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(09/27/07 4:00am)
It takes 0.18 seconds to search for "public health" on Google.
But search engine Google and public health are more closely related than a random search.
And the School of Public Health worked to demonstrate that relationship Wednesday when Google.org researcher Corrie Conrad spoke about the role of business in global public health.
A group of 35 students and professionals from a variety of academic backgrounds attended the event.
Conrad, a 2002 UNC graduate, works for the philanthropic branch of Google.com, which focuses on global health initiatives.
"We consider ourselves an experiment in active philanthropy," she said. "We want to use the power of information to better lives."
Conrad said that businesses can have a large involvement in global health issues, but that finding funds and time isn't as simple as it seems.
She said finding this funding and time is a challenge because Google puts out products so quickly, and public health research requires a sizable time commitment.
"It was hugely informative," said Chloe Katz, a first-year graduate student in the School of Public Health, of Conrad's speech. "I think that bridging the gap between the corporate world and health is a good way to make these ideas public."
The event was sponsored by the student global health committee, a campus organization geared toward applying health practices learned at UNC to global issues.
"We are trying to expand our target audience to raise awareness on the global scene," said Amy Gedal, co-chairwoman of the SGHC education subcommittee.
The SGHC education subcommittee hosted the event. The subcommittee also will bring Kim Beer to UNC on Oct. 9 to speak about supplying people with health supplies.
Naman Shah, a first-year medical school student who also helped organize the event, said he thinks the School of Public Health has assisted in promoting the ideas Conrad addressed.
"We're doing quite a bit for global initiatives," he said. "This summer we received $50 million, and we're using that to build new innovation labs to help tackle global health issues."
SGHC is only one of many campus groups with a global focus.
"Joining organizations like Students for Students International or Nourish International are just a few of the ways students get involved in international efforts," Shah said.
As globalization continues, more companies are aiming to support international communities. Shah said students can gain relevant experience about the globalization process through campus organizations such as these.
Conrad was involved in Students for Students International as a UNC undergraduate, an experience she said instilled in her a love for global service and health initiatives.
"It was an amazing experience," she said. "It changed my life."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/24/07 4:00am)
Senior class officials have decided which organization they will support as their class gift, following in the steps of the preceding class by donating money to a cause.
Senior marshals voted unanimously to give to Carolina for Kibera - a nongovernmental organization that fights poverty and promotes nonviolence in Kenya.
Ashley Shores, senior class president, began promoting the cause during her campaign last semester. She said Carolina for Kibera was chosen because it benefits the University by making it a more international campus.
When Shores was running for senior class president last semester, she also offered the Millennium Village Project as a potential recipient of a service gift.
She said the Millennium Village was ruled out because of concerns that it does not benefit the UNC campus directly.
But some seniors have been concerned with the lack of student input into the decision.
"I want to choose my gift," senior Leland Timmons said, adding that he still prefers a donation to a physical gift.
Last year's project was not announced until after seniors voted on it in a special election in mid-October, but this year's senior class officials said that their February elections campaign platforms focused on their ideas for the class gift.
"We thought we could get this approved, and we wanted to start this semester," said Veronica Mora, senior class vice president. "You want to encourage people to have the mind-set of giving back."
Shores also said that students can donate to any cause.
"It doesn't matter what we endorse specifically because seniors can give anywhere," she said. "We talked to Chancellor (James) Moeser, and he's 100 percent behind the gift."
Before deciding on Carolina for Kibera, the project had to be approved by officials in the Office of University Development and the senior marshals.
Shores said the process of choosing a gift is set up differently now than in years past.
Previously seniors have left gifts including an aquarium on the upper level of the Student Union and a Sept. 11 memorial.
But after 2006, students were not encouraged by the administration to give physical gifts to the University, instead calling the gift a campaign.
The class of 2007 decided to donate to the Carolina Covenant, which makes it possible for students in need of financial assistance to graduate debt-free.
The money from the project will come mainly from students and sponsors who have offered to match seniors' donations.
Students are asked to donate $20.08 each to the organization.
"We're counting on this mainly to be funded by students, but we're also in the process of sending letters to parents," said Shea Fitzgerald, fundraising chairwoman for the senior marshals.
A concert will also be held on Oct. 2 to help raise extra funds.
"I think it's a good thing to leave a legacy behind," senior Bola Omitoogun said. "The fact they're giving money to service is more meaningful than, say, putting up another statue."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/20/07 4:00am)
Business practices and environmental concerns don't always go hand-in-hand, but the Kenan-Flagler Business School is eager to change that.
On Wednesday evening, Andrew Winston, founder of Winston Eco-Strategies and co-author of "Green to Gold: Howa Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value and Build Competitive Advantage," spoke before a more-than-300-person audience of students and community members.
"I'm here to talk about the greening of business. The very planet is changing, but change breeds opportunity," Winston said. "The last bastions of debate on this topic are falling pretty fast."
During his hour-long presentation, he addressed the environmental issues that are affecting business and the world in general.
Winston discussed the vital role of universities in the business-environment relationship, saying that academia is important to educate businesses because companies must keep track of what is on the edge of thinking.
Companies must find a way to sell products to the emerging 300 million middle-class citizens of China and India without increasing world energy consumption, Winston said.
Some companies already are taking strides to be environmentally friendly, he said, using Wal-Mart as a prime example of the impact business practices have on environmental issues.
He said the company, which makes up 2 percent of America's gross domestic product, is encouraging reduction of fossil-fuel consumption.
Many students said the talk covered pertinent topics for the modern business world.
"It was relevant to what's going on, and I was happy to have been able to hear him," said Caroline Hoyle, a senior in the business school. "I'm definitely getting his book to research possible careers in sustainability."
The event was sponsored by the Center for Sustainable Enterprise at the business school. The center aims to help students and business leaders understand how environmental issues are changing the business landscape.
Organizers said they were encouraged by the number of people in attendance.
"We were expecting 200, and over 300 showed up," said Albert Segars, director of the center.
"We had people from Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. We really want to make UNC a resource for this community."
Winston's presentation incorporated humor, audience participation and a question-and-answer session. After his talk, Winston appeared for a book signing.
Katie Kross, executive director of Sustainable Enterprise, had clear ideas of what she wanted students to receive from the event.
"I hope students take away environmental strategy, not for compliance but for competitive advantage," Kross said. "These are issues facing companies whether or not students are interested in environmental business."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/13/07 4:00am)
UNC's School of Dentistry is taking its students out of the classroom for a fresh angle on learning.
Last weekend, students offered free dental services to low-income residents of the Edgecombe County town of Tarboro in an effort designed to help the community and to provide practical experience in the field to pre-dental undergraduates and dental school students.
"Some people come into the clinic who haven't had their teeth cleaned in 30 years," said Savannah Gelesko, a second-year dental student and the secretary of Ennead, a service group composed of UNC dental students who participated in the clinic.
"At one of the clinics, I cleaned a man's teeth for two hours."
The event ran from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Students were busy performing cleanings, fillings and extractions and taught preventative techniques to waiting patients.
"People began lining up at five or six in the morning," said Dr. Eugene Sandler, director of the UNC Dentistry in Service to Communities program. "They were desperate to receive dental care."
More than 300 people came out to receive services from the clinic, which was spearheaded by students and volunteers from Ennead and North Carolina Mission of Mercy, a statewide dental program that provides free dental services.
"It's not just about performing a job - but helping people in the process," said Jacqueline Garner, a fourth-year dental student and member of the Ennead executive board.
The 306-person turnout in Tarboro far exceeded the expected 200.
"Sometimes you go into an area and don't know what to expect," Garner said. "Sometimes there's a much larger turnout than you can imagine."
In 2005 there were four counties in North Carolina with more than 40,000 people who had no dental service, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In order to receive the services the clinic offers, a person's annual income can be up to twice the national poverty level, currently set at $20,650 for a family of four.
Mission of Mercy performs clinics like this once per month, across the state. The organization contacted Ennead to provide volunteers for this event.
Ennead also participates in a variety of other service activities, such as organizing health fairs, providing free dental screenings and donating mouth guards to local high-school athletes.
Ennead plans to participate in another Mission of Mercy clinic next month.
"I feel like the clinic was a great success," Garner said. "People who had just had extractions were still smiling."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.