Making a
Impacting Health Report to the Community 2010
Making a Mark: Impacting Health Report to the Community 2010
2 The School of Public Health: Mission and values 4 Message from the Dean 6 Diabetes surveillance: Monitoring the threat 8 Passion + Excellence = Inspiration 10
Global health champion for Pakistani women
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A local garden with global impact
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Healthier futures for kids
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Practicum student finds perfect fit
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Getting the Greenlight
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Helping seniors find their balance
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Detecting clues, protecting health
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Our School at a glance
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Our students at a glance
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Looking to the future
introduction
The School of
Public Health
Our mission
Our values
The School of Public Health is committed to promoting health and wellness, protecting health, preventing disease and injury, and reducing health disparities across Alberta, Canada, and around the world.
The work of the School of Public Health is based on strong values linked to those of the University of Alberta.
We undertake this mission by: • pursuing research, promoting learning, and providing community and professional service with the highest ethical and scientific standards;
Excellence Integrity Respect Teamwork and partnerships
• educating future public health leaders;
Responsibility and public engagement
• translating research into effective practices and sound policies;
Sustainability
• discovering, evaluating and disseminating solutions to health problems and public health threats; and • engaging communities near and far.
To learn more about our mission and values, visit www.publichealth.ualberta.ca.
Social justice and equity At its core, public health is about what is best for all of us, including the most vulnerable.
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message from the dean The creation of our School brought together the University’s core strengths in public health sciences, health promotion and injury control. Today, I’m proud to say that we’ve made great strides since we began this journey in 2006.
In March 2006, when the Board of Governors approved the formation of our faculty, President Indira Samarasekera called the creation of the School of Public Health “historic.” “It has taken people of vision, to create something that is going to set apart our university and our province…,” she said.
Today, we are increasingly engaged with partners across the University and beyond, in regional, national and international initiatives. In addition, we play an active role in many associations and networks aimed at promoting health and well-being. Indeed, we’ve come a long way in just five years.
I wholeheartedly agree. Taking the bold step of creating Canada’s only stand-alone faculty dedicated solely to public health speaks to the vision of our leaders at the University of Alberta. In particular, I commend Doug Wilson, former dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, for championing a faculty that—together with alumni and partners—will help shape public health in the 21st century.
And, now, it is my privilege to share with you our first Report to the Community. I think it demonstrates the breadth and diversity of public health. As you read on, you will get a glimpse of our talented students, exceptional faculty and dedicated staff. You will see the ways in which they are making a mark to positively impact the health of people across Canada and around the world.
The creation of our School brought together the University’s core strengths in public health sciences, health promotion and injury control. Today, I’m proud to say that we’ve made great strides since we began this journey in 2006.
We value the relationships we have with you, our partners, collaborators and supporters. Let’s continue to work together towards comprehensive solutions to solve our world’s most pressing public health issues.
Today, we are meeting the demand for excellent and relevant interdisciplinary research that is both curiosity driven and community driven—research that creates links between new knowledge and public health policy and practice. Today, we are pursuing accreditation with the Council on Education for Public Health. Full accreditation will demonstrate that our programs are relevant, practical and of the highest professional standards.
Sylvie Stachenko, MD, MSc, FCFP Dean
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Diabetes surveillance: Monitoring the Threat The numbers are frightening: more than 205,000 Albertans have diabetes (that’s approximately 1 in 20 people), and diabetes rates have almost doubled in the past decade. These types of numbers startled Jeff Johnson, professor in the School of Public Health and Canada Research Chair in Diabetes Health Outcomes, even years ago. “We know that the burden on the population is growing and that costs are increasing, and to me there was a clear indication—even 15 years ago—this was going to be a major problem.”
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Johnson began his career as a pharmacist, working with diabetes in a clinical setting. Proceeding to graduate school, he found he had many questions about the growing disease. So, Johnson began studying epidemiology, economics and health outcomes and is now taking this knowledge and applying it to the management of diabetes. As the principal investigator for the Alberta Diabetes Surveillance System (ADSS), which monitors diabetes trends, Johnson uses the information collected to benefit the community. “The aim of our research is to improve care and quality, and also to improve health policy.” Information from the surveillance system, which is funded by Alberta Health and Wellness, is shared with ministry, Alberta Health Services and Primary Care Networks across Alberta.
Research in Diabetes (ACHORD). “ACHORD brings together researchers who are all working toward reducing the burden of diabetes for individuals and for society,” says Johnson. “We’ve had lots of requests for information from the community, as well as good feedback,” he says.
A Case In Point: Oyen, Alberta In collecting diabetes data, Johnson and his team recognized a sudden increase of diabetes in the small town of Oyen, Alberta. They used the evidence gathered to interact with policy developers so that resources could be better allocated. In response, the region mobilized a diabetes outreach program.
“We are quite proud of this case. Our research is helping the community and creating the rally cry: local information for local planning.” Johnson also notes that he is working with Alberta Health and Wellness to help in decision making in aboriginal communities, where diabetes is a major health concern. “Our research helps to identify diabetes hotspots. We hope that areas with the poorest health indicators will gain the most benefit from public health interventions.”
In addition to collecting data through ADSS, Johnson also directs the Alliance for Canadian Health Outcomes
For more information about the Alberta Diabetes Surveillance System visit, www.achord.ca or www.albertadiabetes.ca.
Dr. Johnson’s work is funded through the Canada Research Chair program, Alberta Innovates, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canadian Foundation for Innovation, The Lawson Foundation and Alberta Health and Wellness.
Our research helps to identify diabetes hotspots. We hope that areas with the poorest health indicators will gain the most benefit from public health interventions. - Jeff Johnson, professor
I want to help support improvements in school environments so that all children can experience a happy, healthy, welcoming place to learn and grow.
- Jessie-Lee Langille, PhD student
Passion+Excellence =inspiration In the right hands, $100,000 can make a difference. In the case of Jessie-Lee Langille, the difference will ultimately be the health of school-aged children. When you combine passion with academic excellence, the result can be inspiring.
That’s why the Canadian government created the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship—to attract and retain worldclass doctoral students like Langille. As a 26-year-old PhD student in the School of Public Health, she is steam-training through her academic career toward her main goal: to make school environments healthy places that facilitate learning. Langille works in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and studies at a distance. She is the project coordinator for the Children’s Lifestyle and School-performance Study (CLASS II), a research project supported by the province of Nova Scotia and aimed at examining how policy affects children’s health. When Langille learned that she had won the Vanier scholarship, she ran upstairs and told her supervisor. “It was quite a moment. I was jumping up and down and called my fiancé and mom. It was just such a huge recognition.” The money—$50,000 a year for two years—was put to immediate use, enabling Langille to hire a helper for her CLASS II duties so that she was able to focus more on research and her exams. “The scholarship gives me support and time. It would have taken much longer to finish my PhD without it.”
To learn more about the Children’s Lifestyle and School Performance Study (CLASS II), visit www.nsclass.ca.
Langille is pleased with the relationships she’s formed during her academic career with the School of Public Health. Though accepted at another university for a master’s program, she was drawn to the University of Alberta. “It seemed like the best program, and it turned out to be the best decision because I learned about Dr. [Paul] Veugelers and his work in Nova Scotia. It was like fate.” It was this encounter that solidified her passion and enabled her to work on CLASS II, an extension of Veugelers’ CLASS I project. Langille is particularly interested in how resources and policy can be better developed to support schools. She is about to embark on collecting information from 300 schools about grade 5 students’ health. “The focus is on prevention. Schools that are healthy and safe places can make it easier for children to make healthy choices. These healthy choices can lead to healthier lifestyles and help to support school performance.” Langille notes the project is not solely focused at the student level, but also analyzes teachers, principals, parents and the community and how supporting health in a holistic way creates success. “I’ve been in schools where kids are supported with a healthy environment. When they eat well and exert energy, they concentrate better,” says Langille. “I want to help support improvements in school environments so that all children can experience a happy, healthy, welcoming place to learn and grow.”
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Global Health Champion for
Pakistani Women
Each year, half a million women in developing countries die from complications in pregnancy and childbirth. Each day, sixteen hundred women—equivalent to four plane loads of passengers—die needlessly. “Imagine the indignation of the public if four plane loads of people died every day,” says Zubia Mumtaz, assistant professor in the School of Public Health. “But because these young women die quietly, unmourned and unacknowledged, in remote corners of the world, their deaths go unnoticed.”
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Mumtaz, who grew up in Kenya and has spent 15 years working in Pakistan, is researching the root causes of these deaths and how they can be reduced. Over half of these deaths take place in just six countries, and Pakistan is one of them. Mumtaz says that most of these deaths are avoidable. Her research shows that maternal deaths in Pakistan are not random, but the result of systemic social, political and economic inequities. “An unequal gender order interacts with a hierarchical and unequal class order. This disadvantages the very poor women,” she explains. “It is these women in Pakistan who are the most likely to die during childbirth.” Through her research, and time spent living in Pakistan, Mumtaz has discovered that gender and class directly impact a woman’s ability to access health services. It is,
she says, a very complex relationship. These inequities are systemic and are woven into the way maternal health policies are developed and the health care system designed.
“The health care system in Pakistan is designed to serve the rich. Poor women have very limited access to maternal health care,” says Mumtaz. Recently, the government of Pakistan created the Community Midwifery program. This program trains midwives to provide maternity services to women in remote rural villages. The community midwives practice in the private sector. Mumtaz questions whether they are providing care to the very poor women, who by definition are unable to pay. ”I am exploring whether very poor or socially marginalized women can access these midwifery services.” She will also try to determine what can be done to ensure the services reach the most vulnerable women. The findings of Mumtaz’s research will help the government of Pakistan identify poor, socially excluded women and determine how services can be targeted to them. It will also help in training midwives to be sensitive to the special needs of poor women and ensure the needs are addressed. Ultimately, Mumtaz hopes to effect change that will help to save the lives of countless women in Pakistan.
For more information about Dr. Mumtaz’s research, visit www.publichealth.ualberta.ca/research/ researchers_supersivors/faculty/mumtaz.aspx.
Dr. Mumtaz’s work is funded through Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Alberta Innovates, Killam Trust, Alberta Health Services, Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, and the Department for International Development.
Zubia Mumtaz is exploring what can be done to ensure that midwifery services reach the most vulnerable women of Pakistan.
story
Tubahumurize (pronounced tu-bae-hu-moer-i-zei) is a Kinyarwanda word that means to console and give hope.
We are very grateful to everyone involved in the Green & Gold Community Garden for their support of Rwandan women, girls and families in need. - Jeanne Mwiliriza, Tubahumurize founder
A local
garden with global impact
To some, it may just be a freshly-picked red ripe tomato, a pungent sprig of cilantro, or snap-fresh green beans. But produce like this—and the University of Alberta garden it comes from—also offers help to Rwandan women and their families. The Green & Gold Community Garden supports the Tubahumurize Association, a non-governmental organization that empowers economically marginalized women in Rwanda. Most of the women are survivors of genocide and gender-based violence, and many are living with HIV/AIDS. “Tubahumurize is a grassroots organization run by Rwandan women for Rwandan women,” said Sarah Bowen, associate professor with the School of Public Health and the garden’s founder and organizer.
After only two growing seasons, the Green & Gold Community Garden has raised nearly $40,000 in support of Tubahumurize. The money raised from the garden produce is making an impact on the other side of the world. Women of all ages are finding opportunities to gain skills, become economically self-sufficient, open small-scale businesses and find a community of support. The garden has made it possible to offer a year-long sewing and embroidery program for young people who
The Green & Gold Community Garden is a joint project of the School of Public Health and the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences. It is run entirely by volunteers—the labour, seeds and plants are donated.
For more information about the Garden, please visit www.publichealth.ualberta.ca/collaborators_partners/ community_engagement/green_gold_garden.aspx.
have not had the benefit of an education. The first class graduated in June, 2010 and a new class of 20 students began their course in September of the same year. In addition to vocational training, students learn to grow their own vegetables, prepare a hot meal, and participate in a range of other programs, including art, health education and traditional dance. Through support from the garden, Tubahumurize has also been able to expand its trauma counselling services to outlying areas. Health education and micro-credit loan programs are also provided, all supported by the efforts of volunteers at the Edmonton garden. “I am amazed and thankful for all of the support for the Green & Gold Community Garden and the continued opportunity to help the women of Tubahumurize,” says Bowen. “Public health is about much more than promoting individual wellness through diet and exercise,” Bowen explains. “It’s about building a supportive community to respond to some of the pressing issues of our time— like protecting our environment and food supply, and promoting global justice.” “Our work together on the garden does this. We benefit as much as the women of Tubahumurize.”
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Healthier Futures for Kids Changes in attitudes about healthy living are causing changes in lifestyles. Thanks to the Alberta Project Promoting active Living and healthy Eating in Schools (APPLE Schools), certain school communities have never been healthier or more excited about embracing healthy choices. Research by Paul Veugelers, professor and director of APPLE Schools, has revealed that 27 per cent of Alberta children are overweight while seven per cent are obese. His team has set out to change that figure.
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Working collaboratively with school boards, the APPLE Schools project team used specific criteria, such as a need for health promotion and support from the principal, to select schools that would benefit most from the program.
Since 2007, 10 Edmonton area schools have been involved in APPLE Schools with four new ones in Fort McMurray joining the team in January 2011. Using a comprehensive school health model—a framework for addressing school health in a coordinated manner—APPLE Schools is leading the way to a better, healthier future for Alberta’s children. “Comprehensive school health has been around for a long time, but what makes us really unique is the placement of a full-time health facilitator in the schools,” says APPLE Schools manager Marg Schwartz.
Every APPLE School has one full-time facilitator who collaborates with parents, teachers, kids and the overall school community. This allows each school community to work towards its own unique goals. “In one school, you can’t do anything after school because parents cannot pick up their children. But, in another school, 90 per cent of the school population walks, so you can do after school activities,” explains Schwartz. Students are excited about being in an APPLE School, and there’s a lot of positive feedback from the school community. “I had three children go through an APPLE School, and the impact on them has been amazing,” says parent Carley Bateman. “They don’t ask for chips and pop anymore; instead they’ll eat vegetables and fruit.” “We’ve shown that, if we create an environment where healthy choices are easy, we can change how kids eat and how they move,” explains Schwartz. There is a long-term commitment to APPLE Schools and this is important to create a sustainable model. “Because we do annual research, schools can reflect on the results and adjust their action plans to meet the needs of their school community.” Nigel Butterfield, principal of Edmonton’s Lee Ridge Elementary School—an APPLE School—states, “Schools are the perfect agent for building healthy habits in our children. We can make a significant impact on their lives.” Schwartz adds, “What’s more important than just knowing you’re in an APPLE School is adopting the principles of an APPLE School.”
For more information about APPLE Schools visit www.appleschools.ca or www.realkidsalberta.ca.
APPLE Schools was created in 2007 to foster school environments that support healthy eating and active living. It is funded entirely through a generous donation from an anonymous donor.
Students want to learn how to live an active, healthy lifestyle and I have the privilege of engaging students to become ambassadors of health. - Sara Brown, school health facilitator
Tubahumurize Association received $9, 053 USD in March 2010 from the Green and Gold Garden. In addition, it accounts for the $4,174 USD that remained from Green and Gold’s February contribution.
I felt the practicum was a good fit. …I’m more confident in applying my skills in policy development.
- Krystal Taylor, MSc student
Practicum student finds Perfect
Fit
“There were definitely a few ‘Aha!’ moments,” says Krystal Taylor, describing her recent practicum. As a distance student with the School of Public Health who is living in Ottawa, the practicum was something she took seriously.
Taylor’s job was to assess Eat Right Ontario literature, interview stakeholders provincewide, and use the information to draft a policy proposal to Ontario’s Ministry of Health Promotion.
Though Taylor had several offers, she held out for a setting that reflected her personal interests and goals. “I was picky so that I could have an experience that would help my career. I think that’s important. It’s not just something to tick off the list.”
“I felt the practicum was a good fit because I had content knowledge, but had lots to learn about developing healthy public policy.”
Taylor is a working dietitian and is set to complete the master of science degree program in June, 2011.
Working with the Association of Ontario Health Centres, a policy and advocacy organization, Taylor’s task was to create a provincial food network within Ontario’s Community Health Centres (CHC). She was supervised by Lee McKenna, manager of Policy and Government Relations. “I’d been at a press conference about Eat Right Ontario, which was intended to reach low-income Ontarians,” says McKenna, “and realized it was actually aimed at middleclass Ontarians. I left thinking that these programs must be more targeted.” Though she felt something must be done to address this inconsistency, her heavy workload didn’t afford her the time. So, when McKenna was approached by practicum coordinator Ruth Wolfe about the student practicum, she felt it quite fortuitous. “Having Krystal multiplied my capacity.”
For more information about the student practicae, visit www.publichealth.ualberta.ca/student_resources/Practicum.aspx.
Performing key informant interviews pushed Taylor from her comfort zone. “I learned that in order to inform policy, you need to network and talk to people. I’m still in touch with many of the networks I developed across the province.” Taylor notes that the practicum has been the high point of her school experience. “I’m more confident in applying my policy developments skills. It affirmed my personal values in health promotion by being in a new setting.” “The benefit for me is clear,” says Taylor. “From what Lee said, they wouldn’t have had the capacity to do a thorough job. I helped develop a provincial CHC network around food and food security.” “It was a match made in heaven,” adds McKenna. “I facilitated the connections Krystal needed, and she was able to connect with people provincewide to collect information.” The relationship benefited not only the individuals involved, but the province, as well. Now that an Ontariowide network of ‘foodies’ in CHCs is being fostered, the hope is that health, especially for low-income Ontarians, will be improved.
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Getting the
greenlight
Figuring out how to allocate the family budget can be tricky. Should we purchase a second vehicle, or use the money for a down payment on a house? There are always choices to be made. Balancing wants and needs for a household is not unlike the decisions required for the public funding of health services. At the core of it, there is limited money available and the decision whether to fund a particular service cannot be taken lightly. Families have to make trade off decisions, and so do governments. When it comes to funding new medical technology, the decision process can be quite complex.
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“It is vital to use the best information available,” says Dev Menon, professor in the School of Public Health. “That is what the process of health technology assessment is about.” As one of three health technology assessment partners in the province of Alberta, Menon’s team plays an integral role on the Alberta Advisory Committee on Health Technologies. Working closely with government policy developers, clinicians and others, they review, assess evidence and make recommendations about funding new technologies. Case in point, Menon’s unit recently completed a review of the Greenlight Laser, a technology used to treat enlarged prostates through photoselective vaporization. The review of the Greenlight Laser involved assessment of several factors. “We considered the prevalence of the
disease, which largely affects men over the age of 50,” explains Tania Stafinski, associate director of the Health Technology & Policy Unit in the School. In addition, the safety and clinical effectiveness of the technology were considered. “Our assessment showed that the Greenlight Laser had a lower cost than its alternative,” says Stafinski. “It is important to consider the patient’s perspective of quality of life,” says Menon. “We always have a clinical collaborator who helps to identify the difference that a new technology makes for a patient.” The new technology was proven to be less invasive, resulting in a quicker recovery and fewer complications for patients. After all issues were considered, including fiscal and economic factors, the Greenlight Laser was recommended and approved for conditional funding. Menon says the key to the success of the health technology assessment decision process has been the close working relationship between the School of Public Health and the Alberta government. “I believe it is possible for academics and government to work closely together to ensure that funding decisions factor in scientific evidence.” Has decision making improved? Menon says that decision makers are using more evidence. “They are more knowledgeable. The evidence we have provided has been instrumental in informing the decisions. We have been successful in introducing evidence into decision making.” The bottom line is better access to new and promising technologies for all Albertans.
For more information about the Health Technology & Policy Unit, please contact the staff at htpu@sph.ualberta.ca.
Photo by Cindy Woods, courtesy of the Scarborough Hospital.
The Health Technology & Policy Unit is funded in part through a capacity-building grant from Alberta Health and Wellness.
An assessment of the Greenlight Laser showed it to be less invasive, resulting in a quicker recovery and fewer complications for patients.
Finding Balance Results •
59% of survey respondents know the primary cause of accidents that lead to hospitalization among Alberta seniors is slips or falls (up from 43%).
• 72% say they are currently taking measures to prevent falls (up from 65%). • 55% are concerned about having a bad fall themselves (up from 45%).
Finding Balance founding sponsors include the Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research, the Government of Alberta and the Alberta Medical Association. The 2010 campaign was funded by Physiotherapy Alberta-College & Association, Global TV, Alberta Blue Cross, Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association, College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta, Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta and McCallum Printing Group.
Older adults have been involved throughout the campaign. …We believe their participation has been a key to the success of our campaign.
- Liza Sunley, ACICR communications coordinator
Helping
seniors find their balance
For seniors living in our communities, a dangerous fall could be just one step away. In fact, falls are the primary reason for injury leading to hospitalization of seniors in Alberta.
While the research results from the 2010 campaign are still coming in, Finding Balance is already proving popular within communities.
The Finding Balance campaign, founded by the Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research (ACICR) and the Alberta Medical Association was created to raise Albertans’ awareness regarding the seriousness of seniors falling and to provide leadership and education in the area of falls prevention.
“We’re seeing more communities become involved, so one of the things we do is encourage municipalities to officially proclaim November as Seniors Falls Prevention Month. In 2009, 156 communities came on board,” ACICR communications coordinator Liza Sunley says.
“The campaign focuses on real life strategies for older adults—those over the age of 65—to prevent falls from happening,” explains ACICR education coordinator Jennifer Fernandes. “Albertans involved with falls prevention identified a need for a coordinated approach that allows everyone to connect with each other. The campaign supports a network of practitioners by providing resources related to best practices in the area of falls identification and risk,” Fernandes says.
Employing three key messages, Finding Balance encourages seniors to keep active, check their medications and watch their step. Telephone surveys with Albertans have helped to achieve a baseline for their understanding regarding falls prevention. The annual public campaigns, which began in 2008, are evaluated every year to measure progress.
For more information on the Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research or Finding Balance, visit www.acicr.ca or www.findingbalancealberta.ca.
Involving seniors in all elements of the Finding Balance campaign is a key aspect of the project. “Older adults have been involved throughout the campaign, as models in posters, actors in commercials and as representatives on our Advisory Committee. We believe their participation has been a key to the success of our campaign,” Sunley adds. Finding Balance will soon be accessible to a broader audience. “We have collaborated with the Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative. They have helped us connect with the communities and translate materials into 10 different languages,” explains Sunley. In 2009, Finding Balance was granted the Alberta Public Health Association Award of Merit. The award recognizes individuals and/or organizations whose contributions have had a significant, positive impact on the health of Albertans.
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detecting clues protecting health Yutaka Yasui sees his research as similar to that of a detective’s. As a biostatistics researcher, he uses biomarkers and genetics to find clues about how diseases develop and how to detect them earlier. “Genetics advanced with modern biotechnology is a ‘hot button’ issue right now,” says Yasui, who is a professor in the School of Public Health. “We are inventing ways to look at and interpret millions of pieces of genetic data gathered from each individual. This contributes towards prevention and better care of cancer and other diseases.”
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Recently, Yasui worked with female immigrants from China who have a high risk of developing cervical cancer.
This group was targeted with culturally- and linguistically-tailored outreach materials to promote Pap test screening. “This cultural group experiences some barriers in using health care,” explains Fei Xu, an MSc student of Yasui’s who led the study. The difficulties can include language barriers, unfamiliarity with how the health care system in Canada works and a lack of awareness about health risks. Through a church-based outreach study in Edmonton, the team distributed educational materials and videos, both in Chinese. In a similar Vancouver-Seattle study, the materials were proven to be highly effective in helping
inform Chinese women of the reasons why they should be Pap tested. “Church-based outreach enables us to approach Chinese women efficiently and reach a large demographic subgroup within their own community,” says Xu. Amy Lim, wife of a pastor whose church was part of the program said, “We had a large portion of our female congregation come out to learn more about getting examinations to prevent cancer. We learned a lot of useful information about our health.” Ten Edmonton based Chinese churches participated in this study. Of the 120 participants, 61 per cent reported not having a Pap test regularly. A follow-up survey was conducted after three months to assess the success of this outreach. It showed that over 40 per cent of the women who had never had a Pap test, the highest risk subgroup, went on to be tested for the first time in their life as part of a preventative cancer screening measure. Pastor Miranda Yeung from the Edmonton Chinese Alliance Church agrees, “This awareness campaign for women’s health was a helpful reminder to members of my congregation. It was a good way to reach women as the church community is where many Chinese people gather regularly for activities.” “The Pap test is probably the best example of successful cancer biomarkers that have saved lives around the world,” says Yasui.
For more information about Dr. Yasui’s research, please visit www.publichealth.ualberta.ca/research/ researchers_supervisors/yasui.aspx.
Dr. Yasui’s work is funded through the Canada Research Chair program, Alberta Innovates, Canadian Institutes of Health Research and US National Institutes of Health.
This awareness campaign for women’s health was a helpful reminder to members of my congregation. - Miranda Yeung, pastor
Since 2006
Our School at a Glance Nearly
$
50 million in research funding
17% of research funds received from the Tri-Council funding bodies*
Almost
Nearly
$
7 million in donations 239 graduates
* The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
414 applicants to programs
93 student admissions
250 students enrolled
35 core faculty 4 jointly appointed faculty
49 cross-appointed faculty 60 adjunct faculty
6 professors emeriti 1 clinical professor
27 non-governmental, governmental and public organizations hosted 42 students in their required practicum
77 scholarships and awards were given to students for a total of almost $780,000 $ nearly 400,000 graduate research assistantships $ more than 130,000 in other academic assistantships 4 graduate degrees offered 1 postgraduate diploma in health promotion 7 master of public health (course-based) degree specializations 8 master of science (thesis-based) degree specializations 4 doctor of philosophy degree specializations
In 2010
16 salary awards
faculty hold
Since 2006
Our Students at a Glance Graduates by Degree (2006-07 to 2009-10) 12, 5%
1, 1%
Postgraduate Diploma Doctor of Philosophy 120, 50%
Master of Public Health Master of Science
106, 44%
Student Admissions
Postgraduate Diploma
(by Academic Year)
Doctor of Philosophy Master of Public Health
70
Master of Science
Number of students
60 50 40 30 20 10 0
2006-07
Student Count
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
(by Academic Year)
260 Number of students
2010-11
250
240
239
240
2008-09
2009-10
220
220 210
200 2006-07
2007-08
2010-11
looking to the Future We look to the future with a commitment to the values that shape public health practice, including a focus on understanding and resolving health disparities. We will continue to grow and learn from the local and global populations we serve. The complexity of public health issues confronting our world is daunting. This calls for a new level of innovation and leadership. We must continue to break down traditional silos in favour of innovative partnerships. We are committed to work collaboratively—across multiple disciplines and sectors—with our colleagues inside and outside the University, so that critical connections are made between research, policy and practice. We will continue to provide relevant and practical learning opportunities. Achieving accreditation with the Council on Education for Public Health will ensure quality standards for our students, graduates and faculty, as well as the practice of public health. We are poised to be a catalyst of change that uplifts all people.
Project Manager
Donna Richardson
Editors
Andrea Lauder, Donna Richardson
Graphic Designer Virginia Couse Photographers
Daniel Abriel, Virginia Couse,
Pedro Vasconcellos, Cindy Woods
Writers
Andrea Dobbe, Andrea Lauder,
Jane Marshall, Donna Richardson
Contact Us School of Public Health, University of Alberta 3-12 University Terrace, 8303 - 112 Street Edmonton, AB T6G 2T4 Canada P: 780.492.9954
E: school.publichealth@ualberta.ca
www.publichealth.ualberta.ca