News and Events

Arnold School's Dr. Edith Williams to present Lupus research in Barcelona, Spain

Dr. Edith Williams of the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health has been selected to present her ongoing lupus research at the First World Congress on Debates & Consensus for Bone, Muscle, and Joint Diseases (BMJD) in Barcelona, Spain. The purpose of the meeting is to convene leading international scholars, researchers, and physicians to serve as an exclusive forum to share and compare experiences, in order to outline appropriate treatment for bone, muscle and joint diseases. The conference will be held from January 19-22, 2012

Deputy Director for Research and Sustainability of the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities, Williams also is a research assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

The Young Scientist award, which covers registration fees to attend the BMJD conference, is chosen from several dozen abstracts. After review of abstracts submitted by physicians, scientists, and researchers internationally, Dr. Williams was recognized as a Runner-Up for this year's Young Scientist Award and invited to deliver a special oral presentation about her work.

Williams' abstract titled, “An Intervention to Reduce Psychosocial and Biological Indicators of Stress in African American Lupus Patients: The Balancing Lupus Experiences with Stress Strategies (BLESS) Study”, will highlight an intervention to reduce the psychosocial and biological indicators of stress in African-American systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. This work was collaboration between Dr. Williams and investigators with the Medical University of South Carolina's Lupus Erythematosus Clinical Research Group.

Intervention efforts were conducted in conjunction with South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control's Office of Arthritis Prevention and Control Program- Healthy Aging. Participants learned how to best reduce stress through exercise, detailed stress management activities, activities aimed at improving communication with physicians, and learning how to incorporate healthy eating options into daily activities. After completion of intervention activities, biological markers were collected and surveys were completed by participants.

This work was supported by funding through the 2010 Pfizer Medical and Academic Partnerships (MAP) Health Disparities Fellowship program. This research area is an extension of Dr. Williams' previous work as a key investigator for the Buffalo Lupus Project. The Buffalo Lupus Project was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and explored the connection between environmental toxic pollutants and high rates of SLE.

Dr. Williams joined the faculty of the University of South Carolina in 2007 and since has quickly become a strong junior investigator participating in several areas of research. “While I have broadened my research areas, Lupus research always is at the top of list,” said Dr. Williams. “Lupus patients, particularly African-American women often experience health disparities in disease management; therefore, this intervention provided great preliminary data to conduct larger studies in the Southeast.”

She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology, with a minor in biology, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master's and doctoral degrees from the State University of New York
 

---

Mothers who delay returning to work beyond 13 weeks are more likely to breastfeed for a longer duration
 

The sooner a mother goes back to work after having a baby, the less likely she is to breastfeed, according to an Arnold School of Public Health study published in the June issue of the journal Pediatrics. Dr. Chinelo Ogbuanu, a 2010 PhD graduate of the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health, along with Arnold School faculty researchers, looked at both the initiation and duration of breastfeeding by new mothers. "Results suggest that women who are out of work or on leave beyond the 13-week period are more likely to both initiate breastfeeding and to breastfeed longer," said Dr. Saundra Glover, associate dean for health disparities and social justice in the Arnold School and Dr. Ogbuanu's lead co-author on the publication. "Based on our findings, if women delay their return to work, then the prevalence of breastfeeding in the U.S. may increase."

Dr. Saundra Glover says women unfortunately are having to make decisions about breastfeeding based on their financial situations.

As part of the research into the relationship between breastfeeding and work, Ogbuanu and her co-authors looked at information from 6,150 women who worked before giving birth. While Glover said the findings didn't surprise her, she said the research points to the need to consider longer, paid maternity leaves – something the U.S. Surgeon General also has supported.

"Many women, particularly women of color and lower socioeconomic status, cannot afford to be out of work on long, unpaid leave. Women are making a decision based on money rather than the health of their babies," said Glover, a professor in the department of health services policy and management. "The United States is the only developed country in the world without paid maternity leave. And when you look at infant mortality, we have the highest infant mortality rate of all developed countries."

Three of four mothers in the United States start out breastfeeding their babies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2010 Breastfeeding Report Card. However, at the end of six months, breastfeeding rates fall to 43 percent and only 13 percent of babies are exclusively breastfed. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as the mother and baby desire. Mothers stay out of work an average of 12.4 weeks after giving birth. The federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protects a woman's job from being ceded to another employee for 12 weeks.

"Children who are breastfed are healthier. If the mother stays home longer she is more likely to breastfeed," Glover said. "Then, when she goes back to work and the children go to daycare, they are less likely to get sick or pick up childhood illnesses. One of the greatest benefits of breastfeeding is for the immediate health and survival of the infant."

Ogbuanu is now the senior maternal child health epidemiologist with the Maternal and Child Health Program in the Georgia Department of Community Health. Other Arnold School faculty members involved with the study were Drs. James Hussey, Jihong Liu, and Janice Probst.

Among the study's highlights:

• Women who returned to work at 13 weeks or later were more likely to predominantly breastfeed longer than three months, compared to those who returned within six weeks. They were also 21 percent more likely to breastfeed — with or without supplemental formula — beyond three months.
• Women who had not yet returned to work by the nine-month interview were 13 percent more likely to initiate breast-feeding compared with those who returned to work within the first six weeks. They also were 70 percent more likely to predominantly breastfeed beyond three months.

---

USC Program Seeks to Reduce Minority Health Disparities

---

Panel discussion, Town Hall meeting and Clyburn Lecture offer comprehensive program on future of healthcare

Click here to read the story

---

Nance appointed to the Tri-County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Dr. Tasha Louis-Nance was appointed as a member to the Tri-County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCCADA), by The Honorable Mark Sanford, Governor of South Carolina. Founded in 1973, The Tri-County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCCADA) is a provider of prevention services and outpatient substance abuse & behavioral health services to the citizens of Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun counties. In addition, TCCADA operates the William J. McCord Adolescent Treatment Facility, a 15 bed psychiatric hospital serving the state of South Carolina. TCCADA is licensed by the S.C. Department of Health & Environmental Control as well as accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and The Joint Commission. TCCADA seeks to prevent substance related problems through education and community involvement, to intervene in substance related problems and to provide treatment and rehabilitation alternatives for affected citizens. The Board of Directors maintains full approval authority and responsibility for all agency policies, procedures, plans and associated documents that pertain to governance, leadership or fiscal matters within the agency.

Term Commencing: April 15, 2010
Term Expiration: April 15, 2013
Seat: Orangeburg
 

---

Arnold School Student leads the way in addressing healthcare and education disparities in Kenya.

Irene Okech, a doctoral student at the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health, is at the forefront of addressing healthcare and education disparities in Kenya, leading by example. A native of Kenya and current resident of the USA, Irene has a passion for public health policy in developing and developed nations. In 2008, together with her mother, she founded Imbako Public Health, a non-profit organization based in the USA and Kenya which strives to mitigate disparities in healthcare and education facing women and children in rural Kenya. Its core initiative stems from its three foundational pillars- Healthcare, Education and Sustainability-(Environment and Agriculture). Its mission … “To reach the women, teach the children, and heal the communities…” is born from identification of need in rural societies in Africa. www.imbakopublichealth.org

To date, Imbako Public Health has partnered with several organizations and institutions including Georgia State University, University of South Carolina, Books for Africa and the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP). In July of 2010, Imbako Public Health partnered with Georgia State University on the Global Impact project. This project, in partnership with Georgia State University's Beta Alpha Psi members, encourages education by establishing fully funded undergraduate scholarships, to Kenyan students, that will enable them to attain a complete undergraduate education. To date, the project has generated and paid for the tuition of 5 young women from rural Kenya, who will attain associate and graduate degrees in the fields of Business, Education, and Nursing.

In September of 2010, Imbako's partnership with Books for Africa, a US based NGO dedicated to helping end the book famine in Africa, led to a donation of a 40-foot container of books to Imbako Public Health. The value of the container of books by conservative IRS estimate exceeds $ 165,000. The books to be received will be used to establish the Imbako Public Health Library, in Sitatunga, Kitale and to supplement the reading material in the local high (secondary) and elementary (primary) schools in Kitale, Kenya. This will definitely go a long way to light the educational path not only for children, but also all community members who will use the library.

Ms. Okech has provided presentations at several universities including Yale University and Georgia State University on public health issues in Kenya. The presentation at Yale University entitled “Imbako Public Health-A collaborative effort to reach communities in Rural Kenya; A maternal child health and education program,” highlighted educational and healthcare disparities in rural Kenya and presented the solutions and innovations that Imbako is implementing to curb these disparities. The Presentation at Georgia State University's Robinson College of Business, stressed the fundamental role of education in rural Kenyan communities, while highlighting the significance of educating the girl child.

Ms. Okech holds a CPA, a Bachelors Degree in Biology from the University of Nairobi, and an MBA in Healthcare Management from Brenau University in Atlanta, Georgia. She is currently a doctoral student at the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health.
 

---

---

$25,000 grant will support the dissertation research on patient reported outcomes of Arnold School Ph.D. student

December 2, 2010

Larrell L. Wilkinson, a doctoral candidate in the Arnold School's Department of Health Services Policy and Management, is the recipient of a $25,000 grant to support his dissertation research on patient reported outcomes.

The highly competitive Alvin R. Tarlov & John E. Ware Jr. Doctoral Dissertation Award in Patient Reported Outcomes is named for Tarlov and Ware, the co-founders of the Health Assessment Lab at the Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, N.H.

Wilkinson, who expects to finish his doctorate in May 2011, works at the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities. Institute director Dr. Saundra Glover is guiding his research interests and serving as chair for his dissertation committee, and Dr. Janice Probst, director of the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center, also is a member of his committee.

Wilkinson said his studies will focus on disparities that appear among young adults who may experience psychological distress. Specifically, the research will examine the association of healthcare insurance coverage and psychological distress, while also investigating the link within certain population sub-groups at high risk for psychological distress.

The subjects of his research are young adults in the United States, with a particular focus on service members and veterans transitioning to civilian life, current and former prison inmates, and victims of violent crime.

After finishing his Ph.D., Wilkinson said he wants to improve the living standards of disadvantaged people, possibly through a career in academia or government service.

He is seeking to follow the motto "Think, Work, Serve" of Tennessee State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 2000.

While at USC, Wilkinson has maintained an active schedule. After earning a master's degree in 2005 from the Arnold School, Wilkinson served as the director of the university's Office of Substance Abuse Prevention & Education, formerly the Office of Alcohol & Drug Programs.

Leaving that post in 2009 to pursue his doctoral degree full time, Wilkinson has served in various campus organizations and was president of the Black Graduate Student Association. He also is on the Board of Directors for the S.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

A native of Stone Mountain, Ga., Wilkinson recently married the former Khalia Robinson of Columbia.

 

---

Hometown Hero:
Partnerships and Community-Based Public Health:
The Thread of Public Trust

Click here to read the article
 

---

Success of health disparities research leads to renewed funding, Claflin partnership
 

From left, Shirley James of the Minority AIDS Council of Orangeburg, Bamberg,
and Calhoun counties; Saundra Glover of the Arnold School; Kim Creek of the
S.C. College of Pharmacy at USC; and Dr. Rebecca Dillard of Claflin University.

A $6.7 million grant to the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health will support an established research program in health disparities.

The five-year award is from the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health. It will fund a Center of Excellence in the Social Promotion of Health Equity Research, Education and Community Engagement (CCE-SPHERE) and will support the Arnold School's partnership for education and research with Claflin University.

The award is the second major NIH grant to Dr. Saundra Glover, the Arnold School's associate dean for health disparities and social justice, to fund research and education in health disparities. In 2005, she was awarded $7.5 million from NIH to establish the Institute for Partnerships to Elimination Health Disparities (IPEHD) and enhanced the Arnold School's research program on health disparities.

“This grant will enable us to build on the five years of accomplishments that we had with our previous Center of Excellence,” said Glover, who is on the faculty in the Arnold School's department of health services policy and management.

“We also will be able to expand our research on cancer and other health disparities and strengthen our partnership with Claflin University to educate the next generation of public-health professionals, educators and scientists,” she said.

The grant's co-principal investigators include Dr. Kim Creek of the South Carolina College of Pharmacy at USC and Dr. Rebecca Dillard of Claflin University.

The first award led to the establishment of the 4+1 Program that provides academic support for Claflin University students who obtain an undergraduate degree in biology at the Orangeburg campus and then complete their master's degrees in public health at USC's Arnold School.

Other successes from the initial award include research on the human papillomavirus that has been linked to cervical cancer and other diseases; HIV/AIDS research and community-outreach programs; and the establishment of community advisory committees that have been critical in identifying key health issues affecting the Orangeburg community.

The S.C. Medical Association devoted its monthly journal in December 2009 to IPEHD's cervical-cancer research and community-outreach programs. The journal represented one of the first comprehensive statewide reports on cervical-cancer incidence and mortality, Glover said.

“Over the past five years, we have been able to link science and communities so that we better understand the health disparities in South Carolina,” she said. “We will use this knowledge to translate research findings into clinical applications and to help communities focus on prevention.”

The Palmetto State has some of the nation's most glaring health disparities, including cancer, HIV, infant mortality, cardiovascular disease and stroke, Glover said.

“The disparities are significant. We have to figure out why and what we can do to turn some of this around,” she said. “This new grant will help us do that.”
 

---

Arnold School's Dr. Edith Williams awarded
Pfizer Fellowship in Health Disparities

Dr. Edith Williams of the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health has been awarded the 2010 Pfizer Fellowship in Health Disparities.

Deputy Director for Research and Sustainability of the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities, Williams also is a research assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

The Pfizer award, which carries a stipend of $130,000 over two years, is designed to support the career development of talented junior researchers. The fellowship awards program is open to researchers in U.S. schools of medicine and public health, nursing and pharmacy schools, and colleges of osteopathic medicine.

Williams' study will focus on an intervention to reduce the psychosocial and biological indicators of stress in African-American lupus patients. She will collaborate with the Medical University of South Carolina's Lupus Erythematosus Clinical Research Group.

“Patients with lupus and other autoimmune diseases are encouraged to avoid stress in their lives,” she said. “Stressful situations can exacerbate lupus outbreaks and the debilitating impacts of the illness.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that African-American women are three times more likely to get lupus than white women. They also tend to develop lupus at a younger age and have more severe symptoms than whites.

Dr. Tom Chandler, dean of the Arnold School, said Williams' selection for the Pfizer Fellowship underscores the ability of the school's faculty to compete with the nation's top researchers.

“Since joining our faculty in 2007, Dr. Edith Williams has worked to develop a strong research program in health disparities,” Chandler said. “Her scholarship in this vital area of public health research is nationally recognized. We congratulate Dr. Williams on this outstanding award, which also recognizes the Arnold School's growing reputation as a leader in health disparities research.”
Williams said the Pfizer Fellowship will enable her to focus her research efforts on lupus.

“This is an important area of study for me,” she said. “It also is important because it can open doors to conducting large-scale studies in the Southeast on lupus in African-American women, something that has not been done before.”

Before coming to the Arnold School, Williams had a key role in the Buffalo Lupus Project. The five-year, community-based participatory study examined asthma and autoimmune diseases in minorities in the Buffalo area. Funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the project explored the high risk of infection among African Americans from environmental toxic pollutants.

Williams also led an ancillary investigation of pre-clinical heart disease, inflammation and traditional risk factors in the largely African-American cohort of women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) from the Buffalo Lupus Project.

At the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities, Williams is involved in developing a research program on minority women's health.

She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology, with a minor in biology, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master's and doctoral degrees from the State University of New York.
 

---

Vitamin D Study

According to medical experts, vitamin D helps people absorb calcium, strengthen bones and teeth and help nerves and muscles work correctly. Studies show that three-quarters of U.S. teens and adults do not receive the amount of vitamin D experts believe is necessary for optimal health. This deficiency can weaken bone development, immune function and heart health. (http://www.aetna.com/news/newsReleases/2010/0527_SouthCarolina_Vitamin_D.html).

Because vitamin D is absorbed from the sun's ultraviolet rays, there also is a strong genetic and biological component involved. Darker skin blocks more of the sun's rays, medical experts say, which is why African Americans face the highest risk for vitamin D deficiency. Hispanics have similar risks. (http://www.aetna.com/news/newsReleases/2010/0527_SouthCarolina_Vitamin_D.html).

For this reason, Walgreens has conducted an initiative to distribute a free 100 day supply of Finest Natural Vitamin D at nine select Walgreens pharmacy locations in Columbia, SC between January 25, 2010 and May 25, 2010. The vitamin D giveaway program has targeted Richland and Lexington counties, where the population is approximately 45 percent African American. The vitamin D awareness effort will donate more than 25,000 samples of Vitamin D.

Walgreens selected the University of South Carolina (USC) to conduct a research study through knowledge surveys to examine the effectiveness of this Walgreens initiative. Pre- knowledge surveys were conducted by USC between January 25, 2010 and May 25, 2010 to gauge the general Vitamin D knowledge of participants and their Vitamin D intake. Post-knowledge surveys were conducted between May 25, 2010 to June 30, 2010 to determine if participants gained additional Vitamin D knowledge and if their Vitamin D intake improved. These surveys were also used to collect basic demographic data from participants (e.g. race/ethnicity, age, gender, zip code). This data was matched with the barcodes on the Vitamin D prescription and used to measure Vitamin D intake, provider/patient interaction, and the impact of Vitamin D marketing strategies.

Participation in this study was voluntary, and participants can withdraw from the study at any time. All participants are eligible for one of two $500 cash prizes. The cash prizes will be awarded on June 30, 2010.
 

Clifton Thompson, recipient of the cash award

---

House Majority Whip shares insights on passage of healthcare reform

U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn enjoyed a hero's welcome at the University of South Carolina Friday as an audience stood for one ovation after another for the Sixth District Congressman's key role in the passage of healthcare reform.

Clyburn collected the accolades during his speech at the James E. Clyburn Lecture, an annual event that bears his name. The lecture at the nearly full USC Russell House Ballroom also coincided with National Public Health Week April 5-11.

Clyburn said he has described health care reform as “the Civil Rights Act of the 21st Century” because its provisions reach 45 million persons who have been unable to obtain or afford health insurance.

Efforts by attorneys general in several states to repeal the new law are ill-advised, said Clyburn who, as majority whip, corralled the 216 votes to sustain passage of the legislation in the U.S. House.

The last time similar nullification efforts emerged was following passage of the 1965 Civil Rights Act, which withstood the legal tests and remains in force today.

Taking questions from the audience of mostly young people, Clyburn was quick to point out that some health care reforms are theirs right away.

“Now you can stay on your parent's health care insurance until age 26,” he said to applause, adding that all children with pre-existing medical issues are now covered. The process will be gradual -- like the Civil Rights Act -- but it will eventually lead to universal access to health care, he said.

Clyburn's listeners were largely faculty, students and staff from USC and predominantly African-American institutions that included Claflin University, South Carolina State University (Clyburn's Alma Mater), Morris College, Benedict College, Allen University and Lower Richland High School.

The lecture series is joint initiative between Claflin University and the USC Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities led by Dr. Saundra Glover, an associate dean for health disparities and social justice at the Arnold School of Public Health.

In opening remarks, Arnold School Dean Dr. Tom Chandler said health disparities are a main focus of research and teaching efforts. He citied an array of problems -- obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer - that plague mostly African-American residents in South Carolina.

The nation's new healthcare legislation is a major step in reducing those disparities, and Chandler praised Clyburn for his stalwart lead in the hotly debated proceedings.

“He fought the good fight. He won that battle,” said Chandler.

Glover, whose research interests focus on health disparities and their impact on South Carolinians, said the work will go on throughout the Palmetto State's communities to eradicate health disparities.

“We are our communities,” Glover said. “Building a healthy, equitable future for our communities is the true test of our time.”

After the lecture, Clyburn met with media and was the honored guest at a reception and scientific poster session featuring health disparities research at the USC and Claflin University.

Arnold School officials say that USC currently has 101 active externally funded projects (research and non-research) related to health disparities, totaling $33.5 million.

Of those efforts, 71 projects totaling $11.2 million were begun in the first 10.5 months of the current fiscal year.

Clyburn did not have time to answer all of the questions from the audience, but a spokesman said the questions and Clyburn's answers will be posted on the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities website.
 

House Majority Whip to deliver lecture on health disparities in 21st century
 

The Arnold School of Public Health will present the third annual James E. Clyburn Health Disparities Lecture at 9 a.m. Friday, April 9.

James E. Clyburn, the U.S. House Majority Whip, will be the featured speaker for the lecture that bears his name. Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992, Clyburn represents South Carolina's Sixth Congressional District.

“I am honored to be delivering this lecture at an historic time in our nation with regards to health care,” Clyburn said. “Health disparities are always in the forefront of my service in Washington, and I am pleased that, as we celebrate Public Health Week, we have the opportunity to reflect on real positive changes for public health in America.”

The program, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Russell House Ballroom. A reception and scientific poster session featuring health disparities research at the University of South Carolina and Claflin University will follow.

Dr. Tom Chandler, Arnold School dean, said Clyburn's longstanding commitment to public health needs has been invaluable to the state and nation.

“Jim Clyburn has been a tireless advocate for better access to healthcare and health services. He has been a champion for healthcare legislation, policy, education and research that will improve the lives of children and adults throughout the Palmetto State and the United States,” Chandler said.

“We are honored to have the Congressman on our campus during the nation's observance of Public Health Week, when we seek to recognize those individuals whose work is critical in our efforts to create healthier communities,” he said.

Clyburn's visit also comes at a critical time in the nation's struggle to reform healthcare. Clyburn, a leader in the debate to improve access to healthcare, strengthen Medicare and reduce healthcare costs, has been on the front lines and in the trenches for Americans' and their healthcare, said Dr. Saundra Glover, director of the Arnold School's Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Healthcare Disparities.

“Few people have worked as hard as Congressman Clyburn to ensure that our nation's healthcare system is the best that it can be,” Glover said. “His commitment has never wavered, and all of us are the beneficiaries of his work. Given the historic passage of the healthcare reform bill, this lecture gives South Carolinians the opportunity to learn about the future of healthcare in our nation.”

In addition to serving as House Majority Whip, Clyburn is the leader of the House Democrat's Faith Working Group.

Prior to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Clyburn was the S.C. Human Affairs Commissioner.

Clyburn is married to the former Emily England. The couple's commitment to higher education can be seen in their efforts to raise more than $1.5 million for an Archives and History Endowment at S.C. State University, which has named campus facilities in their honor. They have three daughters, Mignon Clyburn, Angela Hannibal and Jennifer Clyburn Reed, two sons-in-law, Cecil Hannibal and Walter Reed; and two grandchildren, Walter A Clyburn Reed and Sydney Alexis Reed.

For more information about the lecture, contact Gwen Preston at the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities at 251-6315.
 

Wigfall joins MUSC's Hollings Cancer Center Cancer Disparities Advisory Board
 

1. Conduct cancer disparities activities with partners in South Carolina (SC)
2. Develop specific, targeted research interventions to reduce cancer disparities
3. Increase the number of investigators in SC who conduct cancer disparities research
4. Increase use of products and/or services provided by minority-owned businesses in SC
5. Provide training in cultural competence

UNITED IN PRAYER: Conference to kick off observance targeting HIV/AIDS impact
By DIONNE GLEATON, T&D Staff Writer  Tuesday, February 23, 2010
 

Individuals and congregations across The T&D Region will be poised to increase their role in AIDS prevention, education, service and advocacy with a conference to be held in celebration of the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS.

The National Week of Prayer, set for March 7-13, is the expansion of the Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS that marked its 20th anniversary in 2009.

This year, Kingdom Life Ministries, Victory Tabernacle Deliverance Temple and Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, all of Orangeburg, have partnered with South Carolina State University and Claflin University to hold a "Standing Together to Decrease the Spread of HIV/AIDS" conference. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 6, on the fourth floor of Belcher Hall on the S.C. State campus.

The conference is free and includes a continental breakfast and lunch along with four workshop sessions targeting an epidemic that has struck close to home. The state DHEC's Quarterly Surveillance Report, through December 2008, shows that the Edisto Health District, which serves Orangeburg, Calhoun and Bamberg counties, has the highest rate in the state of people infected with HIV/AIDS.

"This will be our third year of celebrating the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS here in Orangeburg. It's about bringing the communities together to pray for those that have HIV and AIDS and to pray for continued support for those individuals and their families," said Pat Kelly, a member of Victory Tabernacle who is living with AIDS. She is also member of the church's "A Family Affair" support group for those with HIV/AIDS and their families.

"As a person living with AIDS, I believe that this event reaches out and helps with the stigma. If I know people are praying for me or people are coming together to work toward making it better for me, then that releases me from some of the stuff that I've been holding. Hopefully, it will release them from some of the stuff that they've been holding as it surrounds stigma. Stigma plays a great part in people not coming."

Event workshops and presenters include:

-- HIV/AIDS Spiritual and Healthy Lifestyle -- Dr. Daniel Hembree, chairman of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Claflin University;

-- The Epidemic of HIV/AIDS in South Carolina -- Dr. Jacob White, deputy director of the S.C. HIV/AIDS Council;

-- Linkage to Care for HIV/AIDS Patients -- Christal Davis, a Ryan White resource consultant at the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control; and

-- S.C. HIV Laws -- Bernard Gilliard, a STD/HIV consultant with the state DHEC.

The Rev. James L. Rowson Jr., pastor of Kingdom Life Ministries, will speak during the opening session.

There will also be free, confidential HIV testing conducted throughout the event. The rapid OraQuick test will be administered, with results available in 20 minutes. Post-test counseling will also be available.

"We're trying to reach the church with this, but it also lets us know that we need to reach all segments of the community, particularly the young generation. That's why we're trying to reach out to different organizations and collaborate with everybody," said Horace Britton, health ministries coordinator at Mount Pisgah.

Karen Clinton, a community liaison with the USC/Claflin EXPORT Center, said it is particularly important to use the church as the springboard from which to spread information.

PDF: Developing sermons on HIV/AIDS

"The church has always been the backbone and forerunner in addressing everything from health disparities to civil rights," she said. "I just think it's important that we express the power of God's love. Through his love, we can educate the community about HIV prevention. That's really the purpose of the National Week of Prayer."

Minority AIDS Council President Shirley James said the event will also hopefully get more individuals involved in the area of education and advocacy.

"We've picked up more persons that are needing to get into care and more families that are interested in getting more involved," James said. "Of course, funding is still a major problem, but the numbers are real and they're striking. The state statistics indicate that the younger population is being affected. We had been looking at people from age 17 to 44; now, we're looking at people from age 15 to 24."

Tessie Haywood is the expanded testing program coordinator in the state DHEC's STD/HIV Division. She is also a member of Kingdom Life Ministries, where she said several outreach goals have been set.

"Our Project F.A.I.T.H goals include partnering with Claflin and S.C. State in educating their students more about HIV and AIDS and changing their behavioral risks," Haywood said. "Our motto at the state office is 'Promote, Protect, Prosper,' and the STD/HIV Division's mission is to provide services to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infection and HIV infection.

"The event on March 6 is an educational event to be able to truly stand together to decrease the spread of HIV and AIDS. That's what we're working for."

The event will also include luncheon speaker Vanessa Vandross, a Greenville resident who has been affected by HIV, and a presentation during the closing session from members of Victory Tabernacle's "A Family Affair" support group. Door prizes will also be given away, along with a gift for the college student and church who brings the most people with them.

Registration, which is recommended but not required, begins at 9 a.m. Registration forms can be mailed by Thursday, March 4, to: Project F.A.I.T.H Kingdom Life Ministries, 1172 Orangeburg Mall Circle, Orangeburg, SC 29115, or Project F.A.I.T.H Victory Tabernacle, 681 Broughton St., Orangeburg, SC 29115.

For more information, including how to obtain registration forms, call Haywood at 803-898-2107, Kelly at 803-747-6046, Pinky Carter at 803-536-7055, Sadie Jarvis at 803-535-5285, Kingdom Life Ministries at 803-534-1980 or Victory Tabernacle at 803-535-6030.

T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5534.
 

Glover has served on the Arnold School faculty for 19 years

Dr. Saundra Glover, associate dean for health disparities and social justice in the Arnold School of Public Health, is the faculty recipient of the 2010 Martin Luther King Day Social Justice Award.
The Social Justice Award is presented annually to a USC faculty member, a student and a staff member who have exemplified the philosophies of the late civil rights leader through random or ongoing acts of community service, social justice or racial reconciliation.

Glover was recognized at the university's recent MLK Day breakfast, together with student winner Anna Walton, a biology/Spanish major, and staff winner Pamela Robinson, director of the Pro Bono Program in the School of Law.

Glover, who has been on the Arnold School faculty for 19 years, was lauded for her “consistent commitment to educational outreach and research aimed at eliminating disparities.”

Glover also is director of the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities (IPEHD) and associate director of the S.C. Rural Health Research Center.

Her research interests include:

• Center of Excellence in Cancer and HIV Research, a $7.5 million, 5-year partnership between the University of South Carolina and Claflin University to eliminate health disparities in HIV/AIDS and cancer in the Palmetto State.

• Ft. Jackson Identifying Health Barriers Project, a $1.1 million contract with the Department of Defense to examine attrition rates in military recruits.

• Project MATCH (Mobilizing Against Threats of Community Health), a program comprising the Arnold School, the American Public Health Association and Michigan State University, to address the convergence of animal health and public health issues.

Glover was jointly successful in securing approval of a $7.2 million Center of Economic Excellence in Prostate Cancer with two lead investigators from the Medical University of South Carolina and South Carolina State University.

Last month, Glover and research colleague Dr. Heather Brandt reported that African-American women in South Carolina are 37 percent more likely to have cervical cancer than white women and have a death rate that is about 61 percent higher. The findings were reported in a series of articles in the December issue of the Journal of the South Carolina Medical Association.

Journal explores cervical cancer, health disparities
 

Arnold School of Public Health researchers Saundra Glover (center) and Heather Brandt (left), with social worker Tiffany Stewart, discuss the reports in the Journal of the South Carolina Medical Association.

African-American women in South Carolina are 37 percent more likely to have cervical cancer than white women and have a death rate that is about 61 percent higher, according to a study by researchers at the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health. South Carolina ranks 14th in the nation in deaths from cervical cancer.

The study also found that African-American women in rural South Carolina are among the least likely to get recommended screenings, including the Pap test, that are key to the early detection and treatment of cervical cancer.

The findings from the study are reported in the December issue of the Journal of the South Carolina Medical Association, which has a series of articles and studies on cervical cancer in South Carolina.

The journal represents one of the first comprehensive statewide reports on cervical cancer incidence and mortality, said Dr. Saundra Glover, an Arnold School researcher and director of the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities.

Eliminating health disparities is complex and involves many factors, including access to screening and follow-up treatment, she said.

“South Carolina has some of the greatest health disparities in the nation,” Glover said. “This report gives us a better understanding not only of cervical cancer incidence and mortality among African-American women, but also shows the critical role that community groups have in working with doctors and other healthcare professionals and leaders to ensure that women receive screenings and follow-up care.”

The report is timely, given the recent controversy surrounding a report by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that called for less frequent cervical cancer screening, Glover said.

Arnold School researcher Dr. Heather Brandt said that, although cervical cancer deaths nationwide have dropped 75 percent since the Pap test was introduced for screening, not all women have benefited equally from advancements in screening.

“Women of color, women living in rural areas and women living in poverty continue to develop cervical cancer and die at much higher rates,” she said. “The reports in this journal highlight the challenges that we continue to face in addressing cervical cancer in the United States and around the world.”

A critical need in meeting these challenges is having community partners work with women in cities and rural areas around the Palmetto State.

Social worker Tiffany Stewart, a community liaison, said, “When community residents, community-based organizations and institutions that will be affected are involved in initiating and promoting a call to action, then permanent, successful change is more likely to occur.”

One such effort is the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Z-HOPE (Zetas Helping Other People Excel through Mind, Body and Spirit) Program, which is focused on increasing cervical cancer awareness among college students.

Among the findings reported in the journal:

• S.C. women who did not receive a Pap test were more likely to be over age 65, unmarried, have less than a high-school education and be from a non-Hispanic race group, including African Americans. ##BREAK##
• Nearly one-fourth of women not receiving a Pap test lacked healthcare coverage and nearly 20 percent were unable to see a healthcare provider because of costs.
• A telephone survey of African-American and white women found that about half of the study's 1,002 respondents had “high” levels of knowledge about the human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted infection that has been linked to cervical cancer. However, African-American women knew less about the virus than white women.
• A study of young women, ages 14 – 20, found that about 34 percent would not get the HPV vaccine because of cost.
• A study on the Upstate Witness Project, which addresses breast cancer and cervical cancer among African-American women, found that training “witnesses” and lay health advisers to be an effective method to reach women. The program was tested in African-American churches in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson and Pickens counties.
• A study of Latina women in South Carolina found that very few understood the purpose of the Pap test. Most Latina women sought healthcare for prenatal services.

Glover said the scientific articles, reports on community programs and editorials highlight the challenges of addressing cervical cancer in the Palmetto State.

“This journal is an important step in our efforts. The work reported here by scientists, doctors and community healthcare providers will enable us to enhance our efforts to address cervical cancer in South Carolina and throughout the United States,” she said.

Click here to view the journal.

---

Lee Installed as CBPHC PPWG Community Co-Chair 2010 at APHA
November 8, 2009

A second-year member, Menia D. Lee, of the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities, was officially installed as a member of the Community-Based Public Health Caucus (CPBHC) Steering Committee in the capacity of the PPWG Community Co-Chair for 2010 at the 137th American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting and Exposition held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ms. Lee attended the conference as a CBPR session moderator.

 

As the new CBPHC PPWG Community Co-Chair, Ms. Lee will be responsible for facilitating action-oriented initiatives designed to increase CBO, youth and lay community participation in research, with a specific focus on community needs, strengths and capacity building. The academic co-chair facilitates the institutional advancement of the research enterprise and works closely with the community co-chair to ensure equitable representation and attention to both sides of research partnerships. As a member of the CBPHC Steering Committee, Ms. Lee will assist in developing initiatives to stimulate grassroots involvement in public health policy. A trained research administrator, Ms. Lee is the Grants Administrator for the IPEHD and serves as a staff trainer for the Health Disparities Research Network (a product of a recently-funded W.K. Kellogg Foundation initiative housed at the University of South Carolina). Professionally, she is a member of the Health Law Special Primary Interest Group (SPIG) of the American Public Health Association, and serves as an active, contributing member and editor to the Community-Based Public Health Caucus (CBPHC) Presentations and Publications Workgroup and newsletter. She is also a member of the International Society of Research Administrators (SRA) and the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) where she is an active member of the Nominations and Leadership Development Committee. Mrs. Lee is currently completing her Masters in Research Administration (MRA) degree (a new graduate program now offered at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)'s College of Health Professions (CHP) that combines the culture of research with the advanced study of management and public health policy). She is the Editor of the IPEHD Compass, an annual research report of the IPEHD that highlights the department's research initiatives, is a contributing author on 3 publications submitted to peer-reviewed journals and is currently preparing a manuscript submission to the Journal of Research Administration. She has spent the better half of her career (10+ years) working with sponsored programs/initiatives that were primarily created to serve underrepresented populations, increase minority and community participation in research, and build community capacity/infrastructure while building community trust in research.

“I see my career and commitment to helping communities as my way of ‘paying it forward'. It began with the support I received years ago from the JTPA program in securing my first college degree. Ever since, I have been involved with sponsored projects/initiatives that were designed (in one capacity or another) to help underserved communities. This is my story and my commitment. I look forward to using my experience and talents to advance the work of the Caucus and promote the health of our communities. Let the work that we do as members of the Caucus resonate louder than any of our individual voices of change. I remember that my past motivates me while the present holds me to my purpose”.

---

Fort Jackson Soldier Health Promotion:
Significant Public Health and Policy Implications
 

---

Meet the New Community Co-Chair Elect 2009-10

---

Lee accepted into inaugural Masters in Research Administration (MRA) program at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)

---

Center of Excellence in Cancer and HIV Research Fellow Dr. Shalanda Bynum accepts a postdoctoral position at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
 

“The training and mentorship that I received as a Center of Excellence in Cancer and HIV Research (COE) Fellow far exceeded my expectations and has better prepared me for a career in cancer health disparities research. As a COE Fellow, I was engaged in a variety of activities that allowed me to grow both academically and professionally. I gained an in-depth understanding of the unequal burden of disease among minorities, the economically disadvantaged, and geographically isolated. This experience continued to lay the foundation for my commitment to address and eliminate health disparities. My most valued experience as a fellow has been interacting with communities and encouraging people to live healthier lives. Effecting change in individuals and communities that bear disproportionate burden of disease is gratifying and an experience that I most value,” said Dr. Shalanda Bynum. Dr. Bynum has accepted a 2-year postdoctoral position in behavioral oncology at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute starting January 4, 2010. This is an NCI-funded interdisciplinary training program designed to prepare fellows for careers as independent investigators engaged in research on behavioral aspects of cancer prevention, detection and control. The training program seeks to train researchers in the identification and promotion of behaviors that can lead to a reduction in cancer risk, earlier detection of cancer, and improvements in quality of life following cancer diagnosis.
		“I believe that my training as a COE Fellow has well equipped me to address complex issues such as health disparities. As I move beyond the role of student and into a postdoctoral position at Moffitt Cancer Center I will be utilizing much of the skills learned as a COE Fellow particularly in community-based participatory research. I thank Dr. Saundra Glover, Dr. Heather Brandt, Andrea Williams, and the remaining COE team for their continued mentorship and commitment to student success.”

As a postdoctoral fellow she will be engaged in community-based participatory research to address cancer health disparities to include cultural and literacy issues in cancer prevention and control. The postdoctoral program combines a specialized curriculum (formal didactic training and one-on-one interactions with experienced mentors) designed to meet the following training objectives: 1 ) acquire a basic understanding of the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer; 2) become familiar with the major studies and findings in the area of behavioral oncology; 3) Gain expertise in methodologies needed to conduct behavioral oncology research; 4) be able to critically review and evaluate research in behavioral oncology; 5) gain an understanding of fundamental issues regarding the ethical conduct of research; 6) be able to formulate a novel research question in behavioral oncology and design a methodologically. To meet the these objectives, Dr. Bynum will be participating in meetings, seminars, journal clubs, grand rounds, and a grant writing seminar; taking additional courses; participating in ongoing research initiatives in health disparities and CBPR.
 

---

Program will increase access for students pursuing public health careers
April 22, 2009

The University of South Carolina and Claflin University signed an agreement Tuesday to establish a partnership that will develop a diverse public-health workforce.

The agreement, signed by USC Dr. Harris Pastides and Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, Claflin University president, at the second annual James E. Clyburn Health Disparities Lecture, creates a dual-degree program called the “4 + 1 Program.” Claflin undergraduates who participate in the program will earn bachelor's degrees in biology from Claflin and master's degrees in public health from the Arnold School of Public Health. The 4 + 1 Program was announced at the beginning of the Clyburn lecture, which featured Dr. Adewale Troutman, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness.

Dr. Henry Tisdale, Claflin University president, left, and USC President Dr. Harris Pastides prepare to sign an agreement to help develop a diverse public-health workforce.

Pastides said the partnership is a good fit between the university's Arnold School and Claflin, an historically black institution in Orangeburg.

“This new five-year, dual-degree program joins the talents and commitment of faculty and researchers at our university and Claflin University to produce the best minds for public-health careers,” said Pastides, former dean of the Arnold School.

The partnership between the two institutions will increase access for students pursuing public-health careers. “All of us will be stronger for it,” Pastides said.

Claflin biology majors will declare their intent to enter the 4 + 1 Program at the end of their sophomore year. They will take the Graduate Record Examination in their junior or senior year and take master's-level, public-health classes at the Arnold School as seniors. These classes will count toward an MPH degree.

Once they are accepted into the university's Graduate School, they will enter the MPH program in general public health.

Tisdale said the timing for this program has never been greater.

 “We must have sufficient resources and expertise not only now but in the future,” Tisdale said. “We believe that the 4+1 Program is a tremendous step in that direction.”

The University of South Carolina and Claflin University have strong connections in education, research and outreach. They are partners on a $7.5-million grant from the National Institutes of Health to eliminate health disparities in HIV/AIDS and cancer in the Palmetto State. The grant also funds undergraduate research with scientists at both institutions.

The Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities at the Arnold School includes Claflin as a partner. A $17.3-million grant from NIH, which bolsters biomedical research and expands educational opportunities for undergraduates, connects the University of South Carolina and Claflin with five other colleges and universities around the state.

 “Today is just the beginning of a very successful journey,” Tisdale said.

Visit http://www.sph.sc.edu/health_disparities/ to learn more about the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities and http://www.claflin.edu/ to learn more about Claflin University.

---

2009 Health Disparities Symposium Presentations

---

Dr. Mark Dignan, Keynote Speaker
SC HIV/STD Conference
"Moving to Action" (Video)

---

Dr. Lovell A. Jones
Health Disparities Presentation (Video)
Click here to download the video

---

Troutman completed residency and internship at the Medical University of South Carolina

April 10, 2009

Dr. Adewale Troutman

Dr. Adewale Troutman, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, will deliver the second annual James E. Clyburn Health Disparities Lecture on Tuesday, April 21, at the Arnold School of Public Health. The program, free and open to the public, will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Public Health Research Center, 921 Assembly St.  A reception will follow. "Dr. Troutman is one of the nation's leaders in public health," said Dr. Saundra Glover, director of the USC Institute to Eliminate Health Disparities. "He is an advocate for bringing change to improve health, including changing social conditions that often affect a person's ability to change behaviors."

An associate professor at the University of Louisville School of Public Health, Troutman has had a distinguished record of achievement in public health education, research, leadership and advocacy.

In Louisville, Troutman has undertaken new initiatives to improve the health of citizens throughout the area, including the Center for the Elimination of Health Disparities in Louisville, the only such center at a city or county health department in America; the Mayor's Health Hometown Movement, a community effort to encourage Louisville's citizens to be physically active and adopt healthy lifestyles; the Office of Faith and Health to work with the faith community to improve health; and the Office of Emergency and Public Health Preparedness.

Troutman also was instrumental in launching a mobile health unit to extend health services to underserved areas of the community.

Additionally, Troutman received the first annual MediStar Physician of the Year Award, which recognizes outstanding leadership to improve accessibility and affordability of healthcare.

Troutman earned his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and completed a residency and internship in family medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

He earned his master's in public health from the Columbia University School of Public Health and a master's in black studies from the State University of New York.

The Arnold School named the lecture series for Clyburn, South Carolina's Sixth District representative, because his services to people in the Palmetto State and his leadership in the U.S. House have been critical in improving public health.

Dr. Adewale Troutman
Health Disparities Presentation (Video)
Click here to download the video
 

Glover's former mentee receives prestigious Fullbright!

Disparities that impact civilian population
also are problem for soldiers
March 3, 2009

A U.S. Army private competes in the victory tower course during Army basic training at Fort Jackson. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Desiree N. Palacios)

A new study by USC scientists could mean major changes in how the Army recruits, trains and feeds young American soldiers. The Arnold School's Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities developed the $1.1 million study to address minority health disparities and how to reduce their impact on the Army's basic training attrition rate, says Dr. Saundra Glover, institute director and principal investigator for the project. "Military training is a lot different than it was 15 years ago," Glover said.  Recruits are a reflection of today's young civilians, many of whom are struggling with obesity, poor diets, lack of physical activity and stress.

While these conditions cut across all of the Army's demographics, the focus of Glover's researchers will be on the "racial/ethnic, gender, and residence-based disparities that are reflective of the issues we are dealing with in the civilian populations. Issues that come with the soldier and often reappear once the soldier leaves the military," she said.

Today's headlines point out the urgency for the USC study. Three examples:

1. The number of troops diagnosed as overweight or obese has more than doubled since the start of the Iraq war. The Pentagon blames stresses and strains of continuing combat deployments.
    

2. Twenty-four soldiers are believed to have committed suicide in January 2009 - six times as many as killed themselves in January 2008. That would mean more soldiers will have killed themselves than died in combat last month.
    

3. The Army's recruiting commander says obesity is "a bigger challenge for us in the years ahead" than any other problem that keeps young people out of the military.  He suggests a formal diet and fitness regimen running alongside a new educational program at Fort Jackson that helps aspiring troops earn their GEDs.

Glover said the first phase of the study brings together several USC researchers with expertise in nutrition and diet intervention, physical fitness and musculoskeletal injuries, athletic training, and mental health research. 

Members of that group of co-investigators include Dr. Sonya Jones of the Center for Research in Nutrition and Health Disparities; Dr. Mark Davis and Dr. Shawn Youngstedt of the Department of Exercise Science; and Dr. James M. Mensch of the Department of Physical Education. The researchers will start by examining baseline data on soldiers at key stages from recruitment through basic combat training to understand better the root causes of military attrition and to development interventions to reduce it. Currently the Army's basic training attrition rate averages between 8-10 percent. Additionally the study will include post-deployment soldiers and their issues with mental health stigma and post-traumatic stress disorder.

A U.S. Army trainee provides cover fire for her teammate during the buddy movement phase of basic combat training at Fort Jackson. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt.  Stacy L. Pearsall)

Glover says the military has been working to cut attrition for years. The Department of Defense reports the cost of recruiting new service members averages about $11,000 each. By the time that same recruit finishes initial training the total investment approaches $35,000. Multiplied by 200,000 – the number of youth recruited for active military service annually – and the costs are staggering.

Aside from reducing the cost of war, Glover said the interventions will help produce better trained, more physically fit soldiers who can better endure the rigors of life in a war zone and better adjust to a post-deployment environment.

Glover said the initial grant for the study will support it for a year.  Additional funding will be sought to extend the project for three years.

Future phases of the project will study health issues such as prostate and cervical cancer, oral health and other biological risk factors.

"We are excited about the project and the opportunity to inform military policy," said LTC Sonya Cable, site principal investigator and director of Fort Jackson's Experimentation and Analysis Element (EAE).

The EAE conducts ongoing research, often with other agencies and organizations, to improve soldier training and reduce attrition.

LTC Cable, with the assistance of two EAE physicians, will work with the USC team to refine a research plan and establish a project work plan.
 

Closing the Gap on Prostate Cancer in S.C.:
Center of Economic Excellence to address major health issue for African-Americans
USC, MUSC and SC State to partner on important new initiative

Columbia, SC—Prostate cancer screening and early detection can mean the difference between life and death for African-African men, who are more likely to get prostate cancer and die from it than men of other races, according to the American Cancer Society.

To address this problem, the board that oversees the state's Centers of Economic Excellence (CoEE) Program has approved $3.6 million in S.C. Education Lottery funds for a new Center of Economic Excellence in Prostate Cancer Disparities Research. The Center is three-way collaboration among the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), the University of South Carolina (USC) and South Carolina State University (SCSU). This is the first CoEE for which SCSU has been a partner.

“The engagement of multiple universities, including a historically black university, makes this a true collaboration,” says USC Interim Vice President for Research Dr. Rose Booze. “South Carolina has great strength in health disparities research at all three participating institutions.”

According to MUSC Hollings Cancer Center (HCC) researcher Dr. Marvella Ford, project co-director for the CoEE, “The new Center will work to increase prostate cancer screenings and access to clinical trials for African-American men in South Carolina. It is designed to help make South Carolina a world-class leader in this emerging area of medical research and will serve as a training ground for students and junior faculty.” The Center will be housed on the MUSC campus. Working with Ford on the project are co-directors Dr. Saundra H. Glover from USC and Dr. Judith Salley from SCSU.

“Prostate cancer research is undergoing a period of intense growth, with the aim of reducing mortality due to this disease,” MUSC Provost Dr. John Raymond explains. “A major problem faced by prostate cancer researchers in this state is a lack of inclusion of African-Americans in the studies being conducted. Despite the fact that prostate cancer mortality rates in South Carolina are three times greater for African-Americans than for Caucasians, African-Americans are significantly underrepresented in clinical trials according to the HCC Cancer Registry. With this new Center, we will actively work to close the gap, so that all men in South Carolina are being screened and treated for prostate cancer.”

Renowned scientists will be recruited to fill three CoEE endowed chair positions at the Center. These scientists will conduct prostate cancer clinical trials at the Center and lead a team of junior researchers. Together, these researchers will look at aspects of obesity and lifestyle modifications as contributing factors to prostate cancer and examine factors that influence African-American men in being screened and seeking treatment. The new Center will also work with partners around the state to carry out clinical trials.

“There is a huge disparity in the incidence of prostate cancer and mortality rates in South Carolina, where men are diagnosed with prostate cancer at significantly higher rates than men in other areas of the U.S., according to the International Agency on Research for Cancer,” Raymond says. “On a national level, African-American men have an incidence rate of prostate cancer that is 55 percent higher than that of Caucasians. In contrast, in South Carolina, the prostate cancer incidence rate is 80 percent higher for African-Americans than for Caucasians. We believe that screening and prostate cancer early detection is key in reducing mortality rates among African-American men who tend to be diagnosed at younger ages and who may have more aggressive forms of the disease.”

Raymond believes that the Center will have a positive economic impact on South Carolina as a whole. First, the state could see a significant reduction in lost work productivity and medical expenditures as a result of improved levels of prostate cancer early detection and treatment. Second, world-class scientists who will lead the center have the capacity to attract large amounts of extramural funding to the state from corporations or federal agencies. These grant funds will result in the immediate creation of new jobs. Third, the new Center will help build the universities' academic strength, so they can attract the best and brightest junior faculty and graduate students. Fourth, the enhanced clinical trials and ongoing prostate screening research will lead to diagnostic tests and cancer screenings that can be commercialized—moving discoveries from “bench to bedside,” which can stimulate the state's economy.

“Through this Center, we can fuel South Carolina's knowledge economy and create high-paying jobs for our citizens, which is why the CoEE program exists,” says CoEE Review Board Chair Paula Harper Bethea. “At the same time, we can save and improve lives in every corner of South Carolina and all around the world.”

About the CoEE Program
The S.C. Centers of Economic Excellence Program was established by the South Carolina General Assembly in 2002, funded through South Carolina Education Lottery proceeds. The legislation authorizes the state's three public research institutions, Medical University of South Carolina, Clemson University and the University of South Carolina, to use state funds to create Centers of Economic Excellence in research areas that will advance South Carolina's economy. Each Center of Economic Excellence is awarded from $2 million to $5 million in state funds, which must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis with non-state funds. The program also supports CoEE endowed chairs, world-renowned scientists who lead the Centers of Economic Excellence. By investing in talent and technology, the CoEE Program is designed to fuel the state's knowledge-based economy, resulting in high-paying jobs and an improved standard of living in South Carolina. For more information, visit www.sccoee.org.

To receive award funding for a CoEE, the three research universities submit proposals that undergo a three-tier review process. Each proposal is first subjected to a technical review by field experts. After studying the technical review scores, the CoEE Review Board decides which proposals qualify for evaluation by an onsite review panel. This external review panel comprises mainly senior research officials from Association of American University institutions. After receiving recommendations from the panel, the CoEE Review Board votes on which new Centers of Economic Excellence to fund.
 

Council encourages efforts to
eliminate disparities, promote health.

USC research associate Dr. Crystal Piper has been elected to the American Public Health Association's Governing Council for the Community Health Planning & Policy Development Section.

Piper is a Columbia native who works for the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities and the Rural Health Research Center. Additionally she is an adjunct faculty member at Benedict College.

Founded in 1969, the CHPPD Section serves a wide array of health professionals in providing a means to share information and debate critical issues related to planning, and to learn how policy is shaped at the local, state and national levels.

The section's mission is to encourage planning and policy development to eliminate disparities and promote healthy communities.

Growing up in South Carolina, Piper observed racial disparities first hand. “I often witnessed the continuous struggle of African Americans in the areas of poverty, education, housing, social justice and health care,” she said.

“I made a steadfast commitment to seek a career that would benefit my family and my community. I knew a career in public health would fulfill my quest to helping this country resolve health care issues, improve the quality of care, and make a difference,” she said.

Piper earned a bachelor's degree from South Carolina State University in 2001. In 2002, she earned a master's degree in public health and, in 2003, a master's degree in health administration, both from the Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center.

She earned her doctorate in Health Services Policy & Management from the USC Arnold School of Public Health in 2007. Her dissertation was titled Examination of Racial Disparities in Childhood Asthma Management Practices in the United States.

To further her goal of becoming a nationally recognized independent investigator of health disparities and vulnerable populations, she is concentrating on studying health disparities and chronic disease among women, children, and rural populations.

She currently has six publications in the American Journal of Public Health, Ethnicity & Disease, the Journal of Health Disparities Research & Practice, and the Journal of Health & Social Policy.

Women's health study focuses on HPV
Article from Gamecock Health / Collaborative Research
Click here to read the article.

Lecture honors longtime leader in battle to improve
the health of South Carolinians

A respected leader in the battle against cancer among minorities and the medically underserved will deliver the first James A. Clyburn Lecture at the University of South Carolina on April 25.

Dr. Lovell A. Jones, director of the Center for Research on Minority Health at the University of Texas, will speak at 9 a.m. in the auditorium of the Arnold School's Public Health Research Center, 921 Assembly Street. The lecture is open to USC students, faculty, staff and the public.

The lecture series honors U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., who has served South Carolina's Sixth Congressional District since 1993. The Sumter native was an active member of the 1960s civil rights movement and was S.C. Human Affairs Commissioner from 1974-1992. He currently is House Majority Whip for the 110th Congress.

Dr. Saunda Glover, Arnold School associate dean for health disparities and social justice, said the lecture series is a "joint initiative between Claflin University and the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities at the University of South Carolina. It will bring together researchers and public health professionals in an interactive forum to discuss ways and means to eliminate the public health disparities that continue to plague South Carolina and the rest of the nation."

Glover, who also is director of the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities, said the continuing series will, in turn, touch on disparities facing South Carolina's minority residents including cancer, stroke, obesity, HIV/AIDS and high blood pressure.

Clyburn, along with Sen. Ernest F. Hollings, D-S.C., helped secure funding to establish the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities in 2003.

"His commitment to the elimination of health disparities is long-standing. Hence, the naming of the lecture series in honor of his service to the health needs of the people of South Carolina, the Southeast and the nation," said Glover.

Jones' efforts in combating cancer in minorities complements "an area of research strength of the health sciences at USC and an area where we have made significant efforts to join with community stakeholders to begin to focus on solutions," Glover said.

Jones, whose research center is part of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, is the founding co-chair of the Intercultural Cancer Council, the nation's largest multicultural health policy group focused on minorities, the medically underserved and cancer.

He has edited "Minorities & Cancer," one of the few comprehensive textbooks on this subject. He is the founding chair of "Minorities, the Medically Underserved and Cancer," the nation's largest multicultural conference which provides a forum for exchanging the latest scientific and treatment information.

This biennial conference brings together people from all ethnic communities and social strata to share strategies for reducing the incidence of cancer among these populations. Jones also has spearheaded regional hearings on cancer and the poor for the American Cancer Society.

In 2002, Jones, along with Dr. Armin Weinberg, the other cofounder of the Intercultural Cancer Council, received the Humanitarian Award from the American Cancer Society.

Between 1980 and 2007, Jones received more than $20 million in research funding for studies in which he was the principal investigator.

A question and answer period and a reception in the lobby of the PHRC will follow Jones' address at USC.

Abstracts describing disparities research due by April 16

Researchers studying South Carolina's wide array of health disparities are invited to submit examples of their work for a poster session following the inaugural James A. Clyburn Lecture on April 25, 2008.

Site of the session will be the first floor of the Arnold School's Public Health Research Center on Assembly St. The area is outside the auditorium where Dr. Lovell A. Jones will lecture beginning at 9 a.m.

"At the University of South Carolina, there are hundreds of researchers across campus studying health disparities and delivering effective programs to improve the health status of South Carolinians and end health disparities," said Dr. Heather Brandt, an organizer of the poster project.

"In addition to well documented disparities among African Americans, we are facing new challenges, including renewed attention to the rural residents of our state as well as the growing Hispanic population."

"There are many common, underlying associations when examining health disparities across groups; however, for each group, there remains unique challenges," said Brandt.

USC faculty members, research staff, and students are eligible to participate in the poster presentations. Posters submitted by community partners describing community-based research and practice conducted in partnership with the University of South Carolina also are welcomed.

Abstracts describing health disparities research and/or practice are limited to 300 words or less. Contact information (name, affiliation, mailing address, telephone number, and email address) for the corresponding author should be provided.

Abstracts that describe efforts to address health disparities previously presented at conferences and/or published in peer-reviewed journals are allowed (provided there are no restrictions by the conference and/or journal).

All abstracts submitted will be accepted for the poster session on the basis of receipt date and time as long as space allows. Abstracts received after reaching the maximum will be included in the booklet. There will be no formal review of abstracts. Submission of an abstract implies that at least one of the authors will put up the poster by 8:30 a.m. and be present for the poster session during the reception from 11:00 am to noon on April 25.

The maximum poster size is four feet (height) by eight feet (width) in landscape orientation. Additional information will be released as part of the confirmation process.

Please complete the abstract submission form and return by noon on April 16 to Jessica Bellinger (bellingj@mailbox.sc.edu) or Shalanda Bynum (sabynum01@aol.com). Emailed submissions are preferred; however, submissions may be faxed to (803) 777-6290.

Contact the poster session organizers for more information: Heather Brandt, 777-456 or 1hbrandt@sc.edu; Shalanda Bynum, 777-3439 or sabynum01@aol.com; Jessica Bellinger, 777-0716 or bellingj@mailbox.sc.edu.

Forging Solutions through Research and Practice
As part of the James E. Clyburn Health Disparities Lecture Series at the University of South
Carolina on Friday, April 25, 2008, the following call for abstracts describing research and
practice to address health disparities is issued.

A poster session at the James E. Clyburn Health Disparities Lecture Series on Friday, April 25,
2008 will be held on the first floor of the Public Health Research Center at the University of
South Carolina. The poster session will showcase health disparities research and practice being
conducted by University of South Carolina faculty members, research staff, and students.
Posters submitted by community partners describing community-based research and practice
conducted in partnership with the University of South Carolina are also welcomed. This poster
session is an opportunity to share health disparities research and practice with others who are
interested in efforts to address and eliminate health disparities.

Abstracts describing health disparities research and/or practice are limited to 300 words or less.
Contact information (name, affiliation, mailing address, telephone number, and email address)
for the corresponding author should be provided. Abstracts that describe efforts to address
health disparities previously presented at conferences and/or published in peer-reviewed journals
are allowed (provided there are no restrictions by the conference and/or journal).

All abstracts submitted will be accepted for the poster session on the basis of receipt date and
time as long as space allows. Abstracts received after reaching the maximum will be included in
the booklet. There will be no formal review of abstracts. Submission of an abstract implies that
at least one of the authors will put up the poster by 8:30 am and be present for the poster session
during the reception from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm on Friday, April 25, 2008. The maximum
poster size is four feet (height) by eight feet (width) in landscape orientation. Additional
information will be sent out as part of the confirmation process.

Please complete the abstract submission form and return by 12 pm on April 16, 2008 to Jessica
Bellinger (bellingj@mailbox.sc.edu) or Shalanda Bynum (sabynum01@aol.com). Emailed
submissions are preferred; however, submissions may be faxed to (803) 777-6290.

Click here to download the form

Contact the poster session organizers for more information:
Heather Brandt, PhD (803) 777-4561 hbrandt@sc.edu
Shalanda Bynum, MS, MPH, PhD(c) (803) 777-3439 sabynum01@aol.com
Jessica Bellinger, MPH, PhD(c) (803) 777-0716 bellingj@mailbox.sc.edu

The W.K. Kellogg African American Public Health
Fellowship and Development Program
Fall 2007 Faculty and Student Development Symposium
November 15, 2007
Embassy Suites Hotel
Columbia, SC

Our day began with heavy winds and lots of clouds which made hauling boxes, folders, and other program materials quite challenging for the staff from USC's Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities (IPEHD). Despite the weather, we managed to maneuver through the overcast sky and high winds to successfully shed light on the ever-evolving topics of health disparities, infectious diseases, research and the essentials of teamwork.

The W.K. Kellogg Fellowship Program is in its fifth year of introducing African-American students and faculty to public health and health disparities research. A symposium is held twice annually to bring together students and faculty from South Carolina's Historically Black Colleges and Universities' (HBCU's). These colleges include: Allen University, Benedict College, Claflin University, Morris College, and South Carolina State University.

A networking luncheon, as well as research, student development, and leadership development workshops were held. The symposium allowed students and faculty to gain further insight into topics related to public health careers, health disparities, research, and professional development. Faculty and staff from these various institutions gained new perspectives and approaches surrounding research and developments in public health.

Student sessions at this semester's event were designed to prepare the students for a future career in public health and to function in leadership and team roles in a professional work setting. Betty Parker, from Sharper Image Solutions, lead an interactive workshop entitled Building Successful Teams. Workshop discussion and activities were designed to train participants on 1) how to better communicate as a team so that there is clarity and understanding among team members; 2) how to think critically as a team and work more efficiently to resolve problems; and 3) ways to choose a team leader and share responsibilities equally.

An interactive exercise allowed students to be placed into groups, and each group had to select a team leader. The team leader had to lead a blind-folded team member to and from a destination, by verbally communicating ways to avoid obstacles encountered along the way. Following the activity, students processed the exercise and shared what they had observed, regarding leadership styles, the importance of leadership and effective communication, leadership that motivates, and confronting and avoiding obstacles.

Dr. Stephan Singleton led a discussion designed to encourage students to pursue a career in public health. Dr. Singleton is a Veterinarian, Clinical Instructor, and Post Doctoral Fellow for the Veterinary Public Health Center for Animal Health and Food Safety at the University of Minnesota. Currently pursuing a graduate degree in public health with a focus on food safety and bio-security, she is a Claflin University graduate and a home-grown South Carolinian. She discussed emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) that originate from animals, birds, and insects, locations where EIDs have been found in recent history; what was done to eradicate them; and how to prevent and control emerging EIDs.

During concurrent sessions for HBCU faculty and staff, workshop participants were enlightened about research initiatives and pilot studies made possible through funds provided through the USC Kellogg Project. Currently funded principal investigators provided an update on the status of their projects, which included two faculty from Allen University: Dayna Campbell, M.S. Ph.D (c), and Dr. Lady June Cole, Ph.D. Dayna Campbell discussed Racial Disparities in Co-Morbidity and Survival Patients in South Carolina; and Dr. Lady June Cole, discussed her research on Prenatal Death Classification Error and Disparities in Infant Mortality. Dr. Kifle Markos, from Morris College, provided an update on Prostate Cancer Screening Awareness Level Comparison Study: The Case of African Americans Residing in Three Counties in South Carolina. In addition to the updates provided by the Kellogg Pilot Study Researchers, Dr. Edith Williams from the University of South Carolina's Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities and the Arnold School of Public Health's Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics discussed Inflammatory Biomarkers and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: The Breakfast with a Buddy Biomarkers of Lupus Study

As the program came to its final moments, the sun started to penetrate through the windows and reflect off of the ballroom chandeliers. You couldn't help but to reflect upon the valuable information shared and received during today's symposium. It is our hope that symposium participants were inspired by what they received throughout the day and are now more committed to pursuing careers and research opportunities in public health and eliminating health disparities.

Authored by:
Melanie Sweat, MPH (c); Gwen Preston, M.Ed.; and Andrea Williams, M.Ed.
November 2007
 

Glover named Associate Dean for Health Disparities and Social Justice
Posted 02/19/2007

Dr. Saundra Glover says her new role at the Arnold School of Public Health will allow her to enhance her longtime efforts to address South Carolina's multitude of health disparities in minority communities.

Glover says her appointment as associate dean for health disparities and social justice means that the research she conducts and the programs she directs will not only confront health problems, but also “the economic, the social and the political inequities of the same population.”

In announcing the appointment, Dean Donna Richter said, "Dr. Glover will be a valuable addition to the administration of the Arnold School. Her experience and insight in addressing health disparities will guide us in continuing to recognize that these problems are often rooted in the social injustice that pervades many underserved communities. Dr. Glover is poised to move the Arnold School to the next level in our ongoing efforts to eliminate health disparities in our state and around the nation."

As director of the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities, Glover has already worked to establish research, training and outreach relationships between USC and the state's historically black colleges and universities, through the W. K. Kellogg African American Public Health Fellowship and Development Program and the African American Faculty Development Institute.

Nationally and internationally known for the work that she has done with health disparities, Glover has presented at numerous conferences, workshops and seminars.

Today those relationships have never been more important. “We can't do anything without creating "a culture of partnerships,” she said.

Those partnerships also include organizations and individuals in the local communities where public health programs touch people's lives “It is my desire and goal that the communities we touch will have a voice through my role,” she said.

Glover says she hopes to use academic research to help make changes in people's lives and rid the perception in some communities that residents are only subjects to be studied.

“The perception is the big university comes in, gathers the research, publishes the results in some journal but nothing changes in the community,” she said.

SHARING RESEARCH RESULTS

Glover wants the fruit of her research efforts to first be shared with students in the classrooms at USC and the historically black colleges and then with the communities through the public schools, churches and other community groups so that we begin to see positive impact on the well-being of individuals and families.

The black community – its female residents in particular -- has a long list of disparities, but Glover says cervical cancer and HIV/AIDS are a particular focus of her current efforts.

African American women have about a 50 percent higher incidence of cervical cancer than Caucasian women and are about 2.6 times more likely to die from the disease. HIV/AIDS cases also are growing at an alarming rate among African American women.

Glover is principal investigator of Project EXPORT (Excellence in Partnership for Community Outreach, Research on Health Disparities, and Training), a collaboration formed between USC and Claflin University to address critical health disparities—such as those found in the rates of cervical cancer and HIV/AIDS.

That five-year effort is supported by a $7.5 million grant from the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, part of the National Institutes of Health.

Glover is also co-principal investigator of the W.K. Kellogg-funded MATCH Project (Mobilizing Against Threats to Community Health) which is aimed at preparing underserved and disenfranchised communities against the threat of new and emerging infectious diseases.

Glover has been on the Arnold School faculty for 15 years. She earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from South Carolina State University in 1986. She later moved to Columbia to study business at USC, receiving her master's and doctorate. She has over 50 publications in the field of health services research and health disparities.

She joined the Arnold School in 1991, teaching business and finance to students in the Department of Health Services Policy and Management.

An Orangeburg County native, she is married to the Rev. Samuel B. Glover. He is director of the S.C. Department of Probation, Pardon and Parole Services and associate pastor of First Nazareth Baptist Church. Dr. Glover is the mother of three: daughter Crystal and sons Sam, Jr. and Jared and the grandmother of Samuel, III.

Kellogg Program gives head start for minority students interested in public health studies

Minority students interested in public health are getting a head start thanks to a program operated by the Arnold School of Public Health and five of the state's Historically Black Colleges and Universities. 

“Our goal is for these students to come to graduate school at USC's Arnold School, but even if they go elsewhere, we want to see them in the field of public health,” said Williams, who also is associate director for USC's Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities. ;

The institute, headed by Dr. Sandra Glover, is an arm of the Arnold School. 

All of the institutions are members of South Carolina's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).  Missing is Vorhees College which was part of the program when it started five years ago, but dropped out because of a staffing shortage, Williams said. 

Each of the HBCUs has a Kellogg advisor/coordinator to recruit and advise students about the enrichment program which provides the student participants with a $7,500 annual stipend for undergraduate education expenses. ;

The qualifications for a Kellogg fellowship are more detailed but, in general, applicants must meet citizenship and academic standards, agree to complete public health classes at their schools, join the Public Health Student Alliance on their campus, and participate in local workshops.  Participants also do individual public health research - primarily on the issue of obesity, a particular problem in South Carolina. 

Attending the summer program is another requirement of the students. They reside on the USC campus for two weeks during which time they complete a series of intensive class assignments.  Williams says this summer's session offered workshops and classes in GRE preparation, public health research, scientific and academic writing, oral communications and personal and leadership development. 

Gwen Preston, Institute assistant director and coordinator of student and faculty development programs, said the Kellogg program helps students understand that  public health is a distinct discipline apart from traditional medical practice. ;

“It's our job to make sure that the students understand we're dealing with preventive rather than reactive measures when it comes to diseases,” she said. 

The program is also a good training opportunity for faculty at USC and the HBCUs.  Dayna Campbell, who teaches at Allen University, and Brandi Wright, a doctoral candidate at USC, were on the staff of this summer's institute.  

Preston said the presence of Campbell and Wright was a plus for the institute because the students find it easy to relate to two young women not much older than themselves.  

A companion summer program is also available to high school students interested in public health programs, said Preston. 

Thirty-six students participated in this year's companion program which offered a series of workshops on public health disciplines taught by Arnold School faculty and staff from DHEC.  These students also were offered SAT preparation classes.