NC Partnership for Excellence in Applied Epidemiology hosts symposium
December 17, 2018
The North Carolina Partnership for Excellence in Applied Epidemiology sponsored an all-day symposium, “Stemming the Syndemic of HIV-STDs-Hepatitis and Related Diseases: A North Carolina Public Health Research to Practice Symposium,” on Nov. 16 at UNC-Chapel Hill’s William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education.
The first major event sponsored by the newly formed Partnership, the symposium brought together epidemiologists, state and local public health practitioners, and UNC faculty members and students from the School of Medicine and the Gillings School of Global Public Health.
The focus of the symposium was on the syndemics of HIV-STDs-Hepatitis and related diseases, especially focusing on research in this field and its application to practice.
As defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a syndemic is “two or more afflictions, interacting synergistically, contributing to excess burden of disease in a population.”
The symposium showcased Gillings School students’ applied public health projects related to the syndemic of HIV-STDs-hepatitis and related diseases and provided a venue for state and local health department personnel and UNC students and faculty members to meet and network.
Dr. Andrew Olshan
“The symposium was a wonderful opportunity to share cutting-edge science, effective prevention and care strategies at the local level, and build new collaborations for researchers, practitioners and students,” said Andy Olshan, PhD, Barbara Sorenson Hulka Distinguished Professor in Cancer Epidemiology at the Gillings School, member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and a lead voice in the Partnership.
Myron S. Cohen, MD, professor of epidemiology at the Gillings School, presented the keynote address, “HIV and the Syndemic(s).” Cohen also is Yeargan-Bate Professor of medicine, microbiology and epidemiology; associate vice chancellor for medical affairs and global Health; director of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases; and chief of UNC’s Division of Infectious Diseases.
Michelle Collins Ogle, MD, medical director at the Warren-Vance Community Health Center Inc., spoke on “The Impact of Integrating Social Determinants of Health into HIV Care.”
Zack Moore, MD, MPH, state epidemiologist at the North Carolina Division of Public Health, spoke about the relationship of opioids to the syndemic, in a talk titled, “Infectious Diseases and Opioids: Intersections and Opportunities.”
Michael Fried, MD, professor of medicine and director of hepatology in the UNC School of Medicine, reviewed best practices and achievements of the Carolina Hepatitis C Academic Mentorship Program (CHAMP), a collaborative effort of UNC-Chapel Hill and the N.C. Division of Public Health.
Two panel sessions also were included in the symposium.
The first, titled “Genotypes and Cluster Busting to Prevent Outbreaks of Syndemic Diseases” and featuring presenters from the N.C. Division of Public Health, UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University, focused upon the applied research on syndemic diseases.
The second, “Interventions or Prevention Activities That Work,” described interventions and prevention activities for syndemic diseases that are working in the field. Presenters were from local health departments, UNC-Chapel Hill and the North Carolina Division of Public Health.
Students and public health practitioners from state and local health departments networked in a “Practice Partnership Pursuit” session to find common research or practicum interests and opportunities. Posters highlighting UNC student practicum projects at the Division of Public Health also were included.
“The symposium helped reset our pace for next year,” said Evelyn M. Foust, MPH, CPM, head of the Communicable Disease Branch at the N.C. Division of Public Health and Partnership member. “Working synergistically, supported by the application of science-based best practice, dedicated students, and subject matter experts, we effectively can address North Carolina’s syndemics. In fact, I think we are discovering a unique public health approach which includes a diversified workforce strategy.”
The North Carolina Partnership for Excellence in Applied Epidemiology, established in January 2018, is an applied public health research, educational and practice collaboration between the North Carolina Division of Public Health’s Communicable Disease Branch and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (specifically, the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology and N.C. Institute for Public Health and the UNC School of Medicine).
For more information about the Partnership, contact Lorraine Alexander, DrPH, associate professor of epidemiology, director of interprofessional education and practice, and Partnership coordinator, at lorraine_alexander@unc.edu.
Contact the Gillings School of Global Public Health communications team at sphcomm@listserv.unc.edu.
