Leap Year! New Building!

So as I was trying to get prepared for my week last night, I realized it was already going to be March! The weeks have been flying by this last semester and the work is still endless on the projects I am working on and students/faculty/staff getting settled into our new building. I've included some photos of the new building and if you want to view more photos, visit the Iowa Spectator article about our new building.

From the warmer weather this winter to the realization that I will be moving on from Iowa City in a few months, I have started to reflect on everything I have accomplished and still have to learn. In addition, admire the things around me and thank those who have helped me become the person I am today and continue to evolve.

I challenge you to take the extra day we have this year on the 29th to reflect on yourself (i.e. what have you accomplished, what do you really enjoy, what do you not enjoy, etc.). Asking yourself these questions and spending time to reflect may help you in your journey towards fulfilling your wants and needs in life (i.e. career in public health ;)

I will post to the MPH Facebook page to see what you are doing with your time on the 29th of February and hope you all find out something new about yourself or realize how much someone has impacted your life.

Ryan

MPH Practicum

As an MPH Student, that is the Practicum Course/Capstone experience that is required to help those obtaining the degree at Iowa to get practical experience in the field. Currently, I am in my last semester and completing my practicum at CASI (Center for Active Seniors Inc.) in Davenport, IA. Working with my faculty advisor, Dr. Kaskie and the Center on Aging at Iowa, I was able to obtain such an experience and gain knowledge at an agency and in the field of aging that complements my Aging fellowship I am also currently in this academic year.

So far, it has been a great experience at CASI, working with the staff, learning more about aging issues in the community of Scott County and also networking for future opportunities in my career as a health administrator.

Students can complete their practicum experience wherever they want (i.e. international, nation-wide and local). This gives a student at Iowa the ability to explore new territories while completing a project that will give them experience in a focus area of their choice while still meeting the core public health competencies for the MPH degree.

I hope to give more updates at CASI and hope you're able to explore some of the MPH website to look at other students and their practicum projects.

Ryan

PS - If you're technical and detail-oriented like me, here is a straight definition of the practicum requirements at Iowa:

"As a capstone experience for the Master of Public Health degree, students complete a 200-contact-hour Practicum project in a public health setting. This project, including a final written report and a professional presentation, constitutes the final examination of the MPH degree. A site for each Practicum project will be selected by the student with guidance from the course faculty, which has developed working relationships with a variety of organizations that address public health issues."

Passport Health!

Are you still with your New Year's Resolution? I'm trying, and to help me along is Student Health at Iowa. They are offering a program called "Passport Health" which helps students, like myself, obtain physical and nutritional goals through the Spring Semester. You earn points by entering in your physical and nutritional activity each week (up to 10 weeks) and at the end you can earn prizes if you have reached your goal. I will make sure to keep you all updated on my progress and to give you a taste of what the program is like, I have included an example of this week's goal below:

• Physical Activity Goal: Try a new type of physical activity (something you don’t typically do) on at least one day this week
  • *Physical Activity Bonus Point for Week 1*: Be physically active 30-60 minutes on 3 or more days this week.

• Nutrition Goal: 6-8 servings of water or other fluids (1 serving = 8 ounces). Here are some suggestions to help you meet this goal:
  - Take a water bottle with you to sip on water throughout the day
  - Drink a glass of water before and after exercising
  - Drink a glass of water with meals and snacks
• *Nutrition Bonus Point for Week 1*: Consume 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day this week.

PS - Here was my favorite commercial from the Superbowl, which ironically goes along with even my own New Year's Resolution of "Get Fit":

Heart Month! 29 Days...100!

Gah, it's already February and with it comes HEART MONTH! I am currently doing an internship with the University of Iowa Health Care Marketing and Communications office where I am helping promote events through social media for the "29 Days of Heart Health" month!

I am learning so much about the heart again (since my undergrad in Biology at Augustana College) and also getting to know more people throughout the hospital and UI Heart and Vascular Center. It has already been a busy first two days of February, but as you all know we are in a LEAP YEAR, which means there are 29 days instead of 28!

In addition to it being February 2nd, some of my classmates who are graduating with me this year informed me that we have 100 days till graduation. I can't believe I am in the "home-stretch" of my academic career. It is bittersweet knowing this will be the last time I am student and I'll be moving forward with my career. I am truly trying to soak up as much knowledge, experience and time with friends before time is up at Iowa and know I'll always stay connected, even if geographically separated.

Wishing you all a Heart Healthy Month!

Ryan

PS - Like the UI Heart and Vascular Center Facebook page and if you sign-up, you'll receive a Free Recipe booklet for Heart Healthy Meals!

New Year and Last Semester!

So it's a new year, 2012 and it's the coldest day so far this winter season...so of course the natural thing to do with the parents (minus brother and his wife) is go to south to Arizona! I'm taking a trip with my parents for my last long break I will probably have in a long time, being this is my last semester going for my MPH/MHA at Iowa. I'm excited and sad at the same time that this will be some of my last classes in grad school but I look forward to learning throughout my career and relying on those I made friends with and worked with while here at Iowa.

People, I have learned throughout my life are your best asset, whether career, personal or happiness. Most of you may know this, but it really does come down to who you know to get your foot in the door, or ask for a recommendation and you never know who knows who, so never burn bridges. I've seen people do it too often over little stuff and it's not worth it.

So as I start the new year, spending it with my family, I plan to take what I've learn and expect new challenges to face me each day and learn from my mistakes, because no one is perfect and we all have something new to learn, even if we forget.

Ryan

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

Stand Together: 2.0

I am not sure why the sign reads backwards, but I wanted to get it up as soon as possible and couldn't stand one more moment that I didn't support such a wonderful cause and public health mission :)

Ryan