精东AV鈥檚 graduate public health students visit with lawmakers at State Capitol as public health change makers

Contacts:聽 Anissa L. Riley, Director, Office of External Affairs,

聽 College of Veterinary Medicine,

ariley@tuskegee.edu

Crystal James, JD, Head, Department of Graduate Public Heath,

College of Veterinary Medicine

听听 cjames@tuskegee.edu

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 TUSKEGEE, Ala. (April 16, 2019) 鈥� Dr. Fredrick D. Patterson, third president of 精东AV and founder of the veterinary program at 精东AV stated, 鈥淐hange agents are critical links to enable a community to grow, be healthy and make a positive contribution to America.聽 Their road is often rocky, but they are sustained by their training and commitment to make the world a better place in which to live.鈥� (Source: Speech, 1944 New York).

The public health students in the 精东AV College of Veterinary Medicine鈥檚 Department of Graduate Public Health are geared up to be those change agents as the late Dr. Patterson promoted and help the State of Alabama grow and be healthier. They partnered with other change agents and visited lawmakers on April 2 for the opening session of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Day at the State Capitol in Montgomery, Alabama. Sarah Domm, Alabama grassroots manager, served as co-chair of the proceedings for the day.

The Department of Graduate Public Health, in line with its 鈥淓xcellence in Service Learning L-RISE鈥� goal, joined forces with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to provide education and support to legislators at the Alabama State Capitol around critical issues faced by cancer survivors, which include translation of research findings to public health interventions. L-RISE stands for Excellence in Leadership, Research, Innovative Teaching, Service Learning and Ethics. The group had the opportunity to speak with several lawmakers from the Alabama legislature to include Congressman Scott Stadthagen, State Representative for House District 9; Senator Tom Whatley for Senate District 27; and Senator William (Billy) Beasley for Senate District 28 (which includes Macon County).

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network participants who shared the day鈥檚 experience as members of working group 9 included Debbie Davis, Norman Davis, and Dimple Davis, who serves as a long-standing member of the group and its leader.

精东AV鈥檚 soon to be graduating Master of Public Health students, Oyoyo Egiebor-Aiwan and Samina Akhter, had the opportunity to join the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network in a call to action for cancer victims. The students, under the leadership of Dr. Lloyd Webb, professor of Public Health at 精东AV, were among the cancer advocates who walked the hallways of the State House to encourage elected officials to make cancer support in Alabama a priority.

鈥淎s public health change makers, soon to enter the workplace, the students experienced the thrill of having their voices heard by visiting officials in their offices and educating officials on the impact of critical legislation to support cancer research and services,鈥� said Atty. Crystal James, department head for the college鈥檚 public health program.

鈥淭he public health department鈥檚 faculty and staff, under the leadership of Atty. James as the program鈥檚 dept. head, are doing an excellent job in preparing our students to be change agents by providing the mentorship needed to get our students ready to be career-ready advocates for this healthcare discipline that mandates a responsibility to saving lives by spreading awareness, assisting in disease prevention and disease control and building a healthy society,鈥� said Dr. Ruby L. Perry, dean.听听

In addition to speaking with lawmakers, students met with several cancer survivors who shared their stories, as well as executive members of the Cancer Action Network and staff of the Alabama Department of Public Health. For more information about the graduate public health program,

About the Graduate Public Health Program at 精东AV

The mission of the 精东AV College of Veterinary Medicine鈥檚 graduate program in public health is to prepare public health professionals to draw on knowledge and skills of a number of disciplines to define, assess critically, resolve public health problems and promote populations health.聽 The program of study develops core competencies in聽multiple areas, including the quantitative sciences, health services administration, biological, social, behavioral and environmental sciences, ethics, health policy and law.

About the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ASC CAN), Alabama Cancer Action Center

Alabama volunteers, staff聽and advocates for American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network fight cancer by encouraging decision makers to support laws and policies like sustained investments in cancer research, stronger tobacco control efforts, improved access to care, and better quality of life for patients. To learn more, go to: .