Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Catching up with the Research Centers of HBHE, Part 3

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


What does the HBHE Genetics Research Group do?
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


What does the Injury Center do?
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 seminarsDistinguished 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:



Did you work at a Center as a student? Or do you collaborate with them now? Leave a comment below!

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