About

After graduating from Truman as a BS, CHES, I went on to get my nursing degree. I worked in oncology and then made my way from there into quality.  I actually worked from home for the last several years for a company that contracted out medical chart reviews for Medicare compliance.  I recently accepted a job at Scotland County Hospital as the Director of Quality and Risk.  I’m excited to get back to my roots a bit with the community health assessment.  I love community health and health education and unfortunately it’s not something I get to do very often.

I did want to take the chance to say that I feel I had a wonderful education through the HES department.  My job entails huge amounts of data and statistics and even though I’m a nurse and that changes my viewpoint a bit, I still use the critical thinking skills I was taught at Truman every day as I look through and try to decipher the meaning and value behind all these statistics. 

Jamie Cummings, CHES, earned her BS In Health Science in May 2015. She is an Environmental Representative with the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health. Her job requires her to enforce environmental health policies in various food facilities, nursing homes, daycares, hospitals, and lodging and aquatic establishments ensuring health and safety hazards are minimized.  She also helps enforce the new Tobacco 21 laws that were recently passed in Saint Louis County.  She has many learning opportunities such as First Aid/CPR training, Epi-Ready Training, and Special Processing classes.  Jamie is also in the process of studying to obtain the Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) credential within the next year.

Students from HLTH 405: Global Public Health developed two fundraising events to raise money and awareness to For Kids’ Sake, which is an organization focused on supporting orphanages and schools in Bangladesh. Students held two fundraisers, including fundraising on Parent’s Weekend and selling Oreo Balls at the Truman Oktober Fest event on Friday, October 7.  The students raised $213.50.
Students pictured above include Susan Caman, Christina Rudolph, Krista Davidson, Sophie Hauri, and Mackenzie Johnston as they sell baked goods at Oktoberfest.

On Wednesday, October 19^th, the Celebration of Service, Service Learning, and Civic Engagement event was held by the APDC, Civic Engagement Committee, and SERVE Center. There were twelve different posters featuring projects from Truman faculty (Ms. Liz Jorn, Dr. Vayu Gokhale, Dr. Janice Clark, Dr. Datha Martinez, Dr. Ben Wodika, and Dr. Sarah Berke) as well as projects from student organizations (SPHA, Red Cross Club, Green Thumb Project, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), and the SERVE Center).

Mrs. Liz Jorn presented her poster about the service learning opportunities in her ES506: Advanced Sport Management course.

Graduate students in the Master of Accountancy Program, Danielle Cox and Jason Bangert, discuss with Dean Kerby regarding the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). VITA is led by Dr. Alan Davis.

Health Science students, Ben Peters and Sydney Gosik, represented the Student Public Health Association (SPHA) and showcased many of their service projects. Ben Peters is the current President of SPHA, and Sydney Gosik is the MOPIP Liaison.

On September30th and October 5^th, Health Science students from HLTH 366: Program Planning fundraised for the Community Action Partnership (CAP NEMO) as part of their efforts to raise awareness about CAP NEMO’s “Dinner for a Difference” event.  Students partnered with CAP NEMO to learn more about fundraising efforts as well as the process of fundraising. The students raised $276.78 by tabling at Hyvee and obtained multiple items of donated food to the Food Bank.

Students pictured include Mitchell Schroeder, Nikki Bhuma, and McKenzie Russell.

Students pictured include Chaney Cooper and Clare Pond.

 

 

This past Saturday was the 31^st annual Bulldog Forever Homecoming 5K sponsored by Cardinal Key, Intramural Sports, Phi Epsilon Kappa and the Advancement Office.  146 runners signed up for the event and over 50 students from Exercise Science, PEK, Athletic Training and Cardinal Key helped with registration, course marshalling, finish line, first aid and result.

October 18, 2016 was a beautiful day for two Truman classes to tour and provide service to the Possibility Alliance eco project near LaPlata, Missouri.  Students from Dr. Alicia Wodika’s JINS 336, Environmental Justice course, and Dr. Janice Clark’s HLTH 362, Environmental Health course learned about the mission and principles of the 10 year “experiment” at the Possibility Alliance (PA) from founders, Ethan and Sarah Hughes.  While there, students were reminded to use their “gifts,” and combine their passion with what breaks their heart to find their life’s purpose.  They toured parts of the original 80-acre farm and learned about native species of herbs, vegetables, flowers, and fruit and nut trees in the yard and five gardens, where “everything is edible and/or medicinal.”  Students were reminded about the importance of spending time outdoors to reduce help them reduce stress, obtain exercise, and live more holistically.

Students learned about the Possibility Alliance’s gift economy where the founders and PA residents don’t charge for any of the services, housing, or food they provide to the 1,500 guests who visit each year.  After the tour, the 29 HLTH 362 and JINS 336 students contributed their sweat equity on several fall projects at the Possibility Alliance.  Groups of students cut wood for winter fuel, gathered berries to make jam, and prepared apples for canning applesauce.  Pictures of the work groups are posted below.

Above from left are a group of wood cutters who include Taylor Steinhart, Mackenzie Maher, Ty Gould, Melanie King, Marita Moore, Andy Summers, Alyssa Marin, a PA intern, and Dan ( PA resident).

The individuals pictured above developing their upper arm strength on the cross-cut saw are from left:  Emmy Fry, Benjamin Lasser (holding wood to be cut), Ethan Hughes (PA co-founder), and Rachel Hanson.

The berry picking crew is pictured above.  They are: (kneeling, front row):  Katie Schott, Marissa McBurnett, Abby Mansley, Briana Niedling, and Madison Thornburg.  Standing from left are:  Clarice Schmid, ??, Madeline Thomas, ??, 2 PA interns, Creighton University student, Brendan Cronley, Emily Hahn, and Madison Cockrum.

Some students worked near the outdoor kitchen preparing apples to be pureed into applesauce and canned are pictured above from left:  Momi Sagoe, Ikeolu Oladipo, Sarah Hughes (PA co-founder), Ayla Hughes (Sarah & Ethan’s daughter), and Sidney Shields.

Chris Solomon, Dec. 14, ES—“I’m working for Eli Lilly as a pharmaceutical sales rep in the Diabetes unit.   I give credit to the HES Faculty for guiding me through my education–especially Liz Jorn, my awesome advisor, who gave wise counsel and offered friendship.  Dr. Donahue, Dr. Bird, Dr. Mayhew, and Jana Arabas took a special interest in molding me, taking me from dreams to reality.  I appreciate the entire HES department for their help.”

The students of HLTH 255-01, Introduction to Community and Public Health, promoted safe driving across campus throughout the month of September. Awareness table locations included McClain, Magruder, Pershing Building, Mo Hall, and the SUB. Students increased awareness about the CHEERS program. CHEERS promotes designated drivers by providing free non-alcoholic drinks to those who are designated drivers. A designated driver is defined as someone who has consumed no alcohol, not even a sip. There are nine establishments in Kirksville that support the CHEERS program and provide free drinks to those who are designated drivers. People who stop at an awareness table obtain free reminder items, such as CHEERS cups, highlighters, sodas, pens and more as well as information about risk reduction. The students shared basic information about what a designated driver is and the CHEERS program. As of September 23, students had made contacts with 1045 individuals at their tables. To learn more about the CHEERS program and which establishments in Kirksville participate, go to www.cheers.missouri.edu.

Student Spotlight: Mackenzie