CHHS News

$1.1 Million HRSA grant to create interprofessional health care learning lab in the College of Public Health

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 14:59:48 +0000

$1.1 Million HRSA grant to create interprofessional health care learning lab in the College of Public Health Mary Cunningham Tue, 11/08/2022 - 09:59

In This Story

Rebecca Sutter, DNP, APRN, BC-FNP

Alison Evans Cuellar, PhD, MBA

Maria Uriyo

Kenneth W. Griffin, PhD, MPH

Michelle S. Williams, PhD, MSPH

Patrice Winter, PT, DPT, MHA, FAAOMPT

Lisa M. Gring-Pemble

Anne Magro

Professor of Nursing Rebecca Sutter, along with faculty and students across colleges, will lead the creation of an interprofessional Learning Laboratory for Community Health.

Nothing has exposed the unmet health and social needs of communities more clearly than the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for the people and communities that historically have been marginalized. The pandemic impacts have elevated the need to improve how we train our future health care workforce, and the multidisciplinary teams in which they function. Faculty in Mason’s College of Public Health know that new, alternative approaches to delivering and accessing health care to individuals, families, and communities is essential, and they are playing a leading role in training the next generation.

The Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) awarded Professor of Nursing Rebecca Sutter with a $1,150,000 grant to create an interprofessional Learning Laboratory for Community Health that trains students to serve and improve health care for underserved communities. The award was made possible by the efforts Congressman Gerry Connolly of Virginia's 11th District, who shepherded the proposal through Congress.

The Learning Laboratory will focus on building students' capacity to consider health care in the community in a broader context and will allow students to design and implement evidence-based solutions, while fueling their understanding of population health improvement for communities.

“We must train the next generation of health and social service students to better understand the role of community partnering, the use of data, and the deployment of novel technologies and approaches across the health and social care continuum,” said Sutter, director of the Mason and Partner Clinics

In partnership with community stakeholders, participants in the Lab will identify, design, and disseminate data-driven and evidence-based models of social health care improvement, and offer recommendations to community partners on opportunities to improve social health and community impact. 

Students participating in the Lab will help faculty develop a list of priority health and health care topics for Northern Virginia and develop case studies around these topics. Case studies will explore interventions and approaches with broad impact and potential to reduce disparities, with an emphasis on community-based health promotion, health care access, and disease prevention programs, services, and policies.

“By creating evidence-based projects with an interprofessional team, students will build their capacity to consider health care from many angles, which will fuel their understanding of population health improvements and help them become public health leaders who ensure access to care for marginalized communities in Northern Virginia,” said Sutter.

The interprofessional team includes faculty lead Alison Cuellar and Mario Uriyo from the Department of Health Administration and Policy; Kenneth Griffin, Michelle Williams, and Patrice Winter from the Department of Global and Community Health; and Lisa Gring-Pemble and Anne Magro from Mason Business for a Better World). Ashley Wiest is serving as the Program Coordinator. Megan Harvey is serving as the Partner Liaison. They are accompanied by a team of graduate-level research assistants: Lameck Chiwaka, Naga Tejaswi Veluri, Judy Gutierrez, Patricia Tran, Marissa Bolouri-rad, Jordan Turner, William McKinley, Ruhma Hand, Sarah Moore, Jaya Yannam, and Tumen Sosorburam.

Topics

Workforce Development

Research

Alumni Mentorship Program Boosts Students’ Career Readiness

John Brandon Cantrell — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 13:00:23 +0000

Alumni Mentorship Program Boosts Students’ Career Readiness John Brandon C… Fri, 08/05/2022 - 09:00

The pilot program increased graduating students’ confidence in navigating their careers after graduation.

Students graduating with a Master of Public Health (MPH) or a Master of Science in Global Health degree are met with many career prospects; however, navigating today’s job market can be daunting. The Mason Public Health Mentor Program pilot aims to support graduating Global and Community Health (GCH) graduate students by pairing them with GCH alumni mentors, who provide professional guidance and career advice in the public health field.

The pilot mentorship program had successful outcomes for both students and alumni. Students reported increased confidence in their academic and professional endeavors, while alumni valued the chance to give back to their Mason community by sharing insight into the public health field with future graduates.

Kelly Beckwith

“The program is designed to connect Mason students with someone who also graduated from Mason–who has been in their shoes and can provide guidance on an individual level,” said Kelly Beckwith, assistant director of academic programs for GCH and organizer of the mentorship pilot. “I’ve been at Mason for nearly six years and have seen so many of our graduates become accomplished alumni. I wanted to provide them with an opportunity to connect with current students, which strengthens the Mason Nation and the field of public health.”

In collaboration with other GCH faculty, Beckwith paired students with alumni working in the students’ desired field and supplied the pairs with a workbook to help lead the discussion on professional development and understanding the current job market.

The pilot program during the 2021-22 school year allowed students and alumni mentors to explore topics on career readiness, such as practicing mock interviews, incorporating work-life balance in careers, confronting imposter syndrome, and identifying workplace bias.

Reena Rhim

Reena Rhim, a 2022 MPH graduate, found the mentor program helpful with her job search.

“I am so thankful for this [mentorship] program,” Rhim said. “I was able to build a deeper connection with my mentor and [explain] what I was going through. The mentorship allowed me to ask questions and gain honest feedback —specifically on what to expect during my practicum, outside of graduation, and when working in the public health field. I had several concerns about job searching after graduation, and my mentor addressed my concerns with open and honest advice, which genuinely helped me succeed in finding a job.”

After graduating, Rhim accepted a position as a health policy project analyst at Discern Health, where she conducts research on health care topics as well as analyzes and interprets health care legislation and regulations related to federal value-based payment programs.

Elizabeth Bramhall

Elizabeth Bramhall, a 2014 MPH alumna and Rhim’s mentor in the program, enjoyed sharing professional guidance and building a professional relationship with Rhim.

“Having the opportunity to give back and make even a small difference in someone's career is extremely rewarding,” said Bramhall, who works as a biological safety officer for the U.S. Army. “My goals for entering the mentorship program were to engage with the current MPH program and to be a sounding board for my mentee. I believe I met these goals and would like to continue to participate in the mentorship program in the future.”

Bramhall encourages Mason students to seek support from alumni members when entering the professional workforce.

“Many alums love to find ways to give back,” Bramhall said. “They may not be able to get you a job directly, but they may be able to set you up with more contacts and open your eyes to new career paths that you didn't know existed before.”

For Beckwith, the pilot program gave her the opportunity to help more students advance their professional development and career prospects.

“I hope that future students see this as an exciting opportunity for them to get a leg up on the job market as they leave Mason and go out into the public health workforce,” Beckwith said. “By strengthening their career development skills, as well as strengthening the connection between students and alumni, I hope we can make an even bigger impact on the public’s health throughout the area.”

For questions about the Fall 2022-Spring 2023 Mason Public Health Mentor Program, please reach out to Kelly Beckwith at kbeckwi2@gmu.edu.

Topics

Master of Public Health

Global Health

Alumni Spotlight

Forbes Ranks Mason’s Online Master of Social Work Program in the 10 Best Online MSW Programs of 2022

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 13:14:34 +0000

Forbes Ranks Mason’s Online Master of Social Work Program in the 10 Best Online MSW Programs of 2022 Mary Cunningham Tue, 08/02/2022 - 09:14

In This Story

Emily Ihara, PhD, MSW, FGSA

The College of Health and Human Services is pleased to announce that the Department of Social Work’s online Master of Social Work (MSW) program was included in Forbes’ list of the Best Online MSW Programs of 2022. The MSW program, which is one of the fastest growing degree programs at Mason, is the only Virginia program included in the top 10 list.

Forbes highlighted the program’s commitment to empowerment and social justice by preparing Mason students to serve historically underrepresented communities with a curriculum centering on social policy, human behavior, clinical practice, and research methods. In addition, Forbes noted the program’s high graduation rate and graduates’ median income for a top-value education.

“There is a growing demand for social workers as people everywhere begin realizing how the conditions of their environments affect their mental and physical health concerns. Our MSW program trains students to think at both the macro and micro level, equipping them with the tools needed to improve the social determinants of health at the individual or population level,” said Emily Ihara, chair of the Department of Social Work. “Our online students gain these skills in addition to having the flexibility to complete the program from anywhere in the U.S.”

Learn more about the fully-accredited Master of Social Work program.

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Nutritional Supplements and Education Decrease Inflammation in Diabetic Patients with Foot Ulcers

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 15:36:04 +0000

Nutritional Supplements and Education Decrease Inflammation in Diabetic Patients with Foot Ulcers Mary Cunningham Tue, 06/28/2022 - 11:36

In This Story

Raedeh Basiri, PhD, RDN

A new study by Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Food Studies Raedeh Basiri shows that nutritional interventions play a pivotal role in treatment and healing.

Nutritional supplementation and education would support faster healing in patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

A diabetic foot ulcer, an open wound on the foot, affects about 25% of diabetes patients, and without proper care, ulcers can lead to amputation. As with all chronic wounds, diabetic foot ulcers are persistently inflamed, which slows the healing process.

A new study by ��AV Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Food Studies Raedeh Basiri finds that in people with diabetic foot ulcers, nutritional supplements and nutritional education can significantly decrease inflammation and enhance the healing process.

“Currently, nutritional interventions or referral to dietitians are not part of diabetic foot ulcer standard care. Our results show that nutritional interventions play an important role in decreasing inflammation and should be an integral part of treatment, underscoring the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to clinical care,” said Basiri, who is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Food Studies Raedeh Basiri

Participants in the intervention group of the study were educated about improving their dietary intake by increasing their consumption of low-fat/high-bioavailable protein sources, vegetables, and high-fiber carbohydrates, as well as decreasing their intake of refined and simple carbohydrates.

In addition to nutritional education, patients took a nutritional supplement. People with diabetic foot ulcers have a significantly lower intake of micronutrients, especially potent antioxidants, which have shown the potential to alleviate chronic inflammation. The nutritional supplement provided at least 50% of the Food and Nutrition Board’s recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for antioxidants, and the nutrition education supported patients receiving the remaining antioxidant recommendations from their diet.

The study evaluated the effects of nutrition supplementation and education on inflammatory biomarkers in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. After 12 weeks, concentrations of the inflammatory biomarker IL6 decreased significantly in the intervention group, but increased drastically in the control group. Results on other biomarkers were not statistically significant. The sample size was relatively small, so researchers recommend more clinical trials with larger sizes to confirm the results.

To the research team’s knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled trial that uses both nutrition education and supplementation for improving inflammation status in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. “Improving Dietary Intake of Essential Nutrients Can Ameliorate Inflammation in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers” was published in Nutrients in June 2022.

Topics

CHHS News

CHHS Research

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

College of Health and Human Services Faculty Discuss Public Health Implications of Supreme Court Ruling Limiting Women’s Reproductive Freedom

mthomp7 — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 18:49:06 +0000

College of Health and Human Services Faculty Discuss Public Health Implications of Supreme Court Ruling Limiting Women’s Reproductive Freedom mthomp7 Fri, 06/24/2022 - 14:49

In This Story

Jhumka Gupta, ScD

Karen Trister Grace

Michelle D. Hand, PhD, MSW, LSW

Anna Pollack, PhD, MPH

Faculty in the College of Health and Human Services share their perspectives on the public health implications of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 24, 2022, decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision protecting a woman's liberty to choose to have an abortion. The decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization upheld a Mississippi law that makes abortion illegal after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

To speak with CHHS faculty experts on matters related to public health, please contact Michelle Thompson at mthomp7@gmu.edu.

Karen Trister Grace, PhD, MSN, CNM, FACNM, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing

For survivors of intimate partner violence, abortion is a critical strategy for achieving safety and separation from a violent or coercive partner. Abortion is also an essential medical procedure and a key component of public health. Autonomy in reproductive decision-making is a core human right that I will continue to fight to provide for my patients.

Jhumka Gupta, ScD, Associate Professor, Department of Global and Community Health

This decision severely threatens the health of women and all those who can become pregnant. Not everyone will be able to travel out of state for an abortion – and the egregious health impacts will disproportionately impact those who already face the brunt of societal and health injustices, including those with less income, those who are disabled, Black communities and other communities of color, survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault, and immigrant communities. This is essentially violence through policy. Access to safe abortion is a basic public health and human right.

Michelle D. Hand, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work

My concern is that women will remain in domestically violent relationships for an even longer period of time, which would

place both themselves and their children at an increased risk for violence and early death. This decision, surrounding the autonomy of women’s bodies, will likely impact survivors of sexual violence as well, exacerbating pre-existing reasonable responses to trauma. Several women will likely feel that their voices are silenced within our healthcare system, which is already in need of a more trauma-informed, patient-centered approach. As such, we, as healthcare professionals and scholars, will need to explore more trauma-responsive resources, interventions and approaches to healthcare delivery along with further domestic violence prevention and intervention strategies, while advocating for policy change.

Anna Z. Pollack, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Global and Community Health

Abortion is health care. Today's decision will disproportionately impact birthing people of color. The maternal mortality rate is 2-3 times higher for Black birthing people compared to White birthing people. Wealthy people will continue to be able to travel to obtain a safe abortion but poor individuals who lack the means to travel to obtain an abortion will experience adverse birth outcomes, which disproportionately impact communities of color. This decision will lead to increased childhood poverty, in a country that already leads the western world in that metric. Public health depends upon safe and equitable access to abortion.

Topics

Reproductive Health

Intimate Partner Violence

Public Health

CHHS News

Monkeypox Background: Origins, Globalization, and Public Health

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 13:18:03 +0000

Monkeypox Background: Origins, Globalization, and Public Health Mary Cunningham Mon, 06/06/2022 - 09:18

In This Story

Amira Roess, PhD, MPH

Dr. Amira Roess shares some background on the disease, how globalization contributes to its spread, and the important role of public health in its containment and prevention.

Dr. Amira Roess specializes in infectious diseases like COVID-19 and monkeypox, especially reducing the transmission of diseases that originate through animal-human contact.

Monkeypox may seem like it came out of nowhere, but it has been around for more than 70 years. Globalization — how technology and transportation have made people, countries, and companies around the world more connected — has increased the likelihood that any disease may spread around the world faster. Epidemiologist and Professor at ��AV Dr. Amira Roess shares some background on monkeypox, how globalization contributes to its spread, and the important role of public health in its containment and prevention.

Roess specializes in infectious diseases like COVID-19 and monkeypox, especially reducing the transmission of diseases that originate through animal-human contact. Roess investigated and responded to monkeypox infections in 2008 while serving as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Where did monkeypox come from?

We have more than 70 years of evidence that monkeypox is a naturally occurring virus, first recognized in the late 1950s. It circulates among rodents and when humans handle infected rodents or other infected animals or objects humans are then infected. The reality is that there are many viruses circulating among wildlife that periodically spillover into human populations. We cannot predict what triggers these events, but we do know that our growing encroachment on wildlife coupled with the increase in urbanization and globalization has meant that spillover events are more widely felt.

Monkeypox outbreaks have historically occurred in central and west African countries, but is still relatively rare compared to other viruses.

How has urbanization and globalization increased the spread of diseases?

The first monkeypox virus outbreaks were localized in remote areas in Central Africa and did not lead to cases outside of the outbreak area. Subsequent outbreaks spread from remote areas to larger cities but rarely outside of the affected country. As urbanization increased, the outbreaks became larger because more individuals came into close contact with infected individuals but the outbreaks still rarely were felt outside of the affected country.

With the increase in both urbanization and globalization, we will feel outbreaks from a zoonotic, or animal, origin more acutely throughout the world. It's not just monkeypox or Ebola, but also mosquito-borne viruses like dengue, that have spread further than ever because of our introduction and reintroduction of the mosquito that carries it throughout the world. There are many examples of these viruses that live in nature and that spillover in part due to human behavior and then are transmitted directly because of our behaviors. The expectation among a lot of us is that with globalization there would be global cooperation in public health and surveillance.

How can public health departments and vaccines help with this outbreak?

In many countries the benefits of public works and public health infrastructure are felt far and wide. In many places people know the impact of infectious diseases. For example, they know someone who had polio and lives with physical limitations from it. They know people who have lost infants due to tetanus or measles. What these diseases have in common is that they are preventable with vaccines. As we have gotten better at providing vaccines and reducing mortality from infectious diseases, we also seem to forget that these pathogens and many more are lurking in the background. They are real. Public health departments can help the public understand the potential threat from monkeypox and any disease and promote the importance of vaccines.

In theory, the smallpox vaccine can protect individuals against monkeypox. In practice, a very limited number of individuals have received a smallpox vaccine because people stopped receiving the vaccine in the early 1970s once the disease was eradicated. So more and more of our population is susceptible to Orthopoxviruses such as monkeypox.

See Dr. Roess’s other tip sheets for information about monkeypox:

Dr. Amira Roess specializes in infectious diseases, especially reducing the transmission of diseases that spread between animals and humans, including coronaviruses like MERS-CoV and SAR-CoV-2, the latter of which causes COVID-19. She worked on monkeypox and other viruses when she served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the CDC’s Poxvirus and Rabies Branch.

She is a professor of Global Health and Epidemiology at ��AV's College of Health and Human Services, Department of Global and Community Health. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Roess served as the Science Director for the Pew Commission on Industrial Food Animal Production at Johns Hopkins, and was an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer at the CDC. She has served as consultant for the United States Agency for International Development, the World Bank, and Westat Inc.

For more information, contact Michelle Thompson at 703-993-3485 or mthomp7@gmu.edu.

About Mason

��AV, Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at http://www.gmu.edu.

About the College of Health and Human Services

The College of Health and Human Services prepares students to become leaders and to shape the public's health through academic excellence, research of consequence, community outreach, and interprofessional clinical practice. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in its nationally-recognized offerings, including 6 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 6 certificate programs. The college is transitioning to a college of public health in the near future. For more information, visit https://chhs.gmu.edu/.

Topics

How Pop Culture Ignited a Career in Social Work

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 12:44:51 +0000

How Pop Culture Ignited a Career in Social Work Mary Cunningham Mon, 06/06/2022 - 08:44

Bachelor of Social Work student Alondra Ortega speaks about how her personal values to help children integrate with her career aspirations.

May 2022 Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) graduate Alondra Ortega’s motivation to pursue a career as a social worker was ignited after watching an episode of the popular crime fiction television show Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Ortega has always been aware of her desire to aid vulnerable populations and the depiction of an overwhelmed child welfare system solidified her decision to enter the field.

“The episode touched on the reality of burnout among child welfare workers and emphasized the need for workers who are committed to making a change and helping children in need,” Ortega said. “The message of that episode resonated deeply with me.”

Ortega’s drive to help underserved communities has allowed her to collaborate with others who share her commitment.

No Stranger to Advocacy

Ortega is an active member of Corazones Unidos Siempre Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc., an organization that is devoted to improving the unique obstacles minority women in our communities face and to working toward the betterment of all women. In partnership with FACETS, a Fairfax County non-profit dedicated to ending poverty, Chi Upsilon Sigma created care packages and hosted a feminine hygiene drive. At the institution where she was previously an intern, Ortega also created a diversity, equity, and inclusion team to encourage cultural competency.

“I enjoy giving back to the community because I believe it is important to take care of the community that shaped us as individuals whether that be organizing a donation drive, doing a small clean up with my family, or advocating for a social justice issue,” said Ortega.

Ortega models how Mason’s BSW prepares future social work professionals to be leaders in their field by providing a range of opportunities to develop broad knowledge and skills. Because of her efforts, Ortega recently won the BSW Advocacy Award.

“I am dedicated to being an influential member of society by supporting and advocating on behalf of those who make up the future of our communities, children. I am honored to have been recognized, among other talented students, by the faculty and staff of the BSW program,” Ortega said.

For her practicum, Ortega worked as a Family Services Specialist Intern at a local department of social services where she assisted in foster care cases, home visits, family assessments, documentation, client referrals, interpretation, and translation. After graduating she plans to continue working at her practicum placement full-time as a Family Services Specialist.

“Children are perhaps the most innocent beings in this life, and it is our duty to protect that innocence and promote their well-being. I am committed to working toward the betterment of the social conditions that increase the risk of child abuse and neglect,” said Ortega.

Topics

Is Monkeypox the Next Pandemic?

Mary Cunningham — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 21:01:18 +0000

Is Monkeypox the Next Pandemic? Mary Cunningham Fri, 06/03/2022 - 17:01

In This Story

Amira Roess, PhD, MPH

As more monkeypox infections are identified throughout the U.S. and the world, the public is more curious about the disease, especially because we are still in a global pandemic. Epidemiologist and professor at ��AV Dr. Amira Roess answers more questions about monkeypox’s transmissibility, similarities to COVID-19, why it’s spreading now, and other questions the public should know.

Roess specializes in infectious diseases like COVID-19 and monkeypox, especially reducing the transmission of diseases that originate through animal-human contact. Roess investigated and responded to poxviruses infections, including monkeypox, in 2008 while serving as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

See the previous tip sheet from Dr. Roess: “What to Know About Monkeypox and the Potential for an Outbreak in the U.S.,” to learn more about how the disease spreads and how to prevent it.

Is monkeypox the next pandemic?

This outbreak, while global, may not evolve to a pandemic at the same magnitude as COVID-19 given a few key things. First, it is not as transmissible as COVID-19. Transmission is really limited to close physical contact during the infectious period. Many infected individuals end up with a rash and this makes it easier for individuals to realize that they have it and seek care. Health care workers and health departments across the world are now aware of monkeypox and what needs to be done if there is a suspected case. This means that there is a chance to stop transmission. For as long as the virus remains this way and health care workers and health departments have the resources to respond, we have a chance of controlling this and preventing a large-scale pandemic. If we lose momentum to contain the viral spread then we could see more cases.

Is monkeypox as easily transmitted as COVID-19?

Our previous experience with monkeypox has demonstrated that it is less transmissible than the current variants of the COVID-19 virus circulating. Like COVID-19, monkeypox is transmissible through close contact with infected individuals, especially close physical contact, which means we will see more close contacts and health care workers and their close contacts infected before the outbreak is behind us.

Will monkeypox turn into the next COVID-19? Will a shutdown be necessary to prevent spread?

The COVID-19 virus is a novel one, meaning we had not seen it previously and thus had no scientific or medical experience with it. We relied on our knowledge and experience with other coronaviruses and respiratory pathogens to guide early decision making. We know more about the monkeypox virus, although a lot less than we would like to know.

Governments and global leaders are well aware of the global pandemic fatigue and are hesitant to impose similar measures to control monkeypox as they did the COVID-19 virus. Our previous experience suggests that because monkeypox is less transmissible than COVID-19 it will not be necessary to impose stay-at-home orders or restrict movement at the scale that we have seen. Recommendations and precautions could evolve, if for example, the virus evolves, or changes, and we end up with into a more transmissible strain or a more virulent strain of monkeypox, then we will have to change strategies. But this seems improbable given the current epidemiologic situation.

Objective and factual information from a reputable source like the World Health Organization, the CDC, or a local health department is really all that most of us need. Knowing what is happening locally is very important. For example, if there is a local case of monkeypox in your town, the health department will conduct contact tracing as quickly as possible to make sure that individuals are notified, can quarantine, and receive care as quickly as possible.

Is monkeypox a sexually transmitted disease?

A large number of individuals involved in the current outbreak were exposed to sexual partners who were infected. This does not mean that it is a sexually transmitted infection in the strict sense. For an infection to be sexually transmitted we expect that infectious virus would be transmitted through semen and vaginal fluids. So far, we have not detected virus in these fluids, but this requires much more study.

When we saw outbreaks in west and central Africa and in the US in 2003, what often happened was that an individual became exposed to monkeypox from handling an infected animal and then became infected themselves. The infected individual then went on to infect household members through close contact and even health care workers who were caring for them. We are seeing something similar now in many countries.

Why is monkeypox spreading more now than before?

We've dealt with numerous monkeypox outbreaks over the last few decades, since monkeypox virus was first identified in the late 1950s. Monkeypox outbreaks tend to burn themselves out, and historically that was due to the limited chain of transmission from the point of the spillover event to the close contacts of the first human case. However, increased encroachment into wildlife areas, combined with rapid urbanization and globalization means that we will see elongated chains of transmission.

The patients identified in Europe and elsewhere were misdiagnosed in some cases as having syphilis or herpes and given treatments that would not work against monkeypox. Health care workers outside of Africa, rarely, if ever, think about monkeypox; and why would they when most have never seen it and most were trained by doctors who also had never seen it. This all meant that the current outbreak went undetected for a while and, unfortunately, we will see more close contacts and health care workers and their close contacts infected before the outbreak is behind us.

In addition, the immunity many people had as a result of the smallpox vaccination campaign has waned considerably because the last case was more than 40 years ago and global smallpox vaccination was discontinued following the successful eradication smallpox.

Looking for even more information about monkeypox? Read “Monkeypox Background: Origins, Globalization, and Public Health,” where Roess answers additional questions about the disease.

Additional articles on poxviruses co-authored by Dr. Roess:

For more information, contact Michelle Thompson at 703-993-3485 or mthomp7@gmu.edu.

About the College of Health and Human Services

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How the Baby Formula Shortage Disproportionally Affects Black and Low-Income Babies

Mary Cunningham — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 14:39:13 +0000

How the Baby Formula Shortage Disproportionally Affects Black and Low-Income Babies Mary Cunningham Fri, 06/03/2022 - 10:39

In This Story

Amira Roess, PhD, MPH

Existing health disparities are creating a bigger disadvantage for Black and low-income families and babies during the U.S. baby formula shortage.

Dr. Amira Roess studies the differences in breastfeeding between Black and non-Black mothers

The U.S. baby formula shortage negatively affects all babies who rely on formula; however, the shortage increases existing disparities that Black and low-income families and babies face. A recall from Abbott, a maker of one-third of U.S. baby formula, has halted production and caused a shortage in the U.S.

Epidemiologist and professor at ��AV Dr. Amira Roess studies the differences in breastfeeding between Black and non-Black mothers and conducted a national study of infant and toddler eating patterns. Her recent research highlights the disparities for Black mothers enrolled in DC’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Roess shares insights on how the formula shortage is disproportionally affecting Black and low-income babies and is available for further comment.

Does one population rely on baby formula more than another?

The baby formula shortage is leading to a serious risk of undernutrition among Black and low-income infants. U.S. data shows that Black infants are breastfed less than other racial groups and that families on WIC are less likely to breastfeed as well. This means these populations are more likely to rely solely on baby formula. Additionally, Black infants already are at an increased risk of mortality and morbidity and this is in part due to access to quality health care. The baby formula shortage may further this health gap.

Why can’t more people breastfeed their babies?

Breastfeeding does not come naturally to every new mom, and it is a lot of work. It often requires the support of partners, the medical system, and possibly lactation consultants. Not everyone has access to all these resources or the time needed to pump breast milk. Mothers with low income are especially burdened by this lack of resources. Black mothers in the lowest income groups often struggle with basic needs. This can lead to high stress which can cause lower milk production, higher risk for postpartum depression, and poorer health outcomes for mom and baby.

How does structural racism play a part in this?

In the U.S., breastfeeding was historically viewed as something that poorer moms did. For example, slave owners often had black wet nurses. In the 1940s and on, there was a push to promote formula and other alternatives to breast milk and pediatricians and other health care providers pushing for formula use often received payments from formula companies. This meant that over time breastfeeding was looked down upon. In addition, as more women went to work outside of the home anything related to child-rearing was generally frowned upon as something that would hinder career advancement. It was not until the 1970s that we saw a significant push by moms and breastfeeding advocates to promote breastfeeding again. Slowly with time breastfeeding became something that more privileged moms would do. Unfortunately, the damage from the previous decades was done and we are still dealing with the repercussions of that.

For these and a variety of other socio-economic and societal reasons, Black and low-income mothers rely more on formula today. More Black mothers have hourly jobs where there is no access to places or time for pumping or refrigeration for storing milk. They often work further away from their home, which translates to less time with their infant and sometimes a lower supply of breastmilk.

Will any families and babies be affected more than others by the shortage?

Families who rely on formula and cannot afford the increased price will be more at risk for adverse outcomes. We have seen an increase in hospitalization and a few deaths due to families rationing formula. Families on WIC are vulnerable because they were not able to access the imported formula using their WIC vouchers until recently. There has been an effort to allow WIC vouchers to be used for any formula, however, in reality, there is still a lot of confusion at the point of retail with both moms and retailers. Some retailers are unable to accept the WIC vouchers for the formula brands not under the initial contracts. At least two infants have died and many more are at risk for undernutrition. It is unconscionable that in the U.S. in 2022 this has happened and that we are facing a situation where low-income Black babies remain at higher risk for malnutrition.

Dr. Amira Roess is a professor in the Department of Global and Community Health at ��AV's College of Health and Human Services. Her expertise includes infectious diseases epidemiology, evaluating interventions to reduce the transmission and impact of infectious diseases, and infant health. Dr. Roess holds a PhD in global disease epidemiology and control from Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Roess served as the Science Director for the Pew Commission on Industrial Food Animal Production at Johns Hopkins, and was an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer at the CDC.

Additional studies from Dr. Roess:

Additional peer-reviewed and CDC sources on breastfeeding disparities:

CDC: Racial and Geographic Differences in Breastfeeding — United States, 2011–2015
Seminars in Perinatology: Racial and ethnic disparities in U.S. breastfeeding and implications for maternal and child health outcome
Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing: Barriers and Facilitators for Breastfeeding Among Working Women in the United States
Pediatrics: Racial and Ethnic Differences in Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding Medicine: Comfort with the Idea of Formula Feeding Helps Explain Ethnic Disparity in Breastfeeding Intentions Among Expectant First-Time Mothers
Pediatrics: Addressing Racial Inequities in Breastfeeding in the Southern United States

For more information, contact Michelle Thompson at 703-993-3485 or mthomp7@gmu.edu.

About Mason

��AV, Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at http://www.gmu.edu.

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Depp-Heard Trial Shines Light on Bidirectional Intimate Partner Violence

Mary Cunningham — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 17:08:40 +0000

Depp-Heard Trial Shines Light on Bidirectional Intimate Partner Violence Mary Cunningham Thu, 06/02/2022 - 13:08

In This Story

Denise Hines, PhD

Intimate partner violence expert Denise Hines discusses the prevalence of bidirectional violence and other lesser known facts about intimate partner violence (IPV) in wake of a high-profile defamation trial.

Denise Hines, PhD, is one of the world’s leading experts on intimate partner violence and false allegations of abuse in under-recognized survivor groups, particularly male victims.

With the conclusion of the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial in Fairfax, VA, an expert on male victims of domestic violence seeks to further educate the public about intimate partner violence (IPV), especially bidirectional violence. Bidirectional violence is when both partners in a relationship exhibit violent behaviors, though the behaviors may not be equal for both partners.

Denise Hines, associate professor of Social Work at ��AV, located just down the street from where the trial was held, is one of the world’s leading experts on intimate partner violence and false allegations of abuse in under-recognized survivor groups, particularly male victims.

Though Hines is not directly involved in the case nor does she have direct insight into either party’s allegations or their culpability, Hines seeks to increase public understanding of the prevalence of bidirectional violence and other lesser-known facts about IPV.

What information about IPV are people less likely to know or fully understand?

Hines: First, men can be victims. When men are victims, it is harder for them to seek help and receive it when they do ask. This is not to diminish the perspective of female survivors; I want to educate about male survivors, who are much less likely to come forward or seek help.

(Read Dr. Hines previous tip sheet, “Expert Addresses Common Misconceptions About Men Who Experience Intimate Partner Violence,” for more information about this topic.)

Second, there’s a lot more bidirectional abuse than people acknowledge. Bidirectional abuse is when both people in a relationship engage in violence. When this happens, it can take one of two forms: (1) both partners can be equally aggressive; and (2) one partner can be more aggressive than the other, but the other partner is violent, too, primarily in self-defense or retaliation. We do not know the relative prevalence of these two manifestations of bidirectional abuse.

Why is it important to understand bidirectional violence?

In the majority of violent relationships, the violence is bidirectional. That means both partners are engaging in some level of violence or abuse. Most people want to think black-and-white, victim-vs.-perpetrator, without any gray areas. However, in many cases, the relationship is very complex, with bidirectionality of violence being the norm, rather than the exception.

When both partners are violent, the abuse may or may not be equal. In some relationships, you have both partners being equally abusive, and it is difficult to pinpoint the perpetrator and the victim. Each partner is both.

In other relationships, one partner may be the primary aggressor while the other is using violence in self-defense, resistance, or retaliation. Based on misconceptions about IPV, we aren’t always accustomed to thinking about that. If someone is hitting or trying to control them, victims can find it difficult not to retaliate. Someone who is violent as a response to their victimization might not be violent or abusive in another relationship; the violence might be a product of the circumstances they find themselves in. Yet, it is also often the case that the primary aggressor is being and feeling victimized because they, too, are experiencing abuse, just not as much as they are perpetrating.

How prevalent is bidirectional abuse?

Most studies, including recent national IPV studies (i.e., National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey and National Crime Victimization Survey), ask about only victimization and do not assess perpetration of IPV, so we do not have strong current nationally representative data on bidirectionality. The National Family Violence Surveys in 1975 and 1985 did ask about victimization and perpetration, and they found high rates of both partners using violence. Unfortunately, that national study has not been conducted in more than 30 years.

Nonetheless, studies that assess both victimization and perpetration consistently show that in at least half of violent relationships, the abuse is bidirectional. This includes the National Family Violence Surveys, other similar surveys, and smaller sample surveys, of which there are dozens.

A 2012 review study of about 50 studies published since 1990 found that in 57.9% of violent relationships, both partners behave violently.

Is one gender more likely to be the primary aggressor?

There are no gender differences when it comes to bidirectional violence. Men and women are equally likely to be the primary aggressor, if there is one, in a relationship. What we do see is women, much more than men, report the violence against them and seek help.

Why is it important to recognize the prevalence of bidirectional violence?

The Depp-Heard case shows the issue of why it’s important to recognize bidirectional violence. We can’t know whether either party is innocent, and it's possible both engaged in behavior that was aggressive and possibly violent.

It’s important to recognize when both parties are violent so we can have a honest discussion about what these relationships look like and so that people can receive the proper help and/or recovery resources.

If both are violent and you send one to a perpetrator program and one to a victim program, it will not solve the problem. In this situation, the person who goes to a victim program is also abusive and continues to engage in violent behaviors. Even if the person in the perpetrator program benefits from that program, their partner is still being violent, and the strongest predictor of one partner’s violent behavior is the other partner’s violent behavior. Thus, the couple is likely to fall back into the same pattern again. If you’re going to prevent the problem in the future, you have to look at both people’s behavior, what the underlying causes and issues are, and work to help them have healthier ways of behaving, interacting, and resolving conflicts in their intimate relationships.

Again, this does not diminish victims who do not engage in any violence. The intent is to raise awareness that bidirectional violence occurs in more relationships than people realize. In order to fully support people in any IPV situation, we need to understand the whole situation.

How might a high-profile trial focused on IPV be helpful to survivors?

While an unfortunate case on many levels, I hope that this high-profile trial can help bring awareness to intimate partner violence of all kinds and help people realize that abusive relationships are complicated and there is no single profile of a victim or perpetrator.

Denise Hines, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Social Work, College of Health and Human Services, at ��AV. She is one of the world’s leading experts on male victims of domestic violence and false allegations against them. Hines’ expertise includes the causes, consequences, and prevention of family violence and sexual assault, with a particular focus on under-recognized victims of violence. As the former director of the Massachusetts Family Impact Seminars, she also has a specialization in translating university-based research for policymakers.

Dr. Hines is the author of over 70 peer-reviewed articles and two books on issues of family violence, one of which – Family Violence in the United States – was recently released by Sage in its third edition. She and her colleagues are currently working on an international handbook entitled, Handbook of Men’s Victimisation in Intimate Relationships, currently under contract with Taylor and Francis. She has spoken about her work in front of various audiences, including state coalitions against domestic violence, the Massachusetts State legislature, the White House domestic policy staff, staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Canadian Parliament.

About George Mason
��AV, Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at www.gmu.edu.

About the College of Health and Human Services
The College of Health and Human Services prepares students to become leaders and to shape the public's health through academic excellence, research of consequence, community outreach, and interprofessional clinical practice. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in its nationally-recognized offerings, including 6 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 6 certificate programs. The college is transitioning to a college of public health in the near future. For more information, visit chhs.gmu.edu.

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