Don't see graphics and text from DPH?Click here Follow Us! Breast Cancer Survivor Series: DPH's Mauri Smith Finds Joy and Laughter Amid Breast Cancer Treatment Submit your story suggestions, ideas, comments or a story of your own! In This Issue Breast Cancer Survivor Series: DPH's Mauri Smith You may have seen Mauri Smith's bright smile while walking through the hallways of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) or enjoyed one of her humorous employee training sessions. No matter how you've interacted with Smith, DPH project director, you will immediately notice her infectious positive attitude. Trick-or-Treating Tips for Like many women, Smith took Oral Health the advice of her health care DPH Employee, Kimberly Stringer, Earns Ironman Status provider and began having Mauri Smith (center) shows her support for breast cancer patients at annual mammograms when she turned 40 years old. For more a recent CrossFit breast cancer awareness sporting event, "Save a Rack." Employees Roll Up Their Sleeves for the 2014 Seasonal than 10 years, her mammograms showed no signs of cancer or any abnormalities. Flu Vaccination Nurse Consultant Wins Faculty of the Year Award Her mammogram results took a sudden turn in April when a mass was identified in her right breast. Upon her initial diagnosis, Smith believed she was fighting stage 2 cancer. However, after a subsequent surgery, her doctor upgraded the diagnosis to stage 2A, App of the Week: My Diet indicating the continued spread of the cancer inside the breast and nearby lymph nodes. Coach PHEVENTS Looking for DPH events? Visit the Events Schedule on our website. PHTRAINING Two for Tuesdays Join the Office of Human Resources on 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. To learn more and to register, click here. Check out Saba for these September Courses True Colors: Discovering Your Personal Best Mon., Oct. 27 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. HR - Training Room 16th Floor Computer Training Outlook Basics* Wed., Oct. 28 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Trick-or-Treating Tips for Oral Health this Halloween By the end of the week, children across Georgia will put on their favorite costume, mask and facial make-up in celebration of Halloween. The National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts total Halloween spending will reach a whopping $7.5 billion, which will include costumes, decorations and the highly sought after candy treats. Although candy is one of the most important components of an exciting night of trick- or-treating for kids, consistent consumption of sugar and unhealthy food Children with healthy teeth have better attendance and attention in options can have significant school according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. impacts on the oral health of kids and their families. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children with healthy mouths have a better chance of good general health. Additionally, maintaining healthy teeth can give children confidence in their appearance, which can impact school attendance and better attention in school. Outlook Basics* Wed., Oct. 28 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. *Instructor demonstration class only, no computer use by students __________ 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). View monthly training calendars on PHIL. Contact Lisa Miller if you have questions. DPH Employee, Kimberly Stringer, Earns Ironman Status Most triathletes agree that finishing an Ironman competition is one of the most grueling sporting events anyone can endure, but the personal satisfaction is well worth the struggle. Ironman competitions, organized by the World Triathlon Corporation, are a series of long-distance races of swimming, biking and running without any breaks. Look for Outlook and PowerPoint Kimberly Stringer, deputy classes in October and Excel classes in November. director of government __________ relations for the Georgia Department of Public Health Free Online Courses (DPH), recently participated in Available from Lynda.com the IRONMAN Chattanooga DPH has a limited number of competition to benefit the licenses for lynda.com which is an Crohn's and Colitis Foundation online library of high-quality, and finished with a time of easy-to-use instructional videos on the latest software, creative 12:47:49. and business skills. Licenses are available for check out on a first IRONMAN Chattanooga come, first served basis. To check out a license, simply email Lisa Miller from your Public Health email account. consisted of a 2.4-mile swim in the Tennessee River with ample spectator vantage points alongside the city's Kimberly Stringer celebrates finishing the IRONMAN Chattanooga. Submit calendar entries to communications@dph.ga.gov by 12 noon on Wednesday. famous Riverwalk. The 112mile bike ride was two loops of a 56-mile course with a scenic farmland and mountain views. The 26.2-mile run showcased Chattanooga's beautiful downtown, the South Side, Riverview and North Shore. PHNEWS Living with a Smoker is Like DPH Employees Roll Up Their Sleeves for the 2014 Living in a Polluted City Seasonal Flu Vaccination Clinic Genetic Variant May Shield Latinas From Breast Cancer While you're enjoying the cooler weather and planning Human Rights Campaign, CDC, WHO Endorse Once-A- Day Pill Truvada For HIV your winter vacations, you may want to add one more item to your to-do list getting the flu shot. This Prevention year's winter season is just now gearing up, but it's never On an Antibiotic? You May Be too early to protect yourself Getting Only a False Sense of from the influenza virus Security before flu season peaks in PHRECIPE Georgia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu season peaks from December to February; however, flu activity can increase throughout the U.S. Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., attended this year's Flu as early as October. With such Vaccination Clinic alongside other DPH employees to receive the flu a long window of opportunity shot. Spinach, Strawberry & Pecan for contracting the influenza Salad virus, the flu is regarded as one of the nation's most common illnesses. In fact, CDC data Serves: 6 indicates an estimated 5 to 20 percent of Americans get the flu and more than 200,000 Prep Time: 10 minutes people are hospitalized each year from flu-related health complications. Click Here for Full Recipe PHWEEK HIV Nurse Consultant Wins Faculty of the Year Award Director of Communications Ryan Deal Editor Ebony Brooks Content Coordinator Connie F. Smith-Lindsey Graphic Designer Web Developer Jimmy Clanton, Jr. Editorial & Design Team Tammy Beasley Eric Jens Nancy Nydam Sandra Roberts The University of Phoenix recently announced the selection of Michael "Mac" Coker as the 2014 University of Phoenix Atlanta Campus Faculty of the Year award recipient. Coker, a Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) HIV nurse consultant of eight years, received his award at the 2014 University of Phoenix commencement ceremony earlier this month. Coker is certified to teach undergraduate and graduate level nursing courses with the University of Phoenix online and is currently in his fourth year of instructing classes in health care administration and health sciences at the Atlanta campus. Michael "Mac" Coker poses with Andrew Stone, University of Phoenix academic affairs director, after accepting the Faculty of the Year award. Coker truly enjoys working with students as they work on achieving their respective degrees. He encourages the best from every student, making certain to remind them of the high quality education they are receiving from an accredited university. Coker applauds their dedication and reiterates that every course offers something that will help them prosper as they pursue postgraduate career opportunities. App of the Week: My Diet Coach Easily win the mental game of dieting! Keep your motivation alive, stay committed and lose weight fast! My Diet Coach will help keep you on track, resist food cravings, temptations, emotional eating, exercise laziness and other challenges by offering: Helpful reminders Notifications with your goal, motivational photos and weight chart Diet tips and quotes Diet diary, calorie calculator and BMI calculator Weight chart Food cravings panic button My Diet Coach has six main features: Reminders - Add custom diet reminders like drink water, prepare veggies, eat slowly, and weigh-in. Motivational Photos - Keep any photo that motivates you to lose weight and be reminded about it! Perseverance Tips - Just touch the button with the challenge you are facing. Relevant motivational tips with inspiring pictures will appear. Diet diary and calorie calculator - The diary will reduce your logging efforts to the minimum and help you achieve your long term goals Georgia Public Health Observances | October 2014 Forward email This email was sent to gadocs@uga.edu by communications@dph.ga.gov | Update Profile/Email Address | Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribeTM | Privacy Policy. Georgia Department of Public Health | 2 Peachtree Street, NW | Atlanta | GA | 30303