UNLV School of Public Health

Are you a public health professional interested in providing professional coaching, career guidance, and moral support to new and future public health professionals? Join the Nevada Public Health Mentorship Program (NvPHMP) as a mentor and help support the next generation of public health professionals!

The NvPHMP matches public health students and new professionals with experienced public health professionals in a one-to-one mentorship relationship for one year (coincides with the academic year).

If you are interested in participating in the 2024-2025 NvPHMP mentor pool, complete and submit the Mentor Application by August 31, 2024: https://forms.gle/qr1oRdNV1bxUMksC6

Researchers from the School of Public Health need your help! More and more older adults with chronic conditions are using cannabis/marijuana, and researchers want to better understand why.

If you are age 65 or over and use cannabis/marijuana, then you might be eligible to participate in a new study to understand cannabis use among older adults.

Participation in this research study involves completing a baseline survey, two daily surveys over a 10-day period where you will answer questions about your cannabis use and related experiences. Your responses will be confidential. The baseline survey will take 10-20 minutes to complete and the daily surveys will take less than 5 minutes to complete. You will receive up to a $120 for participating. You may also be invited to participate in an one hour interview at the end of the study, and will be compensated an additional $40.

All research procedures can be completed online with appointments completed via Zoom so you can complete study procedures in the comfort of your own home.

To determine if you are eligible for this study, please complete the screening form: https://forms.gle/nWaCopVYxSNpJEvt8

Applications for the EARN- Nevada Lactation Hub Scholarship Program are now open! The scholarship application period will be from Aug. 1, 2024- Sept. 1, 2024. Learn more and apply: https://www.unlv.edu/publichealth/financial-aid/nv-lactation-hub.

A Q&A about the scholarship application and program will be held on August 9th. Reach out to Rikki at [email protected].

PUBLISHED ✨ Faculty from SPH and Nevada Minority Health and Equity Coalition including Dr. Erika Marquez, Jose Melendrez, and Dr. Amanda Haboush-Deloye along with colleagues published an article on "Harnessing Community Coalition Action Theory (CCAT) for Building Resilient Communities: A Case Study of the NV Minority Health and Equity Coalition."

This study aims to achieve two primary objectives: 1) identify and integrate networked resources into the CCAT framework to advance an understanding of community resilience; 2) share NMHEC strategies that incorporate community participation within each CCAT construct. Check it out:

Harnessing Community Coalition Action Theory (CCAT) for Building Resilient Communities: A Case Study of the NV Minority Health and Equity Coalition | Published in Journal of Participatory Research Methods By Julie E. Lucero, Erika Marquez & 7 more. This article outlines a generalizable process for establishing a robust health equity coalition through a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach framed by CCAT and Community Resilience Theory (CR) principles.

August 1-7 is recognized as World Breastfeeding Week! This year's theme is "Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all." Breastfeeding provides vital health and nutritional benefits for children with positive lifelong impacts, building healthier populations and workforces for the future.

SPH's Assistant Professor Dr. Gabriela Buccini has written extensively on subjects like breastfeeding and infant feeding. Learn more about her projects: buccinilab.com

Our faculty, staff, and students have been hard at work during the summer publishing papers and presenting at conferences. Here’s a snapshot of just a few of their accomplishments! ✨ Learn more about their research and achievements by visiting the link in our bio and clicking “Accomplishments.” Note: This post has been updated from the original post to correct the names of Erika Marquez and Samantha Smith in the first publication reference.

Our faculty, staff, and students have been hard at work during the summer publishing papers and presenting at conferences. Here's a snapshot of just a few of their accomplishments! ✨ Learn more about their research and achievements: https://www.unlv.edu/news/unit/academic/15627/accomplishments

Did you know: it is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime? July is UV Safety Awareness Month, but it's important to take care of your skin every day! This summer, be mindful of the risks of UV radiation exposure, and take extra steps to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. 🕶️

UNLV and The Defensive Line Team Up to Tackle Youth Su***de Prevention School of Public Health's partnership with the nonprofit addresses mental health issues in Southern Nevada.

Double UNLV alumnus and former UNLV defensive lineman Ammir Aziz now serves as the regional program manager for The Defensive Line, a nonprofit focused on ending the epidemic of youth su***de, especially for young people of color. Read about Ammir's inspiring story, how he's motivated by his own experiences to tackle youth su***de prevention, and how the community can get involved with The Defensive Line:

From Homeless to Hopeful to Helper: UNLV Alumnus Leads Su***de Prevention Efforts Former UNLV lineman Ammir Aziz uses his experience to block su***de in young people of color through the nonprofit The Defensive Line.

The School of Public Health has partnered with The Defensive Line, a national nonprofit organization focused on su***de prevention, as part of our efforts to address the critical mental health issues in our community. Read about the partnership and how we are working together to end the epidemic of su***de, especially for people of color:

UNLV and The Defensive Line Team Up to Tackle Youth Su***de Prevention School of Public Health's partnership with the nonprofit addresses mental health issues in Southern Nevada.

The Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy, housed within the School of Public Health, is gathering information and needs your help to better understand the most important health issues facing our communities! This information will be used to develop a Community Health Improvement Plan with your needs as priority: https://www.unlv.edu/news/unlvtoday/help-clark-county-taking-community-status-assessment-survey

Created in partnership with the School of Public Health and the Las Vegas Raiders, RUSH is a sports clinic for local middle school girls to encourage them to pursue sports in high school, and address issues of mental health and nutrition. Learn more about the program and watch RUSH in action:

Public Health Clinic Introduces Flag Football to Middle School Girls Created in partnership with the UNLV School of Public Health and the Las Vegas Raiders, RUSH (Raiders, UNLV, Sport, and Health) is a sports clinic for local ...

Dr. Jason Flatt wrote a guest column in the Las Vegas Sun Las Vegas Sun about "Inclusive housing empowers LGBTQ+ community to age with dignity." The U.S. population of LGBTQ+ adults over age 50 is expected to reach 7 million by 2030. As this community grows, the need to address housing disparities becomes more evident. In the article, Dr. Flatt discusses the importance of speaking out and advocating in order to ensure our local LGBTQ+ elders receive the services and support they deserve, such as access to safe and inclusive housing.

Inclusive housing empowers LGBTQ+ community to age with dignity By 2030, the U.S. population of LGBTQ+ adults over age 50 is expected to reach 7 million. As this community grows, the need to address housing disparities in our state becomes more evident. Elders who live in ...

SPH Assistant Professor Dr. Louisa Messenger was featured in an article by the Washington Post as an expert, providing tips and guidance on how to combat mosquitoes this summer. 🦟 From EPA-approved insect repellant to dietary changes, read more from the experts about how to prevent mosquito bites:

How hardcore mosquito experts fight summer’s most annoying pest An Everglades wildlife biologist, adventure-travel pros, entomologists and other experts share their best strategies for keeping mosquitoes away.

The School of Public Health recently facilitated a lab tour for high school students to show them the many different perspectives of public health! 🔬 SPH laboratories including the Environmental Health Lab, Emerging Disease Lab, and Pollen Monitoring Lab all conducted demonstrations and hands-on activities for the students. 💫

Can Irish Spring soap really repel mosquitoes and bugs? In an article by Family Handyman, experts including SPH's Dr. Louisa Messenger weigh in on in this soap hack and provide guidance on methods to keeping mosquitoes away: https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/does-irish-spring-soap-keep-flies-away/

Happy Fourth of July! If you’re celebrating today, make sure you do so safely. Handle fireworks with care, grill carefully, and stay cool in the heat. ☀️ We’re wishing you a fun and safe day! 🎇

Check out a highlight reel of some of UNLV's headline news stories from the 2023-2024 academic year. Dr. Chad Cross is one of the features, discussing prevention tips for bug season!

UNLV In the News (Fall 2023 - Spring 2024) A collection of news stories highlighting the experts and changemakers at UNLV. More UNLV in the news: https://www.unlv.edu/news/topic/256427

National is June 27. No matter how you test, no matter your test results, you can take the next step for your health.

CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care, and more often if you do things that might increase your risk for getting HIV.

Learn more about HIV testing options: https://bit.ly/3LVPmav

There's been an uptick of mosquitoes across Southern Nevada. Make sure you're taking preventative measures to avoid mosquito bites and mosquito borne diseases!

Our SPH faculty have been featured in various news articles discussing the rise of mosquito presence in the valley, the reasons for it, and how to prevent bites. Check out their interviews: https://www.unlv.edu/news/unit/academic/15627/in-the-news

Happy first day of summer! ☀️ With the sun being out longer these days, make sure you're taking precautions to protect yourself and your skin from UV rays! 🕶️

Yesterday we had the privilege of a visit from Dr. Mandy Cohen, Director of the CDC! Dr. Cohen spoke with members of the School of Public Health about some current CDC-funded projects within the school, including the Nevada Childhood Lead Prevention Program, and the Reach Quality, Control Fidelity, Satisfaction, Management (RQFSM) model for process evaluation.

Dr. Chad Cross was interviewed in an article by USA Today to provide some tips and guidance on how to get rid of ticks in your yard. Learn more about what actually attracts ticks to your space and how to prevent them:

How to Get Rid of Ticks in Your Yard The most beautiful yard is ruined if you have a tick problem. Learn how to get rid of ticks in your yard and keep it pest-free.

Today is World Food Safety Day.

Whenever possible, follow this advice to ensure that your food is safe after flood:
🥩 Separate raw and cooked food
🧊 Do not leave cooked food outside the refrigerator for more than 2 hours
🫗 Throw away perishable and cooked foods that have not been refrigerated properly due to power outages
🥦 Plan when to eat different types of food – for example, eat perishable food first
🧫 Avoid eating food that shows signs of spoilage or has come in contact with contaminated water
🥤 Keep clean and use boiled or bottled water for drinking and cooking, whenever possible

Last weekend hundreds of high school students from all over the country converged in Las Vegas to compete in the national anatomy tournament hosted by Anatomage. While teams tested their anatomical knowledge in the competition, other teams had the opportunity to learn about health sciences from experts at UNLV. The School of Public Health was well represented shining a light on the opportunities and possibilities available through a career in public health.

Photo 1: Students competing in the Anatomage Tournament.
Photo 2: Dr. Brian Labus leading an interactive workshop introducing epidemiology.
Photo 3: The career panel included: Dean Gerstenberger (Public Health), Associate Professor Sara Hunt (Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV) and Executive Director of BeHERE Nevada, Interim Dean Reyes (UNLV School of Nursing), Director of Admissions Victoria Symonds (UNLV School of Dental Medicine), Dean Brown (UNLV School of Integrated Health Sciences), Dean Kahn (Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV) and, Dean Mah (UNLV School of Dental Medicine).

Dr. Amanda Haboush-Deloye is the Executive Director of the Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy (NICRP), an organization housed under the School of Public Health. Read about NICRP and how their work has helped shaped policy changes in Nevada, and learn more about Dr. Haboush-Deloye! ✨

The Interview: Amanda Haboush-Deloye The native Nevadan and triple alumna is devoted to making our community better through the Nevada Institute for Children's Research & Policy.

Meet Priyambda Kumra, a MPH student at the School of Public Health and a ShotAtLife Champion. Shot@Life is an advocacy campaign of the United Nations Foundation, working to ensure that everyone in the world has access to lifesaving vaccines and all children have a shot at life. Read more about her background and how that has shaped her advocacy work! 🌟

Champion Spotlight: Priyambda Kumra | Shot@Life Shot@Life advocate Priyambda describes how her experiences growing up in India informed her decision to advocate for vaccines in the U.S.

Dr. Jennifer Pharr was a guest on Nevada Public Radio's State of Nevada along with the Raiders' Director of Youth Football, Myles Hayes. Dr. Pharr talks about the RUSH program, which uses sports to help middle school-aged girls cope with mental health and body image issues.

She says, "all kids who participate in sports have improved mental health. So they have less anxiety, less depression, improved well-being." Listen to the interview:

New UNLV program helps young girls with mental health, body image There’s a new UNLV program that’s using sports to help middle school-aged girls cope with mental health and body image issues.