Minority Students for the Advancement of Public Health
(MSAPH)
What is MSAPH?
Minority Students for the Advancement
of Public Health (MSAPH) at the University of Illinois
at Chicago School of Public Health desires to complement
the graduate experience by encouraging community service
and social bonding within the Chicago community. MSAPH
strives to attain this goal through events and activities
focusing on academic support, professional growth, and
community service.
MSAPH holds monthly general meetings
and social activities and participates in community
service in the Chicago area. In addition to handling
business at our general monthly meetings, we try our
best to expose our members to issues in the public health
community that affect minorities and their professional
development opportunities.
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Vision of MSAPH
Minority Students for the Advancement
of Public Health has adopted the motto "Lifting
As We Climb" as a symbol of our dedication to being
a support system for each other as we embark on careers
in the health professions. Graduate school can be an
extremely demanding endeavor for any student, minority
or majority. For a minority student in a majority-dominated
field, the obstacles to success can be even more challenging.
MSAPH exists so that you do not have to make your journey
alone. MSAPH is committed to providing you with the
tools that are critical to helping you achieve academic
and professional success. If you need support for personal,
academic, or professional reasons, we encourage you
to seek members of MSAPH. Most importantly, remember
that you can succeed in graduate school. None of us
would have been accepted if we did not possess the skills
needed for success in graduate school and beyond.
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Goals of MSAPH
- To provide an atmosphere that will
assist minority graduate students in achieving academic
and professional success.
- To act as a strong voice for the
minority graduate community by actively dealing with
issues that affect the growth and success of MSAPH
members.
- To work with the School of Public
Health administration in recognizing and addressing
the needs of MSAPH members.
- To represent MSAPH in a manner
that will command respect and admiration from fellow
graduate students, administrators, and professors.
- To provide positive role models
for students through the Mentor Program and other
initiatives involving area professionals.
- To provide leadership opportunities
for students that will help them develop the skills
and work habits needed to enhance their future professional
growth.
- To emphasize the importance of
contributing to the community by encouraging students
to volunteer their time with various organizations,
and become more politically active in issues pertaining
to our communities.
- To assist students in identifying
employment and financial assistance opportunities
through postings, job fairs, and networking events.
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Membership
The University of Illinois at Chicago
graduate chapter of Minority Students for the Advancement
of Public Health is a non dues-paying membership organization.
All minority students of the School of Public Health
are considered active MSAPH members. Non SPH students
are also invited to join MSAPH. We encourage students
to participate in at least three events held by the
organization per semester.
MSAPH Advisor:Adela
Peña, MEd, Coordinator Graduate Career Services, UICSPH, 178AA Peterson Reference Center, 1603 W. Taylor Chicago, IL 60612-4394
Adela Peña joined the School
of Public Health full time on April 17, 2005, as the
school’s first Coordinator for Graduate Career
Placement. She received her B.A. degree in International
Studies from Michigan State University, and a M.Ed.
degree in Educational Systems Development with an emphasis
in Cross-Cultural Communication and Student Personnel
at Michigan State University. Prior to coming to the
School of Public Health, Adela served as Assistant Director
for International Placement at the Office of Career
Services at Michigan State University, after which she
became the Assistant Director for Career Services and
Internships at DePaul University. She also worked as
Assistant Director in the Office of Career Services
at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Adela is an
experienced resource for minority students. Adela is currently the Co-Chair for the Career Services Council for the Association of Schools of Public Health.
2008-2009 Officers:
President/ CAC Student Representative - Wade Ivy III, MPH
Born a Mississippian, Wade decided to pursue an undergraduate degree from a historically black university. Therefore, upon completion of high school, he attended Grambling State University in Louisiana, where he completed a Bachelor's of Science degree, majoring in biology. Upon his discovery of the opportunities in epidemiology, he decided to become a public health professional, which led him to project IMHOTEP at Morehouse College where he worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Foodborne and Diarrheal Diseases branch, investigating Escherichia coli O157 outbreaks in the United States.
Following the IMHOTEP program, Wade attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he completed a Master’s of Public Health degree in epidemiology. Blessed with the gift of patience, he continued on to pursue a doctoral degree in infectious disease epidemiology here at the University of Illinois, Chicago. He works with Larry Ouellet, Ph.D. in researching the acquisition and transmission of HIV/AIDS throughout the city of Chicago. He is currently focusing his dissertation research on sexual partner risk behavior and how knowledge of this behavior influences one’s own risk.
Vice President - Kara Green
Kara Green was born and raised in the South Shore of Massachusetts. She attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in African-American Studies. After graduating in 2005, she worked in the Admitting Department of Massachusetts General Hospital. Kara is a second-year full time Master’s degree candidate in the Health Policy and Administration Department of the SPH. She is currently the Graduate Assistant for Judicial Affairs and Service Learning in the Campus Housing Department of UIC.
My public health interests include adolescent health, sexual health and education, and advocacy. I am currently working with the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago's Children (CLOCC) as an intern for the Go Team. In the fall I will be interning at the Chicago Department of Public Health.
Treasurer - Antoinette Price
Antoinette was born and raised in Romulus, MI. After graduating as the class Salutatorian of her class, she attended the infamous University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. As a student at U of M she was involved with a number of organizations including the National Council of Negro Women and Women of Proverbs 31. There she received a bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology and Afro- and African American Studies. Antoinette had a desire to work hands-on in the community with health related topics. As a result she volunteered for a year at the Joy-Southfield Health Clinic, which served the underprivileged in the surrounding areas, providing health care services for the uninsured population.
Currently Antoinette is a second year student in the Maternal & Child Health Program within the Community Health Sciences Division. She has completed her practicum at Deborah’s Place and currently works there as a Health Services Intern. Antoinette has a passion for working in the field of HIV/AIDS and is a certified HIV/AIDS instructor and permanent volunteer of the Red Cross.
Secretary - Lolade Akintunde
Lolade Akintunde (pronounced Low-la-day Ah-kin-toon-day) was born in the city of Chicago and raised on both the North side of Chicago and in Morton Grove, IL. After graduating from Niles West High School in 2001, she ventured to the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. She completed a Community Health, Health Education bachelors degree at UIUC in 2005 and continued to pursue a nursing degree here at University of Illinois at Chicago in 2006. Prior to bridging over to UIC, Lolade participated in the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) at UIUC. where she was able to work alongside two well distinguished professors (Dr. Susan Farner and Dr. Stephen Notaro). Through her experience in SROP, she was able to research bioterrorism preparedness data and conduct tabletop exercises in rural Illinois. While at UIC, Lolade was able to venture to the Core Center and the cities Uptown Neighborhood Clinic and travel with the Tuberculosis crew, administering and reading PPD tests as well as giving out TB medication.
Lolade is a current dual Community Health Sciences, MSN/MPH candidate who has plans to graduate in 2010. She is a current RN at the University of Chicago Medical Center who enjoys advocating for her patients. She also looks forward to interning with the Chicago Department of Public Health working under the direction of Dr. Terry Mason. Lolade serves as an executive board member for the Minority Students for the Advancement of Public Health.
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Benefits
Membership in MSAPH has a variety
of benefits designed to make the UIC public health student's
relationship with the organization rewarding and enjoyable.
In addition to providing members the opportunity to
further their own goals and objectives as future leaders
in the public health and minority communities, MSAPH
membership offers the following benefits:
- Access to mentors within the school
to guide students through the rigors of graduate school
experience.
- Access to books, study guides,
and outline banks.
- Opportunity to run for and hold
office.
- Opportunity to vote in elections
and on MSAPH matters.
- Meeting people and networking.
- Invitations to receptions for speakers
and presenters at special events.
- Access to a wealth of experiences
and opportunities through our affiliations with groups
like the National Association of Health Care Executives
(NAHCE), the Chicago Urban League, and the African
American Health Care Council.
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Meetings
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Up-Coming Events/Activities
Visit SPH events calendar for information on events and activities.
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