From: Public Health Sciences Club at UC Davis
Date: February 3, 2022
Subject: Public Health Sciences Club Newsletter


Public Health Sciences Club Newsletter

February 3, 2022

    

 

 

Welcome to the PHS Club Newsletter 

 

 

Hello Club Members and Public Health Enthusiasts! Happy Week 5! We are halfway through this quarter so we hope that classes and midterms are going well for everyone! 

 

 

CLUB NEWS

 

 

We have many things that will be coming up in the future that we are very excited for! 

  1. Are you planning on graduating this school year and are continuing your education through graduate schools/PhD programs? We would love to hear from you in our survey so that we can congratulate you and showcase you at our meeting! Graduating Survey

  2. We are considering changing our club meeting time/days to better fit into our members’ busy schedules. Please fill out the survey to let us know when works best for you. Meeting Time Survey

  3. Our club meeting is next Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 7:10 PM. An ambassador from Kaplan Test Prep will be presenting about the resources they can offer our club and members! We hope to see you there on ZOOM

3. We will continue having Club Workshops to help any club members with questions about graduate school, internships, and public health in general. Be sure to attend on ZOOM on Tuesdays at 7:10 PM on the weeks we do not have official club meetings. We have our next Club Workshop at Feb. 15 @ 7:10 PM 

5. Make sure to check out our AggieLife and sign yourself up as a member if you haven’t already done so at AggieLife and check out our home website https://aggielife.ucdavis.edu/publichealthsciencesclub/home/

6. Join our Instagram page @phsclubatdavis 

 

 

Graduate School Resources 

 

 

To ease some anxiety about this topic and get answers to questions, look into the resources below!

Handbook for Applying to Grad Schools

https://opportunity.ucdavis.edu/services/pre-grad-law/resources

For more information, email: pregradadvising@ucdavis.edu

 

 

 

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

 

 

-Tuesday, February 1st at 7pm via Zoom. Register here.

-Wednesday, February 9th at 7pm via Zoom. Register here.

Undergraduate research associates shall work directly with research staff, health professionals, and attending/resident physicians in the UC Davis Emergency Department and Level 1 trauma center. If you are interested in a clinical research opportunity at the UC Davis Emergency Department and Level 1 trauma center, the Emergency Medicine Research Associate Program is looking for research associates interested in applying.

Application Deadline: February 18th, 11:59 PM

All info sessions shall be online (Zoom Link: tinyurl.com/emrapzoom).

Info Session One: 1/31, 5:10-6:00 PM

Info Session Two: 2/12, 1:10-2:00 PM

 

 

PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE WORLD

 

 

More than half of people with mental illness don't receive help for their disorders. Often, people avoid or delay seeking treatment due to concerns about being treated differently or fears of losing their jobs and livelihood. That's because stigma, prejudice and discrimination against people with mental illness is still very much a problem. Stigma, prejudice and discrimination against people with mental illness can be subtle or it can be obvious—but no matter the magnitude, it can lead to harm. But understanding what that looks like and how to address and eradicate it can help.

Here are some ways you can deal with stigma:

Get treatment. You may be reluctant to admit you need treatment. Don't let the fear of being labeled with a mental illness prevent you from seeking help. Treatment can provide relief by identifying what's wrong and reducing symptoms that interfere with your work and personal life.

Don't let stigma create self-doubt and shame. Stigma doesn't just come from others. You may mistakenly believe that your condition is a sign of personal weakness or that you should be able to control it without help. Seeking counseling, educating yourself about your condition and connecting with others who have mental illness can help you gain self-esteem and overcome destructive self-judgment.

Don't isolate yourself. If you have a mental illness, you may be reluctant to tell anyone about it. Your family, friends, clergy or members of your community can offer you support if they know about your mental illness. Reach out to people you trust for the compassion, support and understanding you need.

Join a support group. Some local and national groups, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), offer local programs and internet resources that help reduce stigma by educating people who have mental illness, their families and the general public. Some state and federal agencies and programs, such as those that focus on vocational rehabilitation and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), offer support for people with mental illness.

Get help at school. If you have a mental illness that affects learning, find out what plans and programs might help. Discrimination against students because of a mental illness is against the law, and educators at primary, secondary and college levels are required to accommodate students as best they can. Talk to teachers, professors or administrators about the best approach and resources. If a teacher doesn't know about a student's disability, it can lead to discrimination, barriers to learning and poor grades.

Speak out against stigma. Consider expressing your opinions at events, in letters to the editor or on the internet. It can help instill courage in others facing similar challenges and educate the public about mental illness.

 

 

EXTRAS

 

 

If anyone is interested in having a “Member Spotlight”, please email us! You will be included in the next newsletter and you can include information about yourself or a project you are working on. If you would like to be featured, please include the following information in your email to us with the subject line “PHS Club Member Spotlight”: Name, Year, Major, Interest in Public Health/Career Goals, and if applicable, what research/project you are working on. You are also welcome to discuss at club meetings about any public health issue you are interested in, any research you are working on, or even practicums you have done if you would like to share your knowledge and experiences.

 

     

Things have been unclear and frustrating this winter with the Omicron variant; however, the US can still turn things around with clear and proven steps to minimize exposure and improve the COVID response for the entire country. Phase 1 of this campaign is to demand free and continuously accessible N95 masks and at-home tests for the public, paired with clear data-driven policies on how and when to use them.

Without a strong federal response, our current pandemic policies (or lack thereof) will only increase our existing health inequities. The failure to have an equity-centered approach perpetuates our long national history of structural racism.

Over the weekend, a letter/petition to White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients was launched.  We aim to have at least 500 public health professionals as well as 3,000 stakeholders who have been affected by COVID sign on to the letter by January 10th. If you are interested in signing, please do! Also, if there are others in your network who would be interested, please share and promote!

*Find the letter here: https://www.dearzients.com/  

 

The Spring 2022 Graduation Application

Are you scheduled to complete your degree requirements at the end of spring 2022 and are you planning to graduate? If so, congratulations! The online graduation application is open and will close on March 11, 2022; you will not be able to apply for spring 2022 graduation after this date. Please check with your college and/or major advisors regarding the completion of your degree requirements. Be sure to keep your confirmation receipts when you apply for graduation and when you register for commencement. Only students who register for commencement will be issued guest tickets for the ceremony. Please note that registering for Commencement does not mean you have applied to graduate. If you have questions about the graduation application, please contact the Office of the University Registrar at 530-752-3639 or Contact an Expert. For questions regarding your college’s commencement ceremony, please contact your college Dean's Office.

 

Resource: Free At-Home COVID-19 Antigen Tests

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-├ó┬ü┬áhome COVID-├ó┬ü┬á19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Order your tests now so you have them when you need them. https://www.covidtests.gov/

In response to the omicron variant and Yolo County Public Health guidance, UC Davis is working to provide a KN95, N95 or KF94 respirator as a voluntary upgrade for students or employees who would like to use one to meet campus face covering requirements during in-person course components. More details about how to upgrade your face covering. (Jan. 13, 2022)


 

Distribution of an N95-style mask to students and employees

N95 and KN95 masks are being offered on a voluntary basis, and we request students and employees only accept one face covering from campus supplies at this time, to assist in wide distribution.

Students and Employees: If you would like an N95 or KN95 mask to help upgrade your masks during this surge, please contact your major department to find out how they are distributing them

Students (Training Encouraged): 

Students are encouraged to watch this 10-minute training on how to properly use an N95 or KN95 respirator for voluntary use before using a mask provided by campus sources

Watch the 10-minute training - Requires free registration with a UC email address

Employees (Training and Form Required): 

For voluntary use of N95, KN95 or KF94 masks, UC Davis employees are required to complete this 10-minute training and sign this form

Complete the training in LMS - Login required

Sign the Voluntary Use of Filtering Facepieces N95 form - PDF filled out by employee and retained by employee's supervisor.

UC Davis Campus Ready Guidance

Yolo County COVID-19 Guidance