coronavirus; covid-19

Coming Full-Circle: A Career Dedicated to Making Health Visible, Bookended by Two Pandemics

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 09 May 2022 20:18:57 +0000

Coming Full-Circle: A Career Dedicated to Making Health Visible, Bookended by Two Pandemics Mary Cunningham Mon, 05/09/2022 - 16:18

Dr. Germaine Louis gives a patient a COVID-19 vaccine at the Mason and Partners Clinic vaccination event with Prince William Health District on February 23, 2021.

As Dean Germaine Louis retires at the end of the 2021-22 school year, we reshare this story where she reflects on the similarities in the beginning and end of her career.

When Germaine Louis became Dean of the College of Health and Human Services, she never envisioned serving during a pandemic like COVID-19. “Certainly, when I accepted the position in 2017, a pandemic was not on my horizon—what was on my horizon was bringing together the College’s faculty, staff, and students to become a college of public health.”

When asked about leading the future college of public health during COVID-19, Louis is quick to point out that the COVID-19 is not the first pandemic in her lifetime or her 30+ year career as an epidemiologist, referencing the AIDS pandemic which peaked in the U.S. while Louis was completing her graduate studies. “Becoming an epidemiologist during the AIDS pandemic was impactful for me on so many levels, as this new infectious agent disproportionately took the lives of young men and women. I sadly recall the stereotyping and other shaming actions on the part of some towards affected individuals. As a reproductive epidemiologist, I understood why individuals with risky behaviors were often being blamed for their disease, and I recall with great pride the many scientific advances that led to successful treatment and a more compassionate understanding of AIDS."

“Of course, COVID-19 is very different from AIDS in many regards with a larger susceptible population and its airborne transmission,” says Louis. Still, COVID-19 is an important reminder why public health is essential for contemporary life. “COVID-19 has taught us that it’s almost impossible to imagine a world without a strong public health infrastructure to protect the health and safety of all people.”

Louis credits the College's faculty, staff, students, and alumni for their many contributions in fighting COVID-19 and protecting communities, saying “I’ve been incredibly impressed with everyone in the College each of whom has stepped up to make sure we deliver on our academic mission and one that includes practice and community service.”

Leading by example, the Dean has also been active in the University’s response to COVID-19 – from helping develop Mason’s randomized surveillance testing plans to administering vaccines for the community at the Mason and Partner Clinics. Louis can clearly see how her early career as a nurse and then as an epidemiologist led to this moment.

“I used to tell my nursing colleagues that being a nurse made me a better epidemiologist. What I’d learned in a hospital setting really helped me design better study protocols when focusing on clinical populations. I could think about what it meant to implement a research protocol in a hospital setting for busy nurses and physicians or patients under varying stages of duress. And I really do think that my experience as a nurse was formidable in the success that I experienced with clinical studies (e.g., Buffalo Women’s Health Study, ENDO Study, and NICHD Fetal Growth Study). What I didn’t expect at the time was that I would be using some nurse skills as an epidemiologist in responding to a pandemic,” says Louis.

She reports that prior to volunteering at the MAP Clinic vaccination events, after years of not administering an intramuscular (IM) injection, she was required to refresh her injection skills and have her competency checked. “All of a sudden, I was very anxious about vaccinating after years of not doing so as some technical guidance had changed. Mason’s student nurses were a great source of reassurance, and they shared tips with me. I have found that early training really never leaves you, and it kicked in when I needed it most. It does remind me of the importance of lifelong learning.

Louis shares a story about an opportunity to also bring her training in reproductive epidemiology to bear while vaccinating a group of early childhood workers. A young female worker asked if Louis had a few moments to talk with her after her vaccination. She wanted advice on when to safely begin trying for pregnancy following her vaccination. “And I thought, 'Now that is something I know about,’” said Louis.

Dr. Germaine Louis began her career in nursing before becoming an epidemiologist.

After 30 years as a reproductive epidemiologist and working with couples trying for pregnancy, she was reminded how desperate people are for reliable information about pregnancy-related exposures and lingering data gaps. “My advice to her was that healthy pregnancies and babies start with healthy women and mothers. And, first and foremost, unless there is a contraindication from her physician, the woman was doing the right thing to ensure her own health by being vaccinated. I could see the woman’s smile behind her mask and knew there was a good chance she would take that message back to sisters, friends, and coworkers who may have similar questions about the vaccine.”

“It is rewarding to think about taking nursing skills to epi and now epi skills back to nursing,” says Louis.

When asked for advice she would share with future generations of men and women about empowering women who wish to make history in science, health, and leadership - Louis’ response is simple and clear: mentorship.

“I know what made a difference it made in my life – and that was having a mentor (who happened to be a man) who believed in me. When I was worried about finishing my dissertation, he was already talking about my first faculty appointment—before I was even thinking about a position. When I was in my first faculty position and worried about tenure, he was already talking about my next career move. Having someone believe in you or to see something in you that you may not see in yourself is impactful - you need to pay attention to that.”

Louis believes that academicians have an obligation to seek out students who may have natural leadership abilities or who otherwise have a skillset or narrative that sets them apart and to talk with them ... encourage them for even more. “We should support everyone, but we will always need leaders,” she says. “We also need to do a better job of cultivating hunger in our graduates. By that, I mean helping students really think about and become excited about pursuing a career beyond having a job.

Louis closed the conversation by sharing a story about Ruth Kirschstein (former director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, deputy director of National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the 1990s, and acting director of the NIH in 1993 and 2000-2002) who during a presentation to female leaders at NIH once said that women sometimes need to ‘remind people to think of you.’ “Her advice has always resonated with me,” said Louis. “It’s ok to self-nominate or to apply for positions even if not invited to do so, as long as you have the qualifications.” Louis also says that women can help others by nominating them for awards and special recognitions. “Most nominations take time and effort to do well," cautions Louis, “But, if we don't create a culture of recognition for women and for future women leaders then we will never have the same recognition as others.”

Topics

coronavirus; covid-19

Epidemiology

Public health leadership

Public Health

College of Health and Human Services

CHHS News

Three-time Mason Nursing Alumna, Theresa Davis, Featured in The Scroll

John Brandon Cantrell — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 18:07:57 +0000

Three-time Mason Nursing Alumna, Theresa Davis, Featured in The Scroll John Brandon C… Tue, 06/01/2021 - 14:07

Topics

Mason Alumni

CHHS Alumni

Nursing Alumni

coronavirus; covid-19

Alumni Spotlight

CHHS News

Article originally published by Mason's Alumni Association.

Theresa Davis has earned a BSN (’98), an MSN in Nursing Administration (’02), and a PhD in Nursing (’13) from Mason.

As the clinical operations director of enVision TeleICU at Inova Health Systems, Theresa Davis, BSN ’98, MSN Nursing Administration ’02, PhD Nursing ’13, has been incredibly busy since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. She leads the telemedicine division that supports the intensive care units across the Inova hospital system. Since last March, the ICU has grown from 61 beds to 102 beds as patient acuity increased and more resources were needed. Davis’ unit also became a transfer center to move patients across the hospital system as the need arose.

Davis has been a nurse for over thirty-five years. She earned her associate’s degree from Northern Virginia Community College before transferring to George Mason University, where she has earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, and the combination of working and learning throughout her career has been invaluable. Before the pandemic, Davis even taught classes on organizational learning and nursing informatics as an adjunct professor.

“I think being in school for a good part of my career has made my whole nursing experience very enriching because I love to learn, and it has allowed me to have a different way of looking at things and not get too focused in one area,” Davis said. “I grew up as a trauma nurse and I’ve been working in telemedicine for sixteen years. It’s been a very exciting adventure.”

Over the last year, hospital visitor guidelines became more restrictive due to COVID-19, making it difficult for family members to be at the bedside with their loved ones. This made the use of voice and video technology an essential capability. Over 1,000 iPads—some provided through donations to Inova—have been distributed across the Inova hospital system to support technology needs to bring families together.

“We connected families to their loved ones and clinicians to patients,” said Davis. “It was just incredible what you could do with the technology to create those connections.”

In addition to her role at Inova, Davis also had the opportunity to speak at the White House in March 2020 as a representative for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, where she is on the board of directors. Davis sat across the table from President Trump and Vice President Pence, where she had the opportunity to brief the Coronavirus Task Force and answer questions about the issues nurses were facing in the early days of the pandemic. After the meeting, President Trump signed an executive order that invoked the Defense Production Act to expedite the production of critical medical supplies.

A year later, as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, Davis looks to the future with hope. The pandemic has changed how she sees the world—after such a turbulent year, it will take time to fully heal and become whole again, but she sees it as a chance to learn and grow as we enter our new normal. One way Davis plans to do this is by promoting diversity and working towards eliminating disparities and unconscious bias in healthcare. Inova has created many opportunities for this important work.

“I think that we have great opportunity to look at our future and the new world and what it should look like, and what we’ve learned,” said Davis. “We have to make sure all patients receive the care that they need, no matter who they are or where they come from. We have to think strongly about what we’ve just gone through and how we can create a better world for everybody. We will get through this!”

Written By: Kristen Greiner, MFA ’20

Congresswoman Wexton, Delegate Roem, and Mayor Rishell Visit Mason Vaccine Clinic in Prince William

mthomp7 — Thu, 13 May 2021 23:39:43 +0000

Congresswoman Wexton, Delegate Roem, and Mayor Rishell Visit Mason Vaccine Clinic in Prince William mthomp7 Thu, 05/13/2021 - 19:39

In This Story

Robert M. Weiler, PhD, MPH

Elected officials recognize Mason’s contribution to fighting COVID and thank nurses and staff.

On May 6, U.S. Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA 10^th District), Delegate Danica Roem (D-VA 13^th District), and Manassas Mayor Jeanette Rishell (D) visited the COVID-19 vaccination clinic located at the Manassas Park Community Center. The vaccination clinic, operated by the George Mason University School of Nursing and the Mason and Partner (MAP) Clinics, have vaccinated more than 22,305 residents since the vaccine became available in January 2021, predominantly serving under-represented and uninsured populations.

Wexton, Roem, and Rishell thanked the nurses and staff running the vaccination site and spoke with clinic coordinator Bridget Jennison about George Mason and the MAP Clinics’ vaccination efforts. “The MAP Clinics are pleased to help greater Prince William fight COVID by offering vaccination clinics and partnering with the Prince William Health Department to reach as many people as possible,” said Jennison.

More than 1,000 doses were administered the day of the officials’ visit, though Jennison explained that the number of vaccinations was slowing down. Jennison indicated that the next wave of vaccinations would be for 12-15 year-olds (approved by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use on May 10 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on May 12) and those who may be harder to reach because of hesitancy or other factors. Jennison, Wexton, Roem, and Rishell discussed opportunities to work together to increase vaccination rates in the Prince William community and expressed optimism for continued and successful progress.

“I am very impressed with the MAP Clinic’s commitment to the greater Prince William community and am thankful for their help vaccinating so many residents. I am particularly pleased that the MAP Clinics were able to use Cares Act funding to secure vaccine freezers and other equipment to help our residents get vaccinated as quickly as possible,” said Congresswoman Wexton.

“It is important that elected officials understand the vital services provided by the Mason MAP Clinic in Manassas Park. This is so that we not only get our constituents vaccinated, but we communicate the message to constituents that may also have additional health needs and letting them know that the MAP Clinic is here to help them. Seeing first-hand the vaccination progress gives me hope that we are going to get close to that 70% vaccination level by July 4 in our community. We have incredibly dedicated public and civil servants doing their part to make sure that we get there,” said Delegate Roem.

During the visit, Wexton also spoke with Robert Weiler, senior associate dean for academic affairs for Mason’s College of Health and Human Services regarding Mason’s strategic initiative to become the first college of public health in Virginia. “Mason is ready to bring a college of public health to Virginia that will focus on preparing highly specialized public health researchers, practitioners, and leaders who can respond to existing, evolving, and emerging health problems in the region and throughout the Commonwealth,” said Weiler. Virginia is currently one of only 15 states that does not have an accredited college of public health. George Mason currently offers three accredited public health degrees: Bachelor of Science (BS) in Community Health, Master of Public Health (MPH) with six concentrations, and a PhD in Public Health.

The MAP Clinics are funded by the College of Health and Human Services School of Nursing and through Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants, as well as funding from the Potomac Health Foundation, and Northern Virginia Health Foundation. The MAP Clinic model is based on an academic-practice partnership model to help translate best evidence into practice at scale for the largest possible impact in the community.

Topics

MAP Clinic

Mason and Partners (MAP)

Vaccines

coronavirus; covid-19

CHHS News

Dr. Amira Roess Awarded for Outstanding Achievement in Mason Community and Beyond

mthomp7 — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 11:50:46 +0000

Dr. Amira Roess Awarded for Outstanding Achievement in Mason Community and Beyond mthomp7 Thu, 04/08/2021 - 07:50

In This Story

Amira Roess, PhD, MPH

Professor of Global and Community Health Amira Roess has been recognized for her excellence in community involvement, teaching, and research during the COVID-19 pandemic and Mason’s safe return to campus.

Amira Roess, an epidemiologist and professor of Global and Community Health, has received Mason’s Outstanding Achievement Award. Every year, George Mason University recognizes employees for significant achievement in their contributions to Mason. The Outstanding Achievement Award is given to individuals whose outstanding work exemplifies Mason’s values.

Roess has played a vital role in Mason’s response to COVID-19 and the safe return to campus.

With expertise in infectious disease epidemiology and pandemic response, Roess has played a vital role in Mason’s response to COVID-19 and the safe return to campus. When the coronavirus led to the shutdown of businesses and campuses across the country, Roess led a team to create and launch the nation’s first online COVID-19 symptom and exposure tracker. This tool, the Mason COVID Health Check™, has been vital to the university’s randomized testing and surveillance protocol. Last June, Dr. Roess was requested by the Virginia Council of Presidents to share the Mason COVID Health Check™ with all Virginia universities.

Roess has also served on several committees that have informed Mason’s safe return policies and protocols. These committees involved coordinating efforts on screening, contact tracing, testing, and vaccinations. Her contributions have been foundational to Mason’s response to COVID-19 and these successful strategies have played a big role in Mason’s low positivity rate. Furthermore, Roess is the recipient of two extramurally funding grants on COVID-19 transmission.

“These time-intensive initiatives of service to the University and the community are in addition to countless hours she has dedicated to ensure accurate translation of COVID-19 health information to various communities,” said Dean of the College Germaine Louis on Roess’ extensive work in the Mason community and beyond.

Additionally, Dr. Roess is also directing the new PhD in Public Health degree program within the Department of Global and Community Health, teaching a course on epidemiology, and working with several students on COVID-19 related projects in the disciplines of public health and engineering.

Her tireless, multifaceted work demonstrates a clear commitment to excellence in the face of adversity. Congratulations to Roess on this well-deserved honor.

Topics

coronavirus; covid-19

Safe Return to Campus

Mason COVID Health Check™

CHHS News

faculty spotlight

Faculty Receive CHHS Office of Research Grants for Proposals: Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic to a Healthy Path Forward

mthomp7 — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 01:02:40 +0000

Faculty Receive CHHS Office of Research Grants for Proposals: Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic to a Healthy Path Forward mthomp7 Wed, 04/07/2021 - 21:02

In This Story

Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD

Carol Cleaveland, PhD

Y. Alicia Hong, PhD

Farrokh Alemi, PhD

CHHS Faculty Receive Grants to Study Impacts of COVID, Particularly on Under-Represented and Vulnerable Populations

The CHHS Office of Research has awarded four grants for faculty studying COVID-19 and its many impacts, particularly on vulnerable populations’ physical and mental health. Grant recipients were chosen by a panel of Mason faculty outside the College and were scored using the 1-9 scale used by the National Institutes of Health. Reviewers assessed the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved and provided an overall impact score based on individual review criteria, scientific merit, the relevance of the project to public health, and having a well-defined plan to apply the funding.

Farrok Alemi’s proposal titled “Impact of On-Demand In-Home Testing, Symptom Screening, and Contact Tracing on Infection Control” was awarded $36,777. The proposal will allow Alemi to build on an existing study and the extensive work already completed by the research team, including a comprehensive online symptom screening that includes respiratory, neurological, gastrointestinal, inflammatory, and general symptoms of COVID-19. With the additional funding, the team will study the impact of rapid, on-demand, combined (1) symptom screening, (2) in-home testing, and (3) contact tracing on COVID-19 infection control. This pilot project will help the team compete for the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The project includes the participation of Amira Roess, Janusz Wojtusiak, and Jee Vang.

Lawrence Cheskin was awarded $50,000 for the proposal, “COVID-19's Impact on Mental Health and College Retention Among Under-Resourced/ Underrepresented Undergraduates and their Peers: A Digital Health Solution.” The study seeks to develop a data-driven, predictive, and proactive digital health solution to support students’ mental health and increase college success and retention. The solution will specifically focus on the health of students from low-income and underrepresented populations, who are at greater risk for mental illness and subsequently have greater need for a COVID-19 related intervention. The study will examine the effect that a digital, proactive tool will have on the population’s mental well-being and academic success. This study leverages an existing project with internal GMU funding. The project includes the participation of Lawrence Cheskin, Huzefa Rangwala, Alison Cuellar, and Erika Kennedy.

Carol Cleaveland was awarded $26,000 for the proposal, “COVID-19 Among Latinos in the Informal/Secondary Economic Sector.” The study will examine the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on Latinos and hypotheses related to the population’s work in the informal sector, defined as jobs that are low-paying, do not offer benefits such as sick pay, and are typically paid in cash. Latinos have been particularly hard hit, with public health officials linking disease rates to high numbers of this population working in essential jobs, such as cleaning, meatpacking, and caregiving. This study will address a key barrier to COVID-19 mitigation: the question of how environmental factors, as well as behaviors, may render this population more vulnerable to SARS-coV-2 exposure in comparison to others, particularly with respect to employment and housing arrangements. This study will illuminate the potential exposure caused by informal sector work, providing data that is not available through conventional aggregations of labor statistics. The project includes participation of 25 Latino informal sector workers and uses both qualitative research and machine learning to contextualize potential virus exposure. Cleaveland is partnering with co-PI Janusz Wojtusiak in this pilot study.

Alicia Hong’s proposal, “Prototype development of EARBUD: A wearable sensor system for dietary monitoring and personalized intervention,” was awarded $50,000. This study aims to collect data to develop the prototype of a non-intrusive wearable sensor of EARBUD (Eating and Relevant Behaviors Under Detection), which is based on a pair of commercially available earbuds and supported by artificial intelligence-(AI) based algorithms for real-time data analytics. The EARBUD collects and deciphers information of 1) food type, 2) food quantity, 3) eating pattern, 4) eating location, 5) social interaction at eating, and 6) affective status. These real-time data will be integrated with the user’s personal information for personalized intervention delivered to the user via the EARBUD. The prototype will allow the research team to mitigate the negative impacts of pandemic-related unhealthy eating and nutrition-related poor health outcomes in vulnerable populations. This study will provide important preliminary data to develop the first AI-supported non-intrusive, socially acceptable nutrition monitoring system for personalized intervention. The project includes the participation of Dr. Hong Xue of Dept Health Administration and Policy, Dr. Larry Cheskin from Dept of Nutrition and Food Science, and Dr. Gang Zhou, a computer scientist from the College of William and Mary.

Topics

coronavirus; covid-19

Coming Full-Circle: A Career Dedicated to Making Health Visible, Bookended by Two Pandemics

John Brandon Cantrell — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 15:57:17 +0000

Coming Full-Circle: A Career Dedicated to Making Health Visible, Bookended by Two Pandemics John Brandon C… Mon, 03/22/2021 - 11:57

Dr. Germaine Louis gives a patient a COVID-19 vaccine at the Mason and Partners Clinic vaccination event with Prince William Health District on February 23, 2021.

Dr. Germaine Louis began her career in nursing before becoming an epidemiologist.

“It is rewarding to think about taking nursing skills to epi and now epi skills back to nursing,” says Louis.

Topics

coronavirus; covid-19

Epidemiology

Public health leadership

Public Health

College of Health and Human Services

CHHS News

CHHS Publishes COVID-19 One-Year Milestone Special Report

mthomp7 — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 15:03:33 +0000

CHHS Publishes COVID-19 One-Year Milestone Special Report mthomp7 Sat, 03/13/2021 - 10:03

As we mark the one-year milestone of the COVID-19 pandemic, the College of Health and Human Services has published a special report capturing the many ways in which College faculty, staff, and students rose to the occasion over the past year. Learn more about the College’s contributions in Academics and Instruction, University Response and Service, Community Response and Practice, and Research.

Thank you to everyone in the College for their dedication and service over the past year. It is nearly impossible to convey the full impact your work has had on our students, the University, and our community.

View COVID-19 One-Year Milestone Special Report as a pdf.

View COVID-19 One-Year Milestone Special Report as an interactive pdf on Flipsnack.

Topics

coronavirus; covid-19

Global Health

CHHS News

Inside NoVa: Prof. Jeanne Booth mentioned for taking part in an upcoming event looking at the effect of the global pandemic on students.

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 19:18:40 +0000

Inside NoVa: Prof. Jeanne Booth mentioned for taking part in an upcoming event looking at the effect of the global pandemic on students. Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 03/03/2021 - 14:18

In This Story

Jeanne Booth

Committee of 100 looks at lockdown and impact on Arlington youth

Topics

Children and Youth

coronavirus; covid-19

College of Health and Human Services

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

CHHS in the Media

COVIDsmart Study Launched to Understand Pandemic’s Impact on Individuals and Communities Across Virginia

mthomp7 — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 14:55:34 +0000

COVIDsmart Study Launched to Understand Pandemic’s Impact on Individuals and Communities Across Virginia mthomp7 Tue, 03/02/2021 - 09:55

In This Story

Amira Roess, PhD, MPH

Virtual study utilizes advanced health research technology to examine health, well-being, social and economic effects of COVID-19 on people of all walks of life

COVIDsmart, a digital health study designed to examine the many impacts of COVID-19 on individuals and their communities launched today, with an open call for participation. The study welcomes participants from all walks of life across Virginia to share information on how the pandemic has affected their lives, even if they have not had COVID-19.

The initiative is sponsored by EVMS-Sentara Healthcare Analytics and Delivery Science Institute (HADSI), George Mason University (Mason), and health technology company Vibrent Health who are leading the initiative to gather information to help participants, researchers and public health entities better understand and address the impacts of the pandemic and future health crises.

The study asks participants questions related to the pandemic and its impact on daily life, particularly its impact on financial, mental, and physical well-being such as, “Over the past 30 days, has your consumption of alcohol increased, decreased, or remained the same?” and, “How likely are you to want to receive COVID-19 vaccination?”

COVIDsmart examines the many impacts of COVID-19 on individuals and their communities.

“Minimizing the impact of future pandemics on you and your community requires a deeper understanding of how COVID has affected you - even if you or those you know have not had COVID-19. Everyone can make a difference during this pandemic by contributing to research. Sharing important information not just about your health but how you’ve been impacted emotionally, socially, economically, and other ways will help inform decisions that benefit all of us,” said Sunita Dodani, MBBS, PhD, Professor of Internal Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), Director of HADSI and member of the Federation of American Scientists’ COVID-19 Rapid Response Task Force.

COVIDsmart differs from other COVID-19 studies because it will give back aggregate de-identified study data to participants, so they can see how the pandemic has impacted them and their community. The study will also provide participants with resources and information — such as health and safety recommendations from governmental organizations — to help them protect themselves and their communities from COVID-19 infection.

“As we look to the future, policymakers will require a deep understanding of the multi-faceted impact of the pandemic on people and on our public health infrastructure," said Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources, Daniel Carey, MD, MHCM. "Studies like this one can help us to fully assess the effects of COVID-19 and chart a path forward."

To represent the full picture of COVID’s impact, the study aims to recruit individuals who are diverse in age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, race, and culture to reflect Virginia’s diversity and to include groups historically underrepresented in biomedical research.

“Diversity in COVID-19 research is essential for the public health decision-makers to accurately address disparities, such as infection rates, access to testing, health care, unemployment and availability of support services,” said Amira Roess, an epidemiologist and professor in the Department of Global and Community Health at George Mason University. “Our goal with COVIDsmart is to gain and share knowledge that will aid public health organizations in giving guidance and dedicating resources that will help minimize the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and any other future health crises among individuals, their families and communities.”

COVIDsmart uses a privacy-protecting, secure platform, provided by Vibrent Health, developers of the technology platform for NIH’s All of Us Research Program. The platform, which was built to collect many types of data from diverse populations, can expand to accommodate broad data sources such as wearables and biospecimens, depending on the needs of the longitudinal study. COVIDsmart’s anonymized results will be made available to researchers and public health policy officials to help guide them in identifying at-risk communities that are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. These insights can help direct resources and services where they are most needed during the coronavirus pandemic and any potential future health crisis.

“One of the valuable features of COVIDsmart is that participants can engage in the study virtually and remotely,” said Vibrent Health CEO Praduman “PJ” Jain. “Technology allows us to reach people wherever they are, so that everyone can have a voice and make an impact in this important health research.”

The study is open to anyone at least 18 years old living in Virginia and will gather information about participants’ experiences through the course of the pandemic. The study consists of easy-to-understand online surveys. As an incentive to participants, COVIDsmart offers gift card drawings for those who stay active in the study.

To learn more about COVIDsmart, visit: www.covidsmartstudy.org

About HADSI

EVMS-Sentara Healthcare Analytics and Delivery Science Institute (HADSI) is committed to improved patient outcomes through enhanced analytics. A partnership between Eastern Virginia Medical School and Sentara Healthcare, the institute designs, implements and evaluates clinical research, healthcare delivery system evaluation, health economic analysis, and patient-centered outcome effectiveness projects. HADSI leads EVMS and Sentara efforts in applying rigorous, high-quality analytic science to the evaluation of real-world innovations aimed at improving the quality, safety and value of healthcare and aims to reduce health disparities in the Hampton Roads region and beyond through community partnerships and collaborative efforts. To learn more, please visit: https://www.evms.edu/research/centers_institutes_departments/healthcare_analytics_and_delivery_science_institute/

About George Mason University

George Mason University’s Institute for Biohealth Innovation (IBI) bridges disciplines to promote progress and share innovation with the goal of enhancing health and well-being through new ideas to predict, prevent, treat, and eradicate disease. IBI harnesses the collective talent of faculty, staff, and students at Mason including those in the College of Health and Human Services, and College of Humanities and Social Sciences who are conducting translational research in the fields of cancer, infectious diseases, brain and behavior, injury and performance, reproductive and family health, cardiovascular and metabolic health, and digital health and informatics. The IBI provides a collaborative space that allows researchers to make novel connections to implement innovative solutions to today’s most pressing health issues. To learn more visit: https://ibi.gmu.edu/

About Vibrent Health

Vibrent Health’s mission is to accelerate health research to optimize human health through precision technology and digital tools that empower participant engagement, research analytics and research management for researchers, research organizations and research participants. Through its Digital Health Solutions Platform, the company provides a large-scale versatile global platform for health research. The platform provides an infrastructure for data collection from broad sources including genomics, environment, lifestyle, behaviors and electronic health records. Since February 2017, Vibrent Health has served as the Participant Technology Systems Center for the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program, which aims to collect health data from one million or more people to support a wide variety of research studies. To learn more, please visit: vibrenthealth.com.

Media Contacts:

Vibrent Health
Pearson Brown
(310) 994-7057
pbrown@vibrenthealth.com

George Mason University
Michelle Thompson
(703) 993-3485
mthomp7@gmu.edu

EVMS/HADSI
Doug Gardner
(757) 446-6073
gardneda@evms.edu

Topics

coronavirus; covid-19

CHHS Research

CHHS News

Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam Visits COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic to Thank Front-Line Early Childhood Educators and Clinic Organizers

mthomp7 — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 22:28:47 +0000

Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam Visits COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic to Thank Front-Line Early Childhood Educators and Clinic Organizers mthomp7 Tue, 02/23/2021 - 17:28

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Topics

MAP Clinic

Mason and Partners (MAP)

coronavirus; covid-19

In This Story

Caroline Sutter, DNP

Rebecca Sutter, DNP, APRN, BC-FNP

George Mason University Mason and Partners Clinic, Prince William Health District, and Smart Beginnings Greater Prince William partner to vaccinate more than 1,400 people.

On February 23, First Lady Pamela Northam visited a vaccination clinic in Manassas Park to recognize the heroic efforts of early childhood educators. “Early childhood educators have truly been unsung heroes throughout this pandemic allowing other frontline workers to remain on the job. We are grateful for organizations like Smart Beginnings Greater Prince William, the Mason and Partner Clinics, and the Prince William Health District whose collaboration makes reaching this important group possible,” said Northam.

Northam issues ImagiNation staff Thompson and Bloom a First Lady Challenge coin.

At the event, Northam met Anaysha Bloom and Lacreshia Thompson lead pre-school teachers from ImagiNation Learning Center in Gainesville. “I chose to get the vaccine not only for myself and my family but to also keep my co-workers and most importantly the children in my care safe,” said Thompson. “We are so grateful for the opportunity to receive the vaccine and for child care providers to be made a priority to receive it,” said Bloom. When the First Lady asked what was their biggest challenge, both replied “Getting [four year-olds] to social distance.”

Virginia’s early childhood educators were among those deemed essential workers in April of 2020. Many early childhood education centers, including ImagiNation Learning Center, have remained open throughout the pandemic, providing continuity of care and allowing families who rely on these providers to return to work. Early childhood educators are part of Phase 1b for Virginia’s COVID-19 Vaccination plan– however many in this population were not aware they were eligible for a vaccine.

To help raise awareness and increase vaccination rates in Greater Prince William, Mason and Partner (MAP) Clinics, Smart Beginnings Greater Prince William (SBGPW), and the Prince William Health District (PWHD) partnered to schedule more than 1,400 appointments with early childhood educators over the course of seven days. On the day of the First Lady’s visit, more than 500 first doses and 150 second doses were administered.

“In just one week, we have contacted more than 350 early childhood education centers to let them know that they fall into Phase 1b and are eligible for the COVID vaccine. Organizing these clinics for those who educate our youngest children has been the most rewarding work I’ve done since COVID began. Having our front-line workers vaccinated is a critical first step in more people resuming in-person activities,” said Kathy Channell, Chairperson, Smart Beginnings Greater Prince William. Channell and her teammates Debi Stepien, Vice Chair, Gina Parr, Secretary and Tawnya Soltis, Executive Director, are all volunteers and helped make the hundreds of phone calls required to pull-off this massive event.

School of Nursing and Health Administration and Policy students pictured here play a critical role in staffing the clinics and gain valuable experience at the same time.

To date, the MAP Clinics have delivered more than 2,916 vaccines to early childhood educators, so were a natural partner for SMBGPW. “The community has really joined together to help this vital and often vulnerable population get vaccinated,” said Dr. Becki Sutter, co-director of the MAP Clinics and faculty at George Mason University’s College of Health and Human Services. “The MAP Clinics are proud to partner with the PW Health District and Smart Beginnings Greater Prince William to raise awareness among early education centers and immunize nearly 3,000 people through these vaccination events over four weeks.”

Collaborators from ImagiNation, Mason, Mason and Partners Clinics, Prince William Health District, and Smartbeginnings Greater Prince William pose with First Lady Northam.

Collaborations such as this have helped the Prince William Health Department expand its vaccination program and to reach individuals who may be unaware that they are eligible or are hesitant to be immunized. “PWHD is building creative solutions and working with our community partners to vaccinate as many eligible residents as quickly as possible. This collaboration has helped engage and inform early childhood educators and we look forward to more events like this one,” said District Director for PWHD, Dr. Allison Ansher.

Mason faculty, staff, and alumni are integral to the success of the vaccination events as are CHHS students from across disciplines. Health Administration and Policy students manage health records and senior nursing students administer vaccines.

The City of Manassas Park has supported on-going vaccination events by providing space and logistical support. “We’re proud to provide with much-needed space and parking so the vaccination clinics can achieve their weekly vaccination goal,” said Loren Luck, marketing and communications manager for Manassas Park.

About the Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics
George Mason University's Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics are free clinics that serve low-income, uninsured, and refugee communities within Prince William and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia. Faculty and staff at the MAP Clinics have partnered with the Prince William Health District to vaccinate eligible residents through on-going clinics. The Clinics have vaccinated thousands of individuals to date and this number continues to grow. Information about vaccine eligibility and scheduling can be found at https://vaccinate.virginia.gov/.

The MAP Clinics are interprofessional clinics located in Manassas, Springfield, and Culmore. The Clinics provide health care, school physicals, screenings, and mental health services for vulnerable populations located in low income and medically underserved areas (MUA). The ambulatory clinics provide to the community referrals, resources, and case management for medical home placement; wellness and integrated care workshops; and group care for chronic disease management and education.

About Smart Beginnings Greater Prince William (SBGPW)
Smart Beginnings Greater Prince William (SBGPW), is a program under the PWCS Education Foundation SPARK (the 501c3). SBGPW serves the City of Manassas, the City of Manassas Park, and Prince William communities as an organization solely focused on birth through five-year old’s in preparing them for a successful start to kindergarten and life.

As part of a statewide network of Smart Beginnings, SBGPW serves with assistance and guidance from Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF). This approach allows local efforts to be individualized, while working in harmony with other communities to achieve results throughout Virginia.

About the Prince William Health District
The Prince William Health District (PWHD) operates multiple programs to protect and improve the health and well-being of its residents. Services provided include: immunizations; environmental health services, including restaurant and pool inspections; family planning services; confidential diagnosis, treatment, and counseling for sexually transmitted diseases; tuberculin testing and diagnostic chest x-rays; confidential HIV testing and early intervention services; nutritional education and food vouchers for women, infants, and children (WIC) clients; processing of birth and death certificates.