Board of Health Convenes for Orientation
 

Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., DPH Commissioner, presided over the first-ever Board of Health orientation.

On Monday, September 26, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) made history as its nine member Board of Health met for orientation. DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., announced that she was honored to present the distinguished board members and to share their passion for public health and the work that we do for Georgians.  All Board of Health members were present and introduced.  They are: Kathryn K. Cheek, M.D., F.A.A.P.; James W. Curran, M.D.; Cynthia F. Greene , DMD; Robert S. Harshman, M.D.; Gary D. Nelson, Ph.D; Mitch Rodriguez, M.D.; James M. Smith, Ph.D; Donald W. Venn, II, Colonel (Retired) M.Ed; and Phillip L. Williams, Ph.D. For biographies on the new Board of Health members, please check out the August 29, 2011 issue of PHWEEK.

The Executive Leadership Team (ELT) reviewed pertinent information with Board members and introduced key staff. Sid Barrett, General Counsel, reviewed their first order of business which will be to elect a Chair and adopt by-laws.  Like with any new Board, policies and procedures are essential to establishing the rules of engagement and business.  Chief of Staff James Howgate introduced the ELT and reviewed the DPH Strategic Plan for health outcomes and infrastructure.  Obesity was among the top priorities in the DPH Strategic Plan as well as tobacco, immunization and infant mortality.

 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Targets Men Too 
 

In the U.S., 76.5 percent of women have had a mammogram in the last two years.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month; during this annual campaign emphasis is placed on increasing awareness of the importance of early breast cancer detection.  Breast cancer treatment is most effective when the cancer has been diagnosed at an early stage and before it has spread to other parts of the body.  Typically, the focus is on women because nearly 40,000 women die of breast cancer annually.

In Georgia, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP) conducts breast cancer screening for low income, uninsured women ages 40 to 64 through public health departments.  Many of the women who are diagnosed with breast cancer will be eligible for the Women's Health Medicaid Program that offers full Medicaid benefits while they are in active treatment.


 

Public Health Remembers Newborn Screening Advocate

In Memory of Dr. Paul M. Fernhoff

It is with great sadness that we share the announcement of the untimely death of a Public Health Newborn Screening Advocate, colleague, and friend to many, Dr. Paul M. Fernhoff, Associate Professor of Human Genetics and Pediatrics, on September 19, 2011. Dr. Fernhoff  was an outstanding pediatrician, clinical geneticist, and respected and beloved member of both the Emory and Atlanta communities for over 30 years.
 
Dr. Fernhoff began his illustrious medical career at Jefferson Medical College where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha. He completed a pediatric residency at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and then moved to Atlanta where he spent two years with the Public Health Service at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Medical Genetics at Emory.  At the completion of this fellowship Dr. Fernhoff joined the Emory faculty in 1978.


 

Safety Village Prepares Youngsters for Life-Threatening Events                        

Safety Village teaches youngsters how to respond in an emergency at home or school.

One little girl never imagined a simple field trip to the Cobb County Safety Village would arm her with  tools to help her  in an emergency, but that is exactly what happened.  When the eight year-old and her mom found themselves in a potentially life -threatening situation, she quickly recalled lessons learned at "Sparky's House" about how to make a 911 call.  After describing what was going on and providing the details requested from the 911 operator, she tearfully relayed that she knew exactly what to do because she'd learned it at the Safety Village.  

"There is never a dry eye when the Safety Village staff and other community leaders hear this 911 recording - they know we are making a difference in the lives of children every single day," said Tony Wheeler, Director of Cobb County's 911 Center.

 

Immunization Champions Receive Prestigious Awards

Award named after Dr. Walt Orenstein, M.D.

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) announced the winners of the 2011 Walt Orenstein Champions for Immunization and Clay Coleman Excellence in Customer Service Awards on September 15, 2011 at the 18th Annual Immunize Georgia Conference held in Macon, Georgia.
 
Walt Orenstein Champions for Immunization Award

The Walt Orenstein Champions for Immunization Award, named after Walt Orenstein, M.D., honors those who exemplify a standard in immunization care set forth in the Standards for Child Adolescent and Adult Immunization Practices.  These standards are a national strategy to protect America's children against vaccine-preventable diseases and provide guidelines and resources to follow when providing immunizations.  Orenstein achieved the highest immunization levels ever in the United States during his tenure of 26 years with the then Centers for Disease Control (CDC) focusing on infectious disease and immunizations.  He later worked as the Deputy Director for vaccine-preventable diseases at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, but returned to Atlanta to renew his appointment as professor of medicine in the Department of Medicine and serve as associate director of the Emory Vaccine.

 

Hurricane Season Update

You can check the latest storm and weather condition on the GEMA "Ready Georgia" app.

The 2011 hurricane season in the Atlantic began June 1 and will end on November 30.
 
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted 12-18 named storms in 2011, prior to the beginning of the season. As of September 27, there have been sixteen named storms, three of which have become hurricanes:

Philippe - There are no current warnings in the Atlantic for Philippe as it is not a threat to land. It is expected to weaken to a tropical depression.

Ophelia - The remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia, after dissipating over the past week, have strengthened again to tropical storm strength. It is expected to strengthen but no warnings are currently posted.

When it emerges, the next named tropical system will be called Rina.

For information on the latest storm or weather conditions in your area, check the local news and NOAA.  Remember to download the new GEMA "Ready Georgia" app, to put all the emergency needs in the palm of your hand. The free app, which is available for iPhone and Android devices, can be downloaded from ready.ga.gov

 - Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)