What would you identify as the most exciting activity, event or observation for the CHPPD Section in 2009? Let me know by sending me an e-mail. I will summarize your votes and comments for the next newsletter.
Was it creating a photo journal on the CHPPD Section’s 40 year anniversary? The Section's 40-year history was related through a photo journal that is available on the CHPPD Insider. We are considering moving the photos to the "About Us" area of the Section Web site. The Section enjoyed a special CHPPD History Session, during which panelists answered thought-provoking questions. The Section also organized a social attended by about 95 members. The CHPPD Section was awarded a plaque by APHA in recognition of its fortieth anniversary. All this could not have been possible without support from the CHPPD members and leadership. Thank you.
Was it forming issue groups to facilitate diverse member action on community health
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| From left: HIIT Section Chair Sandra Worrell, MS; CHPPD Section Chair Priti Irani, MSPH; and CHPPD Section Councilor Azzie Young, PhD |
issues? The attempt to organize diverse members to work within issue areas worked. The issue groups were small but effective. The “Health Reform” group has written “Public Health’s Critical Role in Health Reform,” and produced a Webinar on the topic. The “Public Health Information Technology” group presented at an oral session organized by the Health Information and Informatics Section.
Was your favorite activity the Section Photo Journal Demonstration Project? We received 27 proposals in response to our call for applications for the Section Photo Journal Demonstration Project. The Section selected five projects, and the awardees will present their work at the Annual Meeting in Denver. The projects have diverse topics – HIV, green jobs, neighborhood organizing, tobacco control and built environment – and come from around the nation. We are looking forward to seeing the photographs in Denver.
Or was your favorite activity conceptualizing “Health in All Policies” through at T-shirt/tote bag design contest? One member conceptualized the “Health in All Policies” design, which were transferred onto T-shirts and tote bags. They were popular giveaway item at the Annual Meeting.
Or maybe conducting Webinars on health reform, the value of prevention and Healthy People 2020? Last year, the Section coordinated three Webinars, and each of them was attended to capacity. We got to better understand the expertise of members within our section and within APHA. The post-Webinar evaluations were positive.
Perhaps your favorite memories were growing support among Section members? Membership throughout APHA dropped significantly, and it did too for the CHPPD Section, but at a slower pace. Members who selected the CHPPD Section as a second section were significantly higher than other sections. Thank you. We appreciate your support.
On a personal note, I did get a valuable piece of information that has helped me tremendously at work. In a post-Webinar evaluation, after the “Measuring the Value of Prevention” Webinar in April 2009, a participant wrote how much (s)he enjoyed the Webinar, and wished we could have included the work by Cornell Food and Brand Lab, and provided a link to a magazine article, which I did read. In September 2009, I was looking for an advisor who could advise us on a grant related to improving participation in the healthy school lunch program, and remembered the article, and contacted the folks at Cornell Food and Brand Lab, who in turn agreed to advise. So thank you to that anonymous person who suggested the article! It has been fun working on the project at work.
All my best,
Priti Irani, MS
Chair, CHPPD Section