Oct. 6, 2021
How storytelling can help public health officials combat distrust, skepticism
October 6, 2021 Contact: Brian Consiglio, 573-882-9144, consigliob@missouri.edu Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, public health experts and scientists have struggled to get some segments of the public to heed their warnings about the importance of following public health measures aimed at controlling the spread of the virus. Lise Saffran, an associate teaching professor at the MU School of Health Professions, studies public health and earned a master’s degree in fine arts and creative writing from the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop. In a recently published commentary titled, “Public health storytelling practice,” she explains how storytelling can help public health…
Sep. 15, 2021
International student receives awards for COVID-19 research
By Shanley Silvey Ifeolu David Congratulations to Ifeolu David, a PhD student in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, for receiving the Mary Elizabeth Guntermuth Award for Community Engagement and Graduate Professional Council (GPC) Excellence in Research Award this spring. Enid Schatz, professor and chair of the Department of Public Health, nominated David for the Guntermuth Award. David, who completed his MPH at Mizzou in 2019, assisted Dr. Schatz with a campus-wide study to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 on campus in Fall 2020. This large-scale study aimed to collect blood from up to 300 people a week, throughout the fall semester,…
Sep. 14, 2021
New Faculty Spotlight: Jollyn Tyryfter
Sept. 7, 2021 This piece is part of a series in which we introduce new faculty members for the 2021-22 academic year. Jollyn Tyryfter is part of a cohort of nutrition faculty from MU Extension who are joining the School of Health Professions. Jollyn Tryryfter, Assistant Extension Professor, Public Health Tell us a bit about yourself. What brought you to MU Extension? I was initially drawn to Columbia because my sister and nephew live here. I came across MU Extension and realized how strong the SNAP-Ed program was, and the timing…
Sep. 13, 2021
Public Health senior finds mentors and community at Mizzou
Photos courtesy of Jaylan Wright Jaylan Wright Hometown: Houston, Texas Major: Public Health senior Minor: Human Development and Family Studies Jaylan’s mom, Trina, right, works toward college access for at-risk and undocumented students. She is a doctoral candidate at St. Thomas University for Ethical Leadership. “There’s always been a big push for me to go to college,” Jaylan said. Why did you choose Mizzou? I went on quite a few college tours, but none of the campuses felt as easy to navigate as Mizzou. It was also important for me to be able to find community as a…
Aug. 27, 2021
Anastasia Harris named Outstanding Young Alumna
The School of Health Professions is pleased to announce Anastasia Harris as one of our 2021 Outstanding Young Alumni award winners. This award recognizes alumni who demonstrate success in their chosen careers and qualities of innovation and creativity. Harris is a devoted Mizzou Tiger who is currently using her Health Sciences degree to jumpstart her career in Chicago. Anastasia Harris, MPH, CHES Degree: BHS ’15 (Health Science) with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies, MPH Job title: Data Management Strategy and Governance Advisor Employer: Cigna/ Evernorth Current city: Chicago Working with data…
Aug. 26, 2021
America’s reaction to the polio vaccine versus the COVID vaccine is different, expert says (KRCG 13)
COLUMBIA — In the 1950s, when polio outbreaks were a common occurrence the arrival of a vaccine was welcomed with open arms, but scholars noted the COVID pandemic is evidence that America’s attitude toward vaccination has shifted. University of Missouri Assistant Teaching Professor Lynelle Phillips said polio affected thousands in the 1950s, and it still affects people around the world, today. “It was terrifying for parents because it seems so sporadic as to which people got hurt by polio and which people didn’t,” Phillips said.
Aug. 24, 2021
The Digital Divide: Black families continue to face disparities in broadband access
COLUMBIA — The sudden shift to online learning right before quarantine caused change for every family. But for Black families, that change exposed the disparities in broadband access. Charity Martin remembers the struggles her family faced when Columbia Public Schools suddenly went online back in March 2020. “One minute they can talk to the teacher, see the teacher, next thing the whole thing is blank,” Martin said. Martin’s niece and nephew’s Zoom often faced disconnects from spotty broadband during virtual school lessons. Zoom meetings were the norm during the switch to virtual learning last year. Daily Zoom users spiked from…
July 14, 2021
Virtual schooling exposes digital challenges for Black families, MU study finds
July 14, 2021 Contact: Brian Consiglio, 573-882-9144, consigliob@missouri.edu A new study from the University of Missouri found the unanticipated transitions to virtual schooling due to COVID-19 exposed the lack of digital resources among Black families in the United States, including access to Wi-Fi and technological savviness. The findings help explain the extensive stress virtual schooling caused for many Black families trying to keep their children learning and engaged online while at home during the pandemic. “What we found was parents and caregivers often felt disempowered in the rapidly changing environment, as they did not necessarily…
June 16, 2021
Family support key to overcoming barriers to HIV treatment in Africa
June 16, 2021 Story contact: Brian Consiglio, 573-882-9144, consigliob@missouri.edu Researchers at the University of Missouri have found that physical mobility, transportation and financial issues pose the biggest barriers to accessing HIV treatment for older adults in South Africa, where 20 to 30 percent of people over age 50 are infected with the virus. However, MU researchers also found that family support proved to be the strongest facilitator in overcoming these challenges thanks to changing attitudes in Africa about HIV/AIDS. “What we found was older adults with HIV often have younger family members who have been raised in a society of…
June 15, 2021
Spring 2021 Dean’s List
June 15, 2021 Congratulations to all students who made the Spring 2021 Dean’s List! Each school and college at the University of Missouri determines its own dean’s list eligibility for undergraduate students. Students who had privacy holds in MyZou are excluded from public lists. To qualify for the dean’s list in the School of Health Professions, a student must earn a 3.3 GPA in a minimum of 12 graded (A-F) credit hours. Dean’s list honors only apply to Fall and Spring semesters. Courses graded S/U or Hearer do not count toward the required 12 graded hours. Self-paced courses must be…