HPA e-Newsletter — Summer 2009
Message from the Department Head
Greetings from Happy Valley. Another academic year has come to a close and we are well into the summer, with more than 170 students completing internships and residencies. It's an exciting time to be in health care with all the talk of health reform. I'd love to hear your perspectives on those plans…Read more.
Alumni News
M.H.A. program establishes Board of Visitors
The HPA department recently established the Penn State Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) Board of Visitors, which will support student learning and career development in several ways. Read more.
Student News
Students attend ACHE event in Chicago, tour acute care facility
Twenty-seven students represented the HPA department and Penn State at the Congress on Healthcare Leadership, an annual Chicago-based event hosted by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Students had the opportunity to tour a long-term acute care hospital, network, and attend educational seminars on a variety of health care topics. Read more.
Student accepted to Kaiser Foundation Scholars Program
Student Sharita R. Thomas is taking part in the Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program this summer in Washington, D.C. She is working in the office of U.S. Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen, a delegate of the U.S. Virgin Islands, learning about health policy that affects racial and ethnic minorities and underserved communities. Read more.
Student honored with Edith Pitt Chace Award
Student Mackenzie R. Shields is the recipient of the 2009 Edith Pitt Chace Award. The award, presented by the College of Health and Human Development, includes a $1,000 scholarship and honors a student's academic excellence and leadership within the college and at Penn State. Read more.
Student to work with the National Academy of Social Insurance
Student Maria Rossi has accepted a Somers Aging and Long-Term Care Research internship this summer in Washington, D.C. The internship, hosted by the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI), focuses on aging and long-term care. Rossi will be working with the Alzheimer's Association as part of the internship. Read more.
WLI students set for leadership roles
Four HPA students (Samantha Lentini, Kelly McGill, Annette Stoltzfus, and Desirae Waltemyer) have been accepted into the 2009–2010 class of the Women’s Leadership Initiative. Students in the Women’s Leadership Initiative learn about leadership through workshops, field trips, and a variety of other educational experiences. Read more.
Doctoral students compete in "Iron Chef" event
The Department of Health Policy and Administration was represented well at the first-ever College of Health and Human Development (HHD) “Iron Chef” fundraising event. They created an innovative dish that, they felt, represented HHD perfectly. All proceeds of the event benefitted the State College Area Food Bank. Read more.
Faculty and Staff News
Inquiry publishes study by Short, Moran, and colleagues
Dr. Pamela Farley Short and Dr. John R. Moran are co-authors of a new study that appeared in the spring issue of Inquiry. Their article discussed how cancer survivors' job decisions are affected by the prospect of employer-assisted health insurance. Read more.
Faculty to present workplace safety climate studies in Chicago
At the 2009 Academy of Management Annual Meeting in August, Dr. Deirdre McCaughey, Dr. Diane Brannon, and Jungyoon Kim will present a paper on how job safety, work overload, and employee performance impact long-term care. McCaughey will also present a second paper about how workplace safety and health experiences influence employees' perceptions of workplace safety. Read more.
Davis reappointed member of Pennsylvania Commission for Women
Lisa Davis, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH), has been reappointed a member of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women by Governor Edward G. Rendell. The Pennsylvania Commission for Women aims to “ensure that women have full and equal opportunity to serve in every capacity as citizens of the Commonwealth.” Davis, who was first appointed to the commission in 2007, represents the rural community. Read more.
Announcements
Professionals in the Classroom planned for October
Mark your calendars for the 2009 Professionals in the Classroom Program. The HPA department and its Alumni Affiliate Program Group have set the date for October 29 and 30. Read more.
HPA faculty searches under way
The Department of Health Policy and Administration is currently seeking applicants for tenure-track faculty positions at the assistant or associate professor level. The department is searching for colleagues with expertise in health care organizations or management and health policy or public health involving immigrant children, youth, and families. Read more.
Faculty/staff plan to attend AcademyHealth research meeting
HPA faculty and staff will be present at this year’s AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting, June 28-30 in Chicago, Illinois. Please stop by the HPA exhibit booth at space assignment Number 3.