In the George

Transforming learning into practice during Inova Fairfax Trauma Center visit

Heather Carroll — Fri, 09 May 2025 16:55:12 +0000

Transforming learning into practice during Inova Fairfax Trauma Center visit Heather Carroll Fri, 05/09/2025 - 12:55

Aspiring health care leaders get vivid lesson on the role of leadership in trauma care

Students in 海角社区鈥檚 Master of Health Administration (MHA) program recently had an unforgettable opportunity to step into the heart of one of Northern Virginia鈥檚 premier emergency care facilities. MHA students from change management and strategic planning classes class visited Inova Fairfax Hospital鈥檚 state-of-the-art trauma center, gaining firsthand insight into how top-tier health care organizations operate at the intersection of clinical urgency and administrative excellence.

College of Public Health students learn at Inova Fairfax Hospital
Photo by Michelle Thompson/College of Public Health

This visit was much more than a tour鈥攊t was a vivid demonstration of how George Mason鈥檚 MHA program prepares future leaders for complex, high-stakes environments. The experience underscored three key themes: the transformative education George Mason provides, the powerful partnership with Inova Health System, and the inspiring potential of George Mason鈥檚 future health care leaders.

Translating classroom learning to real-world practice

For Vinay Bhakthan, who will graduate in spring 2026 from the Bachelor鈥檚 to Accelerated Master鈥檚 program, the visit was eye-opening. 鈥淔rom coordinating nurse staffing levels and ensuring patient bed availability, to triaging critical cases to trauma rooms and overseeing room turnover after discharges, all while making sure the emergency department is following all regulations and organization policies is an immense task. Seeing these things in person gave me a clear perspective about the realities of the job,鈥� said Bhakthan.

Similarly, Pratyusha Satpathy, who will graduate in December 2026, found herself connecting academic concepts to operational excellence. 鈥淭his visit brought many classroom concepts to life,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t also reminded me how essential leadership is in shaping an environment where clinicians can focus on patients while everything else runs smoothly in the background. Everything was thoughtfully planned out鈥攆rom how easily accessible supplies were, to how rooms could transition into emergency pods instantly with oxygen and suction systems already in place. It really showed how administrators are not only managing systems but enabling life-saving care through intentional design and coordination.鈥�

For Taveion Mickens, the visit bridged his growing academic knowledge with the emotional reality of health care leadership. Mickens, a United States Marine, will graduate from the Bachelor鈥檚 to Accelerated Master鈥檚 program in December 2026. 鈥淪eeing administrators lead with both precision and empathy reinforced how indispensable they are in creating an environment where health care professionals can thrive and patients can receive timely, quality care. Emergencies don鈥檛 follow a script leaders must be able to pivot quickly and make informed decisions under pressure. Communication becomes a lifeline, not just between staff, but also with patients and families who may be in crisis. Most importantly, empathy must guide every decision. When administrators lead with compassion, they uplift both their teams and the patients they serve,鈥� said Mickens.

A strong partnership with Inova Health System

MHA students tour Inova Fairfax's trauma center
Photo by Michelle Thompson/College of Public Health

The tour also spotlights George Mason鈥檚 longstanding relationship with Inova. Through access to real-world settings like Inova Fairfax鈥檚 trauma center, George Mason students experience how leading health care organizations integrate systems thinking, workforce management, quality assurance, and emergency preparedness into seamless patient care.

鈥淎s a former trauma nurse, I know the value of exposing graduate students to the world of health care beyond the walls of a classroom and textbooks. My hope is that students who seek an MHA degree will become leaders that are consistently engaged with clinicians and staff as patient care partners, rather than detached bystanders. There is simply no substitute for being present,鈥� said Professor Brenda Helen Sheingold, PhD, RN, FNAP said division director of Health Administration Programs and an associate professor in the Department of Health Administration and Policy.

The Inova trauma center鈥檚 forward-thinking infrastructure鈥攅mergency pods, integrated technology systems, and strategically organized resources鈥攍eft a lasting impression on the students. It demonstrated how thoughtful administrative planning directly enhances clinical outcomes and staff resilience, particularly in high-pressure emergency environments.

Inspiring the next generation of health care leaders

Each of the three students came away with renewed passion and clarity for their future careers. Bhakthan, who is motivated by the desire to solve health care鈥檚 systemic challenges, affirmed that the visit 鈥渟trengthened [his] commitment to being part of the solutions鈥� in health care administration.

Satpathy, who blends a clinical background as a doctor with administrative aspirations, left the visit feeling more empowered: 鈥淎s someone who trained in medicine before coming to the U.S... I want to build environments that make health care safer, smoother, and more responsive.鈥�

For Mickens, whose goal is to lead change in underserved communities, the experience provided both affirmation and inspiration. 鈥淭his visit didn鈥檛 just confirm my career goals; it gave them new direction and deeper purpose,鈥� he said.

Thanks to the immersive experiences provided through the College of Public Health鈥檚 MHA program鈥攁nd strong partners like Inova Health System鈥攕tudents are graduating ready to lead the future of health care, not just react to it. For these aspiring health care leaders, the trauma center visit wasn鈥檛 just an assignment. It was a vivid reminder of the critical role administrators play in ensuring every life-saving second counts.

From left, MHA students Vinay Bhakthan, Pratyusha Satpathy, Taveion Mickens

Learn More About Our Health Administrations Programs

Students Experience the Pitt鈥擜 Real-World Trauma Center

For fans of the hit medical drama The Pitt on Max, the high-stakes, fast-paced world of trauma care is both riveting and emotionally charged. But for three 海角社区 Master of Health Administration (MHA) students, a recent visit to Inova Fairfax Hospital鈥檚 Trauma Center offered a firsthand look at the real-life complexities behind the scenes鈥攚here administrators play a crucial role in orchestrating life-saving care.

Inova Fairfax Hospital houses Northern Virginia鈥檚 only Level 1 Trauma Center, a designation it has held since 1983. This elite status signifies the hospital's ability to provide the highest level of surgical care to trauma patients, with a multidisciplinary team available 24/7. The center treats a wide range of critical injuries, from car crashes and falls to industrial incidents and acts of violence.

For MHA students Vinay Bhakthan, Pratyusha Satpathy, and Taveion Mickens, the visit to Inova's Trauma Center was more than an educational tour鈥攊t was a transformative experience that bridged classroom learning with real-world application.

Topics

MHA

Department of Health Administration and Policy

Inova Health Systems

Public Health Careers

HAP Students

Students

In the George

How resilience, caring, and lived experience created a social worker

Mary Cunningham — Thu, 08 May 2025 20:05:41 +0000

How resilience, caring, and lived experience created a social worker Mary Cunningham Thu, 05/08/2025 - 16:05

Before she ever considered social work as a profession, Roc铆o Rodr铆guez Morales was already an advocate for her family, starting at a young age.聽聽

Growing up in Southern California as the oldest of five in a Mexican American home, Rodr铆guez acted as her family鈥檚 unofficial translator and guide鈥攎anaging doctor鈥檚 appointments, school meetings, and social services. 鈥淚 was doing things most children don鈥檛 have to do,鈥� she said.聽

Rocio Rodr铆guez, MSW '25. Photo by Madalyn Julianna

In high school, Rodr铆guez鈥檚 parents encouraged her to seek out support through the federally funded TRIO program, a college access initiative run through local universities that helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds. 鈥淭hey said, 'I don鈥檛 know how to teach you about financial aid, so go ask the lady you see every Saturday.'"聽

The program opened doors for her to tour college campuses, spend summers in dorms, and get help with tutoring and admissions.聽聽

Rodr铆guez became the first in her family to attend college, earning a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, then a master's in education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.聽聽

Her background led her to roles assisting military families and helping students navigate college and financial aid.聽 But in 2020, when she took a job as a case manager for Exodus Recovery鈥攁 California nonprofit serving veterans, Medicaid patients, and people facing housing instability鈥攈er path came into focus. 鈥淚 called my parents and said, 鈥業 found a job doing what I鈥檝e always done: helping people,鈥欌€� she said.聽

The team surrounding her, meanwhile, was packed with social workers. "All of them kept telling me, 'You should become a social worker, too. Just do it.'"聽

鈥淭hat was my community鈥�聽

When life as a Marine Corps spouse uprooted her young family cross country to Virginia, Rodr铆guez enrolled in the online Master of Social Work (MSW) program at 海角社区. By that point, it was clear that the formal degree wasn鈥檛 just an option鈥攊t was a necessity. 鈥淒oors for jobs kept closing because I didn鈥檛 have my MSW,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd I needed a career I could carry with me, wherever life took us.鈥�聽

She began her degree during one of the most tumultuous periods of her life in 2022. Isolated from loved ones out West and newly pregnant with her third child, she was helping her husband recover from an injury that led to his medical retirement while also coping with her mother鈥檚 immigration challenges. 鈥淚t was a very vulnerable time,鈥� she said.聽

Rodr铆guez reached out to George Mason faculty for support鈥攏ot knowing exactly what she needed, just knowing she couldn鈥檛 do it alone. 鈥淚 finally sent that email saying, 鈥業 need help,鈥欌€� she says鈥攁nd in return she found empathy, flexibility, and guidance toward resources.聽聽

The Mason Community-Academic Partnerships in Behavioral Health (CAP-BH) Program in the Department of Social Work鈥檚 became her anchor, providing a $10,000 stipend, training in trauma-informed care and telehealth, and virtual reality-based therapy simulations. She found herself part of a close-knit cohort of about 30 peers.聽

鈥淭hat was my community,鈥� Rodr铆guez said.聽

Behind the scenes, her husband was a steady source of support. 鈥淭here were days I鈥檇 rush from dropping off the kids straight into a Zoom class, and my husband would be sliding a coffee or plate of food next to me," she said.聽聽

Making it official聽

As Rodr铆guez worked toward her degree, her career in Virginia expanded. She first led the education arm of a foster care company for unaccompanied children at Adore Children and Family Services, then started conducting foster parent home studies. Since August 2023, she has served as program director for Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area鈥檚 (LSSNCA) specialized foster care program, helping place unaccompanied refugee minors in safe and supportive homes.聽

She鈥檚 seen the impact firsthand, like with the young man in her program who鈥檚 now pursuing a college degree, supporting his recently resettled family, and taking on a 鈥渂ig brother role鈥� to the new kids at LSSNCA. 鈥淗e shares what worked for him with others,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 exactly what we want.鈥�聽

Rodr铆guez will officially become a social worker on May 15, the day she graduates from George Mason. The same week, she will take the podium as the College of Public Health鈥檚 student degree celebration speaker.聽

From there, she鈥檒l begin logging 3,000 clinical hours, part of her long-term goal to one day open her own practice. 鈥淭here鈥檚 so much stigma around mental health, especially in the communities I care about,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to build a practice that feels safe for military families and Spanish-speaking families."聽

Rodr铆guez is even nudging her husband to consider joining her in the field. 鈥淚 keep telling him, 鈥榊ou鈥檝e been my partner through all of this鈥攜ou鈥檇 make a great social worker, too,鈥欌€� she said.聽

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Topics

master of social work

Graduating community health student has her own floss-ophy

Shayla Brown — Fri, 02 May 2025 17:09:05 +0000

Graduating community health student has her own floss-ophy Shayla Brown Fri, 05/02/2025 - 13:09

Growing up, 海角社区 senior Haila Salaheddine was not a big fan of going to the dentist.聽

鈥淚 was initially very fearful of the dentist. When I was living in Lebanon, there wasn鈥檛 really preventative care for oral hygiene,鈥� said Salaheddine, a community health major.聽聽

After high school, Salaheddine moved to the United States and discovered she had eight cavities.聽

鈥淚 got them filled in quadrants, which was not fun, but I paid close attention to what the dentist was doing; all the material he was picking up. I started asking questions and ended up shadowing the same dentist, and soon fell in love with it,鈥� said Salaheddine.聽

Salaheddine is graduating this spring with a bachelor of science from George Mason鈥檚 College of Public Health and plans to attend dental school at the University of Maryland.聽

鈥淣ow it will be my responsibility to make sure that patients feel comfortable with me, which is something that I'm very excited for. Going to the dentist is a different experience for everybody and I want to help make the process as easy as possible,鈥� said the Honors College student.聽

Haila Salaheddine. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding.

During her time on campus, Salaheddine was president of the Volunteers Around the World dental outreach program, vice president of Patriots for Public Health, and a member of the Pre-Dental Society, Chemistry Club, and Alpha Phi sorority.聽聽聽

鈥淥ur main goal with Volunteers Around the World is to get enough members to travel overseas for two weeks in the summer and provide dental care for underserved communities in countries like the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, and Peru,鈥� said Salaheddine, who has attended multiple national meetings.聽

She was also president of a student advisory group that advocated for more global and community health (GCH) courses in Peterson Hall.聽

鈥淲e met with President Gregory Washington on a monthly basis and discussed how having more courses in this building can help GCH students to integrate themselves more in the major and with fellow peers,鈥� she said.聽

Salaheddine is in her third semester of being a learning advisor for College of Science professor Gwendolyn Fondufe, providing support to students in Fondufe鈥檚 classrooms.聽

One of Salaheddine鈥檚 favorite courses was organic chemistry taught by Greg Petruncio.聽

鈥淗aila has a high capacity for memorization, something that is necessary to perform well in organic chemistry and is evidenced by her stellar performance in the course,鈥� said Petruncio, a postdoctoral fellow in George Mason鈥檚 College of Science.聽

鈥淪he would show up to my office hours regularly and would often ask exam-focused questions to target her studying efforts,鈥� he said.聽

Salaheddine describes the course as the climax of her college experience.聽聽

鈥淚t taught me a lot about myself, about my time management skills, and it was really impactful in me passing my dental admission exams,鈥� she said.聽

What鈥檚 your best memory at George Mason?鈥�聽

My freshman year in fall 2021. It was the turnover of the COVID-19 era and we were getting more social interactions, but it was still very quiet on campus. It was a really new and unique experience, and a critical point for me. I often question what it would be like if I was to go back freshman year and have it completely in person, and whether that would've changed my way of thinking or the places where I usually hang our and study now.聽

How have you grown at George Mason?聽

My senior year is when I found my love of joining clubs and trying to hold leadership positions because it was something that kept me intertwined with George Mason as a commuter. Something that鈥檚 important for me is being able to receive constructive criticism when working with others so being able to socialize and ask this from people was really significant for me, especially as I started applying to dental schools and interviewing for programs. I don't think I would be where I am now as a leader in two different clubs and admitted into dental school otherwise.聽

What advice do you have for incoming students?聽

As a learning advisor for BIOL 213 [Cell Structure and Function], a lot of my students are freshmen, and funny enough I oftentimes advise them to socialize and put themselves outside their comfort zone and make friends with people they wouldn't typically interact with. It builds a lot of personality and social awareness.聽

There are so many different perspectives surrounding us at all times and being able to keep an open mind while interacting with all these different individuals helps you, especially as a person who's still growing. We can't always control the environment we鈥檙e in and being able to communicate with others in a meaningful way is crucial.聽

What鈥檚 next for you?鈥�聽

I'm very excited to finally go to dental school at the University of Maryland. As a dental assistant, you're shadowing professionals and helping on the sidelines. I finally get to say that I am pursuing my future career and providing firsthand care to others. That's something that's very heartwarming and amazing to hear.聽

聽

Topics

Graduation

Community Health

College of Public Health

George Mason becomes new home for 400,000 biological specimens from Inova Health Systems

Mary Cunningham — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:07:11 +0000

George Mason becomes new home for 400,000 biological specimens from Inova Health Systems Mary Cunningham Tue, 07/16/2024 - 20:07

海角社区鈥檚 College of Public Health is the new home of 400,000 biological specimens through a partnership with Inova Health Systems. This repository of specimens, called a biobank, is an extensive collection of obstetrical and perinatal samples, along with follow-up health information, providing a rare and invaluable asset in public health and in the education of our future health, science, and technology care workforce.聽聽聽

鈥淭he biorepository creates opportunities for Mason to expand its collaborations with Inova, biotechnology partners, and other universities in Virginia, as well as unique educational opportunities,鈥� said Melissa Perry, dean of the college.聽

Larry Maxwell, president of the Women鈥檚 Service Line at Inova Health System, said, 鈥淭he investment by Inova Health System as well as additional support from the Fairfax County Government have created an unprecedented resource of placenta as well as blood specimens from mother, father, and baby [trios] corresponding to over 4,000 families. These biospecimens and corresponding data continue to support scientific research to better understand the obstetrical diseases that contribute to rising rates of maternal morbidity and mortality locally, regionally, and nationally.鈥澛�

A range of specimens (e.g., saliva, urine, and blood) were collected with consent from an Inova cohort study that followed more than 4,000 women, their partners, and their children from pregnancy into early childhood to examine maternal health, pregnancy outcomes, and children鈥檚 growth and development.聽

Biobank program leads Carolyn Drews-Botsch and Michael S. Bloom. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

鈥淭he transfer of the biobank from Inova Health System to the College of Public Health serves as a testament to our strong public鈥損rivate partnership, and underscores George Mason鈥檚 dedication to advancing health in pregnancy and early childhood,鈥� said Alison Cuellar, College of Public Health associate dean for research. The biobank is housed at the university鈥檚 Science and Technology 海角社区 in Manassas, Virginia.聽

The biobank offers an unprecedented opportunity for George Mason researchers to engage with and involve Virginia鈥檚 undergraduate and graduate students in health and public health science, to expand Virginia鈥檚 health, science, and technology workforce pipeline and enhance its diversity.聽聽

鈥淭he availability of such comprehensive and diverse datasets within a single biobank is rare, making it an attractive asset for collaboration and groundbreaking research endeavors,鈥� said Michael S. Bloom, program lead of the College of Public Health Biobank and George Mason professor.聽聽

Space at the SciTech 海角社区 for the biobank was renovated to hold the 11 tanks (called dewars) and freezers full of specimens. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Bloom and co-lead Carolyn Drews-Botsch started the work for the biobank transfer in 2021. Inova chose Bloom and Drews-Botsch after extensive vetting of their prior research experience, including involvement in large cohort studies, such as those from which these specimens are drawn. Space at the SciTech 海角社区 for the biobank was renovated to hold the 11 tanks (called dewars) and freezers full of specimens. The containers are kept between -80 degrees C and -190 degrees C to maintain specimen integrity during long-term storage.聽

鈥淭hese specimens will be vital for public health researchers who are looking to identify associations and factors that support healthy pregnancy and child health and ultimately benefit the public鈥檚 health,鈥� said Drews-Botsch, a professor in the College of Public Health.聽

The professors expect the biobank to become a leading resource for collaborative projects once a research database is developed, with other researchers analyzing the data to answer important public health questions.聽

鈥淏y actively fostering these partnerships, George Mason can position itself as a leader in research around maternal health and early childhood and contribute to the advancement of public health on a larger scale,鈥� Perry said. 聽
聽

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Michael S. Bloom, PhD, MS, FACE

Carolyn Drews-Botsch, PhD, MPH

Alison Evans Cuellar, PhD, MBA

Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS

Topics

Maternal Child Health

Science and Technology 海角社区

Songs from adolescence and early adulthood enhance mood and social engagement among people with dementia, according to new study

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 21:18:46 +0000

Songs from adolescence and early adulthood enhance mood and social engagement among people with dementia, according to new study Mary Cunningham Mon, 06/24/2024 - 17:18

Around 46% of residents in U.S. nursing homes have Alzheimer's or other dementias, and 13% of them are treated with antipsychotic medications, according to the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes.

Photo by Getty Images

Antipsychotic medications that affect a person鈥檚 mental state have been widely prescribed for people living with dementia in nursing facilities to treat their behavioral (social) and psychological (mood) symptoms, though positive results are limited, and the drugs can come with serious side effects. 海角社区 College of Public Health faculty are part of a growing group of researchers who are seeking therapeutic ways to improve the quality of life of these residents without medication.聽

New research, led by principal investigator Megumi Inoue, found that personalized music intervention is effective at reducing the use of antipsychotic and antianxiety medication, alleviating agitation levels, and enhancing mood and social engagement among residents.聽

Personalized playlists were developed based on family member suggestions regarding what songs, artists, and/or genres the participants listened to when they were around 15 to 25 years old, an age when more memories are available for potential recollection. Facility staff played the personalized playlists for the intervention group twice a week, aiming for at least 30 minutes each session, for four weeks. Participants in the control group continued their usual schedule during these four weeks.聽

Associate Professor of Social Work Megumi Inoue

鈥淭his study provides evidence that personalized music intervention can be used to manage distressing behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with dementia,鈥� said Inoue, an associate professor in the Department of Social Work. "This low-cost, easily implementable intervention, requiring no special licensure for administration, can significantly enhance the quality of life for nursing facility residents

Overall, the intervention group experienced a decrease in average antipsychotic medication use after the intervention, and the control group, which did not receive any music, had an increase in medication use during the same time period. The observational data also revealed that this intervention can improve the mood of residents living with dementia and help them connect with others, while surveys from administrative staff and activity directors highlighted their positive views of the intervention.聽聽

鈥淚n addition to improving patients鈥� quality of life, this intervention can create an improved environment throughout the nursing home,鈥� said Inoue. "For example, if personalized music helps reduce residents鈥� challenging symptoms, they will become easier to work with for direct care workers. In addition, the reduction of medications to treat residents鈥� psychological and behavioral symptoms will contribute to creating an overall safer facility because such medications have sedating effects that can cause falls."

She added, "Using the personalized music intervention may be perceived as extra work by some staff members, but ultimately, it can ease their work processes as its positive effects have indirect impacts on their work and facility environment."

鈥淎 Personalized Music Intervention in Nursing Home Residents Living With Dementia: Findings From a Randomized Study鈥� was published online in the Journal for Applied Gerontology in June 2024. This research was supported by a Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Fund from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services through the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services.

Additional authors include Emily S. Ihara, Catherine J. Tompkins, Shannon Layman, Sarah Nosrat, Morgan Moore, and Kimberly A. McNally from George Mason鈥檚 College of Public Health; Meng-Hao Li from George Mason鈥檚 Schar School of Policy and Government; Samreen Mehak from George Mason鈥檚 Department of Biology; George Mason alumna Kendall Barrett from Wise Mind Psychotherapy; and Catherine Magee from Paving the Way MSI.聽

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George Mason researchers receive $1.78M from NIH for work improving the health of mothers, children

Shayla Brown — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 16:57:43 +0000

George Mason researchers receive $1.78M from NIH for work improving the health of mothers, children Shayla Brown Wed, 06/05/2024 - 12:57

海角社区 scientists, nurses, and researchers in the College of Public Health have just entered the second cycle of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) program called Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO).聽聽

The NIH grant provides ECHO teams across the country with a total of $7 million a year for seven years to research five outcomes of women and children: pre-, peri-, and postnatal outcomes; upper and lower airways; obesity; neurodevelopment; and positive health. George Mason will receive $1.78 million every year throughout this cycle.

An ECHO researcher taking measurements of a child participant. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding.

The cohort, which includes Boston Children鈥檚 Hospital, is led by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. George Mason is the only university in Virginia participating in the project. The research being done for the ECHO project is part of a new set of research initiatives made possible with the opening of the Population Health Center on the Fairfax 海角社区.聽

They are currently re-recruiting participants from the first cycle. They have confirmed just over 300 participants out of 1,512. The youngest participant is under one year old and the oldest is 12.聽

鈥淲e鈥檙e aiming to gather information about women and children in a longitudinal manner to compare to our data to that of Omaha, Nebraska, or Iowa. Learning about the regional disparities will then allow us to use them to influence national policy,鈥� said principal investigator Kathi Huddleston, PhD 鈥�08, an associate professor in the College of Public Health.聽

Huddleston said George Mason鈥檚 robust PhD nursing program and her dissertation research on pediatric emergency preparedness helped to prepare her for this extensive project.聽聽

The team studied the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as 鈥渇orever鈥� chemicals, as well as air pollution modeling, sleep patterns, nutrition, and COVID-19, gathering real-time data and look at their associations with child health outcomes, such as child obesity, immunization rates and more.聽

This research from the first cycle of ECHO revealed that school lunch consumption was associated with increased obesity in children and prompted policy change that strengthen the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA). This resulted in a significant decrease in the overall body mass index among school-aged youths and will have substantial health benefits on generations of children.聽

More results from the first cycle included changes in sleep patterns due to COVID-19 and disparities in sleep patterns between children of different racial/ethnic backgrounds. The team also found that there is a strong relationship between the health of the mother at pre- and early conception and the overall health of children. For example, babies born to mothers with higher levels of toxic metals were more likely to be underweight, which could lead to future health issues.聽

鈥淚f we want to have healthy kids, we have to have healthy moms,鈥� said Huddleston.聽聽

As part of cycle two, the researchers will recruit more pregnant women to gain additional insight, including women who were patients at Inova Health System and have also been working with a lot of the same kids for many years, said Grace Lawrence, PhD 鈥�18, director of research clinical operations for the ECHO project.

Student researchers Daisy Posada, Seema Poudel,聽and Shiva Zarean. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding.

Also on the team are Alma Fuller, nursing student Shiva Zarean, and research project administrators Daisy Posada BA 鈥�13, MA 鈥�18, and Bruna Mayen, a biology major who also acts as the project and lab manager. Mayen鈥檚 role as lab manager includes collecting teeth, hair, and urine samples to test the progression of health and well-being in the participants as they grow.聽聽聽

鈥淚 ensure samples are stored at required optimal conditions and freezers are monitored daily,鈥� said Mayen. 鈥淚 also perform data entry and quality assurance/quality control of all data and samples.鈥�

聽

鈥淓ach interaction with the participants is so special, it brings potential for new connections and enriches the overall experience and impact they have on the study and us on their development,鈥� said Mayen. 聽

The families come into the research facility once a year so researchers can record each family member鈥檚 weight, height, and head and waist circumferences, as well as their body fat percentage.聽

鈥淲e were in the ECHO study when my first child was a newborn. Then my second child was born, and we just kept going,鈥� said Cassie Gallagher, a mom of three young children, all of who participate in the ECHO study. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been very active in the study, we send in nails, teeth, everything.鈥澛�

鈥淚 also appreciate how thorough the questions are in the surveys that they send us because they鈥檙e trying to get the important answers. Especially when they ask about our stress level and different environmental aspects,鈥� said Gallagher.聽

The project encompasses the concept of citizen science as the participants provide all of the information being used to create an impact in public health. They also receive quarterly updates with the researchers鈥� findings.聽聽

鈥淥ne of the understated benefits of this study is that children are encouraged to participate firsthand in science and gather an understanding of science in a very personal way,鈥� said Huddleston. 鈥淲e have received wonderful feedback from the kids about how they feel giving new information to better all children鈥檚 health.鈥澛�

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Dr. Kathi Huddleston, PhD, MSN

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Learning Laboratory for Community Health prepares graduate students to solve real-world public health challenges

Taylor Thomas — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 15:55:33 +0000

Learning Laboratory for Community Health prepares graduate students to solve real-world public health challenges Taylor Thomas Wed, 06/05/2024 - 11:55

The Learning Laboratory for Community Health at 海角社区 held the first in-person Learning Lab Challenge at the Inaugural Empowered Communities Conference. For the challenge, graduate research assistants (GRAs) were tasked with developing an intervention that addressed the very real public health issue of opioid use disorder among adolescents and young adults.聽

Over the semester, GRAs worked in interdisciplinary teams, with community stakeholders providing insights into their research process and conducting interviews with affected youth and families to determine how to best meet the community's health needs.聽聽

Ashley Wiest

鈥淲e were excited to showcase student milestones achieved, challenges overcome, and collective triumphs that define our community journey toward a healthier, more equitable future,鈥� said Ashley Wiest, a research faculty member in the College of Public Health and the Learning Lab project coordinator.聽

The challenge concluded with GRAs presenting their interventions to a panel of experts, who evaluated and selected the intervention that will be implemented at the Mason and Partners (MAP) clinics. The experts included聽聽

Kadhambari Sridhar, Community Preparedness Coordinator at the Fairfax County Health Department;聽聽
Jennifer Felts, Population Health Epidemiologist specializing in substance use and mental health; and聽
Shannyn Snyder, an adjunct faculty in the Department of Global and Community renowned for her expertise in socioeconomic disparities and social justice issues.聽

Under the guidance of Lisa Gring-Pemble, an associate professor in the Costello College of Business, the winning intervention, titled "Club Culmore: A Place-Based Wellness Model for Adolescents and Young Adults," was designed by three GRAs: 聽

Shams Hadi Al Jassar, biology major and pre-medical student聽
Olivia Hutton, Master of Health Administration student聽聽
Eyesha Shaikh, Master of聽Social Work student

Shams Hadi Al Jassar

Olivia Hutton

Eyesha Shaikh

Club Culmore presents a comprehensive seven-step approach to wellness. From mental health services to tailored social media campaigns, workforce skill development, and a dedicated medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinic, this innovative proposal promises to address the opioid epidemic through community collaboration and tailored services for at-risk youth.

鈥淚t was rewarding to celebrate the transformative impact our Mason students have had on the landscape of community health. Their dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment to excellence have enhanced their individual growth and enriched our community,鈥� said Wiest.

The Learning Lab was created with support from a $1 million Health Services Research grant, made possible by Congressman Gerry Connolly of Virginia's 11th District, who shepherded the proposal through Congress. Rebecca Sutter serves as the grant's project director and principle investigator. The mission of the Learning Laboratory is to support multidisciplinary training for public health students and professionals, with special attention to marginalized communities within Northern Virginia. 聽

The Learning Lab鈥檚 impact on students and the community聽

Since its inception, the Learning Laboratory has been highly successful. In the second year of the lab, students reported the lab聽

increased their knowledge of community stakeholders, 聽
increased confidence in discussing core public health topics, and 聽
significantly improved their critical thinking skills related to community health, networking and research, problem-solving, and professional development.聽聽

鈥淭he Learning Lab is dedicated to equipping students with the multifaceted skills essential for success in the workforce after graduation. Our teaching models foster proficiency in research, interviewing, data collection, administrative tasks, and community resource utilization alongside technological competencies, thus nurturing a generation of adept community health professionals,鈥� said Wiest.聽

Read the Lab鈥檚 2023-24 Impact Report.聽

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Shannyn Snyder, MAIS

Ashley Wiest, DNP, FNP-BC

Rebecca Sutter, DNP, APRN, BC-FNP

Lisa M. Gring-Pemble

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George Mason researchers harness the power of artificial intelligence to match patients with the most effective antidepressant for their unique needs聽

Mary Cunningham — Wed, 29 May 2024 19:46:58 +0000

George Mason researchers harness the power of artificial intelligence to match patients with the most effective antidepressant for their unique needs聽 Mary Cunningham Wed, 05/29/2024 - 15:46

Researchers in 海角社区鈥檚 College of Public Health have leveraged the power of artificial intelligence (AI) analytical models to match a patient鈥檚 medical history to the most effective antidepressant, allowing patients to find symptom relief sooner. The free website, MeAgainMeds.com, provides evidence-based recommendations, allowing clinicians and patients to find the optimal antidepressant the first time.聽

Farrokh Alemi, principal investigator and professor of health informatics at 海角社区鈥檚 College of Public Health

鈥淢any people with depression must try multiple antidepressants before finding the right one that alleviates their symptoms. Our website reduces the number of medications that patients are asked to try. The system recommends to the patient what has worked for at least 100 other patients with the same exact relevant medical history,鈥� said Farrokh Alemi, principal investigator and professor of health informatics at 海角社区鈥檚 College of Public Health.聽

AI helped to simplify the very complex task of making the thousands of guidelines easily accessible to patients and clinicians. The guidelines that researchers created are complicated because of the amount of clinical information that is relevant in prescribing an antidepressant; AI seamlessly simplifies the task.聽聽

With AI at its core, MeAgainMeds.com analyzes clinician or patient responses to a few anonymous medical history questions to determine which oral antidepressant would best meet the specific needs. The website does not ask for any personal identifiable information and it does not prescribe medication changes. Patients are advised to visit their primary health care provider for any changes in medication. 聽

In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control reported that more than 13% of adults use antidepressants, and the number has only increased since the pandemic and other epidemics since 2020. This website could help millions of people find relief more quickly.聽

Alemi and his team analyzed 3,678,082 patients who took 10,221,145 antidepressants. The oral antidepressants analyzed were amitriptyline, bupropion, citalopram, desvenlafaxine, doxepin, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, mirtazapine, nortriptyline, paroxetine, sertraline, trazodone, and venlafaxine. From the data, they created 16,770 subgroups of at least 100 cases, using reactions to prior antidepressants, current medication, history of physical illness, history of mental illness, key procedures, and other information. The subgroups and remission rates drive the AI to produce an evidence-based medication recommendation.聽

鈥淏y matching patients to the subgroups, clinicians can prescribe the medication that works best for people with similar medical history,鈥� said Alemi. The researchers and website recommend that patients who use the site take the information to their clinicians, who will ultimately decide whether to prescribe the recommended medicine.聽

Alemi and his team tested a protype version of the site in 2023, which they advertised on social media. At that time, 1,500 patients used the website. Their goal is to improve the website and expand its user base. The initial research was funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia and by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.聽

The researchers鈥� most recent paper in a series of papers on response to antidepressants analyzed 2,467 subgroups of patients who had received psychotherapy. 鈥淓ffectiveness of Antidepressants in Combination with Psychotherapy鈥� was published online in March 2024. Additional authors include Tulay G Soylu from Temple University, and Mary Cannon and Conor McCandless from Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland.聽聽聽

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Farrokh Alemi, PhD

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At the barbershop, it鈥檚 OK not to be OK

mthomp7 — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 17:14:29 +0000

At the barbershop, it鈥檚 OK not to be OK mthomp7 Fri, 03/22/2024 - 13:14

Destigmatizing mental health support and normalizing therapy in the Black community, one barbershop at a time

海角社区 alumnus Gary T. Taylor, MSW '15, is destigmatizing mental health support and normalizing therapy in the Black community one barbershop at a time. 鈥淏arbershops are this safe space for Black men,鈥� says Taylor who has been working with local barbershops in the Rappahannock region of Virginia since 2022 to foster healthy discussions about mental health by educating barbers on 鈥渕ental health first aid鈥� for their patrons. 聽

鈥淭his is where men may go to talk through things, have big debates, talk about sports. Barbershops are an important part of culture for us as Black men鈥攋ust like salons are for Black women,鈥� says Taylor. Given the trusted role that barbers often play in Black men鈥檚 lives鈥攊t seemed like a natural place to Taylor for reaching men about mental health.聽聽

Taylor has found that barbershop talks聽play an important role in normalizing talking about issues and going to therapy. The talks can help point participants in the right direction to get therapy resources or find substance abuse resources.聽

Working in partnership with the Rappahannock Area Community Service Board, Taylor realized he could bring his crisis therapy experience into the community through 鈥渂arbershop talks鈥濃€攊nformal group discussions with the barber, the shop patrons, and a trained social worker.聽

鈥淢ost of the time when you talk to barbers, they'll tell you they're almost de facto therapists and social workers,鈥� says Taylor, 鈥淭hey're listening to their clients鈥� problems and maybe don鈥檛 know about resources available to help. So we wanted to equip the barbers to know what the necessary resources are just in case somebody comes in and it's a crisis or they're really struggling and they don't know where to go.鈥澛�

It helps reduce stigma by normalizing that it's OK to not be OK. Therapy doesn鈥檛 mean I'm crazy or something's wrong with me,鈥� he says.聽

Taylor relays to participants that seeking mental health support is just like taking your car in for an oil change to make sure it keeps running properly.聽

鈥淲ith the rise of substance abuse and overdoses, the barbers or the folks that are coming to these barbershop talks now are getting Narcan training too. And I think that's the strengths-based approach to meet the community where they're at,鈥� said Taylor.聽

To date, Taylor has completed more than five barbershop talks in the Rappahannock region and is working with female colleagues to begin salon talks this spring.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important that people who share lived experiences are leading these sessions, so the participants can relate and see themselves in the facilitator,鈥� says Taylor. "I can speak to that direct cultural experiences of Black men and then also bring in my skill set, my knowledge, my experience, my education to help provide that education and awareness

An assistant professor聽at Virginia State University, Taylor is also passionate about 鈥減assing the baton鈥� to the next generation by getting more Black people鈥攑articularly Black men鈥攊nto the social work profession to meet the growing demand.

鈥淭he suicide rate for young Black men has been increasing over the past 5 to 10 years, starting from ages 9 and 10 up to the mid-20s. We鈥檙e seeing similar challenges for Black girls too. So, there is a growing need for diversity in the social work profession. That cultural awareness piece for the Black community and having more Black social workers, Black practitioners, Black Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), it's very, very, very important as we progress in the field.鈥�

聽

Learn more about Taylor's work

Gary Taylor spoke to the College of Public Health about his mission is to 鈥減ass the baton鈥� to the next generation of social workers.

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This Mason public health student wants you to know about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Shayla Brown — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 17:30:41 +0000

This Mason public health student wants you to know about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Shayla Brown Mon, 02/05/2024 - 12:30

Kayla Moore sees testing for sexually transmitted diseases as a key part of public health, and the doorway to a healthy community.

Moore is currently getting her master of social work at 海角社区鈥檚 College of Public Health, and in recognition of the 25th anniversary of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, has organized a two-part event at Mason鈥檚 Fairfax 海角社区 that speaks to public health.

鈥淎 lot of people don't realize that HIV and AIDS is still prevalent, or that you can live a fulfilled life even with a positive status,鈥� said Moore, an ARIE graduate assistant at Student Health Services, which provides free STD and STI testing.聽

Kayla Moore. Photo provided.聽

Moore reached out to her ARIE Supervisor Megan Symanowitz and internship advisor Juton Myers about hosting an event. Moore, along with Myers, plans and participates in events that represent the QTBIPOC branch of the LBGTQ+ community.

鈥淢y background is in advocacy and advocating for marginalized communities,鈥� said Moore, who previously worked in criminal justice. 鈥淭hat's my bread and butter, and where my appreciation of clinical social work comes from. The DMV has very high transmissions of HIV, and Black women are affected by it the most.鈥� 聽

Moore鈥檚 experience in criminal justice taught her that she really cared about the clients, but wanted to focus more on trying to get them services that they need, she said.聽聽

鈥�It's challenging being a Black woman in public health or clinical social work because there's not a lot of us, but the ones that are here are doing some big things,鈥� she said.聽

Moore worked with campus partners including the Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment (CCEE) and the LGBTQ+ Resource Center, as well as with the community health organization NovaSalud, to create the two-part event. On Wednesday, February 7, a discussion and exchange of information will take place in the Paul Robeson Room in the Johnson Center to go along with this year鈥檚 theme, "Engage, Educate, Empower: Uniting to End HIV/AIDS in Black Community,鈥� as well as STI/HIV testing in Student Health Services.聽聽

The discussion will be led by Stephanie Funkhouser, a health and well-being promotion coordinator from Student Health Services, and Global and Community Health (GCH) and School of Integrative Studies professor Garey Davis.聽

鈥淪tudents often don't have a lot of money, or they don鈥檛 want their tests to show up on their parents鈥� insurance,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淭here is also this stigma attached to getting tested, so offering free testing to college students makes it easier for them to be informed and have peace of mind. People knowing their status is doing a service for the whole community.鈥�聽

Moore is also working with the LGBTQ+ Resource Center on a community block party that will encompass a large clothing swap, food, music, and health workshops.聽

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