1. Public Health is a
constantly changing
and very dynamic
area of study to ensure the health of a
population. The scope of Public Health
ranges from mother and infant health and
vaccinations, to sustaining health in the
elderly, to chemical and hormonal additives
in food, to the state of the environment. The
mission of this newsletter is to promote
positive health behaviors, protect known
teachings and policies designed to enhance
Public Health knowledge and practices
including those protecting the environment,
and prevent the spread of disease and the
continuation of high risk behaviors through
discussion of current Public Health topics.
Our MissionInside this Issue:
Cutting Weight: Battling Child
Obesity
2
Saving the Aging Brain 2
Risky Business: The Truth Behind
Harmful Chemicals
3
Breast Feeding For Early Prevention 5
Too Soon? HPV Vaccination
Challenges
5
Ebola: An Outbreak Causes Policy
Revision
7
Deep Trouble: The Gulf Oil Spill 8
Association Updates 13
PUBLIC HEALTH TODAY
12/16/15
Volume 1, Issue 1

2. CUTTING WEIGHT: BATTLING CHILD OBESITY
Elizabeth Stanley
Page 2
(Continued on page 4)
Childhood obesity is calculated using BMI
or Body Mass Index measurements. This is a
simple calculation of total weight in kilograms
divided by the square of height in meters. BMI
calculations are age and gender specific for
children, and obesity determinants are made
by comparisons. A child is considered
overweight if they range at or above the 85th
percentile. An obese child is above the 95th
percentile. CDC growth charts are the most
commonly used indictor to measure these
patterns. As of 2013, 17% of American
children are obese. If overweight children are
included in this figure, then 31.7% of
American children and adolescents are
affected by this epidemic. This equates to
more than 23 million American children being
overweight and over 12 million of these
children being obese. This is the problem.
Childhood obesity is now an epidemic in the
United States.
Obesity is caused by taking in more energy
than one expels. Simply put, children are
eating too much and moving too little. There
are many factors that go into this. First, is
unhealthy diets. Children are consuming
sugary beverages and drinking less water.
Children are eating calorie dense, minimally
nutritious food like fast food and snacks. The
majority are not consuming the recommended
amounts of fruits and vegetables. Portions
have increased drastically. Secondly, children
are spending drastically more time in front of
televisions, computers, tablets, phones, and
video games. Roughly 20% of kids walk to
and from school in contrast to about 80% in
the 1980’s. Third, socioeconomic factors play
a huge role in childhood obesity. Although
children of all race and status are affected,
obesity is most prevalent in low income
families. low income children are two times as
likely to be obese. Low income children are
less likely to have access to high quality foods
such as fresh produce.
Today’s children are growing up with
diseases once thought to only affect adults.
Perhaps the biggest concern is the
cardiovascular system. Doctors are now
finding arteriosclerosis and hypertension in
children as young as early school age.
Studies indicate that this generation of
children has the highest blood pressure
measurements in many decades. The early
onset of heart disease will impair children’s
ability to be physically active and live long
lives. Type 2 diabetes is also being diagnosed
in children. This type of diabetes is not insulin
dependent and can be managed or
sometimes reversible. Psychosocial effects of
childhood obesity are also prevalent.
Depression is a common diagnosis in
adolescents. Body dissatisfaction, especially
in girls, and the inability to relate to peers are
common problems stemming from obesity.
Economically, the effects of Childhood obesity
present a huge burden. Roughly $150 to $190
billion is spent annually on obesity related
health issues, whether directly or indirectly.
About $15 billion of that is related to
childhood obesity.
It’s that time of year again! The leaves are falling. The birds are flying south. Days are shorter, nights are longer, and it is cold out-
side. Here comes flu season! Flu, short for Influenza, is a common viral infection. Unlike the common cold, the flu can be deadly if
not treated. With roughly 3 million cases annually, it spreads fast. It is self-diagnosable and very often self-treatable but may require
medication from your doctor. The CDC offers 3 steps to get you flu season ready
1.GET THE FLU VACCINE
This is the first and most important step. Though the vaccine does not ward off every strain of the flu,
researchers work hard to determine what strain will likely be most prevalent when designing yearly vac-
cines. Everyone should get a flu vaccine. It is very easy to get a flu vaccine. They are offered at Primary
Care Doctor offices, drug stores, and “flu clinics” put on by hospitals, churches, and local public health
departments.
2. STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS
Germs are those little microorganisms that cause disease. You can’t see them, but they live in places like
the sink, the toilet, the fridge… (you get the point) They can be controlled with daily practices such as
keeping a clean home, car and workspace, good personal hygiene, and of course, hand washing. Avoid touching your eyes, nose,
or mouth. Disinfectant wipes and sprays are good to have on hand. It is important to have limited or preferably, no contact with flu
infected people. If you are infected, stay home from work or school for at least 24 hours
3. TAKE PRESCRIBED MEDICINE
Antiviral drugs (not antibiotics) can be effective if you are diagnosed with the flu. Antivirals are not over the counter medications and
can only be prescribed by a doctor. Studies show they work best if they are taken right away. Flu-like symptoms include fever,
cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. You may also have diarrhea and vomiting as well
as respiratory problems. Check in with your doctor if you experience these symptoms .
Editorial: Fighting Flu Season
Elizabeth Stanley
“If we continue to have these rising
trends of childhood obesity, this
generation of children will be the
first generation of American kids to
live sicker and die younger than the
previous generation.” - Dr. Dwayne
Proctor

3. As the population ages we start to see the loss of independence
in many older adults and the gradual decline of their quality of life. It
seems that more people just simply adapt to their losses in freedom
rather than attempting to strengthen their psychological and physio-
logical functions. The implications that deteriorating brain health
has aren't just relative to the aging adult, but they create issues for
caregivers and the healthcare system as a whole.
A healthy brain is best defined by the Centers for Disease Con-
trol as “all the mental processes that are collectively known as cog-
nition, including the ability to learn new things, intuition, judgment,
language, and remembering,” (Healthy Aging). The way that a per-
son’s brain is sustained depends on quite a few aspects; particular-
ly a person’s genetics, their environment and the lifestyle that they
choose to live by. Simplified, it is a combination of both nature and
nurture that determines the health of a person’s brain. Specifically,
they all contribute in some manner to the health and function of the
brain as an essential control center of the body. For example, if an
aging adult has a family history of neurocognitive decline, then that
person is at increased risk for the same fate. However, it does not
guarantee that the person will experience deteriorating brain health
because environment and lifestyle will also play a role in determin-
ing how the brain will function throughout life. This can be applied
in any combination of the three factors. Correlations have especial-
ly been recognized between healthy lifestyle choices, such as eat-
ing habits and exercising, and the healthy maintenance of an indi-
vidual’s body and brain.
Cognitive decline is multifactorial. The reasons are so complex
because there is no actual standard for what is considered to be
normal for an aging brain. Each person encounters a wide variation
of situations in their life that can contribute to their brain makeup
and function as they age.
As a person ages, it is quite common to have a noticeable de-
crease in a person’s mental and physical capabilities. Unfortunate-
ly, there are various risk factors for making the decrease additional-
ly noteworthy. Having risk factors such as a family history of cogni-
tive disorders such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes,
stroke, hypertension, otherwise known as high blood pressure,
hyperlipidemia, commonly referred to as high cholesterol, previous
or existing occurrences of frequent tobacco, alcohol, and drug use,
and obesity will pose a greater threat to the individual’s brain health
(Mild Cognitive Impairment). The chart inserted below adds a visual
layout of the risk factors and what time periods in a person’s life
that they are most likely to occur.
Page 3
(Continued on page 5)
RISKY BUSINESS: THE TRUTH BEHIND HARMFUL CHEMICALS
Alisha Mir
At the heart of steadily and suddenly ris-
ing public health issues is infertility, cancer
and hundreds of hormone imbalance related
diseases. Shockingly many of the victims of
these diseases are otherwise healthy, young
people. Yet new research into what we un-
knowingly ingest in our everyday life shows
the entire aforementioned diseases stem
from one cause. It has been shown that
thousands of hidden untested chemicals
exist in our daily environment and the im-
pact of these chemicals in our bodies sneak-
ily affects us at a national level. Recently
there has been little legislation that has
been passed or is the process of being
passed to thwart chemical hazards in our
daily life due to controlling factors like the
American Chemical Council and big pharma
companies that have a hand in deciding to
ban such chemicals from being used in
seemingly innocent products like baby
shampoo and plastic toys.
Every day we make choices for or against
the health of our loved ones and ourselves.
Mostly we can choose healthy lives by exer-
cising more, eating fruits and vegetables
and getting enough sleep. But is this
enough? What happens when this choice to
be healthy is taken away from us and we
are not even aware of it? In recent years
there have been so many people who are
conventionally “healthy” who get sick any-
way without any solid reasoning. Healthy
and young people with active lifestyles who
happen to be afflicted with serious illnesses
like cancer, hormonal issues, infertility and
so on. Rates of depression and anxiety are
skyrocketing higher and faster than they
have ever been.
Shockingly all of
these illnesses
have a single
cause: untested
industrial chemi-
cals which we
interact with on
a daily basis
without even
realizing it.
The biggest question about the
knowledge of the infiltration of these untest-
ed chemicals is: how is any of this legal? It
is a valid question since there are strict bans
on chemicals such as formaldehyde, triclo-
san, and phthalates because they are
known carcinogens.
(Continued on page 7)
SAVING THE AGING BRAIN
Michelle Cohen

4. Page 4
Describe picture
CUTTING WEIGHT: BATTLING CHILD OBESITY
Elizabeth Stanley (Continued from Page 2)
Rutgers Center for State and Health Policy,
or RCHSP, began a five-year study in 2009,
funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Founda-
tion, to provide vital statistics needed to cre-
ate and implement interventions to effectively
reverse the childhood obesity epidemic partic-
ularly found in low income families. The areas
of study are Camden, Newark, New Bruns-
wick, Trenton, and Vineland. The first statis-
tics were presented in 2010. All five cities
were found to have high obesity rates among
school age children, with Trenton having the
highest. The majority of these children did not
meet the national recommendations from the
FDA for fruit and vegetable consumption.
They often drank sugary beverages and ate
calorie-dense and minimally nutritious food
such as fast food. Most parents shopped at
supermarkets, although many Hispanic par-
ents shopped at local corner stores. The ma-
jority of parents reported that there was lim-
ited availability of fresh produce and low fat
foods. The cost of fresh food and the access
to the stores were two main barriers to
healthy eating. The majority of children did not
meet the daily physical activity guideline of 60
minutes per day. Most children didn’t walk or
bike to school. Many of the neighborhoods
didn’t have sidewalks, some didn’t have work-
ing street lights, and many neighborhoods
didn’t have parks. Despite the evidence, the
majority of parents were not concerned with
the weight of their children. Though they did
believe that it would be better to have healthi-
er food options and better recreational outlets,
the majority felt their kids were healthy. This
means that truly effective interventions would
have to take place primarily in school, where
children spend the majority of their time. Inter-
ventions would have to focus on education for
parents and caretakers on healthy eating
habits and physical activity. Interventions
would also have to provide community areas
for fresh fruit and vegetable access and recre-
ational facilities.
New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids,
or NJPHK, is a statewide program funded by
the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with
technical assistance and direction provided by
the New Jersey YMCA. The program works
with coalitions in Camden, Trenton, Newark,
New Brunswick and Vineland, with the hope
that proven success in these cities will spark
change across the state and nationally. City
Coalition partners work towards improving
health awareness and advocacy in their local
communities. The Campbell Soup Company
in Camden, The Community Food Alliance in
New Brunswick, The Healthy Food Network in
Trenton, Let’s Move for Pediatricians in New-
ark, and Live Healthy Vineland are some of
the major coalitions in each city.
The New Jersey Partnership for Healthy
Kids claims to have made strides in the fight
against child obesity. Environmental signs of
progress include bike lanes in Trenton and
Newark and new playgrounds built in Trenton
and Camden. Policy changes include district-
wide wellness programs in Camden County
and Complete Street Policies in four of the
five targeted cities. As of 2013, the five tar-
geted cities have raised more than $4 million
in public and private funding for their local
activities. By the end of 2013, New Jersey
Partnership for Healthy Kids recognized its
greatest achievements which are listed to the
right.
With interventions such as The New
New Jersey Partnership for Healthy
Kids Greatest Achievements
 Enrolled 50 corner stores and bo-
degas in a healthy foods initiative
 Trained 100 health care providers
in advocacy to address childhood
obesity
 Engaged 525 volunteers in build-
ing playgrounds and parks
 Exposed 3,500 children to healthy
nutrition through improved school
wellness policies and breakfast in
the classrooms
 Exposed 500,000 residents to saf-
er streets and environments con-
ducive to physical activity (RWJF
progress report)
Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids show-
ing signs of progress, one can see that the
fight against the obesity epidemic is mak-
ing headway However, more needs to be
done to spread awareness about the impli-
cations of the epidemic as well as educa-
tion on how to correct it. It has to be an “all
hands on deck” effort. Public Health offi-
cials and enthusiasts can aid in the fight
against obesity by ensuring that low in-
come families have access to healthy food
and by helping the general public and
stakeholders understand the impact of
obesity and how important policy and plan-
ning changes are. There is no one way to
end child obesity, however educating one-
self on the successful interventions imple-
mented thus far, a reverse of an epidemic
could be in sight.
BREAST FEEDING FOR EARLY PREVENTION
Tiffany Gathright
The needs of a newborn revolve around receiving nourishment,
getting changed, being held, sleeping, and getting bathed, however,
the complexity of an infant’s development remains notable and size-
able. The part that nourishment plays in a child’s growth and devel-
opment begs the question of what qualifies as the best food for a
baby. The temptation of convenience versus time consumption often
makes breastfeeding exclusively the automatic runner-up to formula
-feeding. This reality of choice coupled with the marketing tech-
niques of baby formula companies that promise better or equal to
breast milk benefits, makes it difficult to separate the growth and
development of a newborn from an easy-to-prepare powder.
Life begins at birth and so should prevention. At 6%, the U.S.
infant mortality rate ranks 34th
globally, surpassing some of the most
underdeveloped countries. Many of these countries do not have
baby formula available, so infants are predominantly breastfed, pos-
sibly correlating to
the lower infant mor-
tality numbers. With-
in the national health
framework, infancy
cannot be treated as
inconsequential. The
growth and develop-
ment of newborns establishes healthy lives.
At what age is it safe to say that a child has safely passed all of
the initial, most important milestones? Very early on, even newborn
patients become just a “cough” or “sore throat” or “fever.” The crux
of this issue with standard practical medical culture lies in the pat-
tern that infants, who are a sub-set of society, eventually become
society in general.
(Continued on page 7)

5. Page 5
SAVING THE AGING BRAIN
Michelle Cohen (Continued from Page 3)
Realistically, prevention begins in child-
hood with the development of healthy habits
and an active lifestyle. Unfortunately, it is too
late for the baby boomer generation to
change the habits and behaviors from their
childhood. A positive, healthy social environ-
ment can contribute to preventing brain dete-
rioration. This includes living arrangements,
interpersonal relationships, and surrounding
culture. The first social situation promotes
healthy choices and happiness, which are
both important contributors to brain health.
The aging population needs to be educated
by peers, healthcare providers, and caregiv-
ers on the importance and benefits of a fruitful
social life as it relates to brain health. Healthy
eating habits are one of the most important
and most difficultly obtained things that effect
brain health. A balanced, well-portioned diet
provides the body with vitamins, minerals,
and other nutrients that are necessary to
maintain a healthy brain. Not only does
healthy eating help prevent obesity, but it also
helps prevent other brain damaging condi-
tions such as diabetes and heart disease.
One of the major obstacles the baby boomer
generation faces is previously established
bad eating habits. This is where education
becomes essential. Once an individual is
aware of what is really “healthy” they can
make the appropriate changes. These chang-
es can then promote memory, cognition, and
many other brain functions that are at risk
during the aging process. Baby boomers can-
not change their genetic makeup, and will
most likely find it difficult to manipulate their
environment. What they can control is physi-
cal lifestyle. Staying physically active is im-
portant for everyone, but especially for aging
adults. Obesity, a major contributing cause of
many of the diseases that deteriorate brain
health, is most often a preventable condition.
There are many lifestyle choices an individual
can make starting very early on in life to pre-
vent obesity. Along with diet changes, moder-
ate to intense exercise multiple times a week
as well as a generally active daily life pro-
motes a healthy weight and improved cogni-
tion. Health education starts, for many people,
in childhood and stops in adulthood. Unfortu-
nately, unhealthy habits also usually start in
childhood and become difficult to change the
longer they are in place. Therefore, in order to
prevent obesity and in turn improve brain
health, it is imperative that the baby boomer
generation is educated on the importance of
living a healthy lifestyle.
Cognitive decline is not only a grueling
process for the individual that is directly im-
pacted, but it is also an enormous burden on
the financial aspect of the healthcare system
that impacts all Americans. It is noted by the
Center for Disease Control that patients fac-
ing cognitive impairment to any degree are
seen in the hospital three times more than
patients without cognition issues. Not only are
they hospitalized more frequently, but patients
with significant cognitive impairments require
so much medical attention that this category
has been nationally ranked as “the third most
expensive to treat”, (A Call for Action Now).
The initial costs of healthcare don’t even ac-
count for the total cost of care for a patient
with poor brain health. The patient will require
a combi-
nation of
different
medica-
tions,
long-term care, physical, occupational, and/or
speech therapy. With Medicare expenses are
on the rise, the afflicted financial hardships
fall on the hospitals, caregivers, and individu-
als. This has the potential to compromise the
quality of care that these patients are receiv-
ing if each healthcare system does not have
the resources to maintain the resources nec-
essary for such a group in need.
Many men and women in their older years
are sometimes faced with the unfortunate
effects of cognitive decline which serves as a
catalyst for decreased independence, rising
healthcare costs, and a lower quality of life. In
order to prevent the decrease in cognitive
abilities of the aging population, there should
be education and constant upgrades to a
person's lifestyle on how to maintain a healthy
mental and physical state. Aging adults
should be sure to exercise, eat well, stay ac-
tive in a social setting, and meet with their
doctor to find out what they can do to de-
crease the risks of developing cognitive im-
pairments that can lead to dementia or Alzhei-
mer’s disease. As the Baby Boomers account
for such a large portion of our population, it is
imperative to take care of them and learn
from their mistakes. Education should carry
through a person's life, as unhealthy habits
can develop at any point in time.
EDITORIAL: MINIMIZE RADIATION EXPOSURE FROM MEDICAL IMAGING TECHNIQUES
Victor Arroyo
The FDA and the President's Cancer Panel suggest a variety of possi-
ble strategies that can be used by individual to reduce radiation expo-
sure.
One strategy involves keeping a record of all their medical imaging
histories. This is an easy way to keep track of your radiation exposure
and help physicians make safe determinations and prevents unneces-
sary repeat scans. An sample medical imaging record is displayed to the
right. Patients should also ask their physician if there are alternative screening methods that don't use ionized radiation and are still effective
such as an ultrasound or MRI.
Another recommendation is going to a screening center that has licensed medical radiation technologists. Not all states require fully
trained and licensed medical radiation technologist which could lead to a patient receiving a higher dose of radiation since they are not pre-
pared to adjust radiation doses for people of different sizes and are not prepared to minimize the risk in children using the ALARA (as low as
reasonably achievable) method. Training for medical radiation technologists is also important for conducting fluoroscopy exams. During a
fluoroscopy X-rays are taken over a period of time and the technician takes these X-rays by stepping on a pedal. They must be trained to
take images in set intervals by releasing the pedal and minimizing the amount of radiation that the patient is exposed to.
Another effective strategy is if you’re getting a medical imaging test that you have previously had, you should bring a copy of that previous
medical imaging test. This allows the radiologist or technician to reduce the amount of radiation used to conduct the exam since they have a
previous reference and don't necessarily need to obtain an extremely detailed and clear image.

6. RISKY BUSINESS: THE TRUTH BEHIND HARMFUL CHEMICALS
Alisha Mir (Continued from page 3)
Page 6
Describe picture
EBOLA: AN OUTBREAK CAUSES POLICY REVISION
Karina Homentowska
(Continued on page 10)
Since most of the unregulated chemicals are
endocrine disruptors, the most significant
health problems stem from the reproductive
and hormonal systems of the body. Many of
these chemicals manifest as breast cancer or
infertility in young, healthy females or loss of
pregnancy for no apparent reason. It is imper-
ative to emphasize that these women had
never drank alcohol, had no family history of
their condition, exercised and ate healthy,
and still were afflicted with cancer, infertility or
another hormonal problems. In the last 20
years, rates of intravenous fertilization have
skyrocketed among young healthy couples, at
the same time that the chemical industry has
been pumping out more chemicals into the
market. There has been a 49% increase in
the amount of American couples having trou-
ble conceiving or getting pregnant since
1988, and most importantly, the biggest in-
crease has been for women under 25. The
same can be said for exponentially rising
rates of polycystic ovarian syndrome which
now afflicts nearly 1 in 10 women of
childbearing age in the United States alone,
and can affect girls as young as 11 years old.
The condition is a hormonal imbalance that
often causes infertility, excess facial hair, and
severe acne among other symptoms. Moreo-
ver, babies are now being born already ex-
posed to hundreds of chemicals before even
taking their first breath. In a study the umbili-
cal blood of newborns taken immediately
after being born tested positive for 28 chemi-
cals with markers indicating there were 400
more; all when these babies had not eaten
drank or been exposed to anything outside
their mother’s womb. For infants who are
born premature or have other birth complica-
tions and have to use the help of medical
devices like dialysis machines and other
equipment that contains PVC, the risk is even
greater.
The Most Common Offender: BPA. Bi-
sphenol A is an endocrine disruptor which
basically means it mimics the function of a
hormone in one’s body which means it can
alter the way your body functions throughout
the day. Specifically it mimics estrogen which
is a sex hormone and therefore unusual lev-
els of BPA will result in reproductive issues,
but estrogen also regulates insulin and glu-
cose which is related to one’s metabolism.
BPA is used in many plastics and so called
“safe” household products such as dryer
sheets and baby bottles. Over the last ten
years there has been much outrage about the
use of BPA after its presence in the plastic
water bowls of lab mice was proven to cause
the mice to abort their babies. Following this
discovery there have been hundred of similar
studies that conclusively proved BPA was not
only causing fertility issues in the mice but
metabolic illnesses like obesity and diabetes
as well. Since this news got out to the general
public and sales of BPA containing plastics
were decreasing, many studies funded by the
American Chemistry Council and plastics
groups were released that said BPA is safe at
the low levels when it is found in plastics, just
not high levels. Moreover BPA has been
shown to cause not only bodily harm but
mental illness and symptoms of anxiety as
well. In a study done on juvenile rats exposed
to Bisphenol A, it was found that the com-
pound was altering the function of their amyg-
dalas, a part of the brain that is responsible
for emotion and is usually dysfunctional in
patients with anxiety. The rats were exposed
to a BPA diet as well as soy diets to compare
the differences between the endocrine disrup-
tor glenistein which also affects emotional
states via hormonal imbalances.
Drugs versus Chemicals: In order for citi-
zens to avoid these harmful substances, they
must be labeled so people know what to
avoid. Since law in America does not require
a chemical to prove its safety before going on
the market, it is innocent until proven guilty.
Therefore insidious chemicals like phthalates,
Bisphenol A and flame retardants have free
reign in the market and people’s bodies for
years until someone realizes their toxicity and
by then the damage has been done already.
Besides labeling, another reason why untest-
ed chemicals run rampant in the US may be
due to the lack of communication between
toxicologists, the people studying adverse
effects of chemicals and who can ensure
safety and chemical manufacturers like the
American Chemistry Council. The process of
getting a chemical into the market is alarm-
ingly simple. Unlike the decades of research
and clinical trials it takes to develop and
launch a drug, the same process of launching
industrial chemicals is much shorter because
it bypasses the entire stage of testing for
safety. The pharmaceutical way of developing
a drug relies heavily on proving safety be-
cause if a drug is launched that causes se-
vere illness or death in a consumer, the re-
sponsibility lies on the pharmaceutical com-
pany. However, when industry launches a
chemical which causes the same effects that
are often worse since they are so prolonged
and persist long after exposure of the chemi-
cal, there is no backlash on the manufacturer
because there is no legal obligation to test
these chemicals. And because of million dol-
lar campaigns from chemical companies like
the American Chemistry Council lobbying for
their chemicals, the process of banning these
chemical offenders is often stopped in its
tracks early on.
Ebola virus had a tremendous impact on many West African coun-
tries, with a case count of over 17,000 people suspected, probable
or confirmed. According to CDC, you “can only get Ebola from touch-
ing bodily fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola,
or from exposure to contaminated objects, such as needles.” (CDC
2014) Even with such information, why is the Ebola strand seen as a
threat to human and non-human primates? Ebola’s symptoms are
seen as a normal progression of similar infections and disease with
similar susceptibility such as fever, severe headache, muscle pain,
weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal (stomach) pain,
unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising). Early signs and
symptoms of Ebola present themselves in similar fashion to other
diseases and infections making it difficult for an early diagnosis.
Combining these factors with its latency period, the virus becomes a
highly fatal threat. How are ethical lines and policy establishments
kept when it comes to containing a virus such as Ebola? Primary
policy guidelines for an infectious agent such as the Ebola virus are

7. BREAST FEEDING FOR EARLY PREVENTION
Tiffany Gathright (Continued from page 4)
Page 7
However, focusing on pediatric endocrinology as a microcosm
seems to eliminate the need for public health measures which would
make for an incomplete package. According to the American Acade-
my of Pediatrics, breastmilk is “uniquely superior” to any other type of
infant food. It is the most beneficial source of nutrients to promote
physical and immunological growth. Research from around the world
strongly suggest that breastfeeding dramatically decreases instances
of many diseases such as bacterial meningitis, Type 1 and Type 2
diabetes, and first year Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Traditionally, physicians are trained to handle health problems
reactively, meaning a focus on treatment and not prevention. Empha-
sis on prevention, particularly for neonatal and early infancy care,
would in turn, battle later in life problems such as diabetes and obesi-
ty. This starts with better doctor-parent relationships. It is important
for pediatricians to overcome language and cultural barriers in order
to communicate the importance of diet, exercise and nutrition prior to
birth and within the first year of life so that parents can make better
decisions about how they feed their children and what rules they en-
force at home.
Breastfeeding remains one of the most untapped resources as a
tool for prevention and promotion. The benefits possess the potential
to prevent actual disease and infection. One of the trends that exist
surrounding mothers who initiated breastfeeding and maintained it for
a longer span of time involved education. Whether educated about
the health benefits of breastfeeding directly pre-discharge from the
hospital, or indirectly via recommendations by grandmothers, sisters,
sister-in-laws, co-workers, friends, etc. who also advocated for
breastfeeding, education at any level counts. Successful breastfeed-
ing attempts made pre-discharge from the hospital in combination
with other familial success stories would make mothers more inclined
to continue for a longer period of time. Perhaps policies should
change to
mandate at
least one suc-
cessful breast-
feeding attempt
by all mothers
who wish to do
so in order to
equip her with
proper tech-
niques and
strategies if
needed.
Policies in the workplace demand significant consideration in terms
of helping mothers to continue successful post-natal breastfeeding
practices on the job. Company policies must work with national initia-
tives. Penalties for businesses that do not offer both services and
facilities to encourage and support post-natal care should be consid-
ered. Company policies should include proper refrigeration access
and private rooms for lactating workers. Subsequently, a lunch-break
long enough to accomplish eating and adequately pumping milk
should be given without discrepancy to working mothers of infants.
Education coupled with medical, corporate and familial cooperation
on the benefits of breastfeeding and healthy lifestyle choices are im-
perative to making the shift toward breastmilk as the predominant
infant food source. These initiatives begin at the public health level
that would more heavily advocate for parents to pay extremely close
attention to nutrition within the first few years of life and subsequently
physical fitness to ensure that a child’s weight is not an encumbrance,
as well as to ensure the best possible prevention for acute and chron-
ic disease.
As winter is looming, the need to take proper care for oneself is important. But what preemptive measures can one take to be healthy? Here
are some dishes to make quick and easy to help one keep their immune system strong.
 Eating something warm is the first start; the sensation of warm liquids and foods makes someone feel warm during the harsh winter.
Eating a quick bowl of soup with barley and other grains is a great way to accomplish that, especially since it has great immune benefits
more so than Echinacea.
 Vitamin D is essential for the winter, as the season changes so does your mood. So boosting
your body with Vitamin D helps you with the winter blues. Mushrooms, such as button mush-
rooms are a fantastic source of Vitamin D to get the needed benefits of the sun during the win-
ter.
 It isn’t just a saying; your gut and immune system are linked. Approximately 70 -80% of immune
tissue is located in your digestive system, which makes it important to keep the gut happy. Eat-
ing cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower not only has antioxidants but Choline helps sup-
port a healthy gastrointestinal barrier, keeping bacteria in the gut. It is beneficial food to eat
when you’re sick because it’s also rich in glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that helps fight off
infection.
 The skin is necessary to protect yourself from infections from viruses to bacteria as it is the first border to your organs. To stay strong
and healthy, the skin needs foods rich in Vitamin A, and one of the best sources comes from sweet potatoes, not only great for skin but
cell maturation and is full of beta carotene for eyes and mucous membranes.
 Add a dash of cinnamon to your teas or coffee! Cinnamon has natural anti-microbial components and natural disinfectant, needed for
the winter colds. It is also known as one of the top antioxidants in the world. Make tea with milk and cinnamon or put a dash in your
oatmeal which is fortified with zinc that helps your immune system.
EDITORIAL: EATING HEALTHY IN THE WINTER
Karina Homentowska

8. TROUBLE IN DEEP WATER : THE WORST OIL SPILL IN HISTORY
Michael Martinez
Page 8
(Continued on page 9)
(Continued on page 10)
TOO SOON? HPV VACCINATION CHALLENGES
Victor Arroyo
There are few things that are as desperately sought after in this
world as oil. Oil drives and controls almost every part of our lives.
Oil powers our transportation network, our homes, our factories, and
everything in between. Without oil, our world would stop, people
would die, goods couldn’t be transported, and communications
would break down. Along with the dire need for this resource, comes
a potential threat to the environment, animals, and human life if not
contained and controlled. Oil is a toxic
and deadly substance. This was never
so obvious as in the great oil spill of
2010 in the Gulf off the coast of Louisi-
ana. Effects were felt environmentally,
economically and politically. Five years
later, the country is still repairing the
damage.
In 2010, the largest oil spill in history
occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, off the
coast of Louisiana. A high volume of
methane gas built up, leading to the
explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. In this explosion, 11 peo-
ple died and, for over 87 days, 4.9 million barrels of oil, equivalent of
21 million gallons, flowed freely into the Gulf of Mexico. White House
Advisor Carol Browner described the Deepwater Horizon spill as the
“worst environmental disaster the US has ever faced.”
It is estimated that over 8,332 species of marine wildlife were
affected by the spill which include more than 1,200 types of fish,
1,500 types of crustaceans, and 29 types of marine animals, as well
as a wide variety of plankton and zooplankton. Various abnormalities
in marine life born after the spill were reported. One fisherman re-
ports, “at least 50% of the shrimp caught in that period… were eye-
less… disturbingly, not only did the fish lack eyes, they even lacked
eye sockets” The National Wildlife Federation estimated in the six
months following the spill, “about 100 marine mammals were collect-
ed in the spill area, including whales and dolphins.
The health of human beings was also compromised by the oil spill
due to exposure to toxic fish and other marine wildlife as wells toxic
air, water, and oil itself. One cleanup crew member reported that the
“respiratory problems he developed during the cleanup turned into
pneumonia and... after that [he] found out [he] couldn’t run… [he]
couldn’t exert a walk. Dr. Dan Sandler, who is currently over seeing
a study into the health effects of the spill,
noted that early study finding found that
“depression and anxiety are common in and
around disaster sites, but there are indica-
tions that cleanup workers were more likely
to suffer mild to moderate anxiety than others
living in Gulf Coast counties and parishes
where economies and livelihoods are were
affected by the spill”. safety concerns clean-
up workers should be aware of when clean-
ing up oil in the Gulf. Exposure to gases such
as Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), can potentially
cause pulmonary edema and sub-acute or chronic lesions in the
lungs; and exposure to Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) can lead to broncho-
constriction and exacerbate asthma symptoms, as well potentially
aggravate existing heart disease.
The oil spill had a significant impact on the regulations governing
the oil industry while also focusing attention to the lack of regulation
and enforcement. The Deepwater Horizon oil well was the deepest
well ever drilled, at 35,050 feet. The oil rig exploded after buildup of
methane gas caught fire. An attempt stop the flow oil was unsuc-
cessfully made, allowing oil to spill into the gulf for 87 days. The
failures of this blowout preventer called into question the agency
responsible for regulating oil wells, the Minerals Management Ser-
vice, as well as the company who ran the well, Transocean.
“Without oil, our world would stop, people
would die, goods couldn’t be transported,
and communications would break down.
Along with the dire need for this resource,
comes a potential threat to the environ-
ment, animals, and human life. Oil is a toxic
and deadly substance. This was never so
obvious as in the great oil spill of 2010 in
the Gulf off the coast of Louisiana”
Human Papillomaviruses consists of about 200 similar viruses, 40
of which can be transmitted sexually. Some forms of HPV can cause
skin warts that are considered low risk since they do not develop
cancer. However other high-risk HPV types can cause skin warts that
persist and lead to cell mutations that can develop cancer. HPV in-
fection is the most common sexually transmitted infection with about
14 million new infections every year in the United States. Most sex-
ually active people will be infected at least once in their lifetime by
HPV and 79 million Americans are currently infected.
High risk HPV infections account for 5% of all cancers worldwide,
almost all cervical cancers, 95% of anal cancers, 65% of vaginal
cancer, 35% of penile cancer and 70% of oral phalangeal cancer. It
takes several years for cancer to develop from an HPV infection and
currently the CDC estimates that 27,000 people a year develop can-
cer from an HPV infection.
Some types of HPV can be prevented through vaccination. There
are three FDA approved HPV vaccinations which are Gardasil, Gar-
dasil 9, and Cervarix. All three vaccines have been extensively re-
searched and the results show the effectiveness and safety of the
vaccine. Gardasil has been proven to be effective for 8 years while
Cervarix has been proven to effective for 9 years; studies are under-
way to test the long term effectiveness of the vaccination. The vac-
cine has also been proven to be safe with few serious side effects,
although there is a higher rate of fainting and blood clots than other
vaccines but these are not significant risks. The vaccine is provided
in in three doses typically spread out during 6 months. HPV vaccina-
tion is recommended for children who are 11 and 12 years old before
virus exposure, but also for boys and girls between the ages of 13
and 26 who have not been previously vaccinated. However it is rec-
ommended that the vaccination be done in preteens because they
have a higher immune response than adults and infant children and
before they become sexually active.
In 2014, HPV vaccination rates are 60% for teenage girls and
21.6% for teenage boys in the United States, significantly lower than
other Center for Disease Control recommended vaccines at that age
such as meningitis and have vaccination rates between 80% and
90%. The FDA approved the first HPV vaccinations in the United
States in 2006, making it a relatively new vaccine that hasn’t yet be-
come a mandatory vaccination by the states. Even with strong scien-
tific evidence behind the effectiveness of the HPV vaccines Cervarix
and Gardasil, HPV vaccination rates are low compared to other vac-
cinations.

9. Page 9
EBOLA: AN OUTBREAK CAUSES POLICY REVISION
Karina Homentowska
quarantine and isolation, ethical and advanced screenings at air-
ports and safety of workers, hospital administrative measures; all
which can help the containment of a quickly-spreading virus. Policy
changes would start with transportation and air travel planning and
screening to stop the spread. Interim Guidance about Ebola Infec-
tion for Airline Crews, Cleaning Personnel, and Cargo Personnel
established guidelines for flights on how to interact with persons
possibly infected with the Ebola
virus. Because of the fear of the
infectious agent and the shared
air supply encapsulated on a
plane, it is necessary to ask ge-
neric questions to the travelers
that are sick. The following ques-
tions are asked of travelers from
in Guinea, Liberia Sierra Leone in
the last 21 days (that have the
largest pool of Ebola cases):
Have you had symptoms such as
“fever, severe headache, muscle
pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach
pain, or unexplained bruising or
bleeding—report immediately to
CDC” (CDC, 2014). These ques-
tions mentioned above are need-
ed for the protection of airline
staff and travelers on the plane,
and containment of the virus.
Further ensuring the safety of
crew, proper cleaning precautions including safety gear are used to
protect the crew from bodily fluids. Because of Ebola’s initial symp-
toms similarity to the flu, crew members must separate the infected
passenger from other travelers and “wear waterproof disposable
gloves before directly touching the sick person, blood, or other body
fluids.
Informative Patient Care in the Healthcare Administration and
Ambulatory Care: Protocol adjustments and guidelines were estab-
lished for EMS about the proper wear and care for patients that are
possibly susceptible to the agents of the Ebola virus disease.
Healthcare personnel have to take drastic measures regarding the
proper wear and care for potentially affected patients if coming in
contact with a possible EVD patient, such measures include PPE
and routine practices to stop transmission of bodily fluids from pa-
tient to workers. The state and local have administered checklists
and proper protocol to detect PUI, “encourage U.S.-based EMS
agencies and systems to prepare for managing patients with Ebola
and other infectious diseases. Every EMS agency and system, in-
cluding those that provide non-emergency and/or inter-facility
transport, should ensure that their personnel can detect a person
under investigation (PUI) for Ebola, protect themselves so they can
safely care for the patient, and
respond in a coordinated fash-
ion” (CDC 2014) . Due to these
protocols, EMS takes great care of
their patients, to ensure safety of
staff and patient in hand. Grady
Hospital EMS Miles explained the
protocols needed to ensure quick
and safe route to hospital at
Emory. “We take great care in
protecting our team members, our
paramedics,” Miles said. “We wear
special suits, and on top of that, we
wear a PAPR, powered air purify-
ing respirator, and just put that
over our head and turn it on. It
gives us fresh air. That way noth-
ing can touch us. No skin exposure
at all.”(WSBTV 2014). This exem-
plifies the care EMS do for epidem-
ic and infectious agent care to
ensure no mishaps or gaps. Be-
cause of proper training and years of experience, the team executed
proper protocols and made sure to encapsulate any bodily fluids in
the area between workers and patients. The training helped in identi-
fying, isolating, and informing the patient at risk.
In recap, the Ebola virus struck on a local and global level, precip-
itating the need of improved guidelines and considerations in dealing
with infectious agents. A multitude of factors contributed to a high
case count such as transportation, education of the public and
health providers, and initial inadequate monetary response. Future
outbreaks of diseases with similar impact will test the lessons
learned from the Ebola Outbreak, especially the crucial notion of
containing an outbreak dealing with all facets contributing to the
epidemic, not just one.
TROUBLE IN DEEP WATER : THE WORST OIL SPILL IN HISTORY
Michael Martinez (Continued from Page 8)
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) served as the regulator
and royalty collector of the nation’s natural gas, oil, and mineral de-
posits along the outer continental shelf of the United States which
existed between 1982 until it was dissolved in October of 2011. The
MMS was an agency plagued with scandal and conflicts of interest
that prevented the proper regulation of America’s oil industry. MMS
refuted proposals that would have increased costs but improved
safety. The MMS was shut down in 2010 under an order then Secre-
tary of Interior, Ken Salazar.
Transocean plead guilty to violating the Clean Water Act and were
forced to pay to pay out 1.4 billion dollars in criminal and civil fines.
150 million dollars of that fine are being used to help fund environ-
mental cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico and its coast. BP, for-
merly known as British Petroleum, is the sixth largest petroleum
company in the world, responsible for the production of over 3.2
million barrels of oil per day. BP contracted Transocean to use the
Deepwater Horizon to explore the Macondo Prospect for oil.
In November 2012, BP plead guilty to 11 counts of manslaughter
for the deaths of those 11 workers, plead guilty to violating the Clean
Water Act and Migratory Bird Act, as well as one count of obstruc-
tion of congress. BP’s guilty plea also led to a $4 billion fine, the
largest fine ever handed out in the United States.
(Continued on page 10)

10. Page 10
TROUBLE IN DEEP WATER : THE WORST OIL SPILL IN HISTORY
Michael Martinez (Continued from page 8)
The reckless actions of government agencies such as the Miner-
als Management Service and corporations such as Transocean and
BP, allowed for the explosion of a oil rig, the deaths of 11 innocent
people, an uncontrollable oil flow that could have powered the entire
country of Mexico for a single day, the deaths and mutations of
many animals and organisms, damage to the livelihoods of those
living along the Gulf of Mexico, and damage to human health which
is still not fully understood. Greed, mismanagement, and our blood-
lust for oil allowed this tragic incident to occur. Perhaps things will be
different next time, perhaps people will do their jobs properly and
with integrity to ensure things never get to this point. But, this spill is
only one of many spills that
have occurred and that
have negatively impacted
our ecosystem. Perhaps
things could be different
but as long as there is
money to be made and as
long as we need to rely to
this resource to ensure our survival, nothing probably will.
TOO SOON? HPV VACCINATION CHALLENGES
Victor Arroyo
Gardasil 9 can provide protection from nearly 25% of sexually
transmitted HPV infections and vaccination can reduce cancer preva-
lence by 1% and save the healthcare industry substantial amounts of
money. For example, if cancer prevalence was reduced by 1% in
2011, the US healthcare system could’ve saved 8.87 billion dollars in
direct medical costs. The fact that HPV vaccines aren’t mandatory
has led to the low HPV vaccination rates and created a situation in
which parents ultimately make the decision to vaccinate their kids for
HPV.
The CDC makes recommendations on what vaccines should be
taken and when, but ultimately, it is up to the states to enforce man-
datory vaccinations which is usually enforced by making vaccines
required to go to schools or daycare. The decision to make a vaccine
mandatory in a state is decided by the state health officer. The only
mandatory HPV vaccination policy is for immigrants coming to the
United States. This means that is ultimately up to the parent to decide
whether or not they want to give their child the HPV vaccination. One
of the challenges facing HPV vaccination is that parents need to rec-
ognize the importance of the vaccination and need to be well educat-
ed and informed. For example ,a qualitative study of Latina women in
Los Angeles showed that most women weren’t aware of the link be-
tween HPV and cancer and many also didn’t vaccinate their own kids
for HPV because they didn’t know. Even if they are well informed they
may choose to not vaccinate their children because of their own opin-
ions and personal beliefs.
Parental values have had an impact on HPV vaccination rates
since a vaccine for an STD is a taboo topic among conservative par-
ents especially when they are recommended to give it to their kid
before they are a teen and sexually active. A study on the percep-
tions of Italian mothers on HPV vaccinations revealed that even
though they are aware of the HPV vaccine for their kids they felt un-
comfortable giving it to them before they had turned 18 or had their
first sexual encounter. Many religious parents don’t feel the need to
give their kids the HPV vaccine because they expect their kids to
practice abstinence and wait until marriage, but they can still receive
HPV from their husband or wife in the future. Some parents also be-
lieve that giving their kid this vaccine will make them more likely to
engage in promiscuous activities, which studies have shown is not
true. The stigma around STDs has made many conservative parents
uncertain about giving their kid the HPV vaccination and the media
hasn’t helped make the situation any better.
In the 21st
century, there has been a lot of bad press and misinfor-
mation about vaccination. The controversy regarding vaccines caus-
ing autism had a significant impact on many parents’ beliefs. Even
after Andrew Wakefield’s research on the link between autism and
vaccines was proven to be a hoax, there are still many people who
believe very strongly that vaccines can cause autism even though
there is no real and significant evidence to support that claim. The
media has shown debates on the safety regarding vaccines that has
led to various non-experts giving people their own personal opinions
on vaccination and sometimes they resort to sensationalism. Katie
Couric had an episode of her talk show discussed the HPV vaccina-
tion and portrayed it very negatively. She downplayed the effective-
ness of the vaccine by saying that it only worked for five years, which
wasn’t true because at that time the long term studies that were being
conducting had only been running for five years and they were later
able to prove its effectiveness for at least 8 years each. Katie Couric
also downplayed the cancer incidence rate caused by HPV by saying
that it was very rare but the CDC estimates that from 2004 to 2008
roughly 12,000 women had developed cervical cancer caused by
HPV each year. Lastly she conducted live interviews with people who
claimed that the Gardasil vaccination had caused them harm and had
very serious side effects. These people told their personal stories
about how dangerous the vaccine was, yet there is little evidence that
the vaccines caused their medical problems and possibly misin-
formed the public on the safety and efficacy of HPV vaccinations. It is
unfortunate that media has painted not only HPV vaccinations but
vaccinations in general in a negative light. Negative media coverage
and misinformation has created significant challenges in raising HPV
vaccination rates of people in the United States.
Another challenge facing HPV vaccination rates is their high cost.
Each vaccine can cost anywhere between $130 and $160 for each of
the 3 doses. This vaccine is expensive since it is being given primari-
ly by the private sector and there is not a lot of federal or state sup-
port or subsidies. In order to address the possible health disparities
caused by the high price of the vaccine, Merck has developed an
assistance program for people who can’t afford the vaccination by
covering most or all of the vaccination costs. While this program will
certainly help some people, it doesn’t solve the problem that the vac-
cine is too expensive and its price makes it difficult for people to get it
for their kid even if they understand the health benefits.
The availability of an HPV vaccine that can protect people from
certain cancers can help reduce the burden of disease on our
healthcare system and save lives. However this will only happen if
people are educated on the facts of HPV vaccination and take proac-
tive steps to protect their health and their children’s health.

11. NEW JERSEY HEALTH ASSOCIATIONS UPDATE
Page 11
The NJ Public Health Association is an advocacy group that strives to be a
non partisan authority of public health and policy issues as well as
eliminating health disparities by constructing public health infrastructure
geared at prevention. It has been abundantly helpful in the research of this newsletter on the topic of untested hazardous chemicals. Its
members follow core values including advocacy, education, equity, professional development, responsibility and sustainability. They are
from all walks of life in including students, early career professionals, decorated and retired public health professionals. According to
chairperson Sarah Kelly, there will be a change in leadership in January 2016 as they will have a new president. Curently, Ms.Kelly
informs us that NJPHA's focus is on engaging the membership to explore which issues they would like the organization to work on. The
main goal is to make NJPHA be an organization that accurately reflects its memberships vision and goals.
New Jersey Public Health Association
New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials
The New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials, or NJACCHO is a
non-profit organization of state and county public health officials and allied health
professionals who work together protecting and improving the health of New
Jersey citizens. Started in 1911, the organization has been committed to
protecting the health of its New Jersey citizens for about 100 years. The
organization is member based and as a whole, works to helps its members
individually carry out the 10 recognized public health services. The Mission of the
NJACCHO is to “…advance the art and science of public health and ensure
conditions that promote health, prevent disease and protect the health of the state’s population through leadership, advocacy,
collaboration and the assurance of workforce competencies.” According to Lisa Gulla, the president-elect of the organization, the current
goals of NJACCHO are to create an environment that encourages member engagement, improve the organizational effectiveness of the
association, and influence the future of public health in New Jersey. One of the biggest issues for NJACCHO is accreditation. This
means, getting New Jersey’s local health departments in line with national standards and measures set forth by the National Public
Health Accreditation Board. These standards and measures can be used to review and revise health department processes, procedures
and programs. For more information on the New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials, please visit www.njaccho.org
The New Jersey Environment Public Health Association represents over 1,000
New Jersey registered environmental health specialists, health officers, and
public health practitioners. The organization serves to provide education and
professional development opportunities to public health practitioners, promote
professional standards, increase recognition of the public health profession, and
monitor legislative efforts pertaining to public health. The New Jersey
Environmental Health Association, as a whole, is currently concerned with
issues such as emergency preparedness and response, providing health
screenings at local health departments, as well as ensuring that people are
properly immunized against illnesses in order to protect the health of the public
as a whole. The association held their annual conference at the Morris County
Public Safety Academy on September 24th
. Conference speakers included Dr.
George Hamilton, a Rutgers SEBS professor, discussing insects of concern in New Jersey; Dr. Matt Frye, a staff member of the New
York State Integrated Pest Management Program, Cornell University, discussing parasites and pathogens found in New York City rats;
and Cali Alexander, a New Jersey Department of Health official, discussing seafood fraud and forensics. The association’s next
conference will be held March 6-8th
the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.
New Jersey Environmental Health Association

12. NEW JERSEY HEALTH ASSOCIATIONS UPDATE
Page 12
New Jersey Society of Public Health Educators
SOPHE is a non-profit professional organization representing the discipline of public
health education and public health promotion founded in 1950. It is an independent and
cohesive group of health educators, academics and researchers. SOPHE is governed by a
House of Delegates and Board of Trustees in its chapters and must meet the National
SOPHE requirements for quality. SOPHE is an organization founded in 1950 “to provide
global leadership to the profession of health education and health promotion and to
promote the health of all people” and is the only independent professional organization
devoted to health education and promotion and its importance to society. Its main purpose
is to stimulate research on health education and promotion, perform high standards for
health education practices and promotion, and most importantly developing and promoting
standards for professional preparation of health education professionals. SOPHE values the need to embrace diversity, responsiveness
to the needs of its members and encouraging innovation and the delivery of quality products to the public health world. SOPHE promotes
healthy behaviors, communities and environments through its membership and copious relationships with global, national and local
organizations. The two main goals the NJSOPHE is working towards is continuing education for the community and on national levels
through implementing programs and working with other organizations. Networking is the second goal, the various networks and data in
SOPHE is tremendous. Networking helps infiltrate organizations with information on childhood obesity and using sources such as focus
group skills, evaluation and training to promote better environment for communities with exponential health disparities.
For more information on the organization and its future involvements, go to www.sophe.org as well as www.njsophe.org. The vast
resources ca be obtained to be a part of the organization’s strive and goals.
New Jersey Association of Public Health Nurse Administrators was founded 25 years ago. Its purpose was to
organize the nursing supervisors from the many local health departments in the state. It was felt that nursing
needed a voice in public health decision making. NJAPHNA worked diligently to be represented at the state and local levels where
decisions were being made. Today, organization membership is open to all supervisors and staff nurses involved in public health.
Not only is this organization a conduit for public health nurses to be heard, it also is the pathway for state, foundations, and other
organizations to funnel their information to public health nurses. There are quarterly educational meetings discussing a timely topic and
reports from the standing committees - Maternal and Child Health, Chronic Disease, Emergency Preparedness, Infectious Disease,
Legislative/Legal and Marketing/Publicity. Currently, NJAPHNA has been involved with the National Nurse. NJAPHNA has been
encouraged to petition legislatures to endorse a nurse on the national level, but the primary concern is with New Jersey state mandates -
communicable disease follow up, emergency preparedness, etc. NJAPHNA has a long life expectancy. This is the venue for educating
and connecting all public health nurses. It is where one learns the correct methods to carry out what is expected. Networking is a key
benefit and is so important, not only at the meetings but through the internet. As the numbers of Public Health Nurses are decreasing it
is extremely important to stay connected.
New Jersey Association of Public Health Nurse Administrators
“For he who has health has hope; and he who has hope,
has everything.”
Owen Arthur

13. Public Health Today
PUBLIC HEALTH TODAY CONTRIBUTORS
Elizabeth Stanley is a non-traditional second degree student at Rutgers
majoring in Public Health. Elizabeth currently holds a BA in Communications
from Worcester State University in Massachusetts, and has done extensive
work in non-profit PR. Elizabeth is a certified EMT-basic as well as a sports
nutritionist and personal trainer. Elizabeth believes that health is the most
important factor in one's life, and that a healthy diet, exercise, and emotional
well-being are key to facilitating happy and productive people. Elizabeth
plans to graduate with a BS in Public Health in Spring 2017, and pursue a
Master's in Public Health, concentrating on health education and advocacy.
Editor/Liaison
Elizabeth Stanley
Michelle Cohen is a senior majoring in Public Health and Human Resource
Management. She is currently working towards a Bachelor of Science in
Nursing and is a Certified Nursing Assistant at a large hospital near her
home in Morristown, New Jersey. Michelle has a passion for helping others,
particularly those battling cancer and who have babies in the Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit. Michelle plans on graduating with her BSN in January
2018 and she hopes to go on to get her Masters of Science in Nursing to be
a nurse practitioner.
Researcher/Liaison
Michelle Cohen
Alisha Mir is a senior majoring in Public Health at Rutgers University. She is
hopes to implement her knowledge of public health into her practice as a
physician. She is passionate about the subject of endocrine disrupters and
other hidden chemicals in our daily environment. Michelle plans on
graduating with a BS in Public Health in spring 2016 and she hopes to attend
medical school and become a physician.
Researcher/Liaison
Alisha Mir
Tiffany Nicole Gathright is a graduating Senior with a major in Africana
Studies and a double major in Spanish and Public Health. She is currently
Market Manager for New Brunswick Community Farmers Market which is a
partnership between Johnson and Johnson, The City of New Brunswick, and
Rutgers Cooperative Extension. She is passionate about healthy food
access and serving low-income communities and families. She will pursue
her Health Education Specialist Certification in 2016 and plans to follow up
with a Masters degree in Public Health thereafter.
Researcher/Liaison
Tiffany Gathright

14. Public Health Today
Karina Homentowska is a senior at Rutgers University, majoring in Public
Health with a minor in psychology and aiming to finish a Public Health
preparedness Certificate. After graduating she plans to pursue a Masters in
Public Health. She has a passion for promoting health, raising awareness
and environmental issues .
Editor/Liaison
Karina Homentowska
Victor Arroyo is a Senior majoring in Public Health at Rutgers University.
Victor plans on graduating with a BS in Public Health in Spring 2016 and
public health management certificate. After graduation he plans on pursuing
a Masters degree in epidemiology and then attend medical school to
become an oncologist.
Editor
Victor Arroyo
Michael Martinez is a junior majoring in Public Health at Rutgers University-
New Brunswick. Michael has served as a volunteer Emergency Medical
Technician in his hometown of Wayne, New Jersey and currently serves as
an officer in his student government where he has worked on variety of
public health issues such as access to mental health services, food
insecurity in the student population, and combating campus sexual assault.
Michael plans on graduating with a BS in Public Health in Spring 2017 and
hopes to pursue a degree in medicine as well as a Master’s in Public Health,
concentrating on health administration.
Researcher/Liaison
Michael Martinez
Peter Tabbot
Peter Tabbot is Health Officer for the Rockaway Township Division of
Health, which serves four municipalities in northern New Jersey, and also is
Adjunct Instructor at Rutgers University, where for 16 years he has taught
several courses in public health, environmental health and administration.
Mr. Tabbot obtained his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and his
Master of Public Health degree from the Rutgers University School of Public
Health, and has 24 years’ experience in governmental public health. Mr.
Tabbot is Past President of the NJ Association of County and City Health
Officials and Past President of the NJ Environmental Health Association, and
was Project Director of the NJ Collaborative for Excellence in Public Health,
which helped introduced continuous quality improvement and accreditation
to New Jersey’s local health departments. Mr. Tabbot serves on several
statewide advisory and ad hoc committees, including the NJ Public Health
Licensing and Exam Board, and two years ago became Faculty Coordinator
of the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education’s Environment
and Public Health course, which provides mandatory training for New

15. Public Health Today
Special thanks to the Bloustein
School of Planning and Public Policy
and especially to Professor Peter
Tabbot for support throughout this
project!
To the Readers,
As the editors, we truly appreciate your interest in the newsletter. We also want to thank the rest of the team for
working hard to provide data that gives accurate insight into the current public health concerns. We hope you
find the newsletter interesting and informative. Most importantly, we hope the articles spark encouragement to
broaden your knowledge as a public health professional, educator, or student.
Many thanks,
Victor, Karina and Elizabeth
Thank You for taking time to read our publication. We hope the newsletter has provided insight into current
public health concerns and sparked interest for further study! Over the course of the semester, we were able to
broaden our current public health knowledge as well as build on valuable life skills such as time management,
accountability, and team work.
DISCLAIMER: Every effort was made to provide accurate information in the newsletter. Nevertheless, all material
included in the publication was student- generated and does not express the views of Rutgers University or the
mentioned associations.