Volunteer Opportunities, Emory University Urban Health Initiative

The Emory University Urban Health Initiative aims to provide health disparities education and advocacy, build collaborative partnerships and develop best practice models with low-resourced communities and those who work with them to advance equity in health and well-being. The mission of the Emory University Urban Health Initiative is to understand, sustain, and improve the health and healthcare of diverse and underserved populations in Atlanta and surrounding areas through community partnership, interdisciplinary education, community-driven research, and evidence-based programs.

Emory UHI has the following two volunteer positions available:

• Rolling Suitcase Drive Project Coordinator– Connect with any individual or organization that will collect rolling suitcases for those who receive services from the Atlanta Mission. Keep track of number of suitcases delivered through pictures and write a publishable article. This summer and fall we have several Macy’s department stores whose employee teams plan to collect suitcases.
• Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator (May qualify for Applied Practice Hours) – Research factors that may impact program effectiveness. Work with each of the UHI teams to assist in development and monitoring of evaluation plans. Monitor and report progress of program objectives and goals. Develop evaluation reports and briefings. Develop and lead education sessions for project coordinators and their teams. Write a publishable article about monitoring and evaluating university projects.

The number of hours that volunteers may work is flexible. However, most volunteers like to work six to eight hours per week.

• All volunteers will need to be CITI certified and complete the UHI Onboarding process as part of volunteer requirements.
• If interested in either position, please contact Tracie McCargo, tracie [dot] curry [at] emory [dot] edu.

For more information about the Emory Urban Health Initiative, please visit http://urbanhealthinitiative.emory.edu/index.html

Food as Medicine Practicum, Grady

In 2017, Grady established the Food as Medicine (FAM) Partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Open Hand Atlanta to address food access and chronic disease among Grady patients, employees and the greater community. Through this partnership, Grady has established mobile food pharmacies at three neighborhood clinics and opened Jesse Hill Market at Grady Memorial Hospital featuring a Food Pharmacy, Teaching Kitchen, and Farmers Market. Grady is looking for 2-3 students to assist with implementation and evaluation of FAM programs, including Fresh Food Carts serving three neighborhood clinics, JHM Food Pharmacy, cooking classes, and employee wellness efforts.
Responsibilities
Practicum students will work with Grady’s Community Benefit Manager, the Food as Medicine team, and our Registered Dietitians. The primary responsibilities of practicum students will include:

• Support JHM Food Pharmacy and Fresh Food Cart operations including planning, food packing and distribution to patients, evaluation and sustainability
• Assist with patient and employee cooking classes and food demons in the Teaching Kitchen
• Support FAM volunteer recruitment, onboarding and training
• Evaluate the nutrition program currently being offered to Grady employees
• Continue development of employee engagement opportunities related to FAM
• Assist with required FAM reporting for research and philanthropic grants

*Attendance at Fresh Food Carts at the neighborhood clinics twice per month is required. Addresses are located here.

• Asa Yancey: 1st Wednesday of the month at 9am-2pm
• Brookhaven: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 9am-3pm
• Ponce Center: 3rd Wednesday at 9am-2pm

Timeline
The practicum may take place over one or two semesters starting August 2021 and students must work a minimum of 10 hours/week.
Grady Health System Requirements
Students must complete a background check, drug screening, and health clearance through the ACEMAPP platform at their own expense (estimated cost is $100-150).
Students must adhere to all Grady COVID precautions including universal masking, symptom screening when on campus, and social distancing. Students are required to provide their own PPE (medical mask when on campus or cloth mask when working outdoors).
How to Apply
For more information or to apply, contact Katie Mooney, Manager of Population Health and Community Benefit, at klmooney [at] gmh [dot] edu or 678-296-2282 or. Applicants should send their resume and a brief explanation of interest by Wednesday, July 21, 2021.

APE Opportunity, Emory School of Medicine

Graduate Research Assistant, Hubert Department of Global Health

Description 

Dr. Bethany Caruso and Dr. Melissa Young, Assistant Professors in the Hubert Department of Global Health, are seeking a graduate research assistant (GRA) to assist with analysis of data from a multi-country study focused on feeding behavior and growth among a cohort of low birthweight infants. Varied analyses will focus specifically on understanding the influence of water, sanitation, and hygiene environments and hygienic feeding behaviors on growth outcomes.

Analyses opportunities and needs include basic descriptive statistics and comparisons, basic regression, and multiple regression. The student will play a crucial role to help complete necessarily analyses for papers and will therefore have an opportunity to serve as a co-author.

The ideal candidate is excited about analysis, and is proficient in SAS, R, and/or STATA for statistical analysis. The candidate should be willing to manage and clean data, open to learning new analysis techniques, and willing and able to independently troubleshoot to seek out solutions to analysis obstacles (finding resources online and in-person who may be able to assist as needed).

Knowledge about sanitation and/or nutrition great, but not required.

There may be opportunities for the student to use data for their thesis.

Second year students, particularly those in the Biostatistics and Epidemiology departments, or with strong quantitative experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

This opportunity may be of particular value for students pursuing the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and/or WASH certificates.

The position is intended to start in the summer and may continue in the fall and spring as well. Position open for REAL and non-REAL eligible students.

Duties and Responsibilities

Primary tasks include:

• Independently analyzing data for reports and papers
• Data cleaning and management
• Producing tables for papers
• Writing up methods and results sections of papers

How to Apply:

• For the required cover letter, please describe
  • (1) Your experience with data analysis, including what statistical programs you have used in the past and are most comfortable with.
  • (2) Your public health experience, including interest/experience with WASH and/or nutrition research (reminder: it is ok if you have no experience with WASH and/or nutrition research)
  • (3) what you want to get out of the position (e.g. what skill sets do you want to practice or learn?).
• Please share resume and cover letter to Dr. Bethany Caruso (bcaruso [at] emory [dot] edu).

Graduate Research Assistant, RSPH

Position Description

An RSPH faculty member is seeking to hire a Graduate Research Assistant for federally funded cancer related projects. They are hoping to hire a student for the summer to work on our cancer survivorship program and help with data collection and analyses. This would be a great opportunity for those interested in program evaluation and implementation. Primary responsibilities may include:

• Program and monitor online data collection instruments
• Data collection (i.e. telephone-based interviews) and data entry
• Assist with administrative research tasks (i.e., research related mailings)
• Assist with mixed methods data analyses (e.g., creation of data tables, thematic analyses)
• Other tasks may include: attend research meetings and assist in report and manuscript writing.

Background

Many evidence-based interventions (EBIs) exist; however, their adoption and implementation in clinical and community settings is not optimal. Capacity-building and active dissemination are required to enhance their uptake. The cancer-related studies that the GRA would be working on seek to build capacity among health professionals in the areas of use of EBIs and program adaptation. The main project will package, evaluate and disseminate an educational and electronic personal health record for pediatric cancer survivors (SurvivorLink) among 12 pediatric cancer centers.

Qualifications

Minimum

• Highly motivated, efficient, organized, detail-oriented and interested in or experience working on research projects.

Preferred 

• Prior work experience and research preferred. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Experience with Microsoft Office products and databases, especially Excel and RedCAP, and online surveys. Experience with SPSS or SAS preferred.

Other Information 

• Compensation:  $13.50/hour.
• Start Date: as early as April 20, 2021
• Application Deadline: May 13, 2021 (Applications will be screened as they arrive; positions may be filled prior to this deadline.)   

How to Apply 

• Send resume and cover letter by email to:
  • Cam Escoffery, PhD, MPH, CHES, cescoff [at] emory [dot] edu – Associate Professor, Rollins School of Public Health
  • Victoria Krauss, MPH, vkrauss [at] emory [dot] edu – Public Health Program Associate, Rollins School of Public Health

APE Opportunity, RSPH

Description

Dr. Julie Gazmararian in the Department of Epidemiology has a summer APE opportunity for an EPI student to work on a developing a summary report to provide to two high schools in Barrow County that participated in two surveys (one conducted pre-COVID and the other post-COVID).  This report would be more of a “lay summary” of results with the target audience being school administrators and teachers. There is a lot of really interesting data on sleep habits, impact of COVID (for post-COVID survey), mental and physical health, health behaviors – plus demographics on the participants and decision to be in person or virtual.  There is likely enough work for 2 APE students as well as thesis opportunities.

Click here to see a report that their group developed for the schools from a different survey to get a sense of the type of work/analysis and template.

Contact Information

To learn more about this opportunity and express interest, contact Dr. Gazmararian at jagazma [at] emory [dot] edu.

Injury Prevention Scholarship, IPRCE

Opportunity Description

This year, IPRCE will be awarding 3 scholarships to assist and train students in injury prevention and control.

The scholarship is designed to recognize, assist and train students working on research or practice-based projects in (1) violence prevention (dating violence, sexual violence, intimate partner violence; child maltreatment (including abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse), suicide; or youth violence prevention, including media influence and bullying; (2) motor-vehicle crash or crash-injury prevention, (3) preventing traumatic brain injury,  (4) falls prevention (both adult and pediatric), or (5) drug safety (prevention of drug misuse/abuse, or prevention of recidivism). 

All projects must be applicable to an injury problem in Georgia. 

Recipients of the award will receive the following:

• $1,000 stipend to be distributed at the start of the summer
• Scholarship certificate
• Opportunity to interact with local injury control experts 
• Recognition on the IPRCE website

Eligibility and Requirements

• Applicants must be enrolled as a full time student in an undergraduate, masters, or doctoral degree program.
• Students who are currently receiving another injury prevention fellowship or scholarship are ineligible to apply. Funds supporting the project from other, non-injury specific sources are acceptable.
• Students must submit: a completed application form; a current resume or curriculum vitae; and a project proposal describing the rationale, intended purpose, process/methodology, and potential contribution or impact of the project in 500 words or less. In addition, applications should include one letter of recommendation regarding the applicant’s abilities and qualifications (from an internship coordinator, preceptor, faculty member or other professional); and one letter of support from a designated faculty member who plans to work with the applicant on the proposed project (or agency representative if the project involves work with a non-academic organization) and can verify that the student is a full-time student in a degree program. Letters may be signed pdfs sent electronically.
• Proposed projects must address one or more of the following topics: (1) violence prevention (dating violence, sexual violence, intimate partner violence; child maltreatment (including abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse), suicide; or youth violence prevention, including media influence and bullying; (2) motor-vehicle crash or crash-injury prevention, (3) preventing traumatic brain injury, (4) falls prevention (both adult and pediatric), or (5) drug safety (prevention of drug misuse/abuse, or prevention of recidivism)
• Proposed projects may be new or on going, and the applicant must have the primary role in conducting the project.
• Recipients will be required to submit a brief, 1-page, progress/completion report in early September 2020 detailing the status of the project and the contribution of IPRCE funds to the project.
• For their final project, recipients must present their work at an IPRCE meeting during the 2020-2021 year.

Project Review Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed by the IPRCE Steering Committee for their scientific and/or theoretical basis, originality, and potential contribution to injury prevention and control.  Projects may be related to surveillance, risk factor identification, or intervention development, evaluation or dissemination.  Projects related to the development or use of theory in injury prevention also are acceptable. Specific criteria include the following: 

• Research Proposals should include: problem identification and/or rationale for the project; theoretical or conceptual basis; population of interest; research design and methodology; plans for data collection and analysis; contribution to knowledge in injury prevention.
• Practice-based Proposals should include: problem identification and/or rationale for the project; theoretical or conceptual basis or related findings from a needs assessment; population served; practice design; cultural competence of materials; plans for implementation, evaluation and dissemination; intended contribution to the field of injury prevention.

Application Information 

• Deadline Extended: April 16, 2021
• Click here to learn more about this scholarship opportunity and to access the online application!

APE Opportunity, Emory School of Medicine

Description

Colleagues in the Emory School of Medicine have an interesting practicum opportunity available for MPH students.  They are conducting a study on attitudes toward fertility preservation in transgender individuals.  The study involves recruitment of people in transgender clinics and asking them to fill out a short questionnaire. 

The questionnaire is designed to be filled out on line during the appointment.  The clinicians running this study will need help with making sure the process is moving along while the participant is in the clinic. It is expected that some participants will choose to fill out the survey at home.  In this case, the student’s responsibility will be to follow up and make sure the survey is completed.  Once the data are collected, the student will also have an opportunity to perform data analyses. 

Contact Information

Dr. Sina Abhari (sina [dot] abhari [at] emory [dot] edu) will serve as the APE supervisor, and Dr. Michael Goodman (mgoodm2 [at] emory [dot] edu), from the Department of Epidemiology, is also involved in the project. If interested, please email both Dr. Abhari and Dr. Goodman to express interest and learn more about this opportunity!