Latinos are one of the fastest growing segments of the population in Washington, and they face significant disparities in health status and health care access. The Latino Health Conference, which will be held in Yakima September 25-26, 2003, will offer an opportunity to learn from experts about Latino health issues in our state. The conference planners seek to raise awareness and to provide successful examples of best practices from both inside and outside Washington. Anyone who works in public health, health education and health promotion, community-based organizations, or with Latinos in Washington should attend. There will be tracks on service delivery, community empowerment, health promotion/disease prevention, and health professions. The conference will also offer networking opportunities and the chance to develop new partnerships. You’ll find more details on the website for the Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers, www.wacmhc.org
The state Department of Health Office of Maternal and Child Health is offering CDs of the 2002 Survey Design and Analysis workshop, held last August at The Evergreen State College. If your work requires you to create surveys, write questions and analyze the results, you could benefit from viewing this workshop. Each local Assessment Coordinator in Washington has copies of the 3-CD set. You may also request a copy, while supplies last, by contacting Diane Pilkey at diane.pilkey@DOH.wa.gov, 360-236-3526.
You might not guess, talking to Pat Mail for the first time, that this calm and unassuming person is part of a select group of health education scholars and a nationally recognized leader in the field. She is more likely to talk about the importance of being connected to other health educators than mention her numerous accomplishments.
Pat received a BS in Health and Physical Education from the University of Arizona, an MS in Physical Education from Smith College, an MPH from Yale University, and a PhD in Community Health Education from the University of Maryland. She also has an MA in Anthropology from the University of Arizona. She began her health education career working for the Indian Health Services (IHS) where she administered health education grants, was a trainer on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and became the chief of health education programs for Washington, Oregon and Idaho. “I loved the work, because I had the privilege of working with Native people at the grassroots for many years,” she said.
Another career highlight was working in the Office of the Surgeon General under C. Everett Koop. “Dr. Koop was an amazing man. What I liked best was his approach in asking ‘what does the science say?’ rather than getting caught up in politics.” Later, Pat worked for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism at NIH, and served on the Public Health Service Disaster Medical Assistance Team for natural disaster interventions. Currently, she is a principal investigator for the Addictive Behaviors Research Center in the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington where her research focuses on reducing health risks for urban Native American adolescents. “In all, I’ve had rich and varied career opportunities in human services and public policy,” she said.
Among the many things Pat enjoys about her work is helping empower people to take control of their own health. “I wish someone had told me early on to listen more closely, talk less and to never take myself too seriously,” she mused, then added, “I wish someone would remind me of this occasionally.”
Pat listed several future challenges for public health, among them countering the destructiveness of joblessness, bigotry, discrimination, racism, classism and homophobia. She sees challenges in emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, in emergency preparedness, and in strengthening the public health infrastructure. She stressed, “It is imperative that we all communicate the importance of what public health is and does.”
Outside of work, Pat serves on the executive board of the American Public Health Association, and also finds time to “assist with several tasks” for the Washington Public Health Association. She reads science fiction in her spare time, and regularly comes to Olympia to check in on her 95-year-old mother.
While she notes that she didn’t have a mentor “until I was over 50 and engaged in my doctoral work,” she thinks mentoring should begin early. “I was always distressed that the seasoned professionals at national meetings seemed to ignore new and young ones. It’s always tempting to go off with old friends and catch up. I think that SOPHE and the health education section of APHA have been trying hard to make younger professionals feel more welcome, so there is hope.”
Pat feels her strength as a mentor comes from understanding cross-cultural work issues, working on behalf of minority populations, and valuing professional association affiliations and professional credentialing. She can be reached by phone at 253-838-2820.
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Child Product Recall Campaign – Statewide This campaign relies heavily on grassroots and community distribution of materials and messages. |
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Pregnancy Foresight
Project – Statewide A Web site gives providers tools for improving prenatal care and reducing birth defects in newborns. |
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Dental Emergency Procedures - Thurston County Public Health and Social
Services Department Gives guidelines for dealing with a variety of problems from a broken tooth to a fractured jaw. |
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Fluoridation: Protecting the Smiles of Pierce County Families -
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Colorful brochure on the benefits of fluoridation for dental health. |
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Free Breast Exams & Cervical Screenings - Thurston County Public Health and
Social Services Department Provides reasons for screening exams, services covered, and screening guidelines. |
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Is There a Leaking
Tank Under Your Neighborhood or Town? -
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Environmental Health Program Raises awareness of hazards posed by leaking commercial underground storage tanks. |
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Low-Cost Dental Health Resources for Thurston County Residents - Thurston
County Public Health and Social Services Department Lists locations and eligibility requirements for programs that offer dental services to people with low incomes. |
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Oral Health for
Special Needs Children – Thurston County Public Health and Social Services
Department Explains how dental health can be compromised by medications and physical conditions. |
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Pregnancy & Your Oral Health -
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department Fact sheet describes reasons why practicing good oral hygiene is important for mother and baby. |
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Thurston County Child Care Consultation Program - Thurston County Public Health
and Social Services Department Explains the department's comprehensive services to childcare facilities ranging from nutrition and development to environmental and safety practices. |
"Managing Rodents and Mosquitoes through Integrated Pest Management" - Satellite Broadcast - September 18, 2003
Master Home Environmentalist Intensive Training for Healthcare Professionals - Seattle - September 19, 2003
Footprints and Bike Tracks 2003 -- "Bicycling and Walking, Creating Safe and Healthy Communities," - Olympia - September 23-25, 2003
"Empezando" ("Beginning") - Burien- September 26, 2003 - A conference to help professionals work effectively with Latino clients.
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H.E.R.E. in WA Team
Office of Health Promotion
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Jennifer Livingston, Theresa Fuller
and Don Martin
PO Box 47833
Olympia, WA 98504-7833
(360) 236-3736
HERE@doh.wa.gov