Uncategorized

Seven faculty and one staff member receive Long Service awards

Seven School of Population and Public Health faculty members and one staff member have received Long Service awards – congratulations to the award winners!

Tool launched to help parents allow ‘risky play’

A free online tool to encourage parents to allow their children to take part in ‘risky play’ is now live, developed by School of Population and Public Health and Department of Pediatrics Associate Professor Mariana Brussoni and her team.

Faculty Profile Update Form Test

Michael Brauer named 2017-2018 Wall Scholar

Professor Michael Brauer is one of 10 Peter Wall Institute Wall Scholars for 2017-2018, and will research the relationships between health and the design of cities, and the delivery of city services.

SPPH signs Memorandum of Understanding with Hunan Provincial Department of Education

The School of Population and Public Health has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hunan Provincial Department of Education, with both organizations expressing a wish for future collaboration.

MSc OEH student Noreen Ma wins American Industrial Hygiene Association award

Master of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (MSc OEH) student Noreen Ma has won the A.L. Reigert award, adjudicated by the BC Yukon American Industrial Hygiene Association.

Consumer behaviour causing premature deaths from air pollution

Professor Michael Brauer is drawing attention to the human cost of our consumer behaviour by examining the number of deaths caused by air pollution from manufacturing goods. Credit: DaiLou/Flickr

First peer navigators ready to guide prostate cancer patients

The first peer navigators are ready to help newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients navigate the healthcare system.

FNHA and UBC establish chair to prevent cancer and improve wellbeing

The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and the University of British Columbia have created a faculty position dedicated to improving cancer outcomes and overall wellness among First Nations and Indigenous people, based in the School of Population and Public Health and the FNHA. Credit: Lindsey Donovan Photography

Investigating the secret to a long and healthy life

An SPPH study is looking into the diets of ‘super seniors’ – people who have reached 85 years and older without developing a major age-related disease – to discover what foods could have helped keep them healthy.

Meet Our Students: Dr. Martina Scholtens, Resident and MPH student

Meet Dr. Martina Scholtens, Resident and MPH student, and learn all about her work with refugees, some translation hiccups, and her next novel idea.

Meet people where they are: harm reduction and the opioid crisis in British Columbia

We sat down with BCCDC harm reduction lead and SPPH Professor Jane Buxton and Associate Professor Eugenia Oviedo-Joekes to talk about their work in harm reduction services, what this involves, and what measures they would like to see to address the opioid overdose crisis.

Universal public coverage of essential medicines would improve access, save billions

Publicly funding essential medicines could cover the cost of nearly half of all prescriptions in Canada, removing financial barriers for Canadians while saving $3 billion per year.

MSc PPH Structure of the Defence and Guidance for Committee Members

Structure of the Oral Defence Defence chair (appointed by Program Director) introduces student and thesis title Student makes a public presentation of the dissertation (approximately 20-30 minutes) Examining Committee and the Chair/External question the student Members of the audience are invited to ask questions of the student Examining Committee holds an in camera discussion (student […]

Empowering people, reducing harms

As all levels of government have struggled to respond to the overdose crisis, a close-knit network of people across the province has been working quietly to reduce drug-related harms in their communities for years. Professor Jane Buxton speaks with Jackie Wong for the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies about the Peer Engagement and Evaluation Project.

Older Canadians skip meds due to cost, putting them at risk for complications

One in 12 Canadians aged 55 and older skipped prescriptions due to cost in 2014, the second-highest rate among comparable countries, new UBC research has found.

MHA student’s senior care app wins hackathon prize

An app for seniors’ care, the brainchild of Master of Health Administration (MHA) student Christina Chiu, has taken home a health authority hackathon prize.

Allergy rates among new immigrants increase the longer they live in Canada

Researchers Jiayun Yao and Hind Sbihi were intrigued by a population health concern they were hearing about anecdotally: that immigrants had fewer allergies upon arriving in Canada, but that their allergy rates increased over time in Canada.

The Puppet Master of Statistics

You may know senior instructor Mike Marin as the flesh and blood man who helped you pass SPPH 400, he is taking on puppet form to teach statistics in an interesting and engaging way.

Parks, big and small, needed for public health

Feeling stressed? Research suggests you should to head to your local park as the surrounding greenery may help you relax. Assistant Professor Matilda van den Bosch co-authored a WHO report recommending small and large green spaces in cities. She explains this research in this Q&A.

Time to change how we pay for health care, together

The time is ripe for provinces to work together to reform Canada’s health care payment systems, a new report has said.

HIV therapy could be contributing to syphilis outbreak: UBC study

Drugs used to treat HIV could affect how the body responds to syphilis, inadvertently contributing to a current outbreak, a new study suggests.

Counselling and opioid substitution therapy could reduce risk of hepatitis C reinfection

People who inject drugs and receive mental health counselling or opioid substitution therapy could be less likely to reacquire Hepatitis C, a new study has found.

Paper on universal drug coverage cost wins CMAJ award

An article looking into the cost of universal public drug coverage in Canada, authored by Professor Steve Morgan, has won the CMAJ Bruce Squires Award.

Have a happy and healthy holiday!

Best wishes for a joyous holiday season!

Future birth options should be discussed sooner after C-section: UBC study

As a researcher and community-based doula, Sarah Munro knows firsthand the difficult choice women face after having a C-section: whether to deliver their next baby vaginally or by C-section.

Building a case for investing in public health – and how SPPH can help

CIHR’s Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH) is actively trying to build a business and political case for investing in Population and Public Health – and SPPH can help.

Unique cancer support program to launch

A unique prostate cancer support program will be launched this month in Toronto and the Vancouver area, run by Professor Arminée Kazanjian.

BC SUPPORT Unit launches in SPPH building

The federal and provincial health ministers unveiled an $80 million investment in health research today, the British Columbia Support Unit for People and Patient-Oriented Research and Trials (BC SUPPORT Unit). The event took place in the School of Population and Public Health’s building, with several faculty having ties to the new unit.

SPPH offers its condolences to the family of Carolyn Bell

The School of Population and Public Health would like to offer its condolences to the family of Carolyn Bell.

President Ono gives thumbs up to Jim Frankish

President Santa Ono has given a thumbs up to Professor Jim Frankish for his alumni UBC Faculty Community Service Award.

Congratulations to SPPH’s newest Public Scholars

Congratulations to SPPH’s newest Public Scholars, Celestin Hategekimana and Emily Rugel!

SPPH could be the “critical department” for transformational change

Faculty of Medicine Dean Dermot Kelleher has said the School of Population and Public Health could be the critical department in terms of transformational change.

One in three B.C. children start kindergarten vulnerable

In B.C., approximately 14,000 kindergarten students start school vulnerable in at least one area that is critical to their healthy development, according to a new UBC report. Written by UBC PR

Faculty members receive James M. Robinson Memorial and George Elliot Awards

Two School of Population and Public Health faculty have been awarded the James M. Robinson Memorial Award and the George Elliot Awards.

The real public health science behind the zombie apocalypse

Hordes of flesh-eating zombies haven’t yet made the leap from the horror-movie screen to downtown city streets, but that hasn’t stopped two professors from SPPH from sharing tips on how to handle an invasion of the living dead.

Kids bounce back quickly: Researchers find most childhood injuries don’t impact quality of life in the long term

Researchers have reassuring news for parents and caregivers: within four months of an injury, most children have recuperated and enjoy the same quality of life they did before they got hurt. Written by BC Children’s Hospital

Online modules target students for cancer prevention

New resources are targeting UBC students for cancer prevention, providing advice and tips about lifestyle choices that could help prevent cancer. Photo credit: Melissa Ashman/Centre of Excellence in Cancer Prevention

Time to explore other measures to close mental health gap – research

Research by SPPH alumnus and faculty has concluded that the impact of physician incentives on mental health care has been “modest”, and it is time to explore other approaches. Credit: iStock

Faculty and staff recognized with Faculty of Medicine awards

SPPH faculty and staff were recognized at the Faculty of Medicine awards reception, receiving an Applegarth Staff Service Award and three Distinguished Achievement Awards.

Meet Our Faculty: Associate Professor Amee Manges

Working with a public health physician almost 25 years ago set Associate Professor Amee Manges on her path to specialize in molecular epidemiology.

Great cycling infrastructure prevents catastrophes: A Q&A with Professor Teschke

After media coverage of Professor Kay Teschke’s research on cycling crashes on streetcar or train tracks, SPPH got an update about the response to Dr. Teschke’s research and future work in this area. Photo credit: Ken Ohrn

Healthcare coverage, access to contraception, and child mortality rates improved since 2000

Healthcare coverage, access to contraception, and child mortality rates have improved since the Millennium Development Goals were adopted in 2000, according to new research involving SPPH faculty. Photo credit: GBD 2015 SDG Collaborators

New breast screening methods ‘should be encouraged’

New breast screening methods should be encouraged, a case study has said.

The health policy puzzle of pharmacare: A Q&A with Professor Steve Morgan

Just what is ‘pharmacare’ and why is it important? In advance of his talk for the first in a revamped Grand Round series, Professor Steve Morgan explains what pharmacare is – and why now is the time to act.

Academics never really retire: SPPH celebrates career of Professor Emeritus Sam Sheps

Academics never really retire. That is according to Professor Emeritus Sam Sheps, and indeed, judging by his future plans, he may soon be adding to his 58-page resume, despite celebrating his retirement from SPPH this week, after 35 years in the field.