringer Content Coordinator Connie F. Smith Graphic Designer Jimmy Clanton, Jr. With his "yes", began a series of blood tests to see how closely his genetics matched the child's medical profile. As the match was confirmed, the level of testing became more complex, culminating with a full-day, and complete physical at Emory's Winship Cancer Institute. While Gifford was being checked, the recipient's doctors were working on getting the child strong enough to go through the procedure. After being delayed once, the procedure took place on February 13, 2012. Digital Properties Manager Bobbi Powell Editorial & Design Team Charles Gary Ginny Jacobs Sandra Roberts Suleima Salgado Director of Communications Ryan Deal Georgia Senate Recognizes Public Health Leadership The Georgia Senate recently recognized two Public Health leaders for their sacrifices, foresights, accomplishments and contributions on behalf of the health of Georgia through two Senate resolutions. Beverly Townsend, M.D., M.P.A., F.A.A.F.P., director of West Central Health District was recognized for the Beverly Townsend, M.D.(left), Director of West Central Health District and Kathryn K. Cheek, M.D.(right), Georgia Board of Public Health vital role she plays in leadership and her commitment to the citizens of Georgia. "She has diligently and conscientiously devoted innumerable hours of her time, talents and energy toward the betterment of her community and state," stated the resolution. Public Health Observances for March 2012 National Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day March 20 Click Here for more information Forward email National Colorectal Cancer Click Here for more information World Tuberculosis Day March 24 Click Here for more information This email was sent to gadocs@uga.edu by askdph@dhr.state.ga.us | Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribeTM | Privacy Policy. Georgia Department of Public Health | 2 Peachtree Street, NW | Atlanta | GA | 30303