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Continuing professional education

Pandemic Disease: Prevention & Preparedness

• Denise Bellinger, PhD
• Edward Carubis, MS
• Barbara Cole, MSN
• David T. Dyjack, DrPH, CIH
• Harvey A. Elder, MD
• Linda Ferry, MD, MPH
• Kiti Freier, PhD
• Eric Frykman, MD, MPH, MBA
• Jerry R. Gillespie, DVM, PhD
• Mark Horton, MD
• Gary Madden, CNE
• William Murdoch, MD
• Bruce Rabin, MD, PhD
• Richard Rawson, PhD
• Kim Saruwatari, MPH
• Sandra E. Silva
• Kay Warren
  

Denise Bellinger, PhD

Dr. Bellinger is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy at the Loma Linda University (LLU) School of Medicine Center for Neuroimmunology. She received her PhD in neuroscience from Indiana State University and a post-doctoral degree from the University of Rochester. She has written numerous scientific peer review articles on the immune system and her research involves the investigation of bi-directional interactions between the nervous and immune systems, particularly focused on how the sympathetic nervous system modulates immune function in aging, cancer, and autoimmunity. She is also investigating the mechanisms responsible for altered sympathetic neurotransmission in immune organs with age and its consequences on immune function.

Title of Presentation
"Stress - Friend or Foe of the Aging Immune System: Relevance to Vaccination"

Learning Objectives:

1. Review the unique impact of age and stress on immune function
2. Discuss evidence that psychological stress influences antibody response to immunization in humans
3. Describe behavioral and biological pathways that may mediate stress effects on antibody response
4. Discuss clinical implications of stress, aging and immune interaction in vaccination against infectious disease

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Edward Carubis, MS

Ed Carubis joined Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) in 2005 as a Senior Consultant for Health and Agriculture in the Consulting Services group. Just prior to joining ESRI, he served for eight years as the chief information officer of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). At DOHMH, he was directly responsible for the planning, development, and utilization of technologies in response to the unique challenges faced by NYC in recent years, including the first appearance of West Nile Virus, the World Trade Center disaster, the NYC anthrax attacks, and the northeast blackout.

Title of Presentation
"Role of GIS in Pandemics"

Learning Objectives

1. Show how recent events, including the SARS and avian influenza epidemics, have highlighted the need for effective information technology in order to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.
2. Review geographic information systems (GIS) technology for public health preparedness and response, with special attention pandemic influenza preparedness and response.
3. Provide a first-hand look at GIS systems used for managing medical surge capacity and the planning and distribution of vaccines.
4. The role of GIS in syndromic surveillance and ways to improve public health practice using GIS and spatial analysis.

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Barbara Cole, MSN

Ms. Cole is the chief of the Disease Control Branch for the Riverside County Department of Public Health. She manages the program activities for communicable disease, Healthy Children Connection, immunizations, immunization registry, perinatal hepatitis B prevention, sexually transmitted disease, and tuberculosis control. Prior to coming to Riverside County, she was a pediatric nursing assistant and head nurse at Martin Luther King Hospital for two years. She also worked with rehabilitation/medical-surgical nursing at Huntington Memorial Hospital for six years. She has degrees from UCLA School of Nursing and a master of science in nursing from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Ms. Cole will co-present with Ms. Kim Saruwatari.

Title of Presentation
"Riverside County Community Health Agency Response to Pandemic Influenza"

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the measures that the Riverside County Community Health Agency is taking to monitor and mitigate the impact of seasonal influenza and discuss how these strategies may or may not be applicable during a pandemic.
2. Describe the actions that the Riverside County Community Health Agency is taking to prepare for an influenza pandemic.
3. Describe the challenges to preparing for an influenza pandemic in Riverside County.
4. Identify existing tools to help with pandemic influenza preparedness and planning efforts.

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David T. Dyjack, DrPH, CIH

Dr. Dyjack is a Professor of Environmental Health and the Associate Dean for Public Health Practice. He is also interim dean for LLU School of Public Health. He received a doctorate in Public Health from the University of Michigan, an MSPH in industrial hygiene from the University of Utah, and is a board certified industrial hygienist. He has provided management and leadership in varied public health activities since the mid-1980s. These efforts included management of grants and contracts for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Labor, the Department of Defense, and California Department of Health Services. Additionally, he has provided consultations to the International Labour Organization (ILO), Saudi Aramco, Exxon, and Texaco, among others. Dr. Dyjack is principal investigator for the school’s Center for Public Health Preparedness and Regional Academic Center of Excellence in Environmental Health.

Title of Presentation
"Final Thoughts and Future Direction"

Learning Objectives

1. To summarize the key finding of the 3 day profession course.
2. To identify gaps and opportunities for enhanced health service delivery.
3. To tender recommendations to build the capacity of public health professionals and to address the root cause of pandemic disease.

Harvey A. Elder, MD

Dr. Elder is a consultant for the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic and the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health HIV/AIDS Clinic. He is an Associate Professor for LLU School of Public Health and School of Medicine . He received his MD degree from LLU School of Medicine and completed his residency in internal medicine at University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Elder completed his fellowship training in infectious disease at Harvard University, Thorndike Memorial Laboratory, and Channing Laboratory. He has also served as a research associate at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He has spoken nationally and internationally on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Dr. Elder worked as chief of the Infectious Disease Section for the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Title of Presentation
"HIV: Prevention and Control"

Learning Objectives

1. Attendees will understand the transmission of HIV and the characteristics of its three stages of the epidemic.
2. Attendees will understand available methods for preventing HIV transmission and know their effectiveness.
3. Attendees will understand necessary prerequisites before effective control can be established.

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Linda Ferry, MD, MPH

Dr. Ferry works full time as the chief of Prevention Medicine at Jerry L. Pettis Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Loma Linda. She is also an Associate Professor at LLU School of Medicine and School of Public Health. She supervises medical students and residents who are learning to master preventive medicine skills for veterans with obesity, diabetes, tobacco use, and cardiac disease. Her focus of practice and research is in training health professionals to develop effective public health and clinical treatment for tobacco dependence.

Title of Presentation
"Global Prediction: One Billion Tobacco-related deaths by 2100. Are we prepared to let “Big Tobacco” win?"

Learning Objectives

1. Compare the magnitude of the Tobacco Epidemic with other global health threats.
2. Use effective, culturally relevant, anti-tobacco messages and public health interventions based on current “best practices” from around the world.
3. Describe the current Tobacco Industry position and efforts to fight Public Health Policy and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence.
4. Outline the steps a public health professional can take to integrate tobacco-free messages and programs into other health topics (cancer prevention, tuberculosis, diabetes, obesity, etc.)

Kiti Freier, PhD

Dr. Freier is an associate professor of psychology and pediatrics at LLU and Children's Hospital and is also the associate director of the Center for Prevention Research in the Institute for Prevention of Addictions at Andrews University, Michigan. She is a pediatric psychologist with an extensive background in working with high-risk infant and youth populations. She has worked with families on perinatal drug and HIV exposure and was also a school psychologist for a juvenile correctional facility. Her work focuses on developmental, neuropsychological, and psychosocial factors affecting infants, children, and adolescents with medical or health related concerns.

Title of Presentation
"Pediatric Obesity: A Multi-Variety Pandemic"

Learning Objectives

1. To develop an awareness of the complexity of pediatric obesity.
2. To understand similarities and differences across the globe in pediatric obesity.
3. To attain information on intervention approaches.

Eric Frykman, MD, MPH, MBA

Dr. Frykman is the health officer for San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. He has served as the interim public health director since July 2006. He also has served as chief of Disease Control and Prevention since June 2001. Dr. Frykman is involved in many community-based activities, including the recently formed Healthy Communities Initiative and, as part of a team, develops local response plans for bioterrorism and the local prevention of further threats to public health. During the Kosovo conflict in 1999, he and his wife, Ayme, volunteered to help the refugees.

Title of Presentation
"San Bernardino County Health Department Response to Pandemic Influenza"

Learning Objectives

1. Describe how San Bernardino County Health Department is preparing a local pandemic.
2. Address public health concerns during and after a health crisis
3. Describe how to improve access and health service delivery during an outbreak of pandemic influenza.
4. Increasing surveillance practices for pandemic preparedness.

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Jerry R. Gillespie, DVM, PhD

Dr. Gillespie is the director of the Western Institute for Food Safety and Security. He brings expertise in several fields of veterinary medicine along with experience in building effective research teams and enduring interest in food safety and defense. He earned his veterinary medicine degree from Oklahoma State University in 1961, spent one year in veterinary practice, and completed his doctorate in comparative pathology at the University of California , Davis , in 1965. After a postdoctoral fellowship with the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center , he joined the faculty of the UC Davis Schools of Veterinary Medicine and Medicine. He has published more than 100 original scientific publications contributing internationally to a fuller understanding of respiratory disease, equine exercise physiology, and food safety. Dr. Gillespie served as first executive director of the Joint Institute for Food Safety Research, in the White House Office for Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, and US Department of Health and Human Services.

Title of Presentation
“Understanding the Dangers of Agroterrorism and Community Preparedness for Food System Disasters”

Learning Objectives

1. Evaluating community vulnerability to agroterrorism and food system disasters and public health and other agency preparedness.
2. How agroterrorism preparedness is similar and different from other disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
3. Scenario illustrating the needed interaction between health care providers, public health, other emergency responders and the food industry.

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Mark Horton, MD

Dr. Mark Horton is the public health officer for California, appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2005. Prior to his appointment, he served for six years as the health officer of Orange County, California . He has a strong background in local public health programs and clinical practice and has been a leader within the public health community, having served on the executive committees of both the California Conference of Local Health Officers and the National Association of County and City Health Officers. Previously, he served as state public health officer for the state of Nebraska for more than five years. Dr. Horton received his medical doctorate from St. Louis University and his master of public health from the University of North Carolina . He is a diplomat of the American Board of Pediatricians.

Title of Presentation
Keynote Address: "Pandemic Disease Prevention & Preparedness in California"

Learning Objectives

1. Provide background on California 's new Department of Public Health.
2. Provide an overview of the most pressing public health issues in California.
3. Discuss California 's plans to address public health issues; specifically discuss the role the new department will take in preparedness and prevention.

Gary Madden, CNE

Mr. Madden is the Director of the Inland Empire United Way (IEUW) 2-1-1 program. His enthusiasm and drive to create fundamental infrastructure to benefit at-risk populations have helped to transform the single desk and phone used for part-time information and referral into 2-1-1 San Bernardino County . The 2-1-1 San Bernardino County database currently boasts more than 520 agencies and 1,230 programs. The call center is equipped to receive calls at a rate greater than 35,000 annually. Prior to this, he worked as the information technology manager for an Ontario, Calif. manufacturing company for six years. His foray into the nonprofit world came unexpectedly with an incident about seven years ago when he was introduced to rape crisis advocacy. He has since become a trained rape crisis counselor and advocate and has served in those capacities as a volunteer for his local rape crisis center. He also served on the Board of California Alliance of Information and Referral Services (CAIRS).

Title of Presentation
"2-1-1, Not Just an Easy to Remember Phone Number – What You Need to Know"

Learning Objectives

1. Attendees will have a clear understanding of what 2-1-1 is and how it works.
2. Attendees will understand how 2-1-1 can benefit them in their work and daily lives.
3. Attendees will understand the role 2-1-1 can play in disaster preparedness generally and pandemic disease specifically.

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William Murdoch, MD

Dr. Murdoch serves as the interim chair for the Department of Psychiatry. He is also an associate professor of Psychiatry at LLU School of Medicine where he also conducts individual and group teaching of medical students and residents of psychiatry and pediatrics. He has his BA from Andrews University in Michigan and his medical degree from Loma Linda University. Dr. Murdoch is the medical director for LLU Behavioral Medicine Center’s Department of Youth Services as well as Charter Academy in Corona. He serves as chief of the Family Psychiatry/Child and Adolescent Section of LLU’s Department of Psychiatry. He is medical board certified in California and Michigan and is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, Southern California Psychiatric Society, American Medical Academy of Child Psychiatry, and the American Medical Association. He is associated with several research grants, conducts presentations, and has been published in numerous publications.

Title of Presentation
"Psychiatric Issues with Crisis Response"

Learning Objectives

1. Understand normal psychological response to crisis.
2. Identify high psychological risk issues in crisis response.
3. Understand health-care provider issues related to acute psychological stress.

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Bruce Rabin, MD, PhD

Dr. Rabin is a Professor of Pathology, Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Medical Director for the university’s Medical Center Healthy Lifestyle Program. He attended medical and graduate school at the State University of New York at Buffalo and obtained his PhD in the scientific discipline of immunology. He established a major stress and immune system research program at the Brain, Behavior and Immunity Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He was recognized by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as one of 12 individuals who are making a difference in health care in western Pennsylvania . He was also honored in 2003 by the Pittsburgh Business Times as a Health Care Hero. Dr. Rabin’s research efforts have yielded over 300 publications in scientific literature and his research laboratory has trained over 40 scientists.

Title of Presentation
"How to Use Your Mind and Spirit to Protect Your Mental and Physical Health in Anticipation of Pandemic Disease"

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will understand the mental and physical health consequences of stress and anxiety.
2. Participants will understand the mechanisms through which stress and anxiety can alter both mental and physical health.
3. Participants will understand how the mind and spirit can protect the quality of both mental and physical health.

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Richard Rawson, PhD

Dr. Rawson is the associate director of the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs in the UCLA School of Medicine. He received a PhD in experimental psychology from the University of Vermont in 1974 and has been a member of the UCLA Department of Psychiatry for over 20 years and is currently a professor in residence. He oversees a portfolio of addiction research ranging from brain imaging studies to numerous clinical trials on pharmacological and psychosocial addiction treatments to the study of how new treatments are applied in the treatment system. During the past decade, he has worked with the US State Department on large substance abuse research and treatment projects, exporting US technology and addiction science to the Palestinian Authority. He directs the capacity building and training component of the United Nations International Network of Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Resource Centers. He is currently principal investigator of the Pacific Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center , and the NIDA Methamphetamine Clinical Trials Group. Dr. Rawson has numerous publications and has conducted workshops, paper presentations, and training sessions.

Title of Presentation
"New knowledge, New Treatments"

Learning Objectives

1. Learn about medical and psychiatric effects of methamphetamine.
2. Learn about new knowledge about methamphetamine effects on the brain.
3. Learn about research evidence on treatments for methamphetamine.

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Kim Saruwatari, MPH

Ms. Saruwatari is the chief of the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Branch and the Bioterrorism Coordinator for the Riverside County Department of Public Health (DOPH). In this capacity, she manages the CDC Bioterrorism Cooperative Agreement grant as well as the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS), and the Health/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) portion of the Department of Homeland Security grants. Her branch is responsible for coordinating medical/health preparedness activities in Riverside County, including the development of response plans; procedures for distribution of pharmaceuticals; Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication strategies; training programs for the Department of Public Health (DOPH) staff and community partners; and exercising/modifying plans and protocols. Prior to this, she was a senior epidemiologist and the deputy bioterrorism coordinator for San Diego County 's Public Health Services. She obtained her bachelor's degree in molecular and cell biology and her master of public health in infectious diseases both from the University of California at Berkeley.

Title of Presentation
“Riverside County Community Health Agency Response to Pandemic Influenza"

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the measures that the Riverside County Community Health Agency is taking to monitor and mitigate the impact of seasonal influenza and discuss how these strategies may or may not be applicable during a pandemic.
2. Describe the actions that the Riverside County Community Health Agency is taking to prepare for an influenza pandemic.
3. Describe the challenges to preparing for an influenza pandemic in Riverside County.
4. Identify existing tools to help with pandemic influenza preparedness and planning efforts

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Sanda E. Silva

Sandra E. Silva is the chief executive officer for the Inland Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, headquartered in Ontario, California. She has over 20 years experience directing nonprofit programs. She has a bachelor of science degree in health sciences from California State University at Long Beach, where she completed her graduate studies in health sciences administration. Since her appointment in 2001, Ms. Silva has spearheaded the restructuring of Red Cross disaster services and emergency aid programs provided in western San Bernardino County. Her chapter’s Faith Based Consortium, a noted best practice among Red Cross chapters in California, was formed to engage and involve a diverse sector of the Inland Valley community to meet emerging needs of disaster clients immediately after the 2003 Southern California Wildfires. She currently serves as chair of the San Bernardino County VOAD (Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster) and is an organizational support manager within the American Red Cross Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) System that deploys trained Red Cross personnel to large-scale disasters around the country. Her last assignment was during the August 2006 Texas/New Mexico floods. Ms. Silva has been appointed to the American National Red Cross Star Track program, a leadership development program designed to groom top executives to manage the largest of Red Cross Chapters nationwide. She resides with her husband and eleven year old son in Claremont, California.

Title of Presentation
"Pandemic Disease: American Red Cross Preparedness Initiatives Across the Country"

Learning Objectives

1. To outline the role of the American Red Cross in disease prevention.
2. To share the American Red Cross’s national initiatives relating to Pandemic Disease.
3. To provide a summary of American Red Cross activities, roles, and responsibilities relating to local pandemic disease preparedness.

Kay Warren

Mrs. Kay Warren is the executive director for the HIV/AIDS Initiative at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. She attended California Baptist College in Riverside, California and earned her bachelor of arts degree from California State University , Los Angeles . She is the wife of Rick Warren, the founding pastor of Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose Driven Life. She has been a voice for suffering individuals as a speaker around the globe and has seen first hand how AIDS is destroying men, women, and vulnerable children. Today, she is a powerful advocate on their behalf and has urged audiences to respond to the urgency of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the needs of people infected and affected worldwide. She was instrumental in presenting “Disturbing Voices,’’ Saddleback’s first HIV/AIDS conference in 2005 and the second in 2006 titled “The Global Summit on AIDS and the Church: Race Against Time.” Mrs. Warren is passionate about the P.E.A.C.E. Plan, an outreach ministry of Saddleback focused on planting churches worldwide, equipping servant leaders, assisting the poor, caring for the sick, and educating the next generation. The P.E.A.C.E. Plan challenges the church worldwide to take on the global giants of spiritual emptiness, lack of servant leaders, poverty, disease, and illiteracy. She is also an author, teacher, and speaker. Her doctrinal study, "Foundations," co-authored with Tom Holladay, won a Gold Medallion Award in 2004.

Title of Presentation
"The Role of Faith-Based Organizations in with Pandemic Diseases"

Learning Objectives

1. To demonstrate why the Church must care about HIV – how is HIV different than other illnesses.
2. To explore the unique role of the Church – 7 distinctive government and business will never have.
3. To offer a practical six-point plan of action for every church to engage in the fight against HIV.

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