University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Logo University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health

Student Announcements

CSTE AEF Application has been reopened through Friday, April 2

FROM THE COUNCIL OF STATE AND TERRITORIAL EPIDEMIOLOGISTS

The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) has reopened the Class XIX Applied Epidemiology Fellowship (AEF) program application to accept new applications for placements beginning summer 2021. The new application deadline is Friday, April 2, 2021. The goal of AEF is to provide a high quality on-the-job training experience in applied epidemiology for recent graduates and prepare fellows for long-term career placement at the state and local level. Based on their interests and available positions, fellows are matched to a state or local health agency for two years under the guidance of two experienced mentors.

During their assignment, fellows develop a set of core competency skills related to epidemiologic methods, communication skills, public health practice and policy.

How to Apply
To apply for AEF Class XIX consideration, please view and complete the online application at https://app.wizehive.com/appform/login/epifellowapp by Friday, April 2, 2021.

For more information, including eligibility requirements, visit www.cstefellows.org. If you have questions about the fellowship application, please contact CSTE via email at aef@cste.org or call the National Office at 770-458-3811.

Healthcare Analytics Info Session

Join us for a virtual info session about the healthcare analytics programs in the College of Public Health. Faculty will talk about the programs and answer questions for an interactive and meaningful discussion. 
Friday, July 17
Noon – 1 p.m.
Facebook Live @uamscoph

HPM Info Session

Healthcare Analytics Info Session

Join us for a virtual info session about the healthcare analytics programs in the College of Public Health. Faculty will talk about the programs and answer questions for an interactive and meaningful discussion. 
Wednesday, June 17
Noon – 1 p.m.
Facebook Live @uamscoph

Analytics Flyer

Heaven’s Loft: MHA Philanthropic Event

This semester, the MHA Student Association will be collecting items to donate to Heaven’s Loft.  Heaven’s Loft is an incentive program that encourages low-income expectant mothers and parents of young children to receive prenatal care, well-baby care, immunizations and education. Parents are awarded vouchers from various healthcare providers and health agencies in the community when they keep preventive maternity care or childcare appointments. The parents also receive free health screening services at the Heaven’s Loft Wellness Center in North Little Rock.

The Student Association is collecting the following items, which will be delivered to Heaven’s Loft.

  • Diapers
  • Wipes
  • Baby toiletries (i.e. shampoo, bath wash, baby powder, combs, etc)
  • Winter clothing (socks, gloves, hats, and coats. Sizes infant to 4T)

If you are interested in donating, please drop off the items to the MHA Offices (Rahn 1261).  The deadline for donation is November 1, 2018.  Thank you for supporting this philanthropic event!  If you have questions, please contact Saleema Karim (sakarim@uams.edu).

Fellowship Opportunity: Health & Disability Fellowship

NACCHO is currently recruiting for the Health and Disability Fellowship program. This fellowship is an invaluable workforce development opportunity for graduate-level students interested in getting hands-on experience in the public health disability field. Applications are now open for two graduate-level students to join the program’s 2018-2019 cohort. This fellowship can create a profound impact on a career in public health. For more information and how to apply, visit https://careers.naccho.org/jobs/11534464/health-disability-fellowship-2.

Arkansas Blue Cross/Blue Shields have summer internships available

Arkansas Blue Cross/Blue Shields have summer internships available. Students may apply directly to the position(s) that meets their interests on the job board on the careers website.

There are 16 positions currently posted including the eight opportunities below:

  • IS Consumer Support Systems Applications
  • IT Data Center Infrastructure Network Operations Center
  • Compliance Audit & Review
  • Enterprise Underwriting Management
  • Actuarial Pricing
  • Information Security
  • Financial Reporting Actuarial
    Position 1
    Position 2

Arkansas Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans are to hire 25 interns for summer 2018. If students don’t see a position that matches your interests, please continue to check their job board throughout the month of February for new positions. The following are intern positions that are approved but have not been posted yet:

Human Resources
Medical Affairs – multiple internships
Corporate Marketing – multiple internships

To be considered for an internship at Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, you will have to apply to a specific position. You may apply to more than one position.

If chosen, Arkansas Blue Cross/Blue Shield will interview students in the Office of Student Affairs. Students, please be mindful of all deadlines.

COPH Graduates Present Grand Rounds at Arkansas Department of Health

COPH graduates and Delta Omega inductees, Melissa Clemens and Shelbie Stahr, presented grand rounds on June 22 at the Arkansas Department of Health. They each presented research from their culminating experience projects in the MPH program.

Melissa Clemens
Melissa Clemens, MPH

Clemens looked at the effects of nicotine and tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) from e-cigarettes on pregnant women. The study, which was the first of its kind, specifically looked at the effects of the biomarkers, nicotine, cotinine, and the TSNAs NNK and NNL, which are carcinogens and what most people assume are not in ENDS, by sampling the hair of 81 pregnant women who use Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS).

Results showed that dual users (or those who smoke cigarettes and are ENDS users) and smokers expose themxelves to the same amount of nicotine. Nicotine i also only paritally responsible for adverse birth outcomes; therefore, cigarettes must contain additional toxins. Lastly, dual users expose themselves to more NNK than smokers, which may affect them down the road.

Shelbie Stahr
Shelbie Stahr, MPH

Stahr’s research looked at the biomarker SULT1A1 and its capabilities for cancer. She aimes to identify a biomarker that could ultimately reduce invasive procedures and large costs that a cancer diagnosis brings.

SULT1A1 is a drug-metabolizing enzyme, expressed in the liver, that engages in modifying metabolites and neutralizing toxins. Stahr looked at 288 liver samples to see if there was a correlation between SULT1A1 expression and activity levels and the methylation status. Ultimately, she couldn’t make a correlation, but if work like this continues, eventually a biomarker will be found that can reduce the cancer burden in our health care system.

Clemens and Stahr will both continue their education at UAMS in the fall by pursuing Ph.D.’s, one in Toxicology and the other in Epidemiology, respectively. Congrats to both ladies on all their hard work.