January 2011 - Association Update

Public Health Today Magazine

On December 17, 2010, OPHA released the Fall issue of the Public Health Today magazine. This issue focuses on the developments in public health over the last six years, and how they have influenced public health practice at the local level.

Articles in the magazine include:

  • an in-depth interview with Dr. Arlene King, Chief Medical Officer of Health, discussing her role in local public health;
  • Connie Uetrecht, OPHA Executive Director, discusses how public health is moving towards Vision 2010 outlined by the Capacity Review Committee;
  • OPHA Member Betty Ann Horbul discusses how she keeps public health visible in the Porcupine Health Unit community;
  • OPHA Member Cameron Weighill’s interview highlights the role of Public Health Inspectors and how they are moving towards evidence-informed practice and partnership building;
  • a profile of Master of Public Health student Kenny Wong on his practicum at OPHA;
  • a brief summary of the evidence-informed tools from OPHA’s Towards Evidence-Informed Practice (TEIP) program;
  • a timeline of activity since Operation Health Protection was announced in 2004.

Public Health Today is a forum for connecting the many stakeholders in public health — politicians, government policy makers, leaders of community organizations, academics, students and members of the public — to significant issues of current interest among public health practitioners across Ontario. Back issues are downloadable from the Members' only section, under “Keep Informed”

 

Staff Updates

The Youth Engagement Project would like to welcome a new team member. Evanna Li has been hired as an Administrative Coordinator and will be working closely with Program Coordinator Jennifer Lodge as the Youth Engagement Project moves into full-swing in the New Year. Evanna has a Bachelor of Arts in Health Studies from the University of Toronto and is currently completing a Masters of International Public Health through Queensland University. Evanna began working for OPHA on December 21, 2010. OPHA extends a warm welcome to Evanna!

The Towards Evidence-Informed Practice Project is pleased to announce that Julie Wong has accepted the position of TEIP Program Coordinator starting January 3, 2011. Julie is no stranger to OPHA as she joined us last spring when she supported both TEIP and APN during her Masters Practicum. Julie is a graduate of the MPH program at the University of Waterloo. She also holds a B.Sc. in Nutritional Sciences and Human Biology from the University of Toronto and a Health Promotion and Workplace Wellness Certificate from Centennial College.

Julie’s previous work experience includes being a Research Consultant for CPHA to review effective tobacco control policies to help inform the next Federal Tobacco Strategy. Also at CPHA, she conducted situational analyses for tobacco and illicit substances for the Policy Review Group. At the South Riverdale Community Health Centre Julie worked as a Health Promotion Intern / Project Assistant and Community Outreach Worker.

NRC is pleased to announce that Erin Colburn joined NRC on January 3, 2011 as Program Coordinator, Eat Smart!® for one year while Heather Harvey is on maternity leave. Erin is a Registered Dietitian and holds an MHSc from University of Toronto. Erin has been working as the Coordinator, Nutrition Communications for the Canadian Sugar Institute, since 2003, and as a free-lance nutrition consultant.

NRC is also looking forward to hosting Shannon Boneschansker as a practicum student starting January 10, 2011, for 16 weeks. Shannon is in her second year of an MHSc in Community Nutrition at University of Toronto. Shannon’s undergraduate work was in food and nutrition at Ryerson University.