June 27, 2008
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Call
for Poster Submissions
Why present your work at Kansas Public Health Conference?
- Best student poster entry will win a trip to the APHA Annual
Meeting in San Diego
- Add to your resume or vita
- Get recognition and awards
- Share ideas with interested colleagues
- Participate in leadership
Become active in your association
- Best practitioner poster will win a free membership to KPHA
for the following year
- Best overall researcher submission will win a trip to the
APHA Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA
Be a part of enhancing the health of Kansans. We are also looking
at putting the abstract of the poster presentations on our website
after the Conference, so you can be “published” for
web-surfing!!
Click
here for the Poster Form.
Please contact Melissa Armstrong, at marmstro@kumc.edu
or call (316) 293-2693 for more information or questions or to
send your Call for Posters.
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Awards Nominations Due
 Each
year at the statewide public health conference, KPHA honors individuals
and organizations for meritorious service in the field of public
health and environment. Any member may submit nominations for
these awards. Unless specifically stated, awards are restricted
to KPHA members. Members can send in their nominations to the
KPHA Awards Committee. That group reviews nominations and presents
its recommendations to the board of directors for its approval.
KPHA’s awards are as follows:
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| Samuel J. Crumbine Medal,
So special, it is even registered with the Library of Congress.
The “Crumbine” is given for meritorious service related
to the improvement of the health of Kansans and/or the environment
of the state. Recipients of other KPHA awards may also receive
this one. A $2000 scholarship is given!
Special Service Awards,
for an individual who has rendered outstanding service to Kansas
in the interest of public health and/or environmental improvement.
May be presented to a non-member of KPHA.
Dorothy Woodin Award,
for outstanding public health nursing service..
Jane Addams Award, for
the social worker who exemplifies the qualities of Jane Addams,
including a pioneering spirit, trailblazer, and striving to improve
the health of the poor and the sanitary conditions of communities.
Virginia Lockhart Health Education Award,
recognizes excellence in public health promotion of health and/or
environmental issues.
Corporate Public Health Service
Award, given to a business or organization which, through
public policy activities, makes a significant contribution to
the mission of public health and/or environmental improvement
in Kansas.
Members wishing to submit nominations in any
category should complete the form found on our website http://www.kpha.us/documents/awards_form.rtf.
and return it to KPHA
Attn: Awards Committee
P.O. Box 67085
Topeka, KS 66667
or email it to director@kpha.us
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Call for
Nominations
It’s time once again to prepare for the association’s
elections. The KPHA Board of Directors plays an essential role
in assuring that the association is doing its best to fulfill
its mission and serve its members. We are asking for your help
in identifying and nominating leaders for KPHA to serve on our
board in the following positions:
President-elect
Assumes the duties of president in his/her absence; will chair
the planning committee for the 2008 annual statewide conference
and serve on the executive committee. Term is one year, followed
by one year as president.
Treasurer
Works with the executive director to compile an annual budget;
reviews financial reports prepared by staff; also serves on the
executive committee. Term is two years.
Director-at-Large (2 positions open in 2008)
Attends board meetings, representing the membership in setting
association policy and related activity. Term is two years
If you are willing to share your time and talents as a board
member, fill
out the nominations form and return it to KPHA,
Attn: Nominations Committee
P.O. Box 67085
Topeka, KS 66667.
Or, go to www.kpha.us, click
on “Upcoming Events,” and download an electronic profile.
The document is in Word format, so you can complete it from your
computer then return it by e-mail to director@kpha.us
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Honor Ceremony
Also, we want to make sure we pay homage to any KPHA member who
has died this past year. If you know of someone, please email
director@kpha.us with the
information and the thoughts you’d like expressed at the
annual meeting.
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Don’t miss this
year’s annual business meeting and Conference!!
Watch for the Conference Brochure on the conference
on our website!
We hope to have it posted in the next couple of weeks!
Annual Conference Focuses on “Small Steps to Great
Change”
We are again featuring an on-line registration and we are working
with Deb Nickel to get the registration on-line through KS-TRAIN.
Most other state public health associations are using this practice.
If you do not have on-line access, please call the KPHA office
at 785-233-3103, or write KPHA to obtain help with your information
to file the on-line registration:
KPHA
P.O. Box 67085
Topeka, KS 66667
Sonja Armbruster, President Elect/Conference
Chair, along with the Conference Committee (the 2008 Board and
Melissa Armstrong) has done a terrific job in designing the 2008
Public Health Conference. The conference will focus on steps we
have taken in Kansas (and the nation) which have brought about
change for the better. There will be approximately 4 general sessions
and 19 breakout sessions to give you the opportunity to learn
about all the activities within public health!
Since public health is so very diverse, this
year the breakouts will include all our sections lead by our Section
Leaders: Administrative Health Section—Debbi Baugher-Parsons,
Labette County Health Department, Child/Family & Community
Health Section—Barbara Mitchell-Olathe, Johnson County Health
Department, Infectious Disease Section—Martha Froetschner-
Topeka, Kansas Department of Health & Environment, Emergency
Preparedness Section—Cindy Mullen-Oakley, West Central Public
Health Initiative, Student Health Section—Jamie Katz-Olathe,
Regional Prevention Center, Elder Issues Section—Annette
Graham-Wichita, Central Plains Area Agency on Aging, Environmental
Section, Research and Evaluation Section—Ellen Averett,
Kansas City, Kansas University Medical Center and Oral Health
Section—Katherine Weno, Topeka, Kansas Department of Health
and Environment. To see the agenda and conference information
watch www.kpha.us.
If you know of anyone planning to attend
the conference let them know they need to fill out a registration
form on-line, because if they don’t, they will not have
a badge at the registration table! Please let everyone you know
who is attending that they must register!!
One of the keynote speakers will be Dr.
Georges Benjamin, MD,
FACP, Executive Director, American Public Health Association,
Dr. Benjamin is a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology
and the University of Illinois, College of Medicine. He is board-certified
in internal medicine and is a fellow of the American College of
Physicians. He is very well-known in the world of public health
as a leader, practitioner and administrator. Benjamin has been
the executive director of the American Public Health Association
(APHA), the nation's oldest and largest organization of public
health professionals, since December 2002.
Benjamin became secretary of the Maryland health
department in April 1999, following four years as its deputy secretary
for public health services. An established administrator, author
and orator, Benjamin started his medical career in 1981 in Tacoma,
Washington, where he managed a 72,000-patient visit ambulatory
care service as chief of the Acute Illness Clinic at the Madigan
Army Medical Center.
A few years later, he moved to Washington, D.C.,
where he served as chief of emergency medicine at the Walter Reed
Army Medical Center. He later managed a $7 million budget and
175 employees as chairman of the department of community health
and ambulatory care at the District of Columbia General Hospital.
He directed one of the busiest ambulance services in the nation
as interim director of the Emergency Ambulatory Bureau of the
District of Columbia Fire Department and worked as a health policy
consultant. Benjamin also served as acting health commissioner
for the District of Columbia.
Prior to joining APHA, he was the chief executive
of the state of Maryland's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene,
a cabinet level agency with a $5 billion Budget. At APHA, Benjamin
serves as the publisher of the nonprofit's monthly publication,
The Nation's Health. The Nation's Health is the association's
official newspaper. Benjamin is a member of several committees,
including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary's
advisory committee on public health preparedness and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention director's advisory committee.
He also serves on the boards of Research America, Partnership
for Prevention and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. He is
a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
of Science.
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Legislative
News
AHA meets June 20 to plan fall retreat.
Below are the notes from the meeting:
Leon opened the meeting with handouts from news articles and also
the Trust for America’s Health, showing our state does not
rank well nationally in receiving Health Dollars. Introductions
were made in the room and on the phone. Those present included:
Leon Vinci, Ira Stamm, Carol Cramer, Janet Neff, Patti O’Hara,
Dave Ranney, John Rule, Darlene Whitlock, Susan Kang, Jamie Nicols,
Mandy Cawby, Corrie Edwards, Linda DeCoursey, Sonja Armbruster,
Jessica Noble, Peggy Johnson, Mary Jayne Hellebust and Elaine
Schwartz
Leon led the discussion covering the COBRA, Safety
Clinics, Dental Coverage for Pregnant Women, increase in MCD to
200% Poverty Level, and $5m to SChip. Mental Health parity was
also discussed. Mandy gave an update from KHPA which will be the
re-visitation of the last year’s 21 recommendations, repackaging
and messaging, and the “Medicaid Modernization Act”
and reports from the Data Consortium and their work. Ira added
at the retreat the role and function of KHPA was it was discussed
and that they should generate policy but not so much promote its
passage. Hopefully the health foundations in the state will also
help move health agendas next year. They will be discussing more
of this at their August Board meeting.
Ira also said that Marci praised AHA and the
fact that we are the largest representation of Health Advocates
in Kansas. KHPA will be doing Community Development Tours to listen
to the people of KS, later in the fall. They will have a planning
stage so several opportunities can take place, most likely in
10 regions across the state and to meet with local legislators.
As fall rolls on there will be more grassroots efforts, and they
look forward to keeping us up to date. Susan also gave an update
from KDHE and discussed the shortfall in revenues and the possibility
of cuts next session. They are working on their budget and have
a Sept. 15th deadline to get it to the Governor.
-Tracking Legislation—it was decided this
is one of the real benefits of AHA.
-Testifying—Ira discussed that with 4 years
of growth (AHA) we are getting more organized and becoming a valued
entity at the Capital and responding to bills in committees is
better. We aren’t ready to hire a lobbyist yet—no
funds. Susan commented that many orgs need Board approval for
saying they will be on testimony so we should just share information
as we are doing. Mary Jayne added that we are bringing everyone
together to know what is coming and deciding what to testify on
and maybe we could take a position on bills like the “Clean
Indoor Air Act”. Instead of being reactive we could become
more proactive. Elaine suggested we work with KHPA and KDHE to
know what bills we can help to get ready for.
-Health Day—Linda and Corrie indicated
that this is a lot of work for little impact and would not chair
again next year. The luncheon was a big problem with speakers—some
didn’t show up.
-Guest Speakers at meetings—it was discussed
that last year it was good to have guest speakers. Corrie, Linda,
and Peggy volunteered to help put together a roster for next year.
-Fall Campaigns—Elaine brought to the group’s
attention that many special interest groups send surveys to candidates
asking their opinions on their issues, i.e. Chamber, NRA, Education,
etc. Discussion included this is a good idea, but no one has the
funding to do so. Leon described that KAC (Kansas Association
of Counties) is doing a program to question local leaders about
issues, and maybe we could find out if Health is part of it.
-’09 Session Planning Workshop—developing
a Platform Under this the group discussed developing a platform
for next session. Leon is planning the next steps for AHA as Chair,
and will be looking at how we can be more organized. The group
discussed the benefits of getting together as we did last summer
at a Summit. Corrie indicated she did not have funds for this
year. Mary Jayne volunteered to provide the food. Susan volunteered
to provide the meeting space and to use the video conferencing
capabilities. The group discussed Sept 3rd as the date (most of
the day). Elaine will notify every one of the date, time, etc.
If you are interested in participating please contact the KPHA
office at director@kpha.us
Healing Arts job filled
The Associated Press Published Thursday, June 26, 2008
An Arizona medical regulator has been picked
as the next executive director of the Kansas Board of Healing
Arts. Jack Confer will take the position being vacated by Larry
Buening, who resigned earlier this year as head of the Kansas
agency that licenses and regulates doctors. Confer has been executive
director of the Arizona State Board of Osteopathic Examiners in
Medicine and Surgery for three years. He also worked for other
agencies, including the Arizona attorney general's office. Confer,
42, starts July 14.
Neufeld named to childhood science
and policy group
KHI NEWS SERVICE
TOPEKA, June 25 — House Speaker
Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, is one of 10 state leaders tapped for
a national advisory group on early childhood learning policies.
The panel has been put together by the Center on the Developing
Child, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices,
and the National Conference of State Legislatures. The advisory
group is tasked with offering guidance about how to make the science
of early childhood development most useful to state policymakers
across the country, according to the announcement from Neufeld’s
office.
“Kansas understands the connection between cutting-edge
science and sound public policy,” Neufeld said in a prepared
statement. “States are leading the way on early childhood
policy, and it is critical that our decisions are based on hard
science and real results.”.
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