STRONG-CT EVENTS
Fall 2009
Welcome back Scholars!!! We have been able to put together some events over the next few weeks for STRONG-CT students. Please review the options below and select the activities that fit into your schedule. We would like all STRONG-CT scholars to attend the Welcome Event and at least one other event. However, space is limited – you will need to RSVP to me as soon as possible. RSVP with Luis at 486-1656 or email at jluis.ramos@uconn.edu. All events provide students the opportunity to learn about science outside of the academic environment.
A Day in the Life of a Dental Student- September 8th, 10th, 15th, 17th, 22nd (10:30- 2:00 p.m.)
Strong-CT students will have the opportunity to shadow a fourth year Dental student at the Hartford Dispensary. Students will be able to shadow dentals students as they perform various dental procedures, cleaning, filling etc… Students will also be able to have lunch with the dental students and ask any questions they have about dental school or dental procedures. We can only accommodate two students at each visit as this is a hand on experience where each student will get individual attention.
Welcome Event- September 25th (5 -7 p.m.)
Nathan Hale Inn, Pavilion
This is the STRONG-CT opening ceremony, where students will have an opportunity to meet the New Strong- CT students as well as interact and catch up with current students. This year’s welcome event will be a banquet at UCONN in Storrs. There will be a panel of STRONG-CT scholars who will make presentations on their summer research projects. There will be faculty members from UCONN, Storrs. Come prepared with questions you may have about your future programs of study.
CT River Expedition / River Quest Tour- NEW Date November 6th (2:00 - 4:00 p.m.)
Cruise down the CT River hosted by environmentalists and naturalists knowledgeable about the environmental issues and wildlife concerns with the river. Topics will include water quality, management of CT resources, and non point source pollution issues. Check out the website: http://www.ctriverexpeditions.org/ . You will also be able to see a description of some of the things you will observe at this time of year.
Trip Details: The River Quest cruise will run out of Haddam, Eagle Landing State Park and will last about 2 hours.
Rapid Bio-Assessment / Salem rivers and streams- NEW Date October 31st
This date is dependent on water flow and will be a Saturday morning from 9:30 am until approx. 12:00 p.m. Wear appropriate clothing (for hiking) and bring something to drink and eat. Rain or shine unless there is severe weather.
Trip Details: Led by Diba Khan Bureau, Professor of Environmental & Civil Engineering/Director of STRONG-CT at Three Rivers Community College. This activity will consist of hands on field research with the collection of specimens within area streams and rivers. Students may also need to be briefed beforehand (minor training) in order to participate.
A Day in the Life of a Scientist- November 13th (12:30 - 4:00 p.m.)
Students will be able to shadow graduate students at the UCONN Health Center that are conducting research in an area of interest to them. Students will have an opportunity to assist and learn about the research projects. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and learn about graduate school as well as the process involved in doing research.
A Day in the Life of a Medical Student- November 7th
Students will have the opportunity to sit in on a Problem Based Learning (PBL) session with Medical students. Medical students will be discussing various medical cases in terms of how they would handle the situations. Students will be able to ask questions and take part in the discussion.
Dr. David Hull, Director of Transplantation, Hartford Hospital- November 18th 1- 3 pm
Dr. Hull received the James P. Colangelo, MD Achievement award from the National Kidney Foundation in July. Dr. Hull will be speaking about organ donation, transplantation operations and procedures, as well as new technology and biotechnologies. At the Hartford Hospital Transplant Program, new initiatives are constantly underway. Some of these include expanding the living donor pool, cryosurgery and associated technologies for liver cancer, and our laparoscopic and hand-assisted laparoscopic live kidney donation. The event will be hosted at Three Rivers Community College
As of Jan. 1, 2008, the Hartford Hospital Transplant Program has performed over...
HISPANIC HEALTH COUNCIL- Week of October 19th or 26th and week of November 2nd, 9th or 16th , TBD
Spend a day in a community-based, non-profit organization located in Hartford, CT. Programs include Nutrition and Diabetes Study (program descriptions below).
Established in 1978, the HHC is a community-based, non-profit organization located in Hartford, Connecticut. HHC’s unique organizational model integrates policy, advocacy, community-based research and evidenced-based service to address health inequities experienced by Latinos and other diverse communities. To carry out this charge, the organization has established the following Centers of Excellence: Center for Community Nutrition; Center for Women and Children’s Health; Center for Risk Reduction. The HHC is also founding partner with the University of Connecticut, Center to Eliminate Health Disparities Among Latinos (CEHDL).
THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY NUTRITION (CCN)
Its main goal is to improve the nutritional well-being of low income community members through the delivery of community nutrition education services, food access outreach activities, implementation of social marketing campaigns and conduction of community based nutrition research.
Programs at the CCN
1) HHC SNAP Outreach Program
The main goal of the Food Stamp Outreach Program at the HHC is to increase the level of awareness, information and participation about the nutrition benefits of the SNAP program, formerly known as Food Stamp Program, among low-income Hispanics and other low income population living in Hartford, Manchester, East Hartford, Willimantic, Bridgeport and other underserved communities among Connecticut. The strategies used by the program are; a) implementation of a social marketing campaign using venues such as radio PSA’s in English and Spanish, newsletter ads, and others; b) providing culturally appropriated SNAP education c) doing intensive outreach efforts among the target population at shelters, community agencies, health fairs, clinics, schools, health fairs, food pantries, and other settings c) conducting prescreening for eligibility to the program d) helping with the application process and advocating for clients as needed. This program receives referrals from other programs within the HHC, and outside agencies, walks in are also welcome. A combination of all these strategies has been effective in reaching those that are more in need. This program is funded by the CT Department of Social Services.
2) CT Hispanic SNAP-ED Program
This program is a partnership between the University of Connecticut Nutritional Sciences, Cooperative Extension System and the Hispanic Health Council. It provides nutrition education to SNAP households and their children to improve their food selection. This programs provides nutrition education services through PANA (Programa para Aprender Nutrición y Alimentación) which is a culturally competent nutrition program that promotes healthy eating and exercise among Latino children and their families. It offers a series of bilingual puppet shows about different nutrition topics, and nutrition presentations for youth and adults at schools, community agencies and health fairs. This program has also implemented social marketing campaigns for the dissemination of nutrition messages among Latinos living in the Hartford area.
3) Diabetes Study
The main goal of the diabetes study is to evaluate the efficacy of a culturally-tailored, community-based peer counseling best-practices model designed to provide home-based support and promote self-management of type 2 diabetes among inner-city Latinos as a supplement to the standard of care “Amigos en Salud” diabetes care program at Hartford Hospital (HH). This comprehensive peer counseling program includes diabetes, nutrition, glucose monitoring, diabetes medications, diabetes complications and physical activity case management, enhancement of provider-patient communication and patient advocacy. Funded by the Connecticut NIH EXPORT Center of Excellence for Eliminating Health Disparities among Latinos (NIH-NCMHD grant # P20MD001765).
4) Diabetes Access Program
The Diabetes Access program (DAP) is a partnership between the Hispanic Health Council and the Community Health Service community clinic. This program was developed following the same model of our Breastfeeding peer counselor program and the experience that we had have with the diabetes study. It also follows a comprehensive approach to diabetes self management providing home visits by a peer counselor to reinforce diabetes care from the clinic and to empower clients to adhere to their treatment.
***If you are interested in an event and cannot attend on the date announced please notify Luis. We can try to make alternative arrangements.
Have ideas for trips, events or workshops? Please let Teshia or Luis know your ideas.