March 2, 2020
Dr. Gregg Bell, assistant professor of community medicine and population health, was elected vice chair of the National Steering Committee of the Census Bureau’s State Data Center Network. Bell was elected to a second three-year term on the steering committee in January. The University of Alabama Institute for Rural Health Research, where Bell is a senior data analyst, is a coordinating agency for the Alabama State Data Center, a long-term partner of the Census Bureau. The partnership is part of a nationwide network of state agencies, universities, libraries and regional and location governments and, since its creation in 1978, has provided access and education about Census Bureau data and products, as well as other statistical resources to millions of data users.
Allyson Cooper, director of business for the College of Community Health Sciences, was recognized as one of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama’s top honorees during its annual celebration. Cooper received the Ambassador of the Year award for her “exceptional service to and on behalf of the Chamber’s membership.” The ambassadors are the chamber’s official hosts for all functions. The celebration was held in February at the Bryant Conference Center on The University of Alabama campus.
Dr. Nathan Culmer, assistant professor of academic technologies and continuing education for the College of Community Health Sciences, Dr. Karen Burgess, chair of the College’s Department of Pediatrics, and Andrea Wright, MLIS, associate professor and clinical/technical services librarian in the College’s Health Sciences Library, co-authored “Telemedical asthma education and health care outcomes for school-age children: A systematic review,” accepted for publication in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. Also co-authors on the article are Dr. Todd Smith, assistant professor of nursing instruction for The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing, and UA undergraduate students Samantha Johns, Mykaela Watt and Madison Desch.
Dr. Raheem Paxton, associate professor of community medicine and population health, co-authored “Sedentary Behavior and Health Outcomes in Older Adults: A Systematic Review,” accepted for publication in AIMS Medical Science.
The Diabetes Education Service at UMC has received continued recognition from the American Diabetes Association for the 8th consecutive year. The ADA Education Recognition assures that approved education services meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Services. Programs that achieve recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide state-of-the-art information about diabetes management for participants. UMC was originally recognized in February 2012.
Each Diabetes Self-Management class at UMC covers a different topic, offers opportunities to ask questions, and allows participants to share tips and learn from each other. Topics include weight loss, exercise, meal planning and portion sizes, medications, motivation, and preventing diabetic complications.
