College of Health and Human Services

Mason Launches Virginia’s First College of Public Health

Kristin Heydt — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 19:31:05 +0000

Mason Launches Virginia’s First College of Public Health Kristin Heydt Mon, 10/31/2022 - 15:31

New interdisciplinary college will benefit the region and beyond by responding to the commonwealth’s public health and workforce needs.

��AV announced today that it is launching the first and only College of Public Health in the Commonwealth of Virginia to meet the critical growing need for skilled, interdisciplinary health professionals and research across the state.

Peterson Family Health Sciences Hall at ��AV is home to Virginia's first and only College of Public Health. Photo credit: Evan Cantwell / ��AV

“Mason’s College of Public Health graduates will bring new and diverse talent to Virginia’s health workforce, addressing critical shortages and building a strong talent pipeline for the long-term health of the region,” said Mason President Gregory Washington. “Individuals, families, and communities will benefit from discoveries, clinical care, and public health practice initiatives generated by this multidisciplinary and multisector college.”

The College of Public Health brings an inclusive approach to public health education, research, and practice. More than 60% of the College of Public Health student body is from historically underrepresented groups, and 38% of its undergraduates are first-generation college students.

“As the first and only College of Public Health in Virginia, this launch reflects our academic and research mission and the pivotal leadership role we play in population health and well-being,” said College of Public Health Dean Melissa J. Perry. “Our distinctive set of degree offerings, our inclusive approach to research and education, and commitment to experiential learning opportunities prepare students to thrive in multicultural environments.”

The College of Public Health has outlined a number of key initiatives, including community engagement, workforce development, research, and education to meet public health infrastructure, research, and workforce needs.

“I have long supported expanding the public health and social services workforce to increase access to health care and improve the health of Virginians,” said U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. “I commend ��AV for establishing the commonwealth’s first College of Public Health to help train this critical workforce.… The college’s work on important issues, such as mental health, suicide prevention, opioid misuse, and providing health services to the underserved, is vital to our region’s future health.”

Mason’s proximity to federal health-related agencies, leading health systems, policymaking institutions, nonprofit community service organizations and global health consulting management firms makes it an ideal location for researching, teaching, influencing, and improving public health and well-being.

“��AV plays a critical role in strengthening Northern Virginia’s health care workforce and has long been a trusted partner in our efforts to improve access to affordable health care here in Fairfax and Prince William counties,” said U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, (D-Va.). “The newly established College of Public Health at George Mason is another step toward cementing Northern Virginia as a world-class center of excellence in health care, and I look forward to working with them to reduce disparities in health care training and delivery and to improve the health and quality of life of all Northern Virginians.”

“I am so excited to hear that ��AV will be opening the first College of Public Health in our region,” - Karen Berube, Inova Health System

“I am so excited to hear that ��AV will be opening the first College of Public Health in our region,” said Karen Berube, chief, community health and health equity, and senior vice president of Inova Health System. “Inova and Mason are long-standing partners, and we often hire Mason students and graduates who have knowledge of and experience with under-resourced communities. As we strive to improve the health of the communities we are so privileged to serve, it is vital that we have the necessary diverse workforce to make this vision a reality. I look forward to our partnership with the new College of Public Health.”

The announcement to rename the former College of Health and Human Services comes after formal approval by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

With Mason’s new College of Public Health, Virginia is now the 36th state in the country to have a College of Public Health and will benefit from increased community engagement, workforce development initiatives, and research of consequence with a focus on eliminating health disparities.

To support the new College of Public Health’s students, faculty, and initiatives, a College of Public Health Dean’s Fund has been created. Learn more at gmu.edu and publichealth.gmu.edu.

Learn more about the College of Public Health

“Individuals, families, and communities will benefit from discoveries, clinical care, and public health practice initiatives generated by this multidisciplinary and multisector college.”

-Mason President Gregory Washington

“I commend ��AV for establishing the commonwealth’s first College of Public Health to help train this critical workforce.… The college’s work on important issues, such as mental health, suicide prevention, opioid misuse, and providing health services to the underserved, is vital to our region’s future health."

-U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.)

Mason is Advancing Public Health

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Teen Vogue: Dr. Amira Roess is quoted in an article about the status of the COVID pandemic among different racial, economic, and regional groups

eander6 — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 15:57:02 +0000

Teen Vogue: Dr. Amira Roess is quoted in an article about the status of the COVID pandemic among different racial, economic, and regional groups eander6 Thu, 10/06/2022 - 11:57

In This Story

Amira Roess, PhD, MPH

Is The Pandemic Over? Experts Say No.

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pandemic

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College of Health and Human Services Department of Global and Community Health

Fox 5 DC (video): Dr. Lawrence Cheskin is interviewed about Mason research linking student dietary choices to potential health problems

eander6 — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 15:46:58 +0000

Fox 5 DC (video): Dr. Lawrence Cheskin is interviewed about Mason research linking student dietary choices to potential health problems eander6 Thu, 10/06/2022 - 11:46

In This Story

Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD

Study: Health risks stem from college student's meals. Cheskin starts at the 35-second mark.

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College of Health and Human Services Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

Building support for endometriosis, the invisible condition that will affect 1 in 10 biological females

Colleen Rich — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 15:06:18 +0000

Building support for endometriosis, the invisible condition that will affect 1 in 10 biological females Colleen Rich Thu, 09/29/2022 - 11:06

In This Story

Jhumka Gupta, ScD

Anna Pollack, PhD, MPH

In 2014, Julia Mandeville was informed that she had stage 4 endometriosis. Just two years later, she co-founded the organization Barbados Association of Endometriosis and PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) to raise awareness, support, and research efforts toward the condition.

“When I started my PhD, I was determined to find out more about endometriosis and how it affects Black women.”

Originally from Barbados, Mandeville immigrated to the United States in 2019 and started as a doctoral student in public health at Mason in 2021.

Julia Mandeville. Photo provided

“I’ve been diagnosed with this condition, and I recognize that a lot of people around me don’t know about it,” said Mandeville. “It’s important to not only educate my friends and family, but the community at large. These conditions are chronic. There’s no cure, but what can help is having a supportive community around you.”

Endometriosis is an enigmatic condition, she explained, that is typically defined by the presence of “endometria-like” cells found outside the uterus. The disease usually emerges between ages 11 and 16.

“If we can educate persons in that age group regardless of gender, that would hopefully be able to flow through our community,” Mandeville said.

Mandeville conducted educational outreach in her Barbados community with BAEP. “Barbados is very small so it’s really easy to go around the community and to a majority of the secondary schools to educate people there,” she said.

But she still had to break through knowledge barriers. “It was originally thought to only affect ‘career women,’ non-Hispanic White women, and Asian women,” said Mandeville. “That created a lot of barriers for diagnosis and treatment. Now we know better.”

Although it was considered a gynecological disorder and, in some instances, does impact gynecological function, it can be found anywhere in the body.

“It doesn’t just affect cis-women, it can also affect trans men, and there are a few case studies where it’s been found in men who have undergone hormonal therapy and their cells have changed.”

The only way to diagnose endometriosis is through exploratory surgery; the cause of the condition is unknown. Mandeville is developing theories for the cause of the disease with Mason researchers Jhumka Gupta and Anna Pollack of the College of Health and Human Services.

Pollack is an environmental epidemiologist who looks at chemical exposures and sexual reproductive health outcomes associated with them.

Julia Mandeville (right) speaking with attendees at an event in collaboration with ENDO Black. Photo provided

“Working with Julia is delightful,” Pollack said. “She’s amazing at putting together a team that has complimentary expertise to address a specific topic or health-related issue that she wants to tackle,” said Pollack.

Pollack explained two studies Mandeville is leading. In one, they are collecting pilot data to learn whether survey participants would be willing to provide biospecimen to the researchers. Those would then be analyzed for chemical exposure. “This is formative research, which when done that next step will be to add that chemical component,” said Pollack.

Mandeville’s research on “social aspects such as race and stigma helped to bridge my and Dr. Pollack's research as well,” said Gupta.

Mandeville also collaborates with the executive director of ENDO Black, Lauren Kornegay. She connected with Kornegay, head of the Black-women-led organization that advocates for BIPOC individuals affected by endometriosis, via social media before she moved to the United States.

Mandeville said she wants to emphasize the importance of educating all communities on endometriosis.

Of Mandeville’s dedication, Pollack said, “This is something that I think as a future researcher is incredibly rare.”

Mandeville submitted an abstract of her research to the American Public Health Association (APHA), which was accepted and will be presented at the APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo in November.

“I think we’re going to be reading a lot more about Julia in the years to come,” said Gupta.

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Washington Post: Students working at the MAP Clinics mentioned in article on ending hunger

eander6 — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 13:36:00 +0000

Washington Post: Students working at the MAP Clinics mentioned in article on ending hunger eander6 Thu, 09/22/2022 - 09:36

We can - and should - end hunger before 2030.

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USA Today: HAP Emeritus Faculty member Len Nichols quoted in article on health care efforts that need improvement

eander6 — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 13:34:13 +0000

USA Today: HAP Emeritus Faculty member Len Nichols quoted in article on health care efforts that need improvement eander6 Thu, 09/22/2022 - 09:34

The U.S. pours money into health care, then holds back on social services that can improve health.

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South Florida Reporter: Dr. Sapna Batheja comments on the limitations of research in an article on the weight loss method of front-loading calories

eander6 — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 15:59:05 +0000

South Florida Reporter: Dr. Sapna Batheja comments on the limitations of research in an article on the weight loss method of front-loading calories eander6 Tue, 09/13/2022 - 11:59

In This Story

Sapna Batheja, PhD, RDN, LDN

Why Front-Loading Calories May Not Help You Lose Weight.

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Mason now a top 10 public university for diversity, innovation, and cybersecurity education, U.S. News rankings show

Colleen Rich — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 19:48:02 +0000

Mason now a top 10 public university for diversity, innovation, and cybersecurity education, U.S. News rankings show Colleen Rich Mon, 09/12/2022 - 15:48

Photo by Sierra Guard/Creative Services

��AV is among the top 10 most diverse and innovative public universities in the country, as well as top 10 in undergraduate cybersecurity, according to U.S. News & World Report’s “2023 Best Colleges List” rankings released Monday.

Mason jumped five spots to seventh nationally for diversity, and moved up one place to eighth nationally and first in Virginia for innovation. Mason remains first in Virginia for both categories. The undergraduate cybersecurity program jumped to 10th nationally among public universities, up from 15th.

In addition, Mason moved up three spots in the overall rankings to 64th among public universities.

��AV President Gregory Washington said the three top 10 rankings and other U.S. News recognition acknowledge that Mason, with an enrollment nearing 40,000, is an institution that equally values providing opportunities, through the Mason Virginia Promise and other programs, and offering world-class academics and research that drive innovation in the dynamic Washington, D.C., region.

“It’s great to see that the country is recognizing what we already know—��AV is continuing its ascent among the nation’s best universities,” Washington said.

The rankings highlighted several other Mason programs (see a complete list at bottom), including:

Undergraduate computer science climbed five spots to 40th among public universities.
Undergraduate business, engineering and nursing programs also fared particularly well.

Mason has long been known for innovation, an ingrained experiential and entrepreneurial focus developed as a young university. Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation and economic development and president of the ��AV Research Foundation, said those strengths continue to grow through multidisciplinary research and external partnerships that bring together different thought leaders, from science and technological experts to the humanities and social sciences, to fuel innovation.

“Mason’s ability to discover and translate new ideas and technology is one of its signature strengths developed over 50 years of taking novel approaches to needs and opportunities,” Marshall said. “Mason is a large-scale university with large-scale impact.”

Mason’s jump in the U.S. News diversity rankings reflects the university’s increasingly diverse freshman classes and Mason’s ability to attract, retain and graduate students from all backgrounds with no marked disparities in outcomes.

Mason’s Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence efforts underscore that commitment, as does a recent National Science Foundation grant dedicated to building and maintaining more diverse faculty and staff. Mason was also recently ranked by College Factual as No. 1 in the nation for serving veterans and No. 2 among public universities for serving nontraditional students.

“Diversity in its many forms is among our greatest assets at Mason and is in fact one of the many reasons students choose Mason,” said Sharnnia Artis, vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. “Students feel welcome and supported in our university community. These interpersonal experiences on our campuses is another way in which we prepare our students to be successful.”

The cyber and computer science rankings emphasize Mason’s leading role in the Tech Talent Investment Program, a statewide initiative to fill critical job vacancies in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In addition to the cyber and computer science rankings, undergraduate engineering was 57th among public universities, another indication that Mason is educating and graduating the digital innovators of the future.

“Mason is holding up its end of the bargain in delivering career-ready tech talent in high-demand fields,” said Ken Ball, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing. “These accolades also shine a light on Fuse at Mason Square, which will soon be a hub of innovation in support of Amazon HQ2 and the tech industry throughout the region.”

Other Mason undergraduate programs U.S. News rated particularly highly were undergraduate business (53rd among publics) and nursing (70th).

The business school ranking highlights a host of strengths in serving students, including the school’s national and international focus, said School of Business Dean Ajay Vinzé, whose ambitious goals include building a new business school.

“This ranking affirms our ability to produce career-ready graduates, stay atop of technology and innovation, conduct impactful research, and collaborate with the business community,” Vinzé said.

The undergraduate nursing category was a ranking that U.S. News added last year. Mason’s ranking, up from last year, comes at a time when the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) is vying to become the state’s first College of Public Health.

CHHS Dean Melissa J. Perry noted that health care careers are expected to increase by more than 2 million jobs in the next decade. Mason has been supplying the region with nurses for almost five decades.

“There is a nursing crisis, and there is a health care provider crisis,” Perry said. “The U.S. News recognition signals to the country that Mason is rising to this challenge by providing top-notch educational opportunities to ensure a future with expertly prepared health care providers.”

Overall ranking
Publics: 64 (up from 67)
Nationally: 137 (up from 148)

Diversity
Publics: 7 (up from 12) Best in Virginia
Nationally: 13(up from 21)

Innovation
Publics: 8 (up from 9) Best in Virginia
Nationally: 20

Undergraduate Cybersecurity
Publics: 10 (up from 15)
Nationally: 19 (up from 28)

Undergraduate Computer Science
Publics: 40 (up from 45)
Nationally: 72 (up from 82)

Undergraduate Business
Publics: 53
Nationally: 86

Undergraduate Engineering
Publics: 57
Nationally: 94

Undergraduate Nursing
Publics: 70 (up from 71)
Nationally: 93 (up from 96)

Best for Veterans
Publics: 58 (up from 62)
Nationally: 89

A+ School for B Students

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More About How Mason Stacks Up in the Rankings

George Mason’s vital role in advancing Virginia as America’s top state in business
July 15, 2024
George Mason in the Rankings
June 18, 2024
Student Health Services’ designation for LGBTQ+ health care practices is the latest recognition of George Mason’s inclusive campus environment
May 31, 2024
Mason has 14 graduate programs in the top 50 in U.S. News rankings
April 10, 2024
Mason’s research is best in Virginia in multiple EduRank rankings
April 3, 2024

In This Story

Gregory Washington

Kenneth Ball

Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS

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College of Engineering and Computing

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President's Task Force on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence

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diversity equity and inclusion DEI

Fierce Healthcare: Affiliate faculty member Peter Kongstvedt is quoted in an article on COVID-19 vaccine coverage questions for insurers

eander6 — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 20:35:31 +0000

Fierce Healthcare: Affiliate faculty member Peter Kongstvedt is quoted in an article on COVID-19 vaccine coverage questions for insurers eander6 Fri, 09/09/2022 - 16:35

In This Story

Peter Kongstvedt, MD

COVID vaccine coverage questions abound for health insurers.

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College of Health and Human Services Department of Health Administration and Policy

Terri Ann Guingab is September Employee of the Month

Colleen Rich — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 15:32:05 +0000

Terri Ann Guingab is September Employee of the Month Colleen Rich Tue, 09/06/2022 - 11:32

President Gregory Washington and September Employee of the Month Terri Ann Guingab. Photo by Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications

When faculty, staff, and students in ��AV’s College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) need support with any technology challenges, they are usually told to “Keep calm and call Terri Ann Guingab,” an instructional designer in the college’s Office of Academic Affairs.

“I once told a colleague, ‘If it has a power plug, I take care of it,’” Guingab said. “And even if it doesn’t have an electrical plug, I’m always happy to help.”

Guingab, who has worked at Mason for 26 years, has helped faculty with online teaching, course design and preparation.

“Terri Ann is the go-to person in our college and has always been there for all of us, ready to assist with any technology-related need,” said Claudia Giliberti, financial analyst for the Department of Health Administration and Policy. “She is a true Patriot.”

Guingab’s colleagues say she is a “Blackboard expert,” an “IT troubleshooter,” a “jack of all trades,” and, oftentimes, a “lifesaver.”

For her guidance and technical skills, Guingab is September Employee of the Month.

“Her hard work and service has allowed faculty to teach more efficiently, and students learn more effectively,” said Alicia Hong, professor of health administration policy in CHHS.

Guingab, a self-described proponent of lifelong learning, earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1996 and a master’s in curriculum and instruction in 2009, both through Mason. She also earned an online teaching certificate in 2012 through the Online Learning Consortium.

Guingab began working at Mason in 1996 and has worked in technical support, website management, photography, video recording and editing, computer lab management, training and teaching, and her primary responsibilities of instructional design and instructional technology support.

She received the inaugural Distance Education Award in 2012 by Mason’s Office of Distance Education for her efforts supporting quality online course offerings. She also received the Outstanding Achievement Award, designed to recognize individuals for their significant achievements for the betterment of the university,

in 2004 by Human Resources and Payroll’s reward and recognition program.

“The impact of her work easily touches more than 90% of the faculty and staff within CHHS,” said P.J. Maddox, professor and chair of the Department of Health Administration and Policy. “She is hands-down considered everyone's most valuable employee.”

How she got to Mason:

I started working for what was then Mason’s College of Nursing and Health Science right after receiving my BSN from Mason in 1996. I thought this would be a part-time summer job while studying for boards and searching for a nursing job. I passed the boards but never got around to that job search because I enjoyed working at Mason so much.

Best day on the job:

It’s hard to pick one after being at Mason for 26 years, but any day where I’m able to help someone out is a great day.

What she likes best about working at Mason:

I love working with an incredibly supportive group of faculty, staff, and students both in CHHS and in the larger Mason community. I also love problem solving and taking on new challenges that help me grow my skills.

What she does when he’s not working:

I’m a huge board game, tabletop role-playing game, and video game nerd. When I’m not being nerdy, I like to paint miniatures, walk and listen to podcasts, go ballroom dancing with my husband, snuggle with our cat Oliver, and eat the delicious meals my husband makes.

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