0000-0002-8715-2896Holotype cast of Arkansaurus fridayi, pictured in front of the Broadway Bridge, Little Rock, Arkansas. Image courtesy R. Hunt-Foster, used with permission. Last week, a new species of dinosaur was described in the Journal ofCategory Archives: arkansas
Stepping Out: New Ornithomimosaur from Arkansas Described
0000-0002-8715-2896Holotype cast of Arkansaurus fridayi, pictured in front of the Broadway Bridge, Little Rock, Arkansas. Image courtesy R. Hunt-Foster, used with permission. Last week, a new species of dinosaur was described in the Journal ofPosted by in arkansas, arkansaurus, dinosaurs, featured, Interview, Ornithomimosaur, ReBecca Hunt, Trinity Formation
APHL 2014 Annual Meeting Day 4
Thanks to the speaks, vendors, members, partners, staff and all other attendees for making the 2014 APHL Annual Meeting a success! See you all next year in Indianapolis!
Top Tweets
For more tweets, see our Day 4 Storify
Bruckner-Lea: thousands of suspicious powders every year cost millions of dollars…huge burden on public health system. #APHL
— Christopher Chadwick (@CChadwick_APHL) June 4, 2014
“Many public health customers don’t want healthcare, they want health” — Pat Luedtke, Lane Co, OR health officer tells #aphl annual meeting
— Shari Shea (@ShariShea23) June 4, 2014
“Surest way to bring back a disease is to end the funding to control it” quoted by Jim Beebe. #aphl
— Jody DeVoll (@phlcom) June 4, 2014
#APHL The conference might be over but the networking is continuing at the Little Rock airport.
— mary daljev (@marydaljev) June 4, 2014
APHL 2014 Annual Meeting Day 3 Roundup
Top Tweets
For more tweets see our Day 3 Storify
Public Health Annual Awards presented by Past Pres Bean and Pres Rice. #aphl #beansandrice pic.twitter.com/y7kn9Xi2O6
— Kate Mullaney (@KateAMullaney) June 3, 2014
#APHL Like Dr. Shone, there are many public health laboratory professionals who credit the EID fellowship for their path to success! — mary daljev (@marydaljev) June 3, 2014
Terry Cline says making drugs legal does not make them safe #APHL
— Joanne Bartkus (@mathlete13) June 3, 2014
Public health labs ensure safety of medical marijuana (probably less effective at reducing nausea symptoms if contaminated w/ e.coli) #APHL — Jessica Monmaney (@J_Monmaney) June 3, 2014
@GlenMays: the ultimate ROI ?: why dont we see a healthier population given all the #healthcare spending that happens in the US? #APHL
— Guisou Z Piñeyro (@GZPubHealth) June 3, 2014
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APHL 2014 Annual Meeting Day 2 Roundup
Top Tweets
For more tweets, see our Day 2 Storify
An outbreak anywhere is a risk anywhere #aphl
— bonnie rubin (@bonnierubin3) June 2, 2014
If the description of brain eating amoeba doesn’t lead to a gasp or wince from the crowd, you might be at #APHL. — APHL,Michelle Forman (@APHL) June 2, 2014
Newborn screening programs call health care providers with a critical result every 3 minutes. #APHL
— mary daljev (@marydaljev) June 2, 2014
Stacy White, State Lab, presented info at the @APHL conference over the weekend in Little Rock, AR. pic.twitter.com/xFQZq7ZJDp — AZ Dept. of Health (@AZDHS) June 2, 2014
The best person to deliver your message is your best communicator. Not your best technical person #aphl @ aphl advocacy session.
— Laura Siegel (@LauraSiegel_) June 2, 2014
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Posted by in Annual Meeting, APHL, arkansas, Association of Public Health Laboratories, little rock
Next Generation Public Health: Can Laboratories Enhance the Value Stream?
By Glen P. Mays, MPH, PhD, Director, National Coordinating Center for Public Health Services & Systems Research; The University of Kentucky, Lexington
Dr. Glen Mays will present the Dr. Katherine Kelley Distinguished Lecture on Tuesday, June 3, at the APHL Annual Meeting and Eighth Government Environmental Laboratory Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas. Attendees, please mark your program for this presentation scheduled for 2:00 pm in the Grand Ballroom. Dr. May’s PowerPoint presentation will be available on the APHL conference website as of Wednesday, June 3.
The Affordable Care Act and related state health reform initiatives are triggering diverse and far-reaching changes within the nation’s public health system. Public health agencies are renegotiating their responsibilities and relationships with other health system stakeholders and to more clearly define their unique contributions to the “value stream” that produces population health. My upcoming talk at the APHL Annual Meeting will explore strategies for demonstrating and enhancing the value that public health laboratories bring to the task of improving population health. Here’s a preview of some of the trends and strategies I’ll discuss in my talk.
Next-generation public health places much greater emphasis on the catalytic functions of information acquisition, analysis and dissemination to mobilize and guide the actions of multiple stakeholders in the health system to achieve population health improvement. Much of the information needed to support successful population health strategies is generated, analyzed and disseminated through the work of public health laboratories. Counterfactual examples like the recently documented problems with newborn screening highlight the population health risks that can arise when information flows are suboptimal. The converse is also true – generating the right information at the right time and getting it into the hands of the right decision-makers can fuel population health improvement. Consequently, public health laboratories must think strategically about the roles that they can play in using their information flows to build, steer and sustain collaborative efforts in population health improvement, including:
- Increasing the breadth, volume and quality of information generated through laboratory testing, particularly as the demand for testing increases as a result of expansions in health insurance coverage and new technologies for detecting and preventing disease.
- Helping policymakers and other stakeholders understand the cost/benefit trade-offs associated with new testing technologies and opportunities.
- Accelerating the timeliness with which information is produced and disseminated through laboratory operations.
- Developing and testing innovations that improve the transmission and exchange of laboratory information – from specimen collection and transport through the dissemination and communication of test results. These actions include public health laboratory roles in meaningful use of electronic health records and in population-wide health information exchange.
- Harnessing and harvesting opportunities for scientific research using the information flows that are generated and/or facilitated by public health laboratories, including the creation of specimen bio-banks, disease registries and test result archives.
- Improving the resilience of the information flows generated by public health laboratories, including ensuring the continuity of testing and information dissemination capabilities during large-scale emergencies and hazardous events.
- Using real-time laboratory information to better target and tailor public health interventions to the population groups that can benefit most, in keeping with the movement toward “personalized prevention and public health.”
Implementing these types of strategies will require improvements in public health laboratory capacity, which in turn requires an ability to demonstrate the health and economic value of expanded investments in public health laboratory capacity. This task –articulating the societal return-on-investment (ROI) gained through enhanced laboratory capacity – is a central challenge for laboratory professionals and the public health community writ large. Analytic techniques such as value stream mapping, information network analysis and value-of-information (VOI) analysis offer extremely powerful ways of valuing the information flows that are generated, processed and disseminated through public health laboratories. These techniques can be used to show how the work of public health laboratories fuels the many processes involved in producing population health: from surveillance to investigation, prevention, protection, mitigation and resiliency.
Health reform’s push for improved population health requires more, better and faster information. Public health laboratories are key to realizing this vision, but progress will require demonstrating and enhancing their value added. I look forward to exploring these strategies in greater detail at the APHL annual meeting.
- Learn about the National Coordinator Center for Public Health Services and Systems Research.
- Review research by Dr. Mays.
- Read the Public Health Economics blog.
APHL 2014 Annual Meeting Day 1 Roundup
Top Tweets
Check out more tweets: Day 1 Storify
Dr. Paulson: Pubhealth labs face more challenges every year–but these can be the source of achievements as we work to address them #APHL
— Guisou Z Piñeyro (@GZPubHealth) June 1, 2014
#APHL public health labs globally responsible for testing 57.7 million people for HIV in 2013!! — careemaAPHLNBS (@careemayusuf) June 1, 2014
Building momentum of laboratories moving towards accreditation is a primary focus now in Africa. Dr. Nkengasong, CDC. #APHL Annual Meeting
— Cassandra Hadley (@CassandraAPHL) June 1, 2014
John Besser “as the number of identified outbreaks increases, the overall incidence of disease decreases” #APHL — mary daljev (@marydaljev) June 1, 2014
Metagenomics work at #FDA is leading to amazing discoveries in on-farm ecology. I’m blown away by the talks at #aphl meeting.
— Shari Shea (@ShariShea23) June 1, 2014
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Posted by in Annual Meeting, APHL, arkansas, Association of Public Health Laboratories, little rock
APHL Introduces Local Students to Lab Careers During STEM Event
By Laura Siegel, Specialist, National Center for Public Health Laboratory Leadership, APHL
“Wanna see something fun and twisted? This is my DNA,” says a nine-year-old boy with brown hair and glasses as he greets his mom, proudly holding up his self-made DNA necklace.
He was just one of approximately 30 local students who attended an event called Science League: The Heroes of Public Health on Saturday, May 31, 2014, at the University of Arkansas School for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The event invited local students in grades 6-10 to participate in hands-on science activities and learn about careers in public health.
“If we make a difference in the career aspirations of just one student, then the event will be a success,” said Pandora Ray, Director of the National Center for Public Health Laboratory Leadership at APHL.
Students were able to extract their own DNA, make a homemade lava lamp, and create their very own oobleck, a gooey substance that has properties of both a liquid and a solid.
“I always thought I wanted to be a doctor when I grow up, but this event opened my eyes to other options,” said Ana De Lira, currently in ninth grade at eStem Public Charter High School.
While the students were conducting experiments, their parents toured the Arkansas Public Health Laboratory, located just a few blocks from UAMS. On the tour parents watched a live demonstration of a dry-ice bubble, examined agar plates, saw equipment used for HIV and Hepatitis testing and learned about newborn screening.
“I had no idea the lab does so much testing that effects the general public. I can’t believe they do so much,” said Tracy Hobbs, who attended the parent portion of the day.
This event was sponsored by APHL, The UAMS College of Public Health and the Arkansas Department of Health, with special thanks to Bio-Rad and Fisher for donating supplies. APHL plans to host a similar event prior to the 2015 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis.
Little Rock, Here We Come! What’s There to Do?
It’s that time of year again! This year’s APHL Annual Meeting is in Arkansas’ capital city, Little Rock. Historical sites, parks, museums, trails and more await you in this relaxed river town. And don’t miss the restaurants, bakeries, bars, farmer’s market and other eateries. You’ll be sure to find food and drink to suit your taste. So when you get a free moment, check out these sites and bites:
Parks, Trails and the Great Outdoors
Big Dam Bridge: Known as one of the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridges in the world, this impressive structure was named for its massive 4,226 foot span, built atop Murray Lock and Dam.
Little Rock Farmers’ Market: Looking for an early morning stroll? Head to the Little Rock Farmer’s Market, open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 7 am – 3 pm. There’re also a handful of specialty shops and breakfast spots nearby.
Riverfront Park: This downtown park offers 33 acres for running, walking and cycling. Places worth stopping include:
- La Petit Roche Plaza – Check out a view of the rock for which the capital was named, as well as panels detailing the history of the site.
- Medical Mile – Designed with wellness in mind, this scenic walking path winds down the Arkansas River Trail and displays a 1,300 foot 3D mural wall.
- William E. “Bill” Clark Presidential Park Wetlands – Adjacent to the Clinton Presidential Center and Library, these 13 acres of restored wetland habitat along the Arkansas River, designed to promote the education of wildlife preservation in this local ecosystem.
Museums and Historical Sites
Arkansas Arts Center: Fine art enthusiasts should stop by the Arkansas Arts Center to check out the museum’s extensive collection of drawings—many by artists such as Picasso, Rembrandt and Degas as well as exhibits featuring talented up-and-coming artists. Open until 5 p.m. daily.
Arkansas State Capitol: The century-old Arkansas State Capitol was built as a replica of the US Capitol. It’s so similar, in fact, that movie directors have filmed it as a stand-in for its DC twin. Located on the grounds are bronze statues honoring the nine African-American high school students who in 1957 endured threats, taunting and a barricade by the Governor of Arkansas for their attempt to attend Little Rock Central High School.
Clinton Presidential Center: This 20,000 square foot space chronicles America’s political history at the turn of century. Features include interactive exhibits of the Oval Office and White House Cabinet room, 110-foot timeline and displays of life in the White House during the Clinton Era.
Little Rock Central High School: An infamous site of forced desegregation in the late fifties, the Little Rock Integration Crisis at Little Rock Central High School became a national milestone of progress during the Civil Rights Movement. This school is the only operational high school located within a national historic site.
Restaurants
Ashley’s at the Capitol – If you are a fan of brunch, this is the place to be! Try the chocolate French toast or buckwheat sourdough pancakes. They also have good seafood. 501-374-7474
Bosco’s – Great beer and sandwiches, burgers, steaks and big salads, but they do decent tamales too. 501-907-1881
Boulevard Bread Co – If you’re looking for a pick-me-up or just trying to fill that afternoon sweets craving, this is the place to go. For wine lovers, they carry a wide variety of cheeses, meats and side dishes to accompany a glass of pinot noir. 501-375-5100
Capitol Bar and Grill – Sporting the area’s best southern-style pork confit and smoky gumbo, the Bar and Grill also serves homemade moon pies daily! 501-374-7474
Ciao – This classy bistro is tucked away in a storefront downtown. You can get an upscale Italian restaurant experience at a reasonable price. 501.372.0238
Community Bakery – This little bakery is perfect for your morning coffee and bagel (or doughnut) run. 501-375-6418
Doe’s Eat Place – Top-choice steaks and burgers only at this dive. You pick your cut, weight and how you’d like your meat prepared. 501-376-1195
Flying Fish – A seafood lover’s delight. The seafood is fresh, fried and crisp. The hamburgers aren’t half bad either. 501-375-3474
Flying Saucer – Fresh, cold beer is not in shortage at this pub. 501-372-8032
Hanaroo Sushi Bar – Sushi can be hard to come by in Little Rock, but if you need your fix, you should check out Hanaroo. But it’s not just sushi. They serve a wide variety of Japanese and Korean dishes, too. 501-301-7900
Iriana’s Pizza – Next door to the Statehouse Convention Center, this pizza joint serves hearty, thick-crusted pizza and fresh, flavorful salads. 501-374-3656
Sim’s Bar-B-Que – Try the ribs, or if you’re extra hungry, a whole chicken. The barbeque pairs nicely with their vinegar-mustard-brown sugar sauce. 501-562-8844
Sonny Williams’ Steak Room – These hearty steaks will couple nicely with a handpicked red wine from their extensive selection. 501-324-2999
Vino’s – Home-brewed beer and hefty calzones make this rock ‘n roll club a great place to stop in on any night. 501-375-8466
Zin Urban Wine & Beer Bar – Looking for a casual night out? This is a great pub to spend an evening with friends. 501-246-4876
Posted by in Annual Meeting, APHL, arkansas, Association of Public Health Laboratories, little rock