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In May, Katie Brescia, Ainsley Gallagher, and Grace Stevens, students in the Masters in Public Health Innovation and Practice program (MPHIP), along with SPA student Christian Coleman, won first place in the nationwide “Elevating Voices” competition. Open to graduate students in public health programs across the country, the competition invited participants to describe how the Medicaid Recovery Act limits intergenerational wealth and contributes to racial health and wealth disparities among American elders. The competition was hosted by the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys and funded through an award from the Robert Johnson Foundation. The winning team, mentored by Dr. Cynthia Potter, Director of the MPHIP program, used a case study approach that combined policy analysis and research with statistical fiscal analyses to provide a thorough explanation of the shortcomings of the hardship waiver policy, deemed an important component of the Act. Congratulations, Ainsley, Christian, Grace, and Katie!
Liana Petruzzi received supplemental funding of $122,796 (new total: $245,952) from the NIH for “Improving Perinatal Mental Health Among Latinas through a Culturally Adapted, Multi Level Intervention.” She also published Addressing Health-Related Social Needs during COVID-19 through a Hospital-Based, Community Health Worker Program: A Case Study and The Role of Perceived Neighborhood Factors and the Built Environment on Depression and Stress among Latinas on US-Mexico Border.
Stacey Snelling received a $161,120 grant from the DC Department of Health for “Marketing Landscape Assessment Washington, DC”; a $300,000 grant from CareFirst for “Resilient Food System to address Diabetes"; and a $45,000 grant from the DC Central Kitchen for “Healthy Corners Program Evaluation.”
Barbara Bernstein published a guidebook on Latin dancing, Salsa Dancing & Rueda de Casino Guidebook for Beginner to Advanced Dancers.
Resilient Food System Summit
1:00:41
The Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities Lab welcomed representatives from over 50 organizations to American University for the Resilient Food System Summit on October 9, 2024. Food system leaders Renee Catacalos and Ellie Bomstein, along with three insightful panelists, Alexander Moore, Christopher Bradshaw, James Tate, shared their personal and professional commitment to the local food system. The discussions fostered meaningful connections and highlighted the importance of collaboration in building a resilient food system in the Washington, DC, area. Watch more videos from the summit playlist.
The Time Is Now: Opportunities to Boost Food & Nutrition Sec
1:00:57
Every five years, the country takes a close look at national food and nutrition programs. Though called the farm bill, its biggest provision is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), one of the country’s largest anti-poverty and food security programs. Panelists will discuss opportunities to alleviate hunger, reduce unhealthy food marketing, increase equitable access to healthy food, and provide incentives for healthy eating through program modernization, stronger nutrition education, and research.
Speakers:
- Ty Jones Cox, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
- Karen Ehrens, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Sara John, Center for Science in the Public Interest
- Jacqlyn Schneider, FGS Global
- Margo G. Wootan, President, MXG Strategies; Adjunct Faculty, American University
2024-2025 Student Awards
Graduate Award
- Isabella Apple
- Sara Kogon
Undergraduate Awards
- Barbara Reimann Endowed Scholarship for Health Studies
Kaleigh Missimer - Health Impact at AU
Amelia Rowniewski - Health Impact in DC
Mariah Aldridge, Laila Ford, Abigail Puszkin, Kira Carr, Grace O'Malley - Health Impact Beyond DC
Zoe Rogers, Lindsay Strawser, Isabella Cvrk - Josephine G. Gimble Award
Katie Brescia - Charles M. & Lucy W. Johnson Textbook Award
Divine Hanna - Charles M. & Lucy W. Johnson Research Award
Hannah Arthur
Food Matters: DC Ward 7 Shoppers Spin-to-Win for Better Health
AU’s Department of Health Studies brings nutrition expertise & tips to DC shoppers
Transforming the Food System to Serve All
Prof. Stacey Snelling receives a 3-year, $2.8M grant to address food security in DC’s Wards 7 and 8
The Time Is Now: Opportunities to Boost Food & Nutrition Sec
1:00:57
Every five years, the country takes a close look at national food and nutrition programs. Though called the farm bill, its biggest provision is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), one of the country’s largest anti-poverty and food security programs. Panelists will discuss opportunities to alleviate hunger, reduce unhealthy food marketing, increase equitable access to healthy food, and provide incentives for healthy eating through program modernization, stronger nutrition education, and research.
Speakers:
- Ty Jones Cox, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
- Karen Ehrens, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Sara John, Center for Science in the Public Interest
- Jacqlyn Schneider, FGS Global
- Margo G. Wootan, President, MXG Strategies; Adjunct Faculty, American University
At the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine 2022 Public Health Case Challenge, students Adira Brenner, Margaret Curley, Caroline Kerkorian, Rotem Miloh, Rebeka Rafi, and Anjali Singh were awarded the Interprofessional Prize for their innovative solution involving multiple DC community partners and stakeholders in a peer-mentorship program. AU public health alums Mary Katherine Fogarty and Yongyi Lu were the case writers for the competition: see video Highlights Reel (with AU at 0:30, 2:19, 2:49).
Health promotion management students Adira Brenner, Rotem Miloh, Amenti Bekere, Alec Harris, Kai Jones, and Jamie Cohen, accompanied by prof Robert Karch, interned at HERO22, working with experts in lifestyle medicine, worksite wellness, and health promotion to share recent research and innovations.
Alumna Annika Bergstrom (CAS/BS ’15) won the United States Public Health Service 2022 Excellence in Public Health Award.