August 2010 - Association Update

OPHA Fall Forum

Registration is open for the OPHA Fall Forum, Taking Action on the Built Environment: Building Healthy Public Policy on September 28 – 30, 2010 at the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Toronto. Check out the Fall Forum website for important information and to download the Preliminary Program, or go directly to the online registration page. The Early Bird deadline has been extended to August 27th!

Planning for the forum has been a major activity in the past two months and OPHA would like to thank Michelle Manarina at OPHA for her commitment to make this new direction in public policy dialogue successful. We want to acknowledge the number of public health professionals and collaborators who have assisted with the planning of the five forum Think Tanks. They will be acknowledged in the final program and at the event. If you have not checked out the program for a description of what is planned for each of the Think Tank sessions, please visit our Fall Forum website to get a glimpse of the planning that has gone into each session.

OPHA Annual General Meeting

Position papers, resolutions and nominations to the Board of Directors are all trickling in to Nolly Baksh-Singh, OPHA Board and Member Relations Officer for processing prior to the AGM. The Annual Report is ready to go to the designer and other preparations for our AGM are underway. Please mark your calendar to attend the AGM at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 28th at the Courtyard Marriott.

Operations

OPHA has undergone a computer network audit to ensure that we have an efficient, effective, and secure computer network system considering the constraints and size of our non-profit organization. In preparation for that audit, Dorothy Birtalan, Chief Information officer, and our Policy and Procedures Committee, chaired by Cindy Scythes, developed comprehensive IT policies and procedures.

The network audit was completed by TCN, Inc in late June and early July. The results indicated that we have a well-functioning network system. Suggestions for improvement were made. Some of the “low hanging fruit” recommendations have already been made and over the next few months we will be prioritizing the remaining recommendations and incorporating these into our budget for 2011-12.

 

Staff Updates

MPH student Marcia Dawes completed her 12-week practicum with the Nutrition Resource Centre on July 30th and we wish her well in her final year of her program.

Saghar Kari will be finishing her placement with the Alcohol Policy Network on August 10th and returning to Saskatchewan for the final year of her MPH program.

OPHA was privileged to have had such great student help for our two programs this summer and wish both students continued success in their public health careers.

 

Member Profiles

Dr. Garry Aslanyan first became involved with the OPHA over fifteen years ago, after a colleague gave him a membership as a gift for Christmas. He had always been interested in public health advocacy, and felt that the OPHA provided an excellent forum to question existing policies affecting the public and achieve positive change. Read more about Dr. Aslanyan in the Members' Lounge.