Finals Week

So finals week is upon us (actually started yesterday, Monday the 12th) but nonetheless it is still stressful for all, including professors who have to grade all of them after we're done handing them in! Luckily this week becomes a little less stressful with some FREE lunch from the College of Public Health Student Association (CPHSA) from a local restaurant called Oasis, which is a Falafel joint....what is Falafel you say? Well, I didn't know either, but everyone states it when you say the name Oasis, so I looked it up and stole right from their website:

This classic Mediterranean staple begins with chickpeas that are soaked overnight, then ground with garlic, onion and spices, formed into patties and flash fried. At Oasis, we use trans fat-free soybean oil that is GMO-free and low in saturated fat.

Go figure, I'm learning even with a free meal ;)

Happy finals!

Ryan

Finals and Geriatrics!

So I have my last presentation today for finals week, at least for this semester, haha...I still have one more year in my dual masters programs and will be spending the summer working at the VA Medical Center here in Iowa City, IA.

Part of the reason I chose the VA was due to the presentation I am giving today! Through my Medicare and Medicaid class, I was paired with two others in the class to research, write and present on geriatric marketing and education, specifically geriatric health literacy and engagement. We have been able to meet with health professionals and researchers in the Center on Aging, the Iowa Geriatric Education Center, School of Nursing and the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics (UIHC). The picture above kind of summarizes the technologic advancements occurring in the healthcare field while trying to make sure the aging population is able to still understand the literacy of materials and innovations. In addition, most people want to stay in their home for healthcare, so utilizing technology in the home is one of the most important and most prevalent type being researched. Examples include monitored medication dispensers in the home that notify care givers and health professionals when medications are not taken, just another way to help the elderly stay at home.

Well I got to get back to go over the presentation a couple more times and then it's SUMMER!

Good luck to all your finals and finishing up the semester :)

Ryan

Finals, Celebration and Snow :)

So the final end of the semester is finally upon us. I feel like they should just call the last couple weeks "Finals Period" because most professors have their projects/papers due the week before finals and then their exams during the actual "Finals week".

Celebration

Amongst all the stresses and rushing around to get things accomplished, there is much to celebrate, like those MPH graduates! I attended a celebration ceremony put for the MPH graduates for December 2010. They were from a wide variety of disciplines, including the department I fall under, Health Management and Policy. My mentor Alexis, pictured above with me, graduated with a dual degree MHA/MPH in Policy. She will start her fellowship at Geisinger Health System this summer! I am so proud of her and it was exciting to hear again all the experiences she had here at Iowa. There was also a Practicum Poster Session, where MPH graduates and those completing their Practicum course, could showcase a public health experience they had over the past several months. Practicum projects ranged from tracking Novel H1N1 influenza abroad to implementing a occupational and health curriculum for health professionals in the field.

Snow

So as I sit here on a Saturday night to tired to study anymore for finals next week, I am admiring the snow falling outside while watch "Devil Wears Prada" to get myself motivated again for tomorrow. Even though I enjoy learning the material in my classes, there is always the distractions of playing in the snow, watching movies and going to the last christmas parties that are always on the mind ;)

Enjoy the weekend and stay warm!

Ryan