News & Events

The Positive Effects of Gardening (Part 1 of 2)

Public Health Community Advisory – Gardening for health is an old idea that is rapidly gaining wide recognition. The ramifications of gardening for health are widespread. The main purpose of local gardening is to improve diet, especially in areas where fresh vegetables are expensive and hard to find. In even a small back yard, a family can grow enough food to make a significant nutritional contribution. Fresh vegetables can be frozen and stored for later use. And gardening can help the family to reduce its… Continue Reading

Impact in Nebraska of the Supreme Court Decision on Health Law

Public Health in the National News – On June 28, 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act, with the majority opinion that Congress has the authority to use the taxing power endowed by the Constitution to impose the individual mandate. Another key ruling from the Court was that a provision of the ACA to expand the Medicaid program for individuals from 100% of the federal poverty level to 133% of the federal poverty level is optional, rather than required of state governments. You… Continue Reading

KM Monirul Islam, MD, PhD, Research on Sexually Transmitted Infections

Spotlight on Research at COPH – Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major public health problem in Omaha, Nebraska, where STI rates are well above rates elsewhere in Nebraska and nationally. Adolescents and young adults in Omaha have the highest rates. African Americans and other minority groups are disproportionately affected by these diseases. A team of researchers led by Dr. Monirul Islam recently conducted a study to investigate why Omaha’s STI rates are persistently high. The study, which was supported by funds from the UNMC… Continue Reading

Consider Biking: A Healthy and Fun Way to Get Around, When Done Safely

Public Health Community Advisory  – There are many good reasons to consider bicycle riding. In addition to exercise and better physical fitness, biking can be a great way to socialize and meet new people. Cycling also brings you closer to nature and is a great stress reliever. And your bike can take you places! Bicycle commuting is on the rise nationwide. Buying a bike can be a big investment, but it may be worthwhile because bikes typically last a long time. You can purchase a… Continue Reading

Certified in Public Health (CPH) Exam

Public Health in the National News – Graduates and students from schools and programs of public health accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) are eligible to apply for the Certified in Public Health (CPH) examination. This examination, developed by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) in 2008, assesses mastery of knowledge and skills relevant to contemporary public health. More than 3,500 people have registered to become CPH. Individuals are motivated to earn the CPH as proof of their willingness… Continue Reading

Nicholas Stergiou, PhD, Research on Human Movement Variability

Spotlight on Research at COPH – Dr. Stergiou has made significant contributions to public health through his research that targets protecting and improving the health of pathological populations. He has developed a theoretical framework that is aimed at improving the health of communities through research of injury prevention and disease. Dr. Stergiou’s research focus is human movement variability, i.e., the normal variations that occur across multiple repetitions of a task, and he has proposed a framework that conceptualizes the effect of disease, injury, and/or aging… Continue Reading

Melanoma: Risk Factors and Prevention

Public Health Community Advisory – Melanoma is a skin cancer. It is not the most common skin cancer, but it is the most deadly. It is the eighth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Nebraska for the period 1999-2008. Melanoma is seen much more often in Whites (especially those of Northern European ancestry living in sunny climates). The incidence of melanoma has been increasing by about 5% annually for fair-skinned Whites for many years. However, the National Cancer Institute says that “while skin cancer is less… Continue Reading