Other Public Health Commons^™

Mindful Mornings: Piloting A Meditation Group With Vulnerable Adults In A Drop-In Center, Iyo Kubota

Master's Projects and Capstones

An accumulation of stress and lack of coping resources can contribute to a higher incidence of mental and physical health disparities. Homeless adults are one of the most vulnerable subgroups who utilize Enterprise Resource Center, a peer-run day-center in Marin County. Because stress from multiple factors was identified in this transient and high-risk population, an intervention for stress reduction and management was explored. The findings from the needs assessment suggested that there was a need for an integrated approach for stress reduction and management. The challenge of sustaining a program was also highlighted during the needs assessment.

A brief mindfulness …

Safe Injection Facilities In The Tenderloin: Starting With Operational Plans, Bina Solanky

Master's Projects and Capstones

There are over 90 safe injection facilities (SIFs) in at least 11 countries around the world, except in the United States. SIFs are spaces where people who inject drugs (PWID) can bring their pre-obtained drugs in a hygienic space and use them under supervision. The goal of these sites is to reduce the harmful effects of injection drug use and refer PWID to other medical, social, and treatment services. The Safer Inside Coalition, a community-driven health initiative, in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco recommended opening a SIF in the Tenderloin to improve the health of the community and individual …

Retention In Health: Improving Hiv Retention Within The Sf Community Health Network, Miguel A. Ibarra

Master's Projects and Capstones

Previous work on HIV retention improvement has focused on improving access to care for communities who are either at-risk of falling out of care or who have difficulty engaging in medical care for the first time due to socio-cultural barriers. The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), with the support of Project PRIDE, a CDC three-year demonstration project geared towards supporting health departments in implementing public health strategies to reduce new HIV infections within the men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender communities, is seeking to improve HIV patient retention throughout the San Francisco Community Health Network …

Paying It Forward: Training Doulas As A Form Of Reintegration And Support For Communities Of Color, Sandra E. Luna-Martinez

Master's Projects and Capstones

As part of the birth justice movement in Alameda County, Roots of Labor Birth Collective (RLBC) is committed to support, empower and care for birthing members of the community. RLBC works to empower people of color with education and tools to have healthy babies and positive birth experiences regardless of their: gender, size, sexuality, orientation, culture or family structure. Healthy families begin with healthy communities and with that in mind, RLBC decided to tackle two major public health issues at once: recidivism and poor birth outcomes in communities of color. Doula training is not just an intervention to improve birth …

Stroke Outreach In The Lao Community, Noor A. Dythavon

Master's Projects and Capstones

CNL Abstract

A community health needs assessment for the service area prompted concern regarding access to quality healthcare for non-English speaking Southeast Asians (SEA) in the area. Goals of an initial investigation and subsequent implementation of sustainable stroke health fairs for non-English speaking communities were evaluated to assess primary healthcare concerns that the SEA community face and to suggest long-term solutions to these issues. Initial investigation required researching population-specific minority health statistics to quantify the prevalence of chronic diseases and conditions which were prioritized in terms of needs versus disparities. Research came from evidence base practice guidelines and personal concern …

Pharmacovigilance In Post-Marketing: Risk Assessment And Reporting Standards, Tiffany Jee

Master's Projects and Capstones

While there has been new targeted drug therapies released into the market over the recent years, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains to be a rapidly progressive disease with poor prognosis. Over time the arteries stiffen and tighten subsequently leaving the heart to pump harder to try and provide enough blood to the body. The extra stress of the increased pumping leads to weakening and enlargement of the heart. The endothelin targeted therapy, Letairis (ambrisentan), is an oral tablet proven to improve quality of life in patients suffering from PAH, WHO Group I – functional class II and III by helping …

Geographical Incidence Of Antimicrobial Resistant Gonorrhea, Christofer A. Rodriguez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Evolving throughout the last century, Gonorrhea has become a superbug, becoming difficult to treat. As the second most commonly reported notifiable disease, gonorrhea rates have been increasing, despite efforts in prevention and treatment. Populations at risk are mainly MSM and FSW. In 2015, men’s gonorrhea rates in the United States were higher compared to women, at 140.9 and 107.2 per 100,000 population, respectively. Illinois has consecutively had higher rates of infection compared to the US, at 133.5 per 100,000 population compared to the US rate of 123.9 per 100,000 population. The surveillance of gonococcal isolate resistance to current antimicrobials began …

Mental Health Workout: Lifting Stigma, Jeremy Bambery

Master's Projects and Capstones

Mental illness affects one out of every five Americans between the ages 13-18, and it is estimated that two-thirds of these individuals will not seek treatment due to the stigma associated with having a mental illness or mental health issue (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Access to information and the ability to talk openly without fear will aid in creating a stigma free future. The goal of this project is to supply high school students in the San Francisco Bay Area with information regarding the stigma associated with mental health and mental illness via videos that will be used as …

Kinder Ready: Exploring The Role Of Technology In Promoting School Readiness Among Low-Income Parents In A Clinic-Based Setting, Brenda Lu

Master's Projects and Capstones

The Stanford Pediatric Advocacy Program advocates to improve the health status of children in Silicon Valley and the surrounding community. This summer, I worked on a project called Kinder Ready, with the goal of evaluating the feasibility of technology use in promoting school readiness in children ages zero to five. We used a variety of qualitative research methods, including focus groups, one-on-one interviews, and surveys to collect feedback from the community on what their children need to transition into schools. Our local participatory research approach has paved the way for many new partnerships with local organizations, while strengthening existing ones. …

Strategic Community Healthcare Management, Stephanie Penrod

Master's Projects and Capstones

Federally Qualified Health Centers(FQHC) and Community Health Centers are growing with the Affordable Care Act. This paper introduces literature that supports the need for Community Health Centers and management of low income patients with chronic illnesses. This paper also reviews the fieldwork experience at a FQHC. It reviews the goals, project, methods and findings of the fieldwork. This paper also elaborates on the scope of the project and a quality improvement report for the FQHC in observation. It discusses the future potential implementation of the recommendations and the benefits for both employees and patients. This paper concludes with follow up …

Breast Cancer Fund: Power Mapping For Policy Change, Roxanna Firouzian

Master's Projects and Capstones

The following paper is a summary on a 300-hour fieldwork experience at the Breast Cancer Fund. The Breast Cancer Fund (BCF) is a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, CA that partners with organizations across the nation to expand their reach and health education. BCF works to expose and eliminate toxic chemicals in the environment that are linked to breast cancer, immunotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental issues. BCF accomplishes these goals through public awareness and pushing for policy change. In April 2015, Senators Diane Feinstein and Susan Collins introduced the Personal Care Products Safety Act. This is the first bill …

Increasing Access To Primary Care Using Np’S: The Framework For An Academic Based Nurse-Managed Center In California, Prabjot (Jodie) Sandhu

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

The dynamics of health care delivery and the role of health care providers is a changing canvas in the United States. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), sets a goal to increase access to health care. The systems that support the ACA are constantly under scrutiny as failing to provide key answers to provider shortage and health care access issues. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who are recognized by the ACA as a comprehensive part of this revolution are in a unique place to find opportunities to promote increased access to health and primary care services. While NPs in California …

The Creation And Implementation Of A Transgender Cultural Competence Nursing Education Toolkit, James Bl Donovan

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Healthcare disparities in the transgender populations have been linked to lack of healthcare provider cultural competence (IOM, 2011; Bradford et al., Harbin et al., 2012; Eliason, Dibble, & DeJoseph, 2010; Lim, Brown, & Jones, 2013). Prior research has identified that healthcare providers receive little, if any, transgender cultural competence training during their formal education. A survey of nursing educators at the University of San Francisco School (USF) of Nursing and Health Professions suggested that few educators are providing transgender content or understand the unique healthcare needs of that population. A literature review concluded that little is known about the best …

Healthy And Livable Pittsburg Initiative: Master Of Public Health Culminating Experience, Jasmine L. Bernal

Master's Projects and Capstones

Contra Costa Health Services Department of Community Wellness and Prevention sole purpose is to improve the environmental, social and economic conditions that contribute to poor health, and support a quality of life that promotes the health and well being of all residents within the county, with major attention to those underserved. The Healthy and Livable Pittsburg Initiative tries to address those issues within the city of Pittsburg. The project aims to engage certain members of the community within Pittsburg to be involved in the future community action plan, which will improve the lives of every resident in Pittsburg. The first …

Prevention Of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Through Information And Education At The California Department Of Public Health, Vaisali M. Patel

Master's Projects and Capstones

Immunizations are one of the most important developments in the twentieth century towards the prevention of infectious diseases. Vaccinations against communicable diseases have helped reduce morbidity and mortality all over the world. Despite having numerous vaccines that protect individuals from serious and deadly diseases, vaccination rates in the United States remain at an all-time low. The Information and Education section of the Immunization Branch within the Division of Communicable Disease Control at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) focuses on working with local health departments, primary care providers, immunization coalitions, and other statewide organizations to increase the rates of …

Trauma Informed Practices For Oakland Unite Service Providers, Maereg D. Haile

Master's Projects and Capstones

Oakland, California - a home to almost 400,000 residents - is the top five most violent cities of the nation. There are lots of factors that greatly contribute to violence including: Poverty, housing/homelessness, unemployment, food insecurity, educational attainment, substance abuse. These factors feed to greater healthy disparities and increased trauma in low-income communities – specifically in east and west Oakland. Measure Y, now called Oakland Unite, is the current violence prevention effort that is set for reauthorization in November 2014. In order for these efforts to continue, Oakland Unite has started looking at comprehensive violence prevention initiatives that includes mental …

Discovering Community Assets: Master Of Public Health Culminating Experience, Megan E. Sirna

Master's Projects and Capstones

The Sonoma County Department of Health Services, through Cradle to Career, promotes collective impact around educational attainment and workforce development, and has become a leader in developing a framework for community schools. The first step in developing a community schools model is to understand and inventory what is already going on in the community. This process, known more formally as asset mapping, is a participatory process focused on documenting the strengths and resources of a community. The collaborative nature of the process helps to promote community involvement and build community cohesion. In order to assist schools wanting to begin an …