Scarletter
December, 2017
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In the first paragraph of my last book,
The AIDS Generation: Stories of Survival and Resilience
, I wrote:
I know no adult life without AIDS. Like the long-term survivors you will come to know in the pages that follow, all of the gay men of my generation, infected or not, are long-term survivors of this disease. We were all affected by AIDS as we emerged into our adult lives, trying to avoid the end product of this pathogen—a termination to our existences in the prime of our lives. Yet like a subset of these men who became infected early in the epidemic and remain vibrant and healthy 30 years later, all of us—my generation—have survived this plague, battle scarred but resilient and stronger individually and as a community. It has been said that Americans who served in World War II are the greatest generation. I say that my generation, the generation of gay men who came into their own in the 1970s and 1980s and were decimated by AIDS, are, instead, the bravest generation. I know it because I lived it
.
On December 1st, we commemorated World AIDS Day, an opportunity unite in the fight against HIV, show support for both those affected by and diagnosed with HIV, and commemorate those who have died from the disease. For me, this was the loss of five incredible men in the prime of their lives. Since the first cases of AIDS were detected in 1981, 625,000 people have succumbed to the disease in the United States and 35 million have died globally.
World AIDS Day also serves as a reminder that we are still battling this despicable disease. Each year there are 40,000 new infections in the United States. In
New Jersey
, 37,000 are living with HIV and 674 have died from the disease in 2014. We must recognize that people are still dying despite the false belief held by some that HIV is a simple manageable chronic disease
HIV/AIDS is as much a social phenomenon as a biological one: examining the populations that are most affected by the disease reveals that health inequities, discrimination, and marginalization fuel the HIV epidemic. Gay men, cis- and transgender women, and intravenous drug users are the groups that continue to bear the burden of this disease. And within each of these oft-marginalized groups, the Black and Hispanic populations are most impacted.
I am proud of the work we do to fight AIDS at the Rutgers School of Public Health. Our first World AIDS Day Community Forum, “
Prepping for PrEP
,” was an opportunity for clinicians, researchers, public health leaders, community organizers, and people affected by and infected with HIV to consider how we might further harness the power of biomedical advances in containing the disease. With no cure in sight, these treatments—which can also be used as prevention—are our best resources to curtail the epidemic and achieve the
90-90-90
goals put forth by UNAIDS. Moreover, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), in combination with treatment as prevention (TasP), has led the CDC to embrace the concept that
Undetectable = Untransmittable
. These are tools that enhance prevention and care in achieving an end to AIDS. If you missed "Prepping for PrEP," you can watch the
keynote
,
panel discussion
, and
closing remarks.
The Rutgers School of Public Health is committed to broadening the scope of our HIV/AIDS research as one of our signature areas of research, education, and service. Our faculty focus on the racial and ethnic disparities of HIV, HIV prevention services and testing behaviors, and HIV prevention an
d human sexuality in vulnerable populations. We are also working towards developing HIV/AIDS
tracks of study for our certificate and graduate degrees. Finally, we are fostering relationships with community based HIV/AIDS organizations and groups, who provide service and practice opportunities for our students.
The public health community at large has much to be proud of in its work to curtail the spread of HIV; however, that work is far from finished. The Rutgers School of Public Health remains steadfast in our mission to improve the lives of those impacted by HIV through collaborative research and educational and service opportunities with our partners in New Jersey and beyond.
Sincerely,
Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH
Dean &
Professor
Director, Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies (CHIBPS)
Rutgers School of Public Health
683 Hoes Lane West
Piscataway, NJ 08901
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"Keeping the Public in Public Health"
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Combating Cancer Disparities in Incarcerated Populations
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Pamela Valera,PhD, assistant professor of social and behavioral sciences, has devoted her life to battling health inequities in vulnerable populations in memory of her sister, who had a passion for social justice.
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Bridging the Gaps to Quality Breast Cancer Care
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Antoinette Stroup, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology and director of the New Jersey Cancer Registry, addresses issues for breast cancer care in New Jersey, which range from language barriers to health coverage.
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Preventing HIV: Raising Awareness for Prevention and Treatment
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Dean Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH, and his colleague from the Rutgers School of Nursing, Suzanne Willard, PhD, RN, raise awareness for HIV prevention and treatment options.
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Nutritional Deficiencies in Pantries of Homebound Adults
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Nancy Lashway, DrPH, alum, leads study that finds that older homebound adults who receive deliver
ed meals daily may otherwise lack foods rich in vitamin D. I
ncreasing the availability of vitamin D rich foods helps limit other health issues associated with aging.
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Inaugural Assistant Dean for Public Heath Practice, Diversity, and Inclusion Named:
Teri Lassiter, DrPH, will serve as the inaugural assistant Dean for Public Health Practice, Diversity, and Inclusion. In her role, she will shape the School's curriculum while guiding faculty and students as they serve local, regional, and national public health interests.
Faculty to Serve on
EPA Boards:
Derek Shendell, D.Env., MPH, and Clifford Weisel, PhD, MS, have been nominated to serve on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Board of Scientific Counselors by EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt. Dr. Shendell will serve in the Sustainable and Healthy Communities subcommittee, while Dr. Weisel will serve on the Chemical Safety for Sustainability and Human Health Risk Assessment subcommittee.
Director of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute Named
Helmut Zarbl, PhD, will serve as the new Director of the Environmental and Health Sciences Institute and chair of the department of Environmental & Occupational Health. In his role, he intends to establish a stronger relationship between education and research.
Rutgers Occupational Medicine Residency Program Receives Continuing Accreditation
The
Rutgers School of Public Health Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) Residency Program in Preventive Medicine has received continuing accreditation from the
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) without citations or recommended areas for improvement.
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ICYMI: "Prepping for PrEP"
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"Prepping for PrEP," a community forum hosted by the Rutgers School of Public Health and the Rutgers School of Nursing, brought together leading HIV/AIDS researchers, activists, and community groups to foster dialogue around HIV prevention and treatment.
Watch segments of our event by clicking below!
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Dean Perry N. Halkitis talks HIV/AIDS barriers and breakthroughs on the 29th commemoration of World AIDS Day - December 1, 2017.
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Associate Professor Emily Barrett, PhD, debunks myth vs. fact in creating a healthy home environment. It's not as easy as using cleaning products to make your home clean.
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Professor Howard Kipen, PhD, explains how even short-term exposure to air pollutants in major cities may be a health hazard. His research finds that even brief exposure to traffic pollutants leads to an increase in biomarkers known as oxadative stress. Oxidative stress can contribute to the likelihood of a heart attack and stroke.
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Meet Christina Krawiexkj, MPH'11. After completing her MPH, Christina worked in various hospital research settings coordinating oncology treatment. She now manages oncological clinical trials for large pharmaceutical companies across the U.S. Her passion is to empower those working in the pharmaceutical industry for success, as well as to inspire others to consider working in the clinical research industry.
"The Rutgers School of Public Health is a close-knit community of students and teachers," says Christina of her time at the School. "Receiving my MPH has allowed me to advance in my career, both in title and pay, and has given me and my employer a competitive edge in an industry that values higher education."
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December 13
12:00PM-1:00PM
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21st Century Seminar Series
:
"
The Affordable Care Act: Present Status, Future Prospects, and Implications for Health and Economic Security," presented by the Health Systems and Policy Department.
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December 20
5:30PM-7:00PM
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NJPHA Dean's Reception:
The New Jersey Public Health Association (NJPHA), is hosting a meet-the-dean session for NJPHA members, alumni, prospective and current students, and partners.
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December 20
4:00PM-5:00PM
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21st Century Seminar Series
:
“The Best of Both Worlds: Using Public Health Strategies to Create Digital Sexual and Reproductive Health Interventions,” presented by Leslie M. Kantor.
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February 16
9:00AM-5:00PM
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NYC Epidemiological Forum:
Epidemiological forum hosted by the Rutgers School of Public Health, which is bringing together junior and senior epidemiologists, students, and researchers.
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Working Towards Enhancing LGBTQ Health at Rutgers?
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Dean Perry N. Halkitis is working with colleagues across several other Rutgers University schools to develop a database of Rutgers employees who address LGBTQ health issues in their work.
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Getting Social @RutgersSPH
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Follow and interact with the Rutgers School of Public Health (@RutgersSPH) on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Tag us in your posts and show us how you're "keeping the public in public health," for a chance to be featured on our social media accounts and in
The Scarletter
.
Follow and interact with Dean Perry N. Halkitis (@DrPNHalkitis) on Twitter and Instagram.
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Have an idea for an editorial?
Do you want to tell your story?
Did you just win an award?
Have a cool job in public health?
Just publish?
We want to tell your story - email Michelle Edelstein (mse46@sph.rutgers.edu) to learn more.
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Donating to the Rutgers School of Public Health supports scholarships for students to be engaged in discovery based learning through research and practice activities working with populations who experiencing health disparities here in New Jersey, in our country, and globally. By giving, you are helping us further our mission – we thank you. To donate, follow the URL and type “School of Public Health” in the search box.
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Rutgers School of Public Health
Rutgers School of Public Health
683 Hoes Lane West
Piscataway, NJ 08854
(732) 235 - 9700
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