Unprecedented student representation at upcoming APHA Conference

Public health and social work share a historic mission: to promote social justice and to protect and enhance community well being. Boston University is one of the oldest graduate programs offering a dual degree in social work and public health. With almost 300 alumni and 48 current students, the MSW/MPH program at BU is a vibrant place to study. The program aims to enable students to complete both degrees, emerging with the skills, knowledge and professionalism to succeed in many different areas of public health and social work, as well as in the growing and distinct discipline of public health social work (PHSW).

The MSW/MPH program takes students’ needs to develop as professionals seriously, and works closely with them to become leaders. Below is a list of the work current students and alumni have done, a testament to the quality of our students and the program’s commitment to excellence.

These students will be presenting their work at the most important public health event of the year: The 137th Annual Meeting and Exposition hosted by the American Public Health Association (APHA). The event will take place in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, November 7-11, 2009.

Attend their presentations and find out why the MSW/MPH program at BU is shaping the next generation of PHSW leaders.

(Please note: List may not be comprehensive.)

Healthy eating and active living in Missouri: A state-wide policy assessment
Alyse B. Sabina, MPH, Amy Stringer Hessel, MSW, Jamie Wyatt Marshall, MSW, MPH, Debra Haire-Joshu, PhD and Michael B. Elliott, PhD
Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 10:30 AM

Strong Families Strong Forces: The intersection of preliminary steps in the development of a family-based program in partnership with OEF/OIF families with very young children
Abigail Ross, MSW, Ellen DeVoe, PhD, Rendelle Bolton, MA, MSW, and Ruth Paris, PhD
Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 12:30 PM

Suicide Prevention and Intervention in Hospital Settings: Outcomes and Implications of a Departmental Needs Assessment
Abigail Ross, MSW, Katherine Ginnis, MSW, MPH and Elizabeth Wharff, PhD
Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 4:30 PM

Differences in mental health symptoms and attempted suicide among Puerto Rican drug users in Puerto Rico and Massachusetts
Luz M. López, PhD, MSW, MPH, Abby Ross, MSW, Deborah Chassler, MSW and Lena Lundgren, PhD
Monday, November 9, 2009: 4:30 PM

Association between housing stability, family contact and likelihood of recidivism in a Latina/o drug using criminal justice sample
Amanda Horowitz, MSW, Lena Lundgren, PhD, Deborah Chassler, MSW, Elpidio Adorno and Timothy Purington, MEd
Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 10:30 AM

A Prospective Study of Familial Conflict, Psychological Stress, and the Development of Substance Use Disorders in Adolescence
Margie Skeer, MSW, MPH, Marie C. McCormick, MD, ScD, Sharon-Lise Normand, PhD, Stephen L. Buka, ScD and Stephen E. Gilman, ScD
Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 10:30 AM

What substances are HIV-infected MSM using that are associated with transmission risk behavior?
Margie Skeer, MSW, MPH, Matthew J. Mimiaga, ScD, MPH, Conall O’Cleirigh, PhD, Steven A. Safren, PhD and Kenneth Mayer, MD
Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 10:30 AM

Barriers, bumps and bridges: How cultural differences shape the youth mentoring process over time
Jaime Elizabeth Lederer, MSW, Antoinette M. Basualdo-Delmonico, MS and Renée Spencer, EdD, LICSW
Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 12:30 PM

Normative beliefs, expectations, and use of corporal punishment: Findings from an RDD community survey
Catherine A. Taylor, MSW, MPH, PhD, Lauren Hamvas, MPH, William DeJong, PhD and Janet C. Rice, PhD
Monday, November 9, 2009: 2:30 PM

Integrating suicide prevention education in social work education: Faculty perspectives
Betty J. Ruth, MSW, MPH, Mark Gianino, MSW, PhD, Jordana Muroff, MSW, PhD, Donna McLaughlin, MSW, Esther Hill, MSW, MPH and Laura Ann Taranto, MSW, MPH
Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 10:30 AM

Suicide prevention education in social work education: What do MSW deans, directors and faculty have to say?
Betty J. Ruth, MSW, MPH, Jordana Muroff, MSW, PhD, Mark Gianino, MSW, PhD, Donna McLaughlin, MSW, Abby Ross, MSW and Esther Hill, MSW, MPH
Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 10:30 AM

Poster: Board 5
Perceived Instrumentality and Normativeness of Corporal Punishment are Key Motivators for its Use among Low-Income African American Parents
Lauren Hamvas, MPH, Catherine A. Taylor, PhD and Ruth Paris, PhD
Sunday, November 8, 2009: 4:30 PM

Poster Board 6
Implementing a peer educator program in methadone maintenance for HIV prevention and women’s reproductive health
Kimberly A. Potter, MPH, MSW, Russelle Miller, Angela Jeffers, MA and Hillary Kunins, MD, MPH, MS
Monday, November 9, 2009: 2:30 PM

Poster: Board 10
From classroom to community: A case study on advocacy and organizing
Siphannay Nhean, MPH, Jaime Elizabeth Lederer, MSW, Melanie Pennison, MPH and Maegan Siobhan Berliner
Monday, November 9, 2009: 10:30 AM

Poster: Board 1
Take Control!: Linking asset development and chronic disease self-management for low-income working adults
Rebekah Gowler, MSW, MPH
Monday, November 9, 2009: 4:30 PM

Roundtable: Table 2
Mente y Cuerpo: Integrating Mental Health Screening and complementary health practices into primary care
Barbara R. Gottlieb, MD, MPH, Janine Anzalota, MSW, LICSW, MPH and Elizabeth Sommers, MPH, LicAc, DSc
Monday, November 9, 2009: 8:30 AM

Roundtable Table 3
Mente y Cuerpo: Integrating Mental Health Screening and bilingual bicultural case management into primary care
Barbara R. Gottlieb, MD, MPH and Janine Anzalota, MSW, LICSW, MPH
Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 12:30 PM

Poster: Board 3
Mente y Cuerpo: Integrating Mental Health screening in primary care
Barbara R. Gottlieb, MD, MPH and Janine Anzalota, MSW, LICSW, MPH
Monday, November 9, 2009: 4:30 PM

Poster: Board 3
Implementation of evidence-based substance abuse treatment by community-based organizations: Preliminary results from a national study
Lena Lundgren, PhD, Maryann Amodeo, PhD, Amanda Horowitz, MSW, Deborah Chassler, MSW, Lisa De Saxe Zerden, MSW, PhD, Rebekah Gowler, MSW, MPH, Alexander Cohen, BA and Sara Keller, BS
Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 2:30 PM

Learn more about BU’s dual degree program in social work and public health.

–Submitted by Farha Sandhu