Don't see graphics and text from DPH?Click here Follow Us! National Infant Immunization Week 2015: Protect the ones who cannot protect themselves National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is April 18 - April Submit your story suggestions, ideas, comments or a story of your own! 25, 2015, and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) urges all Georgians to protect infants from In This Issue National Infant Immunization Week District Leaders Appointed at Georgia Regents University vaccine-preventable diseases by ensuring our little ones, and everyone around them, are vaccinated and upto-date on their immunization schedules. Grow Wins State Public Health "Vaccines are crucial to Award protecting children Georgia Addresses Syphilis and HIV before they are exposed Infections to potentially lifethreatening diseases," Health Official Warns Residents to said Sheila Lovett, DPH is encouraging Georgians to ensure infants, and everyone around them, are up-to-date on their immunizations to combat vaccinepreventable diseases. Take Precautions Against Rabies interim director of the Georgia Immunization Program. "Immunization is a shared App of the Week: Healthy responsibility and we as parents, family, friends and health care providers can help Swimming keep our children and communities protected by staying current on our immunization PHEVENTS schedule. We urge parents to speak with their pediatrician or health care provider at every visit to make sure their infant is up-to-date on vaccinations." Looking for DPH events? Visit the Events Schedule on our website. According to the most recent data available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Immunization Survey, Georgia immunization rates for Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) were below the national average, ranking them 39th compared to other states. 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 about the training and to register, click here. Saba LMS has a new home! Log into Learning- Development.dph.ga.gov . Free Online Courses Available from Lynda.com DPH has a limited number of licenses for lynda.com which is 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 PH email account. Instructor-Led Microsoft Classes Microsoft instructor-led classes will only be approved for groups that can guarantee a minimum of six DPH participants. Please contact Lisa Miller for more information and to schedule a class. Submit calendar entries to communications@dph.ga.gov by 12 noon on Wednesday. PHNEWS East Central Health District Leaders Appointed Adjunct Professors at Georgia Regents University The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is excited to congratulate Stephen Goggans, M.D., district health director; Joy Miller, MSPH, MSA, director of the Office of Epidemiology; and Tammy Burdeaux, RN, BSN, CRNI, district nursing and clinical director at the East Central Health District, for their recent appointments as adjunct faculty members at Georgia Regents University (GRU). Recently appointed as adjunct professors at Georgia Regents University in the Department of Health Management and Informatics in the College of Allied Health Sciences are (left to right) Tammy Burdeaux, Stephen Goggans and Joy Miller. All three East Central Health District leaders will contribute their extensive public health insights to students in GRU's Master of Public Health program within its Department of Health Management and Informatics at the College of Allied Health Sciences. With more than 30 years of public health experience and medical training between them, Goggans, Miller and Burdeaux will work with faculty in preparing specific lectures, revising and expanding public health curriculum and working with students. State agencies working quickly to create registry for medical Grow Wins State Public Health Award marijuana patients The Right Dose of Exercise for a Longer Life Doctors Often Ignore Parents' Concerns About Autism in Young Kids: Study William R. Grow, M.D., South Health District director, won the Jules S. Terry Memorial Award at Georgia Public Health Association's 86th annual conference last week. Cartersville Medical Center Offers "This award recognizes Class To Help Residents Kick an individual who has Tobacco Habit made a significant contribution to the Athens resident bikes to Atlanta to reflect on life, spread awareness of colon cancer improvement of services to public health clients. Dr. Grow was recognized for his efforts in keeping Two more Georgia hospitals closing baby delivery units the Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program open at Lowndes County Health Young Adults Respond To Graphic Department last year Cigarette Ads when the program's South Health District Director, William R. Grow, M.D., was recognized by the Georgia Public Health Association for his extensive work to maintain vital health services that benefit south Georgia residents. budget was cut," says Diane Weems, M.D., awards committee chair and health Work-Related Asthma Affects director for the Coastal Health District. Millions of US Adults: CDC Dr. Grow knew that many patients from other public health programs needed this PHRECIPE treatment; therefore, he worked tirelessly to solicit outside support and helped open a clinic to serve patients with hypertension issues in conjunction with the Lowndes County Partnership for Health and the South Georgia Medical Center. STD Awareness in Georgia Addresses Syphilis and HIV Infections Tropical Smoothie Serves: 3 Prep Time: 2 Minutes A Click Here for Full Recipe PHWEEK Communications Director Shawn Ryan Editor Ebony Brooks Content Coordinator Connie F. Smith-Lindsey Graphic Designer Darryl Moland Web Developer Jimmy Clanton, Jr. Editorial & Design Team Tammy Beasley Eric Jens Nancy Nydam The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) joins the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other partners to recognize National Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Awareness Month. DPH's STD program is advancing the fight against the spread of STDs alongside the National Coalition of STD Directors and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for STD Awareness Month 2015. This year, NCSD is addressing the continued increase of syphilis and HIV cases in the U.S. "NCSD is very proud to be working with our members across the county, like Michelle Allen in Georgia, to honor National STD Awareness Month," stated Stephanie Arnold Pang, director of Policy and Communications for NCSD. "The best way to address these rising STD rates is to recommit to our best prevention tools: tried and true safe sex practices such as using condoms and increased STD testing and treatment." Public Health Official Warns Residents to Take Precautions Against Rabies Good intentions turned into tragedy when a Southwest Georgia resident using an online service adopted a dog that turned out to have rabies - and the person's existing pets didn't have upto-date vaccinations, said Southwest Health District Environmental Health Director Dewayne Tanner. "As a result, this well- intentioned individual ended up losing beloved pets that had been exposed DPH's Southwest Health District is encouraging residents to vaccinate and could not be saved," he their pets for rabies as the spring season brings people and their pets said. "That was not an outdoors and in closer contact with animals infected with the virus. outcome anybody wanted." Further, when people are bitten or scratched by animals with rabies, they face unpleasant and expensive prophylaxis treatment. App of the Week: Healthy Swimming Getting ready to go swimming or working at the pool? Don't leave home without the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Healthy Swimming app! Help keep yourself and your family healthy and safe during this summer's swim season. If you are a pool inspector, operator or lifeguard, this app will give you the latest information at your fingertips to answer patron questions. We all share the water we play and swim in. Learn about the germs that we all bring into the places we swim, how they could make you and others sick, and how you can take a few easy and effective steps to help protect yourself and others. Georgia Public Health Observances | April 2015 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