The University of California and The California Wellness Foundation announce the six new award lectures in the acclaimed Wellness Lecture Series.
Delivered by distinguished University faculty selected by a Universitywide Steering Committee, the lectures are presented each fall at several UC campuses. The new Wellness Lectures are available in book form and on tape.
The ongoing collaboration between The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) and the University of California challenges UC faculty to develop research-based strategies and public policies to bring health promotion perspectives into the mainstream of healthcare delivery.
The TCWF grant spotlights faculty research in health promotion, with emphasis on five key areas: violence prevention, population health improvement, work and health, teenage pregnancy prevention, and community health enhancement.
The 1997 lectures showcased new research and findings on the following health policy and wellness topics:
"Strategies for Reducing Youth Violence: Media, Community, and Policy" - Lawrence Wallack, DrPH, Professor, School of Public Health, UC Berkeley
"Community Participation, Empowerment, and Health: Development of a Wellness Guide for California" - S. Leonard Syme, PhD, Professor Emeritus, School of Public Health, UC Berkeley
"Occupational Injury Among California Migrant Hispanic Farm Workers: Fighting the Invisible Epidemic" - Stephen A. McCurdy, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, UC Davis
"The Relationship Between Economic Factors and Gang Violence in Los Angeles: Policy Considerations" - Demetrios N. Kyriacou, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, UC Los Angeles
"Mandatory Reporting of Domestic Violence: What Do Patients and Physicians Think?" - Michael A. Rodriguez, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor, UC San Francisco
"Beyond Choice: Myths and Facts About Adjustment to Abortion" - Brenda N. Major, PhD, Professor of Psychology, UC Santa Barbara
All lectures were videotaped and available for purchase in VHS format. Each is designed for broadcast within a one-hour time slot. The videotapes are ideally suited for presentation in educational seminars or for personal use in video or audio formats.
Rich with innovative approaches and insights based on current research, the Wellness Lecture Series is a must for health professionals, health sciences professors, policymakers, hospital staffs, and students interested in careers in the health sciences.
The six papers from which the lectures are drawn were compiled in a softcover book, available free of charge. This Wellness Lecture Series Book, annotated with graphs, charts, and bibliographies, complements the audio/video presentations or stands alone as an important reference.
Individuals may also order materials on the 1995 and 1996 Wellness Lectures. To order, or to receive detailed information on broadcast rights and fees, complete and return the order form.
Lawrence Wallack, DrPH
Professor, UC Berkeley
Violence among youth is a significant public health issue, and the easy availability of handguns increases the probability that when violence does occur it will be lethal. According to the legislative analyst, juvenile arrest rates for homicide exceed adult rates, as do arrest rates for other violent crimes. Teenagers are also disproportionately victims of violent crimes.
The legislative analyst concludes that "juvenile violence could be reduced by limiting the number of firearms illegally possessed by juveniles."
Dr. Wallack analyzes the handgun policy component of the California Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI). Among many activities, the VPI seeks to promote public policies to reduce the high rates of handgun-related mortality and morbidity among youth. A key element of the VPI is the Campaign to Prevent Handgun Violence Against Kids. The Campaign seeks to educate and mobilize communities on policies to limit the availability of handguns to youth. These policies include (1) banning "Saturday Night Specials" and (2) giving communities the right to regulate handguns.
Dr. Wallack is professor at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and co-director of the Berkeley Media Studies Group. He has published extensively on issues related to mass media, prevention policy, and public health.
S. Leonard Syme, PhD
Professor Emeritus, UC Berkeley
Two important problems are now at the fore of public health policy. One is the failure of disease intervention programs to prevent disease and promote health. The other is the neglect of the most important risk factor: socioeconomic status.
The Wellness Guide offers an alternative approach to intervention programs by addressing one of the most damaging aspects of low socioeconomic status: lack of control and low levels of empowerment. The Guide was specifically developed to empower both people and communities to deal with difficult life events. Instead of offering lessons and directives, it shows that there are things that can be done to solve problems, and demonstrates how resources can be identified in the community.
An independent research team found that the Guide had a powerful influence in helping people make positive changes in their lives. It is hoped that this approach will have a more profound effect on health and well-being than previous approaches.
Dr. Syme is professor emeritus of epidemiology at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. His numerous awards include the California State Senate's Commendation for Illustrious Record of Accomplishment.
Stephen A. McCurdy, MD, MPH
Associate Professor, UC Davis
Agriculture now suffers the highest occupational injury mortality rate of all U.S. industries, exceeding mining.
In California, 90% of migrant farm workers are Latino. This group is at special risk because it is relatively marginalized socioculturally, linguistically, and economically. These circumstances increase Latino farm workers' risk for occupational injury, reduce their access to medical care, and lessen their chances for inclusion in statistics and focused studies. The result is an "invisible" epidemic of injury.
Dr. McCurdy offers an approach that pierces this veil of invisibility and promotes prevention measures such as engineering, education, and enforcement. He presents a profile of high-risk work places, which will allow regulatory agencies to focus scarce resources. He also provides evidence that preventive engineering approaches are among the most effective means for reducing injury in this group.
Dr. McCurdy is associate professor of medicine in the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at UC Davis. His recent research has focused on injury and tuberculosis among migrant farm workers.
Demetrios N. Kyriacou, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, UC Los Angeles
Gang-related homicides are reaching crisis levels in Los Angeles. The proportion of murders that were gang-related increased from 14% in 1979 to 39% in 1992. The reasons for this epidemic are unclear and very complex.
Dr. Kyriacou describes a study to evaluate the associations between community-level socioeconomic factors and the incidence of gang-related homicide in Los Angeles. The goal is to identify community characteristics that can be targeted to develop more effective strategies for preventing gang violence.
The study examined eight socioeconomic variables, including income, employment, graduation rates, gender, age, and race. Of these, only two were closely linked with gang-related homicide: unemployment and lower income.
This suggests that community-based economic programs for improving employment and income may be more effective at preventing gang violence than conventional criminal justice suppression programs.
Dr. Kyriacou is assistant professor of medicine at the UCLA School of Medicine and director of trauma care for the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Olive View-UCLA Medical Center. He has published several articles on injury epidemiology.
Michael A. Rodriguez, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, UC San Francisco
An estimated one in four women will be the victim of domestic violence sometime in her life. Unfortunately, significant barriers to disclosure and documentation make it difficult to know the full extent of this problem.
Recent California legislation requires all physicians to report suspected domestic violence injuries to police.
Unfortunately, mandatory physician reporting has its problems. First, there is little evidence that such reporting is effective. Second, many potential risks and ethical dilemmas surround mandatory reporting. Third, there has been almost no consultation with those most affected by this legislation: doctors and abused women.
Dr. Rodriguez examines the implications of this law through studies involving physicians and victims of domestic violence. Based on the findings, he advocates policies that empower victims of domestic violence, suggesting a more collaborative approach to domestic violence health policymaking.
Dr. Rodriguez is assistant clinical professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at UC San Francisco. He has served as director of the San Francisco General Hospital Violence Prevention Task Force.
Brenda N. Major, PhD
Professor, UC Santa Barbara
Roughly 20% of American women of reproductive age have had legal abortions. The majority of these women are young, unmarried, or otherwise inadequately equipped for parenthood; many are already single parents.
Recently, the debate over abortion has spilled into the realm of public health, focusing on whether or not abortion is harmful to women's psychological health. The political nature of the topic has led to a polarization of positions among professionals. This situation has been sustained by the unsatisfactory state of research on the topic.
In response, Dr. Major has conducted a large-scale longitudinal study of women who obtained first-trimester abortions of unwanted pregnancies. The study provides the most extensive analysis of post-abortion response to date.
Results can provide a comprehensive understanding of the range of physical and psychological outcomes that can be anticipated. These results can help women and healthcare professionals develop strategies for coping with the stress of abortion.
Dr. Major is professor of psychology at UC Santa Barbara. She has published extensively on the theme of psychological responses to abortion. She also serves on the editorial board of numerous journals in the social psychology field.