Georgia PH week [Oct. 21, 2013]

PHWEEK 10-21-2013: Genetic Testing Helps Family Fight Cancer

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Genetic Testing Helps Family Fight Cancer

When Mirrin Reagan

was 30 years old, a

possible breast

Submit your story suggestions, ideas, comments or a story of
your own!

cancer diagnosis was the last thing on her mind. Mammograms were recommended

for most women 10

years older than

In This Issue

Reagan.

But that year, her

Genetic Testing Helps Family Fight Cancer

life changed when she discovered a

Tricks and Treats

lump in her breast

Mirrin Reagan (third from right) with her sister, mother, father, daughter and husband at her cancer victory party three months after her last chemotherapy
treatment in Nov. 2009.

Lead Poisoning Still a Public through a breast self-

Health Threat

exam. Her doctor confirmed that she had breast cancer. Her

The Key for Better Health? A Good diagnosis was the latest in a long family history of cancer.

Book
PHBRIEFS

"First, my paternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32 and again at 52," said Reagan. "Then, my Aunt Ellen was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 42, followed by my father's

diagnosis for prostate cancer at age 52, which returned with a

Emory Panel to Discuss

vengeance."

Partner Violence

Relationship, dating or domestic Reagan's father also had been confirmed as a carrier of a mutation to

violence is a pervasive problem a gene, BRCA2, which increased his risk of cancer. affecting one in four women and

about one in 33 men directly in their lifetimes. Join the Emory Center for

Injury Control for a panel discussion
on how a coordinated community Tricks and Treats for a Happy, Healthy
response to violence can make a
Halloween difference in the lives of Georgians. The presentation will be Oct. 24,

from 12-1 p.m. at Emory University's School of Nursing, 1520 Clifton Rd Halloween is almost here, and NE, room 101. Community resources kids all over Georgia can't wait to

from the Women's Resource Center Against Domestic Violence and Partnership Against Domestic Violence will be available.

put on their costumes and go trick-or-treating. But collecting a bucket full of candy can lead children to some unhealthy

Give Blood at DPH's Blood Drive
Visit 2 Peachtree's second floor fitness center to give the life-saving
gift of blood on Oct. 22. DPH and

choices and leave parents wondering how to fit a fun Halloween into a healthy lifestyle.

the American Red Cross will host the

blood drive from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. To schedule an appointment for donation, please visit
http://www.redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code: 2peachtree,

DPH's partner, Strong4Life, part of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, has some tips for keeping the holiday healthy.

or e-mail Sherry Coleman at

sdmarbury@dhr.state.ga.us

Hand Out Healthy Treats

Extra Meds?
Dispose of Them Safely Turn in unused or expired medications safely on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on

Before you know it, little ghosts and goblins will be at your door yelling "trick or treat!" What will you be handing out? Rather than running out the night before to grab whatever's left over, plan ahead and consider how you can provide healthier options.

Oct. 26 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sponsored by the U.S. Drug



Enforcement Administration, the

event aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of

Lead

Poisoning

Still

a

Public

Health

Threat disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public

about the potential for abuse of

medications. Locate a drop-off site near you.


It's easy to think that lead poisoning is a problem that disappeared decades ago,

PHEVENTS

along with leaded gasoline or lead-based paints. But the

Looking for DPH events?

problem plagues more than

Visit the Events Schedule on our half a million U.S. children,

website.

more than 5,000 of whom live

in Georgia.

PHTRAINING
Two for Tuesdays Join the Office of Learning and Development the second Tuesday of each month from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. for the learning series Two for Tuesdays. This series provides an opportunity for programs to explore new ideas, share knowledge and highlight teams and their work. On Nov. 12, staff from the Office of Maternal and Child Health will present. To learn more and to
register, click here.
Introduction to Public Health Test your public health knowledge in this newly designed course. New and seasoned employees are invited to learn about all areas of public
health and how individual roles support DPH's goals. Course dates are Oct. 22 and Nov. 26. To learn more and to register, visit SABA or
email Donna Dunn at dgdunn@dhr.state.ga.us.
PowerPoint Basics Thurs., Oct. 24 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Word Tables and Forms Tues., Oct. 29 1:30-4:00 p.m.
PowerPoint Clip Art and Graphics
Thurs., Oct. 31 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
PowerPoint Intermediate Thurs., Oct. 31 1:30-4:00 p.m
Look for Access classes in November.

Christy Kuriatnyk, director of

the Lead and Healthy Homes

program at the Georgia Department of Public Health

Lead-based paints and dust in older homes can put children at risk for lead poisoning.

(DPH), said national public

health measures, such as removing lead from paint in 1978 and

gasoline in 1986, dramatically reduced the number of lead poisoning

cases from previous decades, perhaps leading many to think that the

problem had been solved forever.

"Lead poisoning has essentially been squeezed out by other public health priorities," she said. "Even so, childhood lead poisoning remains a dangerous threat to those who are most vulnerable and subject to residing in older housing, where lead paint hazards still exist."


The Key for Better Health? A Good Book

Reading is good for your mind, of course, but Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., wants you to know that it's also good for your health.

On Oct. 4, Fitzgerald

shared her love of

reading with 3- and

4-year-old students

at the Bridge Learning Center in

DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., celebrated reading with a pre-school class in Carrollton, Ga.,

Carrollton, Ga., for

during Pre-K Week.

Pre-K Week, a

celebration of early child learning. Why is the state health officer so

passionate about books? Reading, and its vital role in education, has

a strong connection to better health.

For employees not at 2 Peachtree, classes can be attended remotely -however, remote attendees must be registered 48 hours prior to class.
Register for all classes through SABA (2 Peachtree attendees register for "Instructor-Led" and remote attendees register for "Virtual" classes). Contact Lisa Miller if you have questions.

"Of all the things we look at that affect health besides genetics, education is probably one of the most important -- the education that allows our children to graduate from high school," Fitzgerald said.


Free Online Courses Available
from Lynda.com
DPH has purchased a limited number of licenses for Lynda.com, an online library of high-quality, easy-to-use instructional videos on the latest software, creative and
business skills. Licenses are available for check out on a first come, first served basis. To check out a license, simply email Lisa Miller from your public health email
account.
Submit Calendar Entries to communications@dhr.state.ga.us

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PHRECIPE

Brown Rice with Sizzling Chicken and Vegetables Serves 4
Prep and Cook Time: 30 min.
Click Here for Full Recipe
PHWEEK
Director of Communications Ryan Deal Editor Carrie Gann
Content Coordinator Connie F. Smith
Sr. Graphic Designer Ginny Jacobs
Interim Web Developer Jimmy Clanton, Jr.
Editorial & Design Team Tammy Beasley Eric Jens Nancy Nydam Sandra Roberts
Georgia Public Health Observances | October 2013

Eye Injury Prevention Month

Forward email

National Bullying Prevention Month

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