Virtual session from 9 to 10 a.m. ET

This event will bring together students from different disciplines within the College of Public Health to discuss a public health approach to serious mental illness. This approach utilizes the WHO's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health framework, which views participation (e.g., work, school, dating, parenting, and leisure) as a health issue that is related to symptoms. This session takes a legal and human rights perspective aimed at reducing exclusion from community life and targets social determinants of health.

Register to receive the link to connect on April 1.

Virtual session from 2 to 3 p.m. ET

In this session, panelists will discuss the needs of postpartum people, the work that their organizations are doing to support postpartum people, and what changes are still needed in postpartum healthcare. Panelists include:

• Love Anderson, board member of Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities
• Christine Ivery, program officer for the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
• Lydia Seymour, Community Action Network coordinator for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Division of Maternal Child and Family Health

Register to receive the link to connect on April 1.

In-person session from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Bell Building/TECH Center

In addition to the normal hardships of being a student, college athletes face another tier of both physical and mental challenges. Join faculty and staff from across the university as they discuss their research with student athletes and how best to handle these stressors. Speakers include:

• Aldis Gamble, licensed social worker at Turning Leaf Therapy
• Jonathan Howe, assistant professor in the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management
• Jane McDevitt, associate professor of instruction in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
• Ksenia Power, assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
• Fafa Tsikata, assistant athletic trainer with Temple Athletics

Register to attend on April 2.

In-person session from noon to 1 p.m. in the Bell Building/TECH Center

Join faculty from across disciplines in the College of Public Health and School of Social Work as they come together to discuss stroke interventions at the person, community, and population level. Panelists include:

• Gayle DeDe, research associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Jasmine Edwards, assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
• Bettyanne Matase, assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Nursing
• LaTonya Oliver, instructor in the School of Social Work
• Erica Pugh, associate professor of instruction and academic fieldwork coordinator in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
• Gena Vargas, associate professor of instruction and MSRT program director in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Register to attend on April 3.

Virtual session from 4 to 5 p.m. ET

In this interactive webinar, participants will learn about the different types of stigma that affect persons who use drugs; how the words we use can increase those stigmas; and the ways that stigma, discrimination, and bias towards persons who use drugs can cause harm.

Register to receive the link to connect on April 3.

Virtual session from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET

Panelists will share information about the current challenges and projected needs for sustaining local food systems amid increasing extreme weather events. To combat these challenges, a group of academics, community organizers, and public health practitioners have launched the Sustaining Philly Food Systems Task Force to help ensure weather disaster preparedness and possible solutions to sustain our local food systems in the age of climate change.

Panelists include:

• Erica Mines, food policy program manager for the City of Philadelphia's Office of Sustainability
• Jennifer (Aquilante) Robinson, food policy coordinator for Get Healthy Philly; nutrition and food service coordinator for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health's Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention
• Scott Sheely, president of the Philadelphia Society Promoting Agriculture
• Alyssa Thayer, senior associate for the Food Trust Philadelphia's Farmers Market Program
• Matthew Williams, nutrition and food service coordinator for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health

Register to receive the link to connect on April 4.

In-person session from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Bell Building/TECH Center

Alumni and former College of Public Health staff will discuss the application of public health training in the pharmaceutical industry. Panelists include:

• Alexandria Kachurak, associate director in the Center for Observational and Real-World Evidence at Merck, holds an MS in epidemiology and a BS in public health from Temple University. In her current role, she is responsible for managing, tracking and supporting the quality components of observational/non-interventional research studies.
• Matthew Phillips, associate director of research management in Global Medical and Value Capabilities at Merck, holds an MPH in social and behavioral sciences and a BS in public health from Temple University. In his current role, he serves as team lead for the Oncology Real-world Evidence Operations Team and as the Global Business Programs lead for the Merck Next Gen Network, a global employee resource group for intergenerational networking and development.
• Jacque Spitzer, associate director of research management in Global Value and Medical Capabilities at Merck, holds an MSEd in psychological services from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in psychology from the University of Colorado. In her current role, she provides operational support of observational/non-interventional research focused on vaccine development. Jacque previously supported research studies at the College of Public Health as a senior project director.

Register to attend on April 4.

In-person session from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Bell Building/TECH Center

A degree in public health can take you on many different professional journeys. Hear from three women who received public health degrees as they discuss their career paths and how they use their education in their work. Panelists include:

• Allison R. Casola, senior research investigator and assistant director of research in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University
• Jenné Johns, president of Once Upon a Preemie
• Deanna Wathington, clinical director at REACHUP, Inc. and president-elect of the American Public Health Association

Register to attend on April 4.

Virtual session from 7 to 8 p.m. ET

Join us for a special and informative Occupational Therapy Month virtual panel featuring distinguished OT alumni as they reflect on how Temple OT has shaped their career trajectories and answer your questions during a Q&A session. Panelists include:

• Emily (Thomas) Dimon, occupational therapist in the Orthopedic Trauma Unit at University of Rochester Medical Center Strong Memorial Hospital
• Megan Gittings, occupational therapist at the Universal Institute of Rehabilitation 
• Janice Witt, executive director and occupational therapist at Special Equestrians
• John Kirby, president of Virtua Mount Holly and Virtua Willingboro Hospitals
• Lauren Sponseller, chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy at Salus University and interim dean of the College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation
• Ozzie Moyer, occupational therapist at St. Luke's North Physical Therapy

Whether you're a prospective student, current learner, or seasoned practitioner, this alumni panel aims to inspire, inform, and ignite a spirit of inquiry and growth. Join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates and envision new horizons for the future of occupational therapy!

Register to receive the link to connect on April 4.

Virtual sessions from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.​ ET

Research and Evidence Based Practice Day is a collegewide event that showcases scholarship across the College of Public Health's academic disciplines, led by students who are working in collaboration with faculty advisors. The event also serves as a great training experience for students, since a critical element of research is dissemination of findings and interaction with professional colleagues.

Instructions for viewing: At the link below, first watch the "Welcoming Remarks" from Dean Jennifer Ibrahim and Senior Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Partnerships David Sarwer by clicking into each of their boxes. Then, scroll through the page to locate the presentation you want to view. You can also type a keyword or author name in the search box, or use the "Sessions" and "Departments" drop-down menus at the top of the page to narrow your search. To view, click on the presentation, then click "Join" to attend.

Join the sessions virtually on April 5.

Various in-person volunteer opportunities available throughout the day

Join us for the College of Public Health's Give Back Day, an annual day of service in which students, staff, faculty, and alumni partner with our North Philadelphia neighbors to give back to our local community. Volunteers have the opportunity to participate at one of five community sites—there are a limited number of volunteer slots at each location, so positions are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sites include:

• Bebashi—Transition to Hope
• Bethel Presbyterian Church
• Columbia Field
• Sisters of St. Joseph Welcome Center
• St. Francis Inn

Sign up to volunteer on April 6. More information on each site is available on the registration form; if a site is not listed, all available volunteer slots have been filled.