| ESA Newsletter - November 2024 | Greetings!
Welcome to the November edition of the ESA newsletter. We are almost to the fall break in the academic calendar! Wishing everyone a restful and healthy well-deserved break from the very busy semester. This is a season where many reflect on themes of gratitude and thanks, and now, more than ever, we sincerely appreciate being a part of a community of public health leaders and innovators.
This month we get to feature our community's newest member, Dr. John Flunker, and the perspectives that he brings to the department as an environmental epidemiologist and scholar. We are also excited to shine the bright student spotlight this month on Madi Wahlen who will be wrapping up the PhD portion of her MD/PhD dual degree with the MSTP program in December. Madi has been a tremendous student leader and advocate in the department - can't wait to see the big things that she will be doing in her future!
Additionally, as you know, one of the goals with starting the newsletter this year was to lift up Epi student voices and perspectives not just through our wonderful faculty and student spotlights, but through written student contributions. This month, we are tremendously grateful for the opportunity to feature a couple more of those pieces. Erin Wissler Gerdes, a PhD student in Epi and mother of two, shares her insight on how understanding that the similarities of being a successful doctoral student and mother can help her navigate both roles at once and find joy in the process; and Bethany Huinker, MS-Epi second year student, tells us about leaning into her own experience to find her niche in Epi to be able to investigate neuromuscular conditions, and improve the lives of families, individuals, and children.
Finally, please join us in celebrating the recent achievements of some of our brilliant students. We are making waves in public health through our impactful research, publications, awards, and other innovations!
Congratulations to everyone highlighted this month and thank you for contributing, and please make sure to send us this information for future publications so we can continue to celebrate you! | | Friendly Reminders
Food Drive
The Epidemiology Student Association (ESA) is joining forces with the Community and Behavioral Health Student Association (CBHSA) to support the Iowa Food Pantry by collecting much-needed non-perishable items. Located in the IMU, the pantry is a crucial resource available to all students on campus. Currently, the pantry is facing a significant shortage. Together, we can help restock the shelves! The epidemiology department collection bin is located in the epidemiology suite near the conference room. On November 20, all items will be counted, and the department with the most contributions will win a pizza party! Attached is a list of items that would be useful for the pantry. If you have any questions, you can reach the ESA at CPH-ESA@uiowa.edu. Let's win some pizza and stock the food pantry shelves!
Seasonal Vaccines
If you haven't already gotten your vaccines yet this year, have no fear! The University of Iowa has vaccination clinics for both students and faculty/staff. If one of these clinics does not fit your schedule, take a look at vaccines.gov to find a clinic near you. It’s our duty to public health!
Student Support
Workshops and Support Groups: Feeling overwhelmed to navigate the demands of midterms alongside external stressors? University Counseling Service (UCS) is here to help with free workshops and resources to support your mental well-being during these times. Upcoming 1-hour workshops include Distress Coping, Managing Anxious Thoughts, and Motivation and Procrastination.
For helpful materials on managing sociopolitical stress, coping with natural disasters, addressing grief and loss, and enhancing focus, access UCS's handouts and coping strategies here: Handouts and Coping Skills
Looking for a place of support within the College of Public Health? Consider attending the next general meeting (December 4th from 12:30-1:15 pm in CPHB S030) for Here to Help, a student organization that aims to improve mental health awareness, reduce stigma, and increase utilization of mental health services among students in the College of Public Health. | | | | Dr. John Flunker joins our department with a passion for studying how wildfire smoke and extreme heat affect respiratory health—all to the cool backdrop of Miles Davis. An outdoor adventurer at heart, he’s ready to tackle Iowa’s environmental health challenges head-on. Curious about what inspires his work? Read on to learn more. | | | What drives a future MD/PhD to split her time between bladder cancer studies, rural hospitals, crochet projects, and mountain dreams? Step into Madi’s world to discover the blend of passion, purpose, and creativity shaping her journey. | | | | Erin Wissler-Gerdes, 3rd-year PhD student, reflects on balancing research and raising young kids, finding unexpected similarities between academia and parenting. Insightful, honest, and full of humor, her journey shows the beauty in embracing both roles. | | | Driven by her own experience with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, a rare neurological condition, Bethany Huinker, a 2nd-year MS student, is on a mission to bring visibility and research to overlooked diseases. Discover how her journey from patient to researcher fuels her commitment to advancing care for rare conditions. | | | | Join us in celebrating the brilliant work of our epidemiology students, whose achievements span groundbreaking research, innovative contributions, and impactful community efforts. Each award, publication, and project highlight their dedication to advancing public health and making a difference. Explore their latest accomplishments and be inspired by the future leaders of our field. | | | |
