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Addressing Childhood Obesity Through The Built Environment: The Guadalupe Case Sudy, Sophia Y. Lai

Master's Theses

This project takes a look at the impacts of our built environment on obesity in children living in racial and ethnic communities in relation to city planning. The results of this project results in a comprehensive report to provide an in-depth look into understanding the important relationships between children’s health and the built environment and understanding the best practices and recommendations for improving health in Guadalupe.

Located in the Santa Barbara County, the City of Guadalupe is mainly an agricultural town with over 85 percent of its residents who are of Hispanic Origin. With almost half of its Latino population …

From Sea To Shining Sea: Force Health Management Of Infectious Diseases In A Cross-Global Deployment Flux Toward Tropical Environments, Joanna M. Nelms

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Infectious diseases in fighting armies are a pestilence as old as war itself. The history of the United States military is rich in successes of innovation and lessons learned in failure in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. Over the nearly two and a half centuries of American warfare, military research and development have contributed greatly to advancements in vaccines, medical treatments, and other control and prevention strategies for tropical and other infectious diseases. Current deployments in desert environments have provided continued research and progress in infectious disease control, treatment, and prevention, despite a relative decrease in civilian medical …

Commencement Program 2014, Loma Linda University

Commencement Programs

CONTENTS

1 | Message from the President

3 | 2014 Events of Commencement

5 | The Academic Procession

7 | Significance of Academic Regalia

9 | The Good Samaritan

10 | University History Highlights

12 | Loma Linda University Song - "Healing Love"

13 | The Speakers

24 | The University Honorees

40 | The School Honorees

64 | The Programs

• School of Medicine, 65
• School of Pharmacy, 87
• School of Dentistry, 95
• School of Behavioral Health and School of Religion, 114
• School of Nursing, 126
• School of Public Health, 138
• School of Allied Health Professions - Physical Therapy, 156 …

Vegetarian Dietary Patterns: Mortality, Colorectal Cancer, And Food Consumption, Michael John Orlich

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Objective Vegetarian dietary patterns represent longstanding, real-world diets consumed by a minority of persons. Studies of important health outcomes of such diets, particularly for all-cause mortality and colorectal cancer risk, have yielded inconsistent results. We sought to examine these outcomes (mortality and colorectal cancer incidence) in a large North-American cohort. We also sought to further characterize potentially important differences in the food consumption patterns of these diets. Design Baseline diet was measured by a quantitative food frequency questionnaire among more than 96,000 Seventh-day Adventists in the US and Canada, enrolled from 2002-2007. Dietary patterns were defined, based on the reported …

Increasing Long Term Weight Loss Success: An Individualized, Holistic, Self-Care Model, April D. Lane

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Despite the many weight loss options available, the majority of overweight and obese individuals who try to lose or maintain weight loss are unsuccessful. This lack of success has been the focus of extensive research. In an attempt to develop more effective modalities, researchers have identified several predictors of weight loss success. However, the efficacy of diets is still limited.

For many, this lack of weight loss success may be due to issues such as depression, loneliness, anxiety, lack of support, or other environmental factors that may be imperceptibly related to food and exercise. Repeated dieting failures may produce feelings …

Limiting What We Can Eat: A Bridge Too Far?, Lawrence O. Gostin

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Innovative mayors across America are seeking to shape personal decisions about diet and physical activity, taking a page from tobacco control. But attempts to limit personal choices of what to eat have drawn the ire of vocal critics and sometimes the rebuke of judges, with former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg’s limit on soda portions becoming a key flash point. The public broadly accepts state power to control infectious diseases, but often draws a line at limiting dietary choices. The author wants to dispel some of the well-worn arguments in the obesity wars.

Reporting Risk, Producing Prejudice How News Reporting On Obesity Shapes Attitudes About Health Risk, Policy, And Prejudice, Abigail C. Saguy, David Frederick, Kjerstin Gruys

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

News reporting on research studies may influence attitudes about health risk, support for public health policies, or attitudes towards people labeled as unhealthy or at risk for disease. Across five experiments (N = 2123) we examined how different news framings of obesity research influence these attitudes. We exposed participants to either a control condition, a news report on a study portraying obesity as a public health crisis, a news report on a study suggesting that obesity may not be as much of a problem as previously thought, or an article discussing weight-based discrimination. Compared to controls, exposure to the public …

Racial Classifications, Biomarkers, And The Challenges Of Health Disparities Research In The African Diaspora., Latrica E. Best, John Chenault

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Current scholarly research, both sociologically and biologically based, continues to be inundated with notions of race operating as a biological construct and as a proxy for poor health outcomes. Medical research and practice have fostered an environment where diagnostics, treatment, and the creation and dissemination of drug regimens often are influenced by a patient’s skin color and ethnicity. The emergence of biological markers in social science-based surveys has fueled recent health disparities research that is shaping the meaning, interpretation, and policy of the health of people of color. Using hypertension as an example, this paper focuses on ways in which …

Oceano Community Health Plan, Eugene Phillip Brennan

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Oceano Community Health Plan

Phillip Brennan

Recent, mounting research shows that chronic disease, the leading causes of death and primary driver of health care costs, cannot be effectively addressed through education or preventative health alone. A physical environment that promotes health—through access to healthy food, opportunities for physical activity, quality housing, transportation options, and safe schools—is an integral part of making our communities healthier. This research and accompanying Healthy Community Plans will serve as a way for the County to begin looking in-depth at the ways the built environment (our streets, parks, and neighborhoods) contribute or detract from the …

Exposure To Fine Particulate Matter During Pregnancy And Risk Of Preterm Birth Among Women In New Jersey, Ohio, And Pennsylvania, 2000–2005, Kristen M. Rappazzo, Julie L. Daniels, Lynne C. Messer, Charles Poole, Danelle T. Lobdell

Community Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Particulate matter < 2.5 micrometers in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) has been variably associated with preterm birth (PTB).

Objective: We classified preterm births into four categories (20–27, 28–31, 32–34, and 35–36 weeks completed gestation) and estimated risk differences (RD) for each category in association with a 1-µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 exposure during each week of gestation.

Methods: We assembled a cohort of singleton pregnancies that completed at least 20 weeks of gestation during 2000-2005 using live birth certificate data from three states (Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Jersey) (n = 1,940,213; 8% PTB). We estimated mean PM2.5 exposures for each week of gestation from monitor-corrected Community Multi-Scale Air Quality modeling data. RDs were …

Mi Cuerpo, Nuestra Responsabilidad: Using Photovoice To Describe The Assets And Barriers To Sexual And Reproductive Health Among Latinos In North Carolina, Barbara Baquero, Shira Goldman, Florence Siman, Sadiya Muqueeth, Laura Villa-Torres, Eugenia Eng, Scott D. Rhodes

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Latinos in North Carolina experience disparities in sexual and reproductive health. To identify and explore assets for and barriers to sexual and reproductive health in the Latino community, an academic-community partnership engaged community health workers (CHW) in Photovoice, a participatory qualitative research methodology. Five sessions were completed in which CHW agreed on photo assignments and discussed the photos. Themes included the role of men, cultural taboos, and the effect of undocumented immigrant status on access to resources. Findings were presented at a community forum. Building on the strengths of CHW to reduce barriers to sexual and reproductive health is a …

Practice-Based Learning: Opportunities And Implications For Stem Education, Glen P. Mays

Health Management and Policy Presentations

This presentation examines how practice-based research strategies have been used to produce new knowledge and stimulate learning about how to improve the organization, financing, and delivery of public health services. I consider how practice-based research strategies can be adapted to advance knowledge and practice related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and application.

Socioeconomic Context And The Food Landscape In Texas: Results From Hotspot Analysis And Border/Non-Border Comparison Of Unhealthy Food Environments, Jennifer J. Salinas, Bassent Abdelbary, Kelly Klaas, Beatriz Tapia, Ken Sexton

Physician Assistant Studies Faculty Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the food landscape of Texas using the CDC's Modified Retail Food Environment (mRFEI) and to make comparisons by border/non-border.

Methods: The Modified Retail Food Environment index (mRFEI (2008)) is an index developed by the CDC that measures what percent of the total food vendors in a census track sell healthy food. The range of values is 0 (unhealthy areas with limited access to fruits and vegetables) to (100-Healthy). These data were linked to 2010 US Census socioeconomic and ethnic concentration data. Spatial analysis and GIS techniques were applied to assess the …

Use Of Emerging Technologies To Assess Differences In Outdoor Physical Activity In St. Louis, Missouri, Deepti Adlakha, Elizabeth L. Budd, Rebecca Gernes, Sonia Sequiera, J. Aaron Hipp

Brown School Faculty Publications

Introduction: Abundant evidence shows that regular physical activity(PA) is an effective strategy for preventing obesity in people of diverse socioeconomic status (SES) and racial groups. The proportion of PA performed in parks and how this differs by proximate neighborhood SES has not been thoroughly investigated. The present project analyzes online public web data feeds to assess differences in outdoor PA by neighborhood SES in St. Louis, MO,USA. Methods:First, running and walking routes submitted by users of the website MapMyRun.com were downloaded. The website enables participants to plan, map, record, and share their exercise routes and outdoor activities like runs, walks, …

Application Of The Breastfeeding Personal Efficacy Beliefs Inventory And Acknowledgment Of Barriers For Improving Breastfeeding Initiation Rates In An Urban Population, Diwata Bose, Callie Cox Bauer, Kiley A. Bernhard, Dennis J. Baumgardner

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Introduction: Breastfeeding (BF) is recognized as the preferred method of infant nutrition by American Academy of Pediatricians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the World Health Organization. Despite the benefits of BF, in 1998 only 69% of new mothers in the United States initiated BF and 29% continued to breastfeed at 6 months.

Objective: To assess perceived breastfeeding confidence (BFC) and determine barriers in regards to BF in an urban population.

Methods: The Breastfeeding Personal Efficacy Beliefs Inventory (BPEBI) was used to determine perceived BFC. The survey was distributed to 271 women during prenatal appointments at an urban Milwaukee …

Hispanic Health Initiative: Creating A Sustainable Health Fair For An Immigrant Community, Chaz Arnold

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Previous demographic and social interest research conducted in Bowling Green, Kentucky has prompted concern for access to quality healthcare for immigrant populations, specifically for the Hispanic community. The missions of the preliminary investigation and subsequent implementation of a sustainable health fair for the Spanish-speaking community were to assess the primary health concerns that many Hispanics face and offer long-term solutions to collectively resolve these health issues. Preliminary investigation involved researching population-specific health statistics in order to quantify prevalence of certain conditions which were, in turn, prioritized in terms of necessity to address. Further research reflected personal concern from the target …

Critical Analysis Of The Kenyan Healthcare System And Models For Improvement, Justin Wellum

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Global epidemics such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS plague developing countries in Africa. International aid has been given to these countries from public and private organizations in an effort to eradicate these health crises. My research focuses on Kenya as a model for assessing the current state of health care in these developing countries. The effectiveness of Kenya’s health care system was investigated at every level, including central, provincial, district, and rural, by visiting the country and performing specific research. Based on my research, I propose a model that I believe Kenya or any African developing country could adopt to …

"Transforming Care Through Disruptive Design": Incorporating A Midwifery Model Of Care Into Obstetric Practices, Lauren Marsh

Senior Theses

Maternal and child health outcomes in the United States are far poorer than in other industrialized nations. To improve women’s experiences with the maternity care system, nurse-midwife Sharon Schindler-Rising developed the CenteringPregnancy (CP) group model of prenatal care (PNC). Research comparing CP with ‘traditional’ one-on-one PNC has found that implementing CP results in decreased rates of preterm birth and low birth weight, increased rates of breastfeeding, and improved outcomes for women who typically experience health disparities, including African Americans. Documented success of the model in the Greenville Health System convinced the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services of …

Exploring Obstacles To Perinatal Care-Seeking Behavior In Women Of Rural Odisha, India Using A Community Based Participatory Research Approach, Sarah Law, Runjhun Bhatia

Senior Theses

This project resulted from collaboration between USC student organization GlobeMed and the Alternative for Rural Movement (ARM), a non-governmental organization in Odisha, India. Rajendra Rana, the head of ARM, expressed the need to delineate the factors underlying the tendency of rural Odishan women to deliver with unskilled birth attendants as opposed to institutionally. A literature review was conducted to explore possible economic, cultural, and social factors. During five weeks in Odisha, discussions with women's groups, community health workers, and ARM staff members built on the literature review. A preliminary survey and plan for its dissemination were developed. The community based …

Producing Population Health: Collective Action Requires Infrastructure, Incentives & Evidence, Glen P. Mays

Health Management and Policy Presentations

Population health improvement strategies are collective action problems that require targeted infrastructure, incentives, and information to succeed. Research on collective action problems and solutions in public health and other spheres of practice offer insight for the successful scale and spread of population health innovations.

Phytochemicals Added To The Feed Of Ovariectomized Adult Rats Increase Brown Adipose Activity, Colette N. Miller, Suresh Ambati, Erica Bass, Natalie Hohos, Diane Hartzel, Emily England, Mary Anne Della-Fera, Srujana Rayalam, Clifton A. Baile

Research Day

Background: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) uncouples respiration, using lipids as an energy source while dissipating heat. Increases in BAT activity are protective against obesity, thus compounds that increase BAT activation may help prevent weight gain. Resveratrol (R) increases BAT activity by upregulating thermogenic genes. As phytochemicals have synergistic properties, our research strategy has included investigation of the efficacy of relatively low concentrations of phytochemical blends on BAT activation. Methods: Previously, we showed that R combined with genistein (G) and quercetin (Q) reduced weight gain in aged ovariectomized (OVX) female rats. In the current study, OVX rats were fed diets containing …

Nutritional Counseling At Jeffhope, Cara Siegel, Msii, Anita Modi, Msiii, Amy Tressan, Msi

CwiC-PH

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a major national public health concern and is strongly associated with increased morbidity and mortality.¹ Specifically, obesity is correlated to increased frequency in coronary artery disease², type two diabetes³, some cancers⁴, and other serious health conditions⁵. An epidemiological study of 21 developed countries found that increased waist size, weight, and BMI were all associated with low income.⁷ Importantly, obesity has a high prevalence among the homeless population, one study finding 42.8% of homeless women obese.¹⁷ It has been reported that 39% of sheltered homeless Americans are …

Teens 4 Good: Positive Youth Development Through Urban Community Gardening, Katelyn Hurley, Mph, Nancy L. Chernett, Ma, Mph, Colleen Payton, Mph, Ches, Diane Cornman-Levy, Ms Pt

College of Population Health Lectures, Presentations, Workshops

Background and Rationale

• Teens that grow up in poor, blighted neighborhoods are at risk for a variety of negative outcomes, including poor health.¹

• In Philadelphia and many other urban communities, disparities in race, income, and education impact access to and consumption of fresh, healthy foods.²

• Youth development programs (YDP) have grown as a viable solution to ameliorate negative outcomes among at-risk youth.³

• Community gardens have been introduced in many urban environments to address issues of food insecurity.⁴

Teens 4 Good (T4G) is a youth-led entrepreneurial program that converts vacant city lots into community gardens.

• T4G was …

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Project Parenthood: Efficacy Of Evidence-Based Parenting And Safer Sex Education Program In An At-Risk Adolescent Population, Jasmin Scott

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Objective: Project Parenthood was developed to support the growth of adolescent parenting education and to provide a resource for adolescent safer sex education and repeat pregnancy prevention.

Methods: Through the use of pre- and post-surveys, three key variables were measured: (1) knowledge, (2) perspective, and (3) skill. Survey questions were categorized as measuring one of the variables. Survey data was aggregated to create a pre- and post-composite score for each question. The percentage of questions that resulted in an increase, decrease, or no change was calculated for each variable. A Paired t-Test analysis was run to evaluate whether or not …

The Effect Of Patient Reminders On Osteoporosis Screenings, Billie-Ann Black

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Osteoporosis is characterized by reduction of bone mass and compromised bone strength, resulting in an increased fracture risk. Since a reduction of bone mass has been shown to be predictive of future fracture risk, prevention strategies target screening those patients at risk for decreased bone mass by using bone mineral density (BMD) dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. Current national guidelines recommend that all women 65 years and older undergo BMD testing using central DXA every two years. Despite these recommendations, women age 65 years and older still do not participate in this screening. Greater rates of osteoporosis screening could …

The Effects Of Education On Cardiovascular Disease Knowledge, Lauren A. Ostrowski-Winkler

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for adults in the United States. The three main risk factors for the development of CVD include hypertension, high cholesterol, and tobacco use; these factors are largely prevented or reduced through lifestyle modifications. Researchers indicate that knowledge of CVD mortality has been linked with individual action to reduce one’s CVD risk. Researchers have also indicated that segments of our underserved society, particularly those with the highest CVD mortality rates, are also the least knowledgeable about CVD and their own personal risk. These risk factors were a concern within the …

Screening Asymptomatic Women For Cardiovascular Risk, Kathryn Nelson-Murphy

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has long been recognized as a significant health problem in the U.S., and is the leading cause of preventable death in women, collectively causing about one death per minute (Caboral, 2013). A myriad of modifiable risk factors including dyslipidemia, hypertension, smoking, obesity, and type II diabetes are associated with 80-90% of CVD morbidity and mortality. Despite sobering statistics, valid risk prediction screening tools, and national preventive guidelines, adequate screening in clinical practice settings is sadly deficient. An evidence-based practice project was designed and implemented at a large OB/GYN practice in southern Ohio to address this identified gap …

One-On-One Delivery Of Living Well With A Disability, Tracy Boehm, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

The RTC: Rural conducted a research project on health management support for rural Americans. The approach used individually-focused programs, one of which included selected content from the Living Well with a Disability (LWD) health promotion program. The project noted that transportation and limited access to group-based programs in rural areas may act as barriers for participation in health promotion programs. Findings suggest the traditional 10- week LWD group-based program is the recommended practice, but a shorter LWD program delivered one-on-one with a consumer may be an option in rural areas.

Rural Self-Management Support, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., Tracy Boehm, Tannis Hargrove, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

The Rural Self-Management Support research project used an individually-focused health self-management support intervention to help people with disabilities locate resources for health support in rural America. This intervention led to better long term maintenance of health self-management behaviors compared to the control condition which did not include a focus on locating health resources. Future research will continue to look at how local communities impact long term health.

Physical Activity And Nutritional Behavior Of Overweight College Students Trying To Lose Weight 2014, Santino Vallejos M.S.

Master's Theses

Although there are numerous benefits to increased physical activity and proper dietary behaviors, the decreased participation in physical activity and poor dietary behaviors has emerged as a significant problem within the college student population. The focus of this research study was to identify the relationship between physical activity and dietary behavior to weight loss behaviors within an undergraduate student sample of a small, comprehensive northeastern university. College-aged students (age range: 17 to 27 years old) completed the American College Health Association’s (ACHA) National College Health Assessment II (NCHA) during the years 2009 and 2012. According to the results, there were …