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Greetings!
It's hard to believe but tomorrow is LDOC. For those not familiar with the term, LDOC stands for Last Day Of Class. The semester has flown by and for our global health seniors that means their Capstone projects are complete and they're gearing up for graduation. DGHI will hold its Commencement activities on Friday, May 11 in LSRC. Look for coverage of and photos from tonight's Capstone Poster Presentation in next week's newsletter.
A reminder that the university-wide Africa Initiative will hold its Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, April 26 at 3 pm in the Divinity School. All Duke faculty, students and staff interested in Africa are encouraged to attend.
Congratulations to DGHI Senior Advisor Dennis Clements for his election to the Executive Committee of Academic Council.
Finally, check out photos from last weekend's 2012 Unite for Sight Global Health Conference, and read more about DGHI's presence at the conference below.
Until next week,
Geelea Seaford and Everyone at DGHI
PS- Don't miss the employment section for exciting new job opportunities. Apply today to join the terrific team at DGHI!
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Integrated Health Care Model Shows Promise for Hepatitis C Patients in Durham
Four in ten hepatitis C patients who drank alcohol refrained from it as part of a Duke pilot program that integrates alcohol and hepatitis C treatments. Led by DGHI researcher Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell and Duke physician Andrew Muir, the dual model of care may be a viable option for steering these patients away from alcohol, who may otherwise develop serious health complications that lead to liver failure or death.  The Duke study, featured in the April issue of Digestive Diseases and Sciences, involved hepatitis C patients from the Duke Liver Clinic who received both alcohol treatment and medical care over a six-month period. Of the 53 alcohol-drinking patients in the study, 44 percent had stopped drinking alcohol by the end of the six months. Patients who did not become abstinent by six months still reported a 30 percent drop in alcohol consumption, spending on alcohol and urges to drink. "We were able to show that integrated hepatitis C-alcohol care is feasible," said Proeschold-Bell, a DGHI faculty member at the Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research. "More than that, the study shows that such integrated care results in alcohol reductions that benefit patient health." Researchers say the intervention worked in part because it focused on liver health, rather than simply reducing alcohol use. It involved weekly group therapy and bi-weekly individual sessions customized to each patient that address alcohol use, nutrition, stress and family support. Because knowledge alone does not change behavior, the addictions specialist taught patients practical ways to improve other aspects of their lives based on their individual circumstances. Study participants were also evaluated for mental illness and had access to a psychiatrist for care, if needed.  |
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Faculty Profile: Truls Ostbye
Name: Truls Ostbye
Position(s): Professor in Community and Family Medicine; Director of Global Health in Community and Family Medicine; Professor in health services research, Duke-NUS SingaporeYears at Duke: 12 More about my role(s) at Duke: I am the faculty liaison with the DGHI site at University of Ruhuna in Galle, Sri Lanka. What I bring to my job: Clinical and public health background from Norway, New Zealand and Canada, eclectic research interests, extensive experience with epidemiological studies from many countries, especially in the areas of aging, obesity, mental and occupational health Why I'm interested in global health: There's a lot to learn from other countries' health challenges and solutions. Why/How I hope to make global health a priority in my department: In the Department of Community and Family Medicine, we are facilitating electives for clinical (physician assistant, physical therapy and medical students) and research students, especially in Sri Lanka, India and Singapore. We are working with family physicians to expand global health research, especially relating to primary care, aging and occupational health. Countries where I work: Norway, Sri Lanka, Singapore, India, Canada To start a conversation with me, ask me: Is it true that Norway has the most interesting cuisine in the world? Most memorable moment at Duke or working abroad: Visiting Sri Lanka soon after the 2004 tsunami with a view to start a collaboration between Sri Lankan colleagues and Duke students and faculty. Favorite activity/ hobby outside of work: Mountain walking A book I read recently: The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh |
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States of Wonder: By Sherryl Broverman
 Featured in the Duke Chronicle
"I'm not really a science person."
I've been hearing that phrase in the first week of class for over more than 15 years now. I always want to ask back, "What is a 'science person'?" Instead, I just tell them not to worry; this class is for people like them.
I think the assumption is that "science people" have some magical skill set that allows them to think across physical scales, memorize formulae, and revel in arcane knowledge. Most scientists I know have as their intellectual underpinning the sentiment "That is so cool! How the hell does that work?" True, you do need to develop a narrow focus (in part due to the need to study and manipulate a tightly controlled system, and in part due to funding necessities), but the underlying drive is usually a state of wonder.
Science is about questioning. That ultimate questioner, Charles Darwin, said, "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge." The more you know the more you begin to question. As a teacher you see the questions and sophisticated inquiry jump up dramatically about two-thirds of the way through the semester. That's when you get all the "But wait a minute!" questions from students as they put it all together.
I teach the conscripts, the science-phobes, those made to take two natural science classes to graduate. Most don't intend to have my class impact their careers. Fine by me. My goal is not to produce more scientists or doctors, but young adults better equipped to think about the natural world around them and their place in it. However, they may be parents, voters or even congressmen determining national science research budgets. We live in a world increasingly driven by scientific innovation (stem cell research) and questions (determining the cause of global warming).
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Doctoral Student Presents Research Ahead of World Malaria Day
 Prior to World Malaria Day on Wednesday, Duke Global Health Doctoral Scholar Chris Paul makes the case for more resources and local control over malaria policy in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda - where malaria remains a top ten cause of death in children under age five. Without improvements in malaria control policy, there are dire consequences. On a global scale, about 3.3 billion people - almost half of the world's population - were at risk of malaria in 2010, according to the World Health Organization.
At a poster session at Unite for Sight's 2012 Global Health and Innovation Conference last weekend, Paul presented his research that identified barriers - like lack of coordination and collaboration across sectors - to improving malaria control policy in Africa. The research also recommended tools for overcoming those barriers. This research is part of a Duke study led by Randall Kramer, DGHI deputy director and professor of environmental economics and global health, which is testing the viability of a malaria decision-making tool for African policymakers that can assess the benefits and risks associated with various malaria control strategies.
Local Children to Receive Boxes of Donated Food
Up to 15 elementary school students in Durham will have more to eat this summer thanks to two recent food drives organized by Duke students in the Global Nutrition Course.
Eighteen Duke students raised more than $100 and collected 15-17 boxes of donated food to benefit local school kids from low-income families. The boxes of donated food will be split among students at E.K. Powe Elementary School, who during the summer months do not receive school meals or benefit from the Food-4-Families Weekend Backpack Program.
The food drives were held on campus at the Bryan Center and at Whole Foods this spring.
Taught by nutritionist and DGHI faculty member Sara Benjamin Neelon, the Global Nutrition course partnered with E.K. Powe to fill backpacks with food for school children to take home over the weekend. The course is a great example of connecting the classroom with service in the community.
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