June 2014

Volume

Thirty Five

Number Five

New Field Of “Energy Epidemiology” Emerging In Response To The Threats Of Climate Change

In This Issue

- 3 - "Budding Field"-

Political Epidemiology

- 5 - Winners

Announced In Marriage Vow

Contest

- 7 - Interview with

Editor of New Epi Dictionary

- 10 - Career & Event Marketplace

Epidemiologists learn early in their training that epidemiology is the basic science of public health, and they often think of epidemiology as a part of a larger health research enterprise. However, non-health researchers with broader interests have conceived of health as only one phenomenon epidemiology is capable of addressing. A striking example of this thinking is the adoption of epidemiology and the epidemiologic approach by engineers, sociologists, physicists, and other scientists

IOM Workshop Reports On The Epidemiology And Current State of Obesity Solutions In The US

Calorie Reduction Goals Are Achievable With Existing Strategies, Say Experts A new report from an IOM Workshop on obesity earlier this year gives the latest snapshot on the occurrence of obesity in the US population. Obesity in both adult men and women is now very high at approximately 35%. Examining the result by ethnic group shows no ethnic disparity for men but striking disparities for women. About

interested in studying end-user demand for energy in built environments. Their goal, as stated by the new Centre for Energy Epidemiology (CEE) at University College London is to adapt the full range of experience of 150+ years of medical epidemiology to provide an overarching structure to “energy end-use demand research”, and to provide a stream of insight to guide policy formation and evaluation. - Energy continues on page 2

30 percent of white women are obese, 40% of Hispanic women, and more than 50% of African American women.

The Good News The good news is that obesity among - Obesity continues on page 4

“Health Epidemiology” Seen As Only One Kind Of Epidemiology

The Epidemiology Monitor ISSN (0744-0898) is published monthly (except August) by Roger Bernier, Ph.D., MPH at 33 Indigo Plantation Rd, Okatie, SC, 29909, USA. All rights reserved. Reproduction, distribution, or translation without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Advertising Rates Full Page $995 7.5”w x 10” h Half Page $595 7.5”w x 5” h Quarter Page $295 3.75”w x 5” h Typesetting: $50 Online Ads $395 / mo. Ad Discounts: 10% off ads run 2 consecutive months 20% off ads run 3 or more consecutive months. Advertising Sales Ron Aron 770.670.1946 ron.aron@epimonitor.net All checks must be in U.S.D, drawn on a bank with a U.S. address on the check. Contact Us The Epidemiology Monitor 33 Indigo Plantation Rd, Okatie, SC, 29909 USA 678.361.5170 / Phone call or email for Fax# office@epiMonitor.net

-Energy continued from page 1 Making The Case The case for energy epidemiology has been made in lengthy detail by Hamilton and colleagues (1) in a recent paper entitled “Energy epidemiology: a new approach to end-use energy demand research” published in the journal Building Research and Information in 2013. Also, energy epidemiology has been bolstered by a five-year funding grant from Research Councils UK to the new CEE. The main features of epidemiology which appear to be attracting these non-health investigators are its population-level orientation, its whole system approach and its encouragement of an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving. The goal, as stated by the new CEE, is to adapt the full range of experience of 150+ years of medical epidemiology to provide an overarching structure to “energy end-use demand research”, and to provide a stream of insight to guide policy formation and evaluation.

What Is Energy Epidemiology? According to the CEE, energy epidemiology is “the systematic study of the distributions and patterns of energy use and their causes or influences in populations.” The primary aim of energy epidemiology, according to Hamilton et al. is “…to investigate causes and effects of key factors on energy demand within a population or subpopulations, where…this may refer to various scales from

individuals and buildings to communities of building complexes.” Buildings are a potentially important target for abatement of greenhouse gases because energy used in buildings accounts for approximately 30% of total final energy use and global human emissions of greenhouse gases with this proportion increasing to 40% and 50% in most developed countries.

Why Should Energy Adopt

Epidemiology? According to Hamilton and colleagues, “ For end use energy demand, the need to control energy use for reasons of climate change abatement and socio-economic issues of security and access is similar in nature to the need to prevent and control the prevalence of adverse health outcomes… …end use energy demand research can reinterpret the health sciences research structure of epidemiology in order to found a robust research and analysis framework from which to address the pressing issues surrounding end use energy demand… …Given that a major change in the culture and practice is needed to meet the energy policy agendas, epidemiology offers a research framework that is attractive in terms of its emphasis on methodological structure, use of definitions and well-structured reviews, the use of evolving protocols and standards, in addition to the specific research designs and analysis techniques - Energy continues on page 6

2

Papers in the “budding field” of political epidemiology, one in the International Journal of Epidemiology and another in Social Science and Medicine, have found that political factors such as the US President’s party or the degree of liberalism in a state are associated with better health outcomes for individuals. In the IJE paper entitled “US infant mortality and the President’s party”, Rodriguez and colleagues (1) report what they call “a robust, quantitatively important association between net of trend US infant mortality rates and the party affiliation of the president.” They go on to conclude “There may be overlooked ways by which macrodynamics of policy impact microdynamics of physiology, suggesting the political system is a component of the underlying mechanism generating health inequality in the USA.” In a second paper in Social Science and Medicine entitled “Social capital, ideology, and health in the United States, Herian and colleagues (2) found that individuals report better health in states with higher levels of governmental liberalism and social capital. And social capital as reflected in measures of interpersonal trust was a stronger predictor of health in states with low levels of liberalism. The authors of these papers note that “political epidemiology” or

3

Reports Suggest Being Liberal or Part of the Democratic Party In The US Is Good For Population Health What Is The “Budding Field” Of Political Epidemiology

“politics and health” is a burgeoning field and that debate is taking place about its utility. According to Herian, political epidemiology is part of a broader field studying the “contextual predictors of well-being”.

Definition What is political epidemiology? It has been defined as the study of the impact of welfare regimes, political institutions, and specific policies on health and health equity. It has been invoked in the past as potentially useful to better understand why the millennium development goals were not being achieved or why certain disease eradication goals such as polio have not been achieved.

Typology

In a commentary article in Social Science and Medicine, Pega and colleagues (3) differentiate three types of political epidemiology based on the varying levels at which investigators conceptualize how political variables impact health, the methods used to investigate these variables, and their application. Political epidemiologists debate the efficacy and value of these differing approaches, but there is less debate about the potential importance of political factors per se. Pega and colleagues conclude that the big picture approaches -Political continues on page 6

"...epidemiology offers a research framework that is attractive..."

"...there is less debate about the

potential importance of political factors

per se."

4

"...these calorie reduction goals are achievable

with the strategies being implemented

today."

-Obesity continued from page 1 women and girls has plateaued, albeit at a high level, and obesity rates have decreased significantly among low-income children aged 2-5. However, there are several trends that continue to be of serious concern.

The Bad News Severe obesity (A BMI greater than 120% of the 95th percentile) in children, adolescents, and adults continues to increase. Approximately 6-7% of girls overall are severely obese and rates are especially high in African American and Hispanic girls (White girls just under 4%, Hispanic girls approximately 5%, and African American girls approximately 9%). Boys show similar trends and disparities although both Hispanic and African American boys have a high prevalence of approximately 7%. Over the 12 years from 1999-2000 to 2009-2010, severe obesity increased from 6.2% to 8.1% among women and from 3.1% among men to 4.4%. African American women have a severe obesity rate which is approximately 18% or almost 1 in 5. The financial costs of obesity are high. Obesity accounted for $147 billion in health care costs in 2008 or 9 percent of the national health care budget which rose from 6.5% in 2008.

Calorie Impact Goals Workshop presenters discussed a model estimating the size of the

calorie deficits needed at the population level to achieve national goals for reducing obesity prevalence. To achieve a 10% prevalence rate in adults through prevention by 2020 would require a reduction of approximately 220 calories per day. For children and adolescents, the needed deficits are much smaller and estimated at between 33 calories for the youngest to 177 calories for the oldest children up to age 19. William Dietz, former CDC expert on obesity who presented the overview at the workshop, said these calorie reduction goals are achievable with the strategies being implemented today.

Winning Strategies What are some of these winning strategies? Among the policy interventions which can have the desired caloric impact are eliminating sugar-sweetened drinks, switching from whole to low fat milk in early care and education centers, decreasing fast food consumption, mandatory physical education, classroom activity breaks, and walking or biking to school where possible.

Massachusetts In Motion A presentation about initiatives in Massachusetts showed that it is possible to reduce prevalence of obesity statewide among residents. Mass in Motion is a multi-faceted state initiative focused on better eating and increased physical activity. Included are activities -Obesity continues on page 6

5

Canadian Entry Wins Marriage Vow Humor Contest

Two Runner Up Slogans Also Selected

After months of creative thinking by epidemiologists both nationally and internationally, we are pleased to announce the winners of The Epidemiology Monitor Marriage Vow Humor Contest. Of the 25 top slogans readers were asked to vote on, 19 received at least one vote indicating a broad appeal for many of the final slogans chosen to compete for the top prize. Winning Slogan: I vow to you that my love for you will have a 100% survival rate over a lifetime. The winning slogan was submitted by Jennifer Yu, Armand Frappier Institute in Laval, Canada The winner will receive $500 US and a free t-shirt with the winning slogan. 1st Runner Up: I promise that you’ll always have the power to rule out all my explanations. The slogan was submitted by Lin Zhu at the University of Miami Miller Medical School The winner will receive a free baseball cap with an epidemiology logo 2nd Runner Up: I promise that no matter how many times we are tested, that I will never adjust our level of significance. The slogan was submitted by Curtis Harrod from the University of Colorado at Denver. The winner will receive a free Epidemiology Monitor t-shirt with an epidemiology saying. Winners will be notified by email and asked to provide a mailing address where the prizes can be shipped. Please send any of your suggestions for future contests to epimon@aol.com ■

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6

"...the political epidemiological evidence base is strongest if it

draws on results from all

approaches."

"We're definitely talking about the election of Democrats

leading to better health

outcomes..."

-Obesity continued from page 4 around farmers’ markets, community gardens, implementation of school nutrition standards, the building and repairing of sidewalks, the provision of lighting and safe activities in communities, joint use agreements between communities and universities to use facilities, and the creation of new walking and biking trails. According to the workshop summary, BMI reporting has revealed significant reductions in obesity and overweight in the Mass in Motion communities, especially in grades 1 and 4. To read the report, visit http://tinyurl.com/o79logd ■ -Energy continued from page 2 For more information about energy epidemiology and the CEE, visit : http://tinyurl.com/qx4xwb9 (1) Hamilton IG, et al Energy epidemiology: a new approach to end-use energy demand research Bldg Res Inf 2013 Vol 41, No 4, 482-497 ■

-Political continues on page 6 exemplified by studying welfare regimes and politics have yielded important insights and that “the political epidemiological evidence base is strongest if it draws on results from all approaches.” However, they believe the biggest future payoffs will come from studying the effectiveness of individual policy approaches because, despite the lack of broad relevance, they will produce unique and useful policy insights.

Challenge An example of the challenge facing political epidemiologists is illustrated by the findings of Hiernan and colleagues on the role of social capital and liberal ideology on health. They found that areas with low social capital and low levels of liberalism are at risk for poorer health and they suggest that additional surveillance of these populations could be conducted and health promoting interventions implemented as needed. However, if low levels of social capital or liberalism are root causes to begin with, it is not obvious how to reduce or eliminate these causes before it becomes possible to create needed health interventions. It may be that electoral politics is a health intervention. According to Herian who was quoted in a recent Mother Jones article entitled “Is Liberalism Good For Your Health?”, “We’re definitely talking about the election of Democrats leading to better health outcomes because they adopt policies designed to lead to -Political continues on page 9

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7

News of the publication of the 6th edition of The Dictionary of Epidemiology reached our offices this month. From the promotional material for the book, we learned that the 6th edition reflects multiple changes in the thinking about and practice of epidemiology. The Dictionary has always been a window on the world of epidemiology, so we took advantage of the new release to interview Miquel Porta to get his views about some of the latest trends.

EM: You mention that a methodological "revolution" is ongoing and deeply changing how we think about research and assess validity of findings in epidemiology. Not everyone will know what you mean by this statement. Can you expand on your statements a bit more for our readers?

Porta: In my view, a methodological “revolution” is ongoing. That is, fundamental changes in theory, concepts and practice are taking place. This renewal is deeply changing how we conceive epidemiological and clinical research, and how we assess the validity of findings.

I think a good way to understand what is happening is to read, think, and assess the changes in the definitions of terms as, for example, collider, M-bias, causal diagram, backdoor (biasing path), instrumental variable, negative controls, inverse probability weighting, attributable fraction, bias, selection bias, confounding, residual confounding,

interaction, cumulative and density sampling, Berkson’s bias, Simpson’s paradox, overadjustment, identifiability, transportability, positivity, ignorability, collapsibility, exchangeable, g-estimation, and marginal structural models.

Other important changes are occuring on concepts such as risk, rate, risk ratio, risk set, open population, test hypothesis, null hypothesis, causal null, causal inference, generalizability, representativeness, missing data, standardization, frequentist statistics, immortal time bias, nonmonotonic, potential outcome, sample space, or false discovery rate.

Of course, a dictionary is not a textbook. But a new generation of textbooks is emerging, and two good examples probably are:

--- Hernán MA, Robins JM. Causal inference. New York: Chapman & Hall / CRC; 2015.

--- VanderWeele TJ. Explanation in causal inference: Methods for mediation and interaction. New York: Oxford University Press; 2015.

Another good way to assess what is changing is to follow the work of leaders such as James Robins, Miguel Hernán, Sander Greenland, or Tyler VanderWeele. EM: You also state that the revolution is having a very big impact on research production and use. Can -Porta continues on page 8

"...fundamental changes in

theory, concepts, and practice are taking place."

"Of course, a dictionary is not a textbook."

An Interview With Miquel Porta, Editor Of The New 6th Edition Of The Dictionary Of Epidemiology To Be Published June 2014

8

-Porta continues from page 7

you give examples or say more about these consequences?

Porta: Pick up any issue of the main epidemiologic journals and you will find several examples of what is going on. All these titles come from just one such issue:

--- Causal models and learning from data: integrating causal modeling and statistical estimation.

--- Methodological challenges in Mendelian randomization.

--- Obesity paradox: conditioning on disease enhances biases in estimating the mortality risks of obesity.

--- Meat intake and reproductive parameters among young men.

--- Education and cause-specific mortality: the mediating role of differential exposure and vulnerability to behavioral risk factors.

--- Racial residential segregation and preterm birth: built environment as a mediator.

I suspect that the ongoing changes are having a high impact on the production of scientific evidence in the health sciences, but so far nobody has quantified such an impact, as it is natural.

It is also understandable that not everybody among the senior generations seems to be aware of this. Exceptions abound, of course. They include James Robins and Sander Greenland themselves, as well as Jan Vandenbroucke and Allen Wilcox, for example.

One substantive example may be that some “obesity paradoxes” are disappearing as many “apparent paradoxes” had an explanation. In this case, it seems, conditioning on a collider was introducing a selection bias.

If the scientific evidence is changing, then so will the impact on policies, programs, and services in which such evidence is used. And if this is so, many institutions, organizations, companies, and millions of people will be affected. Of course, such changes will need to be tested empirically. Obviously, this is well beyond the task of the dictionary.

EM: Are you aware of other places in print where this revolution and its impact have been described?

Porta: No. Please see my response just above. And again, nobody would claim that this is the role of the dictionary.

EM: Has the scope of the dictionary been broadened?

Porta: Not that much. A look at the previous edition (5th) will show that I already expanded the scope then. And the dictionary always had terms on related disciplines.

EM: Did you have a main set of criteria for what should be included and what should be excluded?

Porta: The process was subtle, intellectual, and collegial. I don’t think there could be such a set of criteria, or that it could be applied in practice. This was more like painting or writing music, as usual in science. -Porta continues on page 9

"...not everybody among the senior

generations seems to be

aware of this."

"This was more like painting or

writing music..."

-Porta continues from page 8

Porta: I am confident we did not err, and certainly not in that direction. If something, less rather than more. I am happy with the space and price limits I had with this book --not imposed, never made explicit by Oxford University Press, just my own criteria---. The dictionary has never been an encyclopedia or a textbook.

We were able to suggest connections among disciplines without being lengthy or encyclopedic.

EM: What have been the most difficult aspects of the work and what have been the biggest rewards for you?

Porta: I trust the process of revision of the past edition was wide open, and that everybody who was capable and willing to take part had a channel to do so through the specific website, the IEA, and the editors. This was again a fantastic collegial effort, as always. ■

-Political continues from page 8 well being of individuals.” Likewise it appears that a pathway to raising infant mortality is through achieving desired results in presidential elections, and that may be beyond the skill set or motivations of most social epidemiologists.

Question Is political epidemiology a worthy scientific enterprise or is it a misuse of statistics to score political points asks Rodrigues and colleagues in a rejoinder letter to the editor. They states “To the extent that human made public, social, and health policies and programmes are powerful determinants of health, epidemiology is a social and inherently political science. The emerging research agenda in ‘political epidemiology’ has noted numerous , credible, causal venues linking politics to epidemiological outcomes, even beyond the realm of policy. The scientific acknowledgement of such plausible mechanisms is not the product of political imagination. At a minimum, dismissing it as such, naively discounts the huge powers of government to affect the distribution of the social, physical environmental, and life course determinants of health that ultimately affect the social distribution of infant mortality, among many other health outcomes as Dorling reminds us. 1. Rodriguez et al Int J of Epidemiol 2014; 43: 818-26 2. Herian et al Social Sci and Med 2014; 105: 30-37 ■

9

"This was again a fantastic

collegial effort, as always."

"Is political epidemiology a worthy scientific enterprise or is it

a misuse of statistics to score political

points..."

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Sunday, 17 August 2014 Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | top

1:00 PM-3:00 PM Cruickshank Lecture – Anthony J. McMichael, MBBS, PhD

3:30 PM-5:00 PM Autism: Free Papers Cancer: Free Papers Climate Change, International Adaptation to Climate Change Influenza Innovative Strategies with Hard-to-Reach Populations Nutrition and Diet, 1 Occupational Health: Free Papers Suicide in the Arctic: Free papers

6:00 PM-8:00 PM Sunday Poster Session

Monday, 18 August 2014 Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | top

8:30 AM-10:00 AM Circumpolar Health

10:30 AM-12:00 PM Alcohol Epidemiology Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Free Papers

Child Health Epigenetic Epidemiology IPCC Perspectives on Enhancing the use of Science Mental Health and Suicide in Circumpolar Region Pharmacoepidemiology Selected Global Health Issues in Latin America Viral Hepatitis: Free Papers

1:30 PM-3:00 PM Climate Change and Health

3:00 PM-4:30 PM Monday Poster Session

4:30 PM-5:45 PM Early Career Epidemiologist Track: Authors Panel

4:30 PM-6:00 PM Circumpolar Surveillance of Tuberculosis Climate Change, Healthy and Resilient Arctic Communities Epidemiology of Aging HIV/AIDS: Free Papers Measuring Intervention Coverage in Low Income Countries (BMGF potential funder) No Global Health without Mental Health

Oral Health, Ethics and Equity - I

Smoking: Free Papers 2

6:00 PM-8:00 PM IEA Business Meeting

Tuesday, 19 August 2014 Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | top

8:30 AM-10:00 AM Health Disparities, Ethics of Human Rights, and Social Justice

10:30 AM-12:00 PM Advances In Family Planning Measurement Disease Surveillance Early Career Epidemiologist Track: Teaching Epidemiology Ethics in Epidemiologic Research (data sharing revisited)

Life-course Epidemiology Nutrition and Diet, 2 Risky Behaviors: Free Papers Social Epidemiology, 1

Water Security, Sanitation and Health in the Arctic

1:30 PM-3:00 PM IEA Regional Workshops

3:00 PM-4:30 PM Tuesday Poster Session

4:30 PM-6:00 PM Infectious Disease

Wednesday, 20 August 2014

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | top

8:30 AM-10:00 AM Hot Topics in Epidemiology: Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders

10:30 AM-12:00 PM Horizons in Cancer Epidemiology Climate Change and Infectious Diseases Epidemiology and Public Health: A joint Approach to Health in the Post-2015 Development Agenda Ethics and Equity in Maternal and Child Health Mental Health Methods and Techniques in Epidemiology - Model Issues Progress in Polio Eradication Public Engagement and Translation Women's Health

1:30 PM-3:00 PM Innovations in Epidemiologic Methods: Epidemiologic Theory and Causation

3:00 PM-4:30 PM Wednesday Poster Session

4:30 PM-6:00 PM Cancer Risk: Free Papers Circumpolar Health: Injury Circumpolar Infectious Diseases Climate Change and Environmental Health Early Career Epidemiologist Track Grant Writing Health, Mental Health and Civil Conflicts Issues in Measuring Health Disparities Life-course Epidemiology, 2 Wrapping up the Birth Weight Paradox

Thursday, 21 August 2014 Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | top

8:30 AM-10:00 AM A World Council on Epidemiology and Causation Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events Dictionary of Epidemiology Gun Violence in the US and Violence Prevention Methods and Techniques in Epidemiology - II Methods, Global Burden of Disease Polio: Free Papers Smoking: Free Papers

Women's Health, 2

10:30 AM-12:00 PM

Emergence of Haemophilus Influenza Type A In Arctic Indigenous Populations Conflict-of-Interest: an IEA-sponsored Session on Evidence, Issues and Integrity- New Insights and Best Practices for Epidemiology Countdown to 2015 Hypertension Free Papers Maternal and Child Health - II: Free Papers Oral Health - II: Free Papers Overweight and Obesity Social Epidemiology, 2 Youth Alcohol and Substance Abuse Studies

2:30 PM-4:00 PM Richard Doll Lecture

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Drexel University School of Public Health invites applications for the position of Chair

and Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

Drexel School of Public Health is a diverse, urban school of public health with a unique commitment to public

health practice and experiential learning. With the recent arrival of Dean Ana Diez Roux, the School has

redoubled its commitment to improving urban public health, eliminating health disparities, and conducting

policy-relevant research. Candidates should have an outstanding record of scholarship and demonstrated

success building a program of externally funded research as well as dedication to and deep experience in

teaching and mentorship in epidemiology or biostatistics. Competitive candidates will also be able to show their

potential for successfully managing a growing academic department. Applicants should submit a cover letter

describing relevant experience and goals and curriculum vitae via email to nc96@drexel.edu. Interested

candidates may direct any questions to the search committee chair, Yvonne L. Michael, michaely@drexel.edu,

267-359-6064 or to Ana V. Diez Roux, Dean, at avd37@drexel.edu.

Chair, Division of Epidemiology

The Ohio State University College of Public Health is seeking an innova- tive leader and scholar to chair its Division of Epidemiology. The success- ful candidate will provide senior leadership and vision in the expansion and application of epidemiology within the College of Public Health and other colleges at Ohio State, communities in Ohio, and internationally. This position requires academic credentials consistent with appointment as a tenured professor in the Division of Epidemiology. The candidate is expected to provide active leadership for the division’s diverse and expanding research program, recruit and mentor faculty, direct an innovative epidemiology training program for undergraduate and graduate students, collaborate in research initiatives with other investiga- tors both within and outside the College of Public Health, and manage the division’s resources. Candidates should have a demonstrated record of administrative experience and have a strong and distinguished record of scholarly research, teaching, and mentoring. Applications will be accepted immediately, and will be considered until the search has concluded. Applicants are asked to prepare a single pdf file that contains a cover letter including a statement of research and teaching interests, a current curriculum vitae, and copies of five recent publications. Send the pdf file by email to epichairsearch@cph.osu.edu.

Questions about the position can be directed to Dr. Michael Bisesi, Senior Associate Dean of Academic Afairs, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, 614-247-8196. For more information, please visit our website at: http://www.cph.osu.edu.

The Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group (IDEG) at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar has the following open positions:

1. Postdoctoral Position in Infectious Disease Epidemiology

2. Postdoctoral Position in Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Diseases

3. Research Specialist Positions in Epidemiology and/or Biostatistics

For more info, please visit our website at : http://tinyurl.com/mevlfud

or you may send your applications to Adona Canlas

(apc2003@qatar-med.cornell.edu)

Associate or Full Professor

The Department of Public Health Sciences (PHS) of the Penn State College of Medicine is seeking applicants to fill two tenure-eligible

senior faculty positions (rank of Associate or Full Professor) to conduct

cancer control outcomes research focused on one or more areas of

the following areas: prevention, early detection, treatment access and

survivorship. These positions will have a primary appointment in the

Department of Public Health Sciences, within the Penn State College of

Medicine. This search is a joint recruitment with the Penn State Hershey

Cancer Institute (PSHCI) in an ongoing effort to build our research base by

expanding cancer control and population sciences, with emphasis on

interventional or implementation research on reducing cancer burden in

rural and underserved communities. PHS faculty conduct research on

the causation, prevention and treatment of disease and illness toward

promoting health of all Pennsylvanians and for the nation and collaborate on

various cancer research designs within the larger University.The PSHCI

Cancer Control Program includes research on tobacco use, smoking

cessation, cancer disparities in rural and underserved populations, end of

life care, and patient navigation.

The Department ( http://www2.med.psu.edu/phsD ) consists of three academic divisions, namely, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Epidemiology, and Health Services and Behavioral Research. There are

50 faculty members in the Department (26 tenured/tenure-eligible)

and more than 100 staff members. The Department provides strong

infrastructure support in biostatistics, data management, research

computing, project management, and finance and administration.

The Department offers two master`s degrees, an MS in Public Health

Sciences and a Master of Public Health (MPH). The Department also

offers a PhD in Biostatistics and currently is developing a Doctor of

Public Health (D.Ph.) program. With its location in Hershey, near Harrisburg PA, PHS has a strong collaborative relationship with public

health scientists and practitioners within the PA Department of Health.

PHS faculty members often collaborate with faculty from the Penn State

University Park campus in disciplines such as health policy, engineering,

demography and geospatial analysis, aging, and rural health. As a

recipient of a Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH}, Penn State faculty members have

access to translational science cores and research support that promote

community outreach and research partnerships, and a research core

supported by the PSHCI for cancer control research.

Applicants must possess an earned doctoral degree in a field related to cancer control as applied to research expertise aimed at reducing cancer

control in the population. Examples of relevant fields include epidemiology,

health services or policy research, social and behavioral sciences,

and demography. Applicants must have a strong publication record in patient outcomes and health services research including cancer-related outcomes or models, and evidence of the ability to build and sustain a research program

from extramural funding sources such as foundations, state government (e.g., health department), and federal sources (e.g., NIH and/or CDC). Candidates whose research includes population- based research involving Cancer patient outcomes, clinical effectiveness of cancer medical therapies in rural and underserved populations are particularly encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the Department`s program of teaching and student mentorship, as well as participate in our recently launched cancer control research program within the PSHCI.

Examples of priority skills and expertise include:

● Skills in analysis of pharmacy data and medical claims databases,

or other population level data.

● Experience preparing large grant applications as a member of a research team.

● Analysis of cancer registry data, administrative databases, national health surveys, or other study data.

● Experience conducting community-focused research using primary or secondary data sources.

●

Experience with advanced epidemiologic, statistical and / or economic methods used to analyze large databases for comparative effectiveness research.

●

Experience working as a member of a collaborative research team to develop initial research plans, analyze data, and prepare manuscripts for publication.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position

is filled. Salary will be commensurate with the candidate`s experience and credentials. Candidates should submit a letter of application including statement of current and future research interests, curriculum vitae, and names and contact information for three references.

Apply to job 51639 at http://apptrkr.com/483606

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: For more about safety at Penn State, and to review the Annual Security Report which contains information

about crime statistics and other safety and security matters, please go

to http://www.police.psu.edu/clery/ , which will also provide you with detail

on how to request a hard copy of the Annual Security Report.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is

committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women,

veterans, disabled individuals, and other protected groups.

BIOSTATISTICS

National Academy of Sciences/Radiation Effects Research Foundation

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) seeks a scientist to fill a biostatistics position at the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF) in Hiroshima, Japan. Candidates must be U.S. citizens; hold an earned M.S. or Ph.D. degree in biostatistics, bioinformatics, or statistics; have a demonstrated record of productivity in a relevant research field commensurate with the level of appointment; and have the ability to relocate to Japan. The appointment can be made at the early to senior career levels for a minimum of two years with the possibility for renewals. Position level, salary, and responsibilities will be commensurate with earned degrees and experience. Please visit http://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH04/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=NAS&cws=1&rid=7343 for additional information about and to apply for this position or contact: Dr. Kevin Crowley at NAS ( kcrowley@nas.edu ) or Dr. Harry Cullings at RERF ( cullings@rerf.or.jp ) for additional information.

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