This is the third (and final) installment of a series covering the many Centers associated with HBHE and its faculty. You can find the first installment here and the second installment here. Whether you worked with one of these Centers at HBHE or they are new to you, here’s a brief introduction to two of them:
- The HBHE Genetics Research Group
- University of Michigan Injury Center
The HBHE GRG: Opportunities and Challenges in Genomics Research
Advances in genomics are rapidly
presenting both great opportunities and difficult challenges for public health.
The Health Behavior and Health Education (HBHE) Genetics Research Group
conducts research in order to understand the complex ethical, legal, and social
implications (ELSI) of genomic discoveries. Based in the University of Michigan
School of Public Health, our team includes faculty, staff, and trainees
spanning disciplines including health education, health psychology, risk
communication and genetic counseling. We collaborate nationally and
internationally with other experts in the ELSI field.
What are some current projects?
The HBHE Genetics Research Group
has many ongoing studies. Group Director and Associate Professor of HBHE, Scott
Roberts, PhD, is Principal Investigator on several NIH-funded research
projects, including the following:
The Risk Evaluation and
Education for Alzheimer’s Disease (REVEAL) IV Study, a series of multi-site randomized
clinical trials examining the psychological and behavioral impact of providing
genetic risk assessment to individuals at-risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
The Impact of Personal Genomics (PGen) Study, a longitudinal
survey assessing the motivations, expectations and responses of consumers of
two leading personal genomic testing services, and the associated
psychological, behavioral, and ethical impact of these services.
The Exploring Precision
Cancer Medicine Study, a multifaceted project that evaluates clinician and
patient response to use of next-generation genome sequencing results in the
clinical management of patients with cancer.
Opportunities for HBHE students and alumni
The HBHE Genetics Research Group
offers valuable research opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate
students. Working with an interdisciplinary team of experts in the areas of
genetic counseling, health behavior, health education, and bioethics, qualified
students can be given the opportunity to gain experience in the field of
research on the ethical, social and behavioral implications of advances in
genomics. In the past we have supported three undergraduate students through the Undergraduate
Research Opportunity Program (UROP), five master’s of public health summer
interns, and two doctoral students. Currently we have two SPH alumni—project
manager Lan Le, MPH, and research associate Natalie Bartnik, MPH, one
post-doctoral research fellow, Michele Gornick, PhD, and one HBHE PhD student,
Jenny Ostergren, MPH, working with our team.
Hear from HBHE alumnae
Lan Le (’11), MPH, is the project
manager for the HBHE Genetics Research Group. Lan started working as a research
assistant with the group during the fall of her second year as a HBHE master’s
student. After graduating, she became a staff member and is now involved in managing
each of the projects mentioned above. Lan is grateful for her HBHE degree that
provided her with the skills needed to pursue her research interest in the
health behaviors of older adults.
Natalie Bartnik (’13), MPH, began
working with the HBHE Genetics Research Group during her first year as a
master’s student. She then continued as the 2012 summer intern recruiting
participants for the REVEAL Study. Natalie became staff after graduating last May and
is currently a research associate developing survey instruments and educational
materials for the various projects the team is conducting.
Learn more about the
HBHE Genetics Research Group:
Injury Center: Focusing on Prevention
The University of Michigan Injury Center is a comprehensive
CDC-funded Injury Control Research Center that addresses urgent injury issues with research, education, and
outreach. With a focus on injury prevention, the Center brings together
many disciplines to focus on injury prevention. Center activities encourage interaction among many disciplines to stimulate
interdisciplinary collaboration. We aim to reduce injury by publishing research findings, translating research into
practice, disseminating actionable findings to community groups, publishing educational materials for practitioners, and providing support for developing injury policy.
What are some current projects?
The Center offers monthly lunchtime
seminars, quarterly distinguished faculty seminars, an annual research
symposium, internships, fellowships, educational materials, statistical
support for members, funding for pilot studies, and many website
resources. In addition, we have several research projects underway,
including (see links for more information):
· “Brief Prescription Opioid Overdose Intervention in an
Urban Emergency Department”
· “Parents in the Passenger Seat: A Coaching Guide for
Supervising Teens Learning to Drive”
·
Factors Associated with Effective Policy: a Geo-spatial
Environment of Teen Driver Policies
Opportunities
for HBHE students and alumni
There are several ways to get
involved with the Injury Center.
1.
Membership – open to all who share
a passion for injury prevention
2.
Certificate in Injury Science – a
new certificate program offered through SPH due to launch this year.
3.
Events – Monthly lunchtime seminars, Distinguished faculty seminars, and an
annual research symposium.
4.
Internships – we fund 3 or more
internships each year, including an annual internship at Centers for Disease
Control & Prevention.
5.
Fellowships – postdoctoral opportunities for advancing
injury prevention research careers
6.
Website resources – including our Injury Data Index (allowing
researchers to identify and connect with major injury data resources) and
the Tools & Programs site
(connecting practitioners with resources to support injury prevention
initiatives)
Hear from HBHE alumni:
Jessica
Roche (’11), MPH, is a study coordinator at the University of Michigan Injury
Center and the Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center (MI-YVPC). She worked
at the Injury Center during her HBHE internship, and became a staff member
after graduation in 2011. Jessica coordinates Project Sync, a youth violence
prevention intervention in Flint. Jessica’s other responsibilities at the
Injury Center include sitting on the Policy Workgroup, aiding in the submission
of grants, and assisting in the data abstraction, data analysis, and literature
reviews for manuscripts. Jessica is grateful for her degree in HBHE that
provided her with the skills needed to work for both centers. Additionally,
Jessica encourages any HBHE student interested in Injury Prevention to become a
member of the Injury Center and to apply for a summer internship.
Bethany Buschmann ('12), MPH, is the Outreach Project Coordinator at The
University of Michigan Injury Center. She began working with the Center in 2009
as a Research Assistant and continued working there during graduate
school. Shortly after receiving her MPH, she began working in her
current role. Bethany coordinates the Center’s outreach activities, event
planning and develops educational materials. Additionally, she helped develop
and manages an interactive online database of injury and violence prevention
tools and programs, designed specifically to highlight the important
advancements in the field and provide professionals with evidence-based
resources. Bethany is grateful for the invaluable skills and knowledge she
gained with her public health degree and is happy to meet with any students
interested in working in the field of injury prevention.
Learn
more about the Injury Center:
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