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Department of Public Health Sciences
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
IN SOLIDARITY WITH SURFSIDE
University Stands ‘in Solidarity with Our Heartbroken Community’ In a message to the University community Monday evening, President Julio Frenk addressed the tireless search for survivors, the many ’Canes who are aiding those affected, and the ways the University stands ready “to lend a hand to our friends and neighbors as we work together to recover from this unspeakable tragedy.”
Dr. Shirin Shafazand and the Miami Herald: ‘Protective Gear is Crucial’: Debris at Surfside Condo Could Have Health Consequences “Our rescue teams and firefighters are the heroes that risk their own lives, time and time again to help others,” said University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Professor Dr. Shirin Shafazand. “There is no doubt that they are being exposed to pollutants and particulate matter that can lead to burns, short-term and long-term lung injury. Their use of appropriate protective gear is crucial.” [Photo by Miami Herald's Alexia Foderé]
DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
Dr. David J. Lee Named Chair of the Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Public Health Sciences The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has named David J. Lee, Ph.D., professor and leading chronic disease and occupational health epidemiologist, chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences. Dr. Lee served as acting chair throughout the COVID-19 public health crisis and has been a faculty member of the department since 1990. “Dr. Lee brings 30 years of experience on the UM faculty as a public health leader in research, education, and vital service to our surrounding communities, and the world,” said Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A. dean and chief academic officer of the Miller School of Medicine, in a leadership message. “His work as a chronic disease and occupational health epidemiologist is part of a body of research that places the department among the top in NIH funding," added Dean Ford. "He and the department are pursuing their overarching vision of a world with healthy people living in healthy communities. Under his leadership, connections to our immediate region and to countless international sites have grown exponentially, improving quality of life and providing unmatched training opportunities for students."
CONGRATULATORY FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS Public Health's Dr. Taghrid Asfar Awarded NIH Grant to Develop and Test Health Warning Labels on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems The project will guide policymakers into the use of effective health warning labels for electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), as well as develop warning messages and pictorials that national and state stakeholders can use through counter-marketing campaigns on discouraging ENDS use, especially among young people.
Dr. James Shultz Appointed as Associate Professor, Named Director of the Comprehensive Drug Research Center “Dr. Shultz brings extensive expertise and scholarship in the areas of disaster public health, disaster behavioral health, and disaster complexity,” said Dr. David J. Lee, professor and chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences. “His work has generated many collaborative opportunities for our students to present and publish on these topics. We are thrilled that he is now associate professor.”
Dr. Nelson Arboleda Joins the Department of Public Health Sciences as Associate Professor “Dr. Arboleda earned his M.P.H. in our program and went on to be one of the most impactful alumni in our program’s history," said Dr. David J. Lee, professor and chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences. "He has been returning annually to teach the next generation of public health leaders and we are excited that he can now devote more time to department teaching, research, and service activities."
Dr. Paulo Pinheiro Awarded Florida DOH Grant to Study Cancer Disparities in Childhood, Adolescence and Young Adults The Florida Department of Health awarded Paulo Pinheiro, M.S., M.D., Ph.D., research associate professor with the Department of Public Health Sciences, a grant to identify incidence differences and survival disparities across diverse races and ethnicities in childhood, adolescence and young adult populations in Florida.
GLOBAL HEALTH IMPACT
COVID-19 Deaths in Latin America Highest in Mexico, Brazil Two new academic papers by the University of Miami COVID-19 Observatory—a research collaborative that collects, analyzes, and shares national and subnational policy data about the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America—were published this month in peer-reviewed journals. The studies published by the journals BMJ Global Health and PLOS One, respectively, show that the governments of both Brazil and
Mexico did not enforce effective federal guidelines or stewardship to combat the disease.
OFFICE OF GRADUATE PROGRAMS ANNOUNCEMENT
Preliminary Self-Study Report to the Council on Education for Public Health The Graduate Programs in Public Health will participate in a review for program accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) from October 7 to 8, 2021. CEPH will accept third-party comments about the public health program, practices, and procedures up to 30 days prior to the scheduled site visit. The thirdparty comment process is a broader, more general call for comment that allows any stakeholder to provide feedback directly to CEPH to inform the accreditation review. The deadline to submit third-party comments directly to CEPH is September 7, 2021. Comments will be accepted by email, sent to submissions@ceph.org.
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For media inquiries regarding the Department of Public Health Sciences, please contact Margie Jimenez, MA, CRA, at mjimenez5@miami.edu and Amanda Torres at axt785@miami.edu