tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45955791565671651202024-02-18T23:09:36.572-08:00The Dartmouth Institute Student BlogTDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-39128178632656352192011-02-02T06:53:00.000-08:002011-02-02T08:46:39.490-08:00Intro to: The TDI Student Advisory Committee (SAC)<div style="text-align: left;">Hello readers,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yeah...we know...less than a month and another posting...We know what you are thinking, "Dang those girls are good!" :) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Haha</span>!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">An aspect of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">TDI</span> experience that we haven't really touched upon yet is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">TDI</span> Student Advisory Committee. At the beginning of early fall quarter, four officers are elected to this committee, and then serve in that capacity for the rest of the year. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">TDI</span> SAC is committed to working towards the success of the The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. Our primary role is that of communicating the thoughts and concerns of students to the administration, and dually serving as liaisons of the administration to the students. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Some of our responsibilities include:</div><div><ul><li style="text-align: left;">Coordinating student involvement in community service</li><li style="text-align: left;">Evaluating the overall program administration and academics</li><li style="text-align: left;">Establishing policies and/or procedures for new activities</li><li style="text-align: left;">Coordinating individual student comments into a coherent recommendation</li><li style="text-align: left;">Providing feedback on the progress of individual courses.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Coordinating social events for students</li><li style="text-align: left;">Serving as liaisons to the Dartmouth Medical School Student Government and the Graduate Student Council.</li></ul></div><div><p class="p1" style="text-align: left;">A more in-depth look at the activities of the current <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">TDI</span> SAC will be coming soon. Stay tuned!</p><p class="p1" style="text-align: left;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">TDI</span> Love always,</p></div><div style="text-align: left;">Miriam <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Ayad</span> (President) Miriam.E.Ayad@dartmouth.edu<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;">April Semilla (Treasurer) asemilla@dartmouth.edu</div>TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-17854878702431866902011-01-07T13:42:00.000-08:002011-02-21T11:29:45.357-08:00Fall Quarter Recap<style>@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }.MsoChpDefault { }.MsoPapDefault { margin-bottom: 10pt; }div.WordSection1 { page: WordSection1; }</style> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal" face="times new roman"> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }.MsoChpDefault { }.MsoPapDefault { margin-bottom: 10pt; }div.WordSection1 { page: WordSection1; }</style> </p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:black;">Welcome back everyone! :) Happy New Year! We trust that you all enjoyed your winter breaks and we would like to start our first blog back by apologizing for our absence these past couple months. This entry will serve as a recap of last term, and hopefully serve as a bit of an explanation as to the workload that served to taint our blogging creativity a bit. </span><span style=""><br /><br /></span><span style="color:black;">Last quarter saw TDI students complete courses such Epidemiology and Biostatistics 1, the Continual Improvement of Health care, Medical Care and the Corporation, Inferential Methods and Systematic Review 2, along with classes specific to those pursuing a MPH or MS degree. </span><span style=""><br /><br /></span><span style="color:black;">To give a quick peek into what kept us occupied in the last few months, students in the Medical Care and Corporation class (offered through the Tuck Business School), for example, participated in term long consulting projects with various clients in the Upper Valley. Clients included Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Dartmouth College, with the final deliverables being a full-length presentation as well as a client report. Inferential Methods part 2 concluded with the final products of a systematic review paper and poster session, and please see attached pictures as proof that all the hard work paid off. In our Continual Improvement of Health Care class, we completed personal improvement projects and had the opportunity to tackle issues in real life setting, in team improvement projects, where we learned all about issues of quality improvement. </span><span style=""><br /><br /></span><span style="color:black;">In the MPH Seminar Series, a three term course spread through the Fall-Spring Terms, students worked in groups to conduct a Needs Assessment of various programs within the community, and present their findings to their respective clients. For the MS students, the Research Tutorial Series 1 began the process crafting what may eventually become grant proposals worthy of submission to the NIH. </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:black;">Although may seem like all we do is go to class, and then when we’re out of class, we’re either doing class work, or preparing for more class, we do actually have time for social events.</span><span style=""><br /><br /></span><span style="color:black;">Prime example? Before TDI students scattered all over the country before thanksgiving break, we had our own version of thanksgiving dinner, with Turkey, Ham, mashed potatoes and all the fixings, not forgetting the apple pie of course.</span><span style=""><br /><br /></span><span style="color:black;">As the student advisory committee, we also hosted a holiday movie night before we all left for our holiday breaks! The movie selections were: A Christmas Story, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Elf, Nightmare Before Christmas, and Home Alone. The winning movie was A Christmas story and we enjoyed the evening with popcorn. We also hosted a study social for students preparing for finals. There was plenty of food and it was good to be surrounded by fellow classmates for the final stretch.</span><span style=""><br /><br /></span><span style="color:black;">The TDI Holiday Party was a big hit. :) It was beautifully decorated and the food was delicious! It was a nice way to meet an greet with professors and other TDI staff and faculty.</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:black;">It definitely was an action-packed term to say the least, but we all made it through. :) Stay tuned because we are going to be blogging machines...don’t believe us? Oh you just wait and see. </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=""><br /><br /></span><span style="color:black;">TDI love, </span><span style=""><br /></span><span style="color:black;">Miriam Ayad </span><span style=""><a href="mailto:Miriam.E.Ayad@dartmouth.edu"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Miriam.E.Ayad@dartmouth.edu</span></a></span><span style="color:black;"> (President)</span><span style=""><br /></span><span style="color:black;">April Semilla </span><span style=""><a href="mailto:asemilla@dartmouth.edu"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">asemilla@dartmouth.edu</span></a></span><span style="color:black;"> (Treasurer)</span></span></p> <span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:85%;color:black;" ></span><p style="font-family: georgia;"></p>TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-83506123334049411592011-01-05T09:36:00.001-08:002011-01-05T09:36:42.096-08:00Win HOP Winter Film Passes!Graduate Students: Win DFS winter film passes from the Hop!<br /><br />The Hopkins Center is giving away 8 pairs of passes to the DFS Winter<br />Film Series “Quixotism” to graduate students. To be eligible, sign up<br />for Hopmail, a weekly e-newsletter with a comprehensive list of upcoming performances, films and outreach events as well as breaking news and special offers from the Hop.<br /><br />We will draw 8 winners and each will receive 2 film passes that are good for all DFS winter films (20+ movies!).<br /><br />Upcoming DFS movies include:<br />THE SOCIAL NETWORK<br />127 HOURS<br />HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, Part I<br />THE FRESHMAN<br />THE KING'S SPEECH<br /><br />This giveaway ends Wednesday, January 5.<br /><br />http://www.patronmail.com/pmailweb/PatronSetup?oid=178<br /><br />See you at the Hop!TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-77568267545214948202010-10-15T07:03:00.000-07:002010-10-15T07:06:05.032-07:00TDI Students Meet Dr. Charles Everett Koop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpilA6_a2AypR-1MbnGiRD4SJ9EvwJk9bbC4PVBsjrFHFcGBMdpajm8b-0MYn0wLT6By_tt87MVaAmvWUKv6qOP6dyYeKs3kpmZUxvivs1XPC9wsCqclDINs6xtUM6nNcwdSDgrmLhL3s/s1600/IMG_3162.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpilA6_a2AypR-1MbnGiRD4SJ9EvwJk9bbC4PVBsjrFHFcGBMdpajm8b-0MYn0wLT6By_tt87MVaAmvWUKv6qOP6dyYeKs3kpmZUxvivs1XPC9wsCqclDINs6xtUM6nNcwdSDgrmLhL3s/s320/IMG_3162.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528273555473462082" /></a>TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-71870195921080127092010-10-12T16:54:00.000-07:002011-01-07T13:33:42.703-08:00Guess what? Its fall and the leaves are changing color in New England!Hey TDI followers,<br /><br />Greetings again! Since it has been a month since our last posting, we have so much to update you on! It is a testament to how busy we have been over the last month that even with two people, our pledge to update biweekly fell to the wayside!<br /><br />In our defense, in the week after our last post went up, our 10 page White Paper, a 5 page analysis, our Final Systematic Review Proposal, Poster presentation were due, on top of our usual 50 page readings, homeworks and meetings. To say we have been busy would be an understatement. And then the week after that, Finals were upon us. Dun dun dun...<br /><br />So be warned ladies and gents: TDI is not for the faint at heart.<br /><br />It wasn’t all work and no play, however, as there was plenty of opportunity to kick back and relax. The Wellie Formal-formerly-known-as-BEMA was a very well attended semi-formal event that gave us the chance to let off a little steam and mingle with other graduate students from the medical school and students from the Graduate Arts and Sciences. Dartmouth also hosted it’s first home game of the season (we fell to Penn, but we’ll get them next time!) and then suddenly, our first quarter was done, and we had a few days of breathing room to gear up for Late Fall Quarter.<br /><br />Some highlights? Having the former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop stop by to speak in our Critical Issues in Health and Health care class seriously sticks out. Members of our cohort who are in the Medical Care and the Corporation elective in Tuck had the opportunity to listen to a presentation by Michael Porter, who is widely known as the ‘Father of Modern Strategy’, which was also very exciting.<br /><br />This quarter, we are welcomed back into Epidemiology and Biostatistics, continue on with Inferential Methods and Systematic Review 2, and we have also added two new classes to the mix!<br /><br />On to other news, it is starting to get a lot more chilly around these parts and the leaves have starting changing colors. Fall in New England is absolutely beautiful. We just got back from a Fall Break and it has been really interesting hearing where everyone visited for our 5 day vacations. Some went back to their hometowns, and others went exploring other states in New England.<br /><br />We have our first TDI Student Advisory Committee meeting this week, and we will make sure to update you on the progress we make in that department soon!<br /><br />As for the late fall term that is upon us...BRING IT ON!<br /><br />Reppin' TDI till we die yo,<br />Miriam E. Ayad Miriam.E.Ayad@dartmouth.edu (President)<br />April P. Semilla asemilla@dartmouth.edu (Treasurer)TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-81070570582393427662010-09-10T09:16:00.000-07:002010-09-10T09:49:25.183-07:00Welcome Class of 2011!Hello!!!<div><br /></div><div>For first post of the year, we would like to welcome the TDI class of 2011. We are aware that there has been a significant absence in up-keeping the TDI blog...but have no fear, regular blogging starts now! Our aim is to keep this up biweekly...so get excited!</div><div><br /></div><div>Looking back at the first month of TDI, we have a lot to report! Hard to believe, but the first month of our TDI experience has blazed by, leaving a trail of homework assignments, group presentations, and readings stacked two inches deep. Congratulations, Class of 2011, for surviving your first round of midterms!</div><div><br /></div><div>Hanover has been an interesting place so far, a lot different from California and Zambia, where we both are from! One thing we are getting used to is...a lot of trees! We have been exploring, hiking, eating (maybe a little too much), and enjoying meeting people from various backgrounds. </div><div><br /></div><div>Upcoming events to be mindful of when you can get away from the books:</div><div>Friday September 10- North Park Wine and Cheese Mixer 6:30pm</div><div>Tuesday September 21- Convocation 11:00 am</div><div>Friday September 24-Welcome Reception 4:00 pm</div><div><br /></div><div>Alright, we think that is all we have for now!</div><div><br /></div><div>Peace. Love. & TDI.,</div><div>April Semilla (asemilla@dartmouth.edu)</div><div>& Miriam Ayad (Miriam.E.Ayad@dartmouth.edu)</div>TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-85490617419445856212009-10-23T09:46:00.000-07:002009-10-23T10:07:50.334-07:00"Go TDI, represent!"I first apologize if an alum making a post on the TDI blog would constitute as "hijacking" but I wanted to share an experience that resulted from a TDI education that may serve as motivation for others.<br /><br />This past Sunday, Emily Neely (formerly Emily Smith, congrats Emily!) and I presented our systematic review on the role of a low-carbohydrate diet on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients at the American Dietetic Association's Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in Denver, CO. It was a pretty informal setting and it may have seemed that taking our MPH work to a dietetic conference would be a big mismatch, but our poster got some great attention, and we got some great feedback and ideas for future research related to health policy and clinical practice.<br /><br />The timing seems great because the current class is well in the process of developing their own systematic reviews through Robin's ECS 102 class. I remember sitting in the same class listening to Robin talking about taking the opportunity to use our systematic reviews towards publications, presentations, and conferences. I never thought that I would take my own project and use its findings to advocate practices providers for fear of being criticized about miscalculations or lack of credentials. My perceptions were way off, and for those who have similar doubts about taking a school project and presenting it to the "real world," I would really encourage you to put those doubts aside, take a chance, and create opportunities out of your hard work. We had a great time at the conference and really enjoyed talking to everyone who stopped by our poster. We were even encouraged to publish our work, which has really motivated us to continue our work from our school days.<br /><br />I do hope that all the current students are learning as much as I did in this program and that sharing my experience will encourage students to view what they learn and what they work on as efforts that can and will make an impact on health care policy and practice.<br /><br />Best of luck on those systematic reviews!<br /><br />Anna Chin, MPH<br />Class of 2oo9TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-89260005182664223972009-07-23T13:45:00.000-07:002009-07-26T23:47:42.511-07:00New YearSuffice it to say that I, David William Royal, [skateboarder, computer programmer, ex-professional tennis player, ex-neuroscientist, beach-lover, sketch artist, and NAVY brat] am experiencing culture shock - and loving every minute of it! Although it's only been a few weeks since moving from Nashville to Hanover, I've already fallen in love with my new surroundings. I've even caught myself referring to Hanover as 'home' on more than one occasion. And this is a complete surprise considering that I had had some concerns that I would find it difficult to understand 'Northerners' and their peculiar accents and traditions. For example, what's this stuff these Northerners call 'soda'? I'd swear it's what we Southerners call 'coke', but I'm too much of a Southern gentleman to correct them. Besides, "when in Rome...".<br /><br />I could go on for paragraphs about how charming and wonderful Hanover and New England are, but I want to focus this blog entry on my early experiences as an applicant and a graduate student at The Dartmouth Institute (TDI). First, I can't praise TDI's faculty and staff enough for making the admissions process the most transparent and painless I've ever experienced. TDI's emphasis on the human element makes its admissions process unique among all of the public health programs I investigated. To put this opinion in context, I spent two consecutive months last year driving across America in search of the best public health programs available, visiting each one multiple times in order to find "my place". What impressed me the most about TDI's admissions process was how thoroughly it emphasized "fit" over raw statistics. My conversations with the Head Recruiter, Alex Thorngren, and the Program Administrator, Karen Tombs, made it very clear that TDI was in the business of creating a balanced class of students from a wide variety of backgrounds and skillsets, and that the professional development of its students was high on TDI's list of priorities. Based upon the résumés and profiles of my classmates, I have to say that TDI absolutely hit it out of the park in terms of their constructing a class rich in experience, character, and personality.<br /><br />Second, my first weeks at TDI have been absolutely amazing! To set this up, Dartmouth just went through a changing-of-the-guard with the appointment of a new President, Dr. Jim Yong Kim. For those unfamiliar with President Kim's accomplishments, he's a human dynamo who's a veritable poster-child for the term "change agent" in the realm of health care. In fact, President Kim was awarded a MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Grant in 2003 for his work with Partners In Health to lower the cost of treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis among the poor. Suffice it to say that President Kim is now on my "Hero List", along with the likes of my Dad and Abraham Lincoln (as well as Optimus Prime, but that's a story best told over drinks). Now then, I had the privilege of joining representatives from a cross-section of Dartmouth's many graduate schools at a formal dinner hosted by President Kim. The purpose of the meeting was to share with President Kim our impressions of what makes Dartmouth great, and more importantly, where and how we feel Dartmouth can be improved in the realm of graduate education. Like most universities, Dartmouth considers itself primarily an undergraduate institution. Hearing President Kim formally declare his commitment to elevating the status and quality of graduate education at Dartmouth was profoundly satisfying.<br /><br />Dinner with President Kim was certainly a thrill, and I was honored to have the opportunity. Given President Kim's passion for healthcare reform, I wasn't at all surprised when he made an unscheduled visit to TDI the next morning to share with the incoming class his long-term vision for TDI, and for the important role we students were about to play in the movement to reform healthcare. It's difficult to convey just how uncommon and unique it is for a president of a university, any university, to make time to personally thank students for joining a university's family. I can't speak for the rest of my class but for me, this was one of those rare moments in my life where I recognized, in the moment so-to-speak, that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.<br /><br />Third, the classes have been incredibly satisfying, full of healthy discussion and engaging debate. Because Dartmouth is on a quarter system, each class is a little longer in duration (typically 4 hours), but the classes don't drag on endlessly. Each class period is organized into discrete sections that flow seamlessly together, helping create a very dynamic and exciting classroom/community experience. You can tell that the course administrators and teaching assistants have put a LOT of time and effort into creating an environment conducive to learning, and more importantly, to exploration of ideas and concepts about which each of us is passionate. While the material comes at us at a pretty good clip (again, it's a quarter system), the workload is completely manageable, and most of the work is performed in small groups to allow each student an opportunity to offer personal insight on the topic of discussion. What's more, the material is presented and organized in a way that blends theory and practice, ensuring that new information is always presented in its proper context. And this last point has been a source of great relief considering that a number of public health programs focus too heavily on theory and rote-memorization of names and dates, in my opinion. I'm angling to help reform health care, and to do that effectively I need the ability to hang ideas and concepts on a more practical framework, and TDI's professors are experts at this. Of course, I don't want to give you the impression that the work's a cakewalk. I'm now in my third week and already I've pulled 5 all-nighters, but that's mostly because I just happen to enjoy working.<br /><br />Having said that, please understand me correctly. A TDI experience is so much more than just work; it is definitely about the personal and professional relationships formed with one's professors and classmates. Even though it may sound like we (or I?) work 24/7, we are all having a blast outside of the classroom as well. For example, although Hanover is a healthy distance from major metropolitan areas, there are plenty of adventures and activities here and nearby. Within the last week I've: 1) attended a ballet performance at Dartmouth's Hopkins Art Center by the incredible Santa Fe Company, 2) attended an open lecture by an eminent Dartmouth neuroscientist on how the human brain uses a 'physical vocabulary' to interpret music, 3) danced my shoes off at the weekly Swing lessons sponsored by Dartmouth's Student Activities Board, 4) relaxed at The Dirt Cowboy coffee shop in downtown Hanover where I had the most amazing peppermint tea ever, 5) got lost in the woods behind my house while trying to locate The Appalachian Trail, 6) got lost in Vermont while searching for a swimming hole, and 7) volunteered my time at David's House, a guest house for families living far from a primary care facility and whose children are being treated at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.<br /><br />In short, I am excited and proud to be at TDI. I can't imagine taking this journey at any other university, or in any other setting. This is shaping up to be a fantastic experience, top-to-bottom! If any readers would like to contact me for further information, please feel free to reach me using the contact information provided below.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />David Royal, Ph.D.<br />MS Candidate, 2010<br /><br />email: <a href="mailto:david.w.royal@dartmouth.edu" target="_blank">david.w.royal@dartmouth.edu</a><br />mobile: 615-294-6051TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-7130821808534279182009-07-09T10:39:00.000-07:002009-07-09T10:50:35.846-07:00Thanks!The 2009 school year is over and a new group of students will soon take over the TDI student blog. Before they do, I want to thank the students in the class of 2009 that contributed to the creation and development of this blog. In addition to publishing blog posts, these students achieved impressive goals this year.<br /><br />Recent updates to Shannon’s list of career paths below include the former blogger that will enroll in Case Western’s MD/PhD program in the fall, and the TDI grad that will work as a special assistant for new Dartmouth president Jim Kim. My next few months will include continued <a href="http://www.justmeans.com/editorials/health/210.html">blogging on health and health care at Justmeans.com</a>, and starting a job with the health group at a nonprofit think tank.<br /><br />The TDI staff also deserves credit for developing this blog. Karen Tombs was particularly helpful in creating this forum for students to reflect on TDI experiences and in helping us maintain a publishing schedule. Thanks to all the staff and student blog contributors, and good luck to the TDI class of 2010!<br /><br />-Sam W.TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-30312050494798996162009-06-19T08:13:00.000-07:002009-06-19T08:30:42.237-07:00Internships and GraduationNow that the year has closed, and we're getting ready for a new one, I thought I would reflect on some of my past experiences and one I did not get to comment on thus far: my internship. <br /><br />My internship was with the Global Health Council, (they have an office in White River Junction, VT-- http://www.globalhealth.org/) and they hold the premiere conference in global health at the end of May in Washington, DC. Helping plan the conference was awesome, but attending it was even more so. I met Hans Rosling of Gapminder Inc. (www.gapminder.org) who not only gave a wonderful talk, but was a lovely funny man to meet... when my boss told him I spoke of him often, he said, "I talk about you too," simply hilarious. I got to hear Gayle Smith, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director of the U.S. National Security Council, speak, watch Professor Sir Andy Haines of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine win the million dollar Gates Award for Global Health, and meet the new President/CEO of GHC, Jeff Sturchio. In addition, I got to watch wonderful films, witness excellent workshops, and have breakfast with a legend, Bill Foege, who is a Senior Fellow at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, saved millions of lives by controlling smallpox in Africa and is one of the best speakers I've ever heard! The opportunity The Dartmouth Institute gave me to work at The Global Health Council lead me to more opportunities as the conference that I will never forget.<br /><br />After departing DC, I flew to Chicago to attend Digestive Disease Week, one of the biggest medical conferences in the U.S. at McCormick Place. Two fellow TDI-ers and myself presented a poster on access to care for Crohn's Disease patients in the DHMC hospital referral region and it was great to see the interest in our poster due to the increased interest in quality and the maps we made using GIS.<br /><br />Since returning from the conferences, I've graduated along with my classmates and heard the wonderful things many of them will be doing from working at consulting companies, the CDC, and hospitals to going to medical school in Boston, Washington, North Dakota and Arizona, just to name a few. This place really is amazing and so much can come from it, if you want it to.TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-8328459514961022892009-05-21T15:12:00.000-07:002009-05-21T15:25:28.104-07:00Thesis PresentationsAfter just day one (of four) of the thesis presentations, I have to say I am impressed. Not only was it nice to see high quality, well-presented work, but it was even better to finally see what everyone had been up to all term! What was the most impressive was the wide variety of topics that students undertook from program evaluations on the elderly by examining the Bridge program here at DHMC to how to treat malnourished children in Mahipat-Mau, India. Students performed systematic reviews on soft drink consumption and obesity and wrote grant proposals to further explore the maternity leave policy here in the U.S. This session really showed me the great breadth of knowledge we have all learned this year and the innumerable applications for it all. Although everyone chose one track and focused on a specific topic, we all have the skill set to evaluate programs, implement action plans, perform research, write grant proposals and so much more. I can honestly say I am looking forward to seeing more (and the fact we're getting more yummy snacks tomorrow doesn't hurt either.)<br /><br />-ShannonTDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-55292899524332316022009-05-17T22:12:00.000-07:002009-05-17T22:44:25.256-07:00Beyond domestic health policyWhile TDI is a key player in domestic health care reform debates, and thought-leaders here often focus on comparisons between the U.S. healthcare system and those in other developed nations, healthcare policy and practice in developing nations receives attention as well. For example, we've had speakers lecture on the health traumas facing Sudanese refugees, the ongoing threat of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, and the issue of chronic diseases compounding infectious disease burden in many developing nations.<br /><br />A number of students built on these lectures by focusing thesis projects on health issues in developing countries. One paper looked at primary care in Afghanistan, another studied HIV/AIDS patients in Ethiopia. Although I focused my thesis on domestic issues, I'm interested in financially feasible solutions to health issues, and a number of health programs in developing nations have recently piqued my interest. I find mHealth initiatives particularly compelling. (As does the United Nations. Check out their <a href="http://www.unfoundation.org/global-issues/technology/mhealth-report.html">report</a> on mHealth projects in developing nations.)<br /><br />For some of us, using mobile health technology means perusing WebMD on an iPhone in search of a suitably severe – but not too nasty – affliction that will explain an absence from work. In developing nations, a number of projects combine cell phones and health care resources for very different reasons. Indeed, mobile health (mHealth) technology initiatives are helping patients in these countries return to work, avoid disease, and maximize limited health care resources.<br /><a href="http://www.poptech.org/project_m/"><br />Project Masilueke</a> is an example. The mHealth initiative fights HIV/AIDS in South Africa by sending text message reminders of scheduled clinic appointments. Planned developments include “virtual call centers” with highly-adherent HIV+ patients advising others on medication regimens. Early patient outcomes are positive. A beta test showed that the project helped triple call volume at an HIV/AIDS helpline. In a country where HIV prevalence is estimated at 25% but only 3% knows their status, Project Masilueke promises notable improvements in patient health.<br /><br />Along with individual patients, mHealth initiatives also benefit other stakeholders. These include private corporations. Among the supporters of Project Masilueke, Nokia lends telecommunications services, and National Geographic is documenting the initiative. These corporate entities stand to gain subscribers, licensing revenues, and brand recognition. With the large and growing population of mobile phone users in the developing world – South Africa has nearly 100% penetration – the potential for scaling and profit will continue attracting corporate interest in mHealth, and mobile phones will continue to help some play hooky and others save lives.<br /><br />The U.N. report also lists other stakeholders that benefit from mHealth projects. These include:<br /><br /><span>Stakeholder</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>-<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Benefit</span><br />Patient (Mobile Subscriber) - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Improved health outcomes </span><br />Health Care Provider - <span style="font-weight: bold;">More efficient and effective delivery of services </span><br />NGO - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Advance organizational mission, attract funding</span><br />Foundations - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Advance organizational mission </span><br />Government - <span style="font-weight: bold;">More efficient health care provision, more effective government</span><br />Equipment Provider - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Device revenue generation, improved brand recognition</span><br />Service Provider - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Revenue from service fees, increased subscriber base </span><br />Application Solutions Provider - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Revenue from additional applications license fees </span><br />Content Management -<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Increase in volume of readership or revenue </span><br />Platform Provider - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Revenue from sales<br /><br />-</span><span>Sam W.<br /></span>TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-35357225893573209652009-05-04T07:28:00.000-07:002009-05-17T22:36:24.116-07:00TDI profs. consulted for health care policyHere's an update on TDI in DC:<br /><a href="http://thedartmouth.com/2009/05/04/news/policy/">This article</a> describes Elliott Fisher's concept for Accountable Care Organizations. Dr. Fisher is on the faculty here at TDI and will be presenting his idea to the Senate this afternoon.<br /><br />-Sam W.TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-75446070193101465892009-05-01T15:51:00.000-07:002009-05-01T16:07:15.288-07:00The Possibilities at TDI: A Dream Come True<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CJAREDC%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="Preview" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CJAREDC%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_preview.wmf"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:version>12.00</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> </xml><![endif]--><link rel="themeData" 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mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">My desire in coming to The Dartmouth Institute (TDI) was to gain the knowledge and skill set to ultimately become an effective health policy researcher and assist in the appropriate reform of U.S. health care. This desire has certainly come true; the opportunities at TDI to begin achieving your career goals are endless. I thought I'd relate one particular opportunity I had while studying here.
<br />
<br />As MPH students, we are obviously required to complete a thesis. While the requirements are strict, there are various tracks you can pursue depending on your unique academic/career interests (e.g. Analysis of a Population Health (PH) Problem, PH Intervention Plan, PH Research Grant Proposal, etc.). Since I wanted to pursue a career in health policy research, I chose the grant proposal track and spent the last 6 months working on it. While not required, I wanted to ultimately submit it to the NIH for funding, and so I worked with two orthopaedic surgeon scientists and a biostatistician as my content experts to better ensure its success.
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Long story short, after an intense last month of writing and editing according to their critiques, we just submitted it to the NIH last week! It was a very satisfying feeling. If funded, we will be getting $1 million over 2 years to study outcomes of total knee and hip replacement in the United States--the number one cost-driver for Medicare inpatient services. In the end, we hope to generate knowledge that will inform all stakeholders (the orthopaedic community, patients, and policy-makers) and significantly improve these outcomes, while decreasing cummulative costs by reducing the need for revisions (repeat procedures).
<br />
<br />I can't wait to see the NIH's decision and hopefully begin working to literally fulfill the motto at TDI to generate "knowledge that informs change."</p> TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-8529034701677431282009-04-25T12:21:00.000-07:002009-04-25T12:32:06.738-07:00Spring. . .Spring is here! And the upper valley is in a heat wave. Who would’ve thought it could be 80 degrees in April?<br />We are approaching the midterm of spring semester at TDI and that means graduation is just around the corner. I have been so busy this year that time has flown by and I cannot believe it is almost time to move on and start using the information I have learned here. During this year we have learned to identify issues in health care, how to track these issues, the process of analyzing them, and implementing strategies to fix the problems. I look forward to using my knowledge in the coming years of health care reform.<br />Betsy B.TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-85693790447114233642009-04-23T14:11:00.001-07:002009-04-23T14:58:40.540-07:00Clinical MicrosystemsTDI is fortunate to have the geographic proximity and the support from leaders at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. We have the option of taking a Clinical Microsystems class in the Spring which I was told by several alumni and former professors was one of the electives not to miss. Taught by some of the leaders in quality improvement, Paul Batalden and Gene Nelson, we learn the fundamentals to create and redesign health care microsystems in the efforts to improve delivery of care to the patients, patient's satisfaction, and attain better outcomes for the patients.<div><br /></div><div>Even better, we are given the opportunity to work with a "site" that gives us the chance to apply some of the skills we are learning in the classroom and apply them to a real microsystem. Building on our communication, research, and quality improvement skills, we enter our designated site with the guidance of committed leaders in that field that share the same vision for improvement and better patient care. In the past recent weeks, my partner and I have visited the Ultrasound department right across the street at DHMC and spoken to the director, the head sonographer, and an Ultrasound scheduler to better understand the wait times in this microsystem. We soon will be able to follow patients to get a first-hand look at how we can make a patient's visit to an Ultrasound a delight every time (the Kano Model)! Working side-by-side with the staff of the microsystem and getting the opinions of those that interact with this department from the mesosystem and macrosystem gives us an incredible insight into make every step of the process patient-centered, and efficient, and effective. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are really lucky here at TDI to get these opportunities. </div><div>-Shaili</div>TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-68733642330925558212009-04-23T11:49:00.000-07:002009-05-17T22:36:11.972-07:00Dartmouth in DCStaying current on healthcare reform is a key focus at TDI. We read the recent journal articles, white papers, and policy briefs that guide key decision makers in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere. Our instructors also keep us abreast of happenings since they influence these debates directly (see the 2nd headline <a href="http://www.premierinc.com/about/advocacy/publications/outlook/09/apr-03.jsp">here re: Dr. Fisher's testimony</a>:<span style="font-size:100%;"> North Shore LIJ Health System testifies before House Ways and Means Committee...)</span>. Sometimes though, it's hard to keep up with how the theories we talk about in class here in New Hampshire are applied.<br /><br />Julie Lewis stepped in today to show how TDI works in the real world. She spoke at the Dartmouth Medical School about the stimulus package, and how she and other TDI leaders are advising politicians on what to do with the healthcare-related financial outlays in the bill. Julie is very connected to what's going on in Washington. She has worked with Nancy Pelosi to direct quality improvement policy for the American College of Surgeons. Julie now serves as Director of Health Policy at TDI and manages <a href="http://www.blogger.com/ncludes%20having%20served%20as%20staff%20to%20Speaker%20of%20the%20House%20Nancy%20Pelosi%20on%20domestic%20issues,%20directing%20quality%20improvement%20policy%20for%20the%20American%20College%20of%20Surgeons,%20and%20currently%20serving%20as%20Director%20of%20Health%20Policy%20at%20The%20Dartmouth%20Institute%20for%20Health%20Policy%20and%20Clinical%20Practice,%20where%20she%20manages%20policy%20activities%20including%20TDI%27s%20partnership%20with%20the%20Brookings%20Institution%20in%20Washington,%20DC.">TDI's partnership with the Brookings Institution</a>. She's also very accessible to students. I've met with her a few times to review my resume and plan job-search strategies. Julie showed how relevant TDI is in today's healthcare reform debates, and she's part of the reason why it's exciting to be a TDI student right now.<br /><br />-Sam W.TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-32003149135792694962009-04-07T08:25:00.000-07:002009-04-23T12:56:54.730-07:00The snow is melting...The snow is melting around Hanover and TDI classes are back in full swing.<br /><br />Sorry for the break in posts over the last few weeks. Most of us were focused on finals during the middle of March and then spring vacation provided a break in the action. Some students went on vacation, a few stayed in New Hampshire to work on projects, and others mixed business and pleasure. For example, one student spent part of her spring break interning in Washington DC, and I spent a week vacationing in Mexico then stopped in New York City to deliver a presentation before returning to school.<br /><br />Now that school has started, most are wrapped up in thesis and internship projects. Despite the workload, there's still time for extracurricular adventures. One group spent Sunday hiking up to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuckerman_Ravine">Tuckerman's Ravine</a>, skiing the headwall, and biking out. Although I missed that excursion, I reserved some time yesterday to attend a talk delivered by visiting scholar <a href="http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/faculty/milton-weinstein/">Dr. Milt Weinstein</a>, and then to watch the NCAA finals with a friend who's a UNC alum. It's a busy time for TDI students but we still make time to enjoy the non-classwork opportunities in the area.<br />-SamTDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-76061494666001878652009-04-06T13:01:00.000-07:002009-04-06T13:11:38.047-07:00Healthiest Nation in One GenerationIn conjunction with National Public Health Week 2009, the American Public Health Association has initiated a campaign to build a foundation for healthier nation.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.generationpublichealth.org/">http://www.generationpublichealth.org/</a><br /><br />This video is short and well done. It hits a lot of the points we've been talking about all year.TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-44590825964142726512009-02-20T09:23:00.000-08:002009-02-20T09:35:17.106-08:00Case Mixing and HospitalsWe had a discussion recently in our course Strategy and Financial Management of Health Care about how various insurers (state, private, self-pay) pay for medical care and how hospitals charge different rates for each of them. This has less to do with desire on the hospital's part to treat customers differently, and more to do with the fact that the government can set what they will pay for a given service at pretty much any level they want. As a result, Medicare and Medicaid payments usually do not even meet the break even point for the care that is given. Therefore, hospitals are forced to pass of this deficit to private insurers and self-paying patients.<br /><br />We then discussed two ways in which this effects health care. The first is that branches of medicine that cater primarily to lower-income or older individuals (Psychiatry for instance) are far less profitable than other areas of medicine. This results in many hospitals avoiding providing this service or having to pursue more lucrative fields in order to subsidize the losses they suffer by offering those services. The second area has to do with public policy. When states make cuts to Medicaid (like what may happen in NH) they often due so by reducing their reimbursement rates for procedures. Since the volume of care being given does not change, hospitals have larger deficits from Medicaid procedures. This results in them increasing their charges to private insurers (who are happy to pass the charge onto their customers) and self-payers. As a result, attempts to balance budgets by cutting Medicaid can be essentially the same as raising taxes, as the costs are passed back to the consumers and taxpayers.TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-70210334223561053952009-02-06T10:19:00.000-08:002009-02-06T10:23:51.944-08:00A week in the life . . .A week in the life . . .<br />TDI is a very busy place with new things happening all the time. I thought it would be good to share an average week for a student here at TDI. . .<br /><br />A class dealing with the strategic and financial management is required for the MPH degree and optional for the MS students. This class allows us to work in small groups and get inside various health care organizations and study their financials and management techniques. This past week began with a conference call to the CEO of Concord Hospital in Concord, NH. On this particular call, the CEO was very open about the hospital current financial growth as well as goals for the near future. That evening I went to co-ed intramural basketball game at the Alumni Gym. TDI is known for dominating all intramural sports and several opportunities to participate arise during the year.<br /><br />Tuesday morning I attend The Economics of Health Care with a great instructor. We watched the movie “SiCKO” and tried to identify themes discussed in the movie relating to the U.S. economy as well as other countries. After class I began work on a white paper, much like the white paper submitted by our faculty for the Obama administration. However, we are allowed to choose a topic of interest- I went with the release of dimethylmercury during from coal and oil-fired power plants. This includes the laws, regulations, key stakeholders, and recommendations that I would give to policy makers.<br /><br />The middle of my week consisted of a trip to Montpelier, VT for my internship at the Vermont Attorney Generals Office. I get to watch policy making happen and watch public policy proposals move through the legislature. Currently, I am helping to formulate the Vermont Pharmaceutical Disclosure Act for public use.<br /><br />I had class all day on both Thursday in Friday. Class discussions revolved around strategies hospitals use in health care to stay competitive, the States Childrens’ Health Plan (SCHIP), and mercury poisoning from fish- great timing for my white paper.<br /><br />Overall, it was a very productive week. TDI allows for incredible opportunities and variety while keeping life busy.<br /><br />Betsy B.TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-70105923739868361412009-01-21T18:37:00.000-08:002009-01-21T18:39:26.102-08:00New President, New Health Policies?Here at TDI we focus a lot of energy on trying to improve access to and quality of health care services and exploring ways to make health care more affordable. Although many people recognize this, it was great to hear President Obama say in his inaugural address that “we will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost.” We know from The Dartmouth Atlas that the cost of care has little to nothing to do with the quality of care that patients receive and we are glad the administration seems to be asking questions about what options there are to improve the quality of care while cutting the costs. We were all excited about the white paper submitted by several of our faculty members to the new administration (which is featured on the TDI homepage now http://tdi.dartmouth.edu/) and are excited to have that as a wonderful example as we begin to find topics to write white papers of our own for our Environmental and Occupational Health class this term. Hopefully some of the issues raised in the TDI white paper will be addressed, as for now we have a new president, and now we’ll just have to wait…and study.<br /><br />-ShannonTDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-73311438109081459962009-01-15T21:49:00.000-08:002009-01-15T22:20:08.624-08:00Happy New YearIt's an exciting time to be learning about health and health care in America and TDI is on the cutting edge of U.S. reform efforts. The Institute's cognoscenti just published a white paper outlining some of the issues that should be high on the new president's list of priorities. <br /><br />Not only do we study the data that informs these policy leaders' opinions, but Elliott Fisher, James Weinstein, and others come to our classes and fill in all the details. It's really inspiring to hear their thoughts and then later see their comments and opinions appear in the Wall Street Journal, NEJM, or the NYTimes. We look forward to posting updates during the next few months about what we learn and how it will prepare us for leading change in health care.<br /><br />As we at TDI speed headlong into a new term, I also thought it might be worthwhile to post the mission, vision and values of the Institute in the first blog post of 2009:<br /><br />An Ambitious Mission: The Dartmouth Institute aspires to be the preeminent research and educational institution devoted to the ongoing reform of the U.S. health care system.<br /><br />An Altruistic Vision: To achieve a patient-centered, high-quality, cost-effective health care system with access and excellence for all.<br /><br />A Core of Values: We believe in commitment, education, excellence, dignity, integrity, diversity, trust and respect for all.<br /><br />Happy New Year.<br /><br />-Sam W.TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-34147696240666167762008-12-15T14:05:00.002-08:002008-12-15T14:29:25.679-08:00Mini-Sessions<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoLarge"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:100%;" >During this past week or two, TDI has hosted a couple voluntary mini-sessions on special topics of interest for students to broaden their understanding and skill.<span style=""> </span>The first one was on media relations and Dr. Bruce Dan (former ABC News Health Editor, former Senior Editor of JAMA, and founder of WebMD) came up from D.C. for a couple days to teach us skills that would help us best communicate health information with journalists, broadcasters, and other media outlets.<span style=""> </span>One of the highlights of the session was watching all of his video clips on what to do and what not to do while on camera!<span style=""> </span>He was very engaging and we all came away with increased confidence to project our message to the media and ultimately the general public. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoLarge"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:100%;" >The other mini-session was on clinical trials and was hosted by Dr. Jon Lurie, a faculty member of TDI and Dartmouth Medical School.<span style=""> </span>He and several other local experts lectured on various aspects of clinical trials over the course of four days, including drug and medical device development, the placebo effect, consent forms, challenges in attaining validity, etc.<span style=""> </span>One of the most interesting takeaways of this session was learning about the intricacies of developing and running a randomized, controlled clinical trial.<span style=""> </span>Dr. Lurie and Judi Forman had gained great expertise from assisting with the design and management of <a href="http://www.dhmc.org/spine/Research/Spine_Patient_Outcomes_Research_Trial_%28SPORT%29/index.html">SPORT</a></span><span style=";font-size:100%;" >, and offered excellent insight for those of us who might want to get involved in future clinical trials research.<span style=""> </span>Overall, it was a great week of relaxed learning with no grades and lots of knowledge building!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-size:100%;" >--Jared Conley</span><br /><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>TDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595579156567165120.post-3314759280404518662008-12-02T06:32:00.000-08:002008-12-02T06:48:45.057-08:00Finals behind meWith finals behind me, I realize just how much we've learned over the past two terms: a lot of weighty, important, and novel concepts relating to health problems facing the U.S., ideas for better policy, approaches to improving health services, and upstream determinants of public health. We've been given the skills to measure the supporting information and communicate this new-found knowledge.<br />What we have gained is nothing short of impressive, and it's a good thing, because the road ahead is daunting. There are more problems than can be discussed over Thanksgiving dinner (I tried), and the solutions are more complex than a turkey and pie-sated public can wrap their heads around (I tried that, too...). Fortunately, there is more learning ahead so that we can further equip ourselves for the change-making down the road.<br /><br />-Matthew H. DavisTDI Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788688003838237669noreply@blogger.com0