Baltimore City Health Commissioner and former Maryland Secretary of Health talk to JHSPH students about public health policy

This morning the JHSPH MPH class received the visit of Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner and John Colmers, former Maryland Secretary of Health. Both spoke passionately about their experiences in public health practice as part of the "Public Health Policy" course led by Dr. Gerard Anderson.

While Colmers focused on politics and policy-making, Wen spoke about patient case studies and about the heroin overdose epidemic in Baltimore. Learning from professionals with on-the-ground experiences and true passion for public health was very inspiring. Even though the speakers did not address the problem of chronic diseases in detail, students brought up the issue through questions about food deserts, the importance of appropriate housing, educational interventions, and others.

Great job JHU students, we hope you keep encouraging our public health leaders to get more engaged in Chronic Diseases and Aging!

Healthy Aging Winners Announcement Event

Usama Bilal, a PhD student in Epidemiology and CDAI founding member, was the Master of Ceremony for the event that gathered an enthusiastic crowd at the JHSPH gallery on April 25th, 2015, and announced the 2015 Healthy Aging Photo Competition Winners. 

The event was timed to follow the Aging Poster Showcase promoted by our sister group, Gerontology Interest Group (GIG), which was also a major success. Sweet treats and coffee (and the perspective of winning an iPad!) helped keep everyone awake on a Friday afternoon.

Htet Nay Lin Oo, who was a third-place finalist in last year's competition, got the first prize this time, together with a honorable mention. Htet shared some words about the Senior Center in Myanmar where he took the winning pictures. Htet not only has an amazing talent for photography. He is also greatly committed to improving the lives of elderly people in his home country. Great job Htet! Congratulations!!

 

Before the winners' announcement,  the CDAI thanked our 2015 panel of judges: Dean Mike Ward of JHSPH Student Affairs, Prof. Gilbert Burnham of the Department of International Health, Nidhi Bouri, a JHSPH Alumna and Professional Photographer, Jasma Rucker, a member of the JHSPH Student Assembly, and Nicholas Fancourt, a member of the Chronic Diseases & Aging Initiative!

 Crowd gathers in front of the JHSPH Wall of Wonder in expectation of the winning images.

 

This portrait of an adorable Peruvian lady gets Michelle Ferng the second prize: an e-Reader!

Htet Nay Lin Oo receives the grand prize for the portrait of a singing lady from Myanmar.

 Usama Bilal (r) and Htet Nay Lin Oo (l), the MC and the grand prize winner.

2015 Healthy Aging Photo Competition Winners!

 Here are the amazing pictures chosen by our judges as the 2015 Healthy Aging Photo Competition winners! We had over 40 submissions from around 20 different countries all over the world. 

From Baltimore City to Papua New Guinea, our photographers captured wonderful images translating healthy aging into the importance of family, friendships, social circle, hobbies, work activities, hope, respect, companionship and much more. 

The complete set of submissions was on display on the JHSPH Wall of Wonder from 20-26 of April, and the winners were announced during a special event on April 25th. The first place winner received an iPad and the second place winner received an e-Reader. 

CONGRATULATIONS to the talented winners!!