Monday, September 28, 2009

Health Equity in the News: The $5, 000 Baby and Other Stories

Recently, the Toronto Star's HealthZone featured stories about how some Ontarians are affected by the 3 month waiting period for OHIP coverage:
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/newsfeatures/article/700554--special-delivery-the-5-000-baby

For more information about the OHIP Coverage Waiting Period:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/ohip/wait.html
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

CAMH Aboriginal Inpatient Program

Please share widely.

CAMH Aboriginal Inpatient Program

In November of 2009, CAMH will be offering a 21 day inpatient cycle for ten male Aboriginal clients. This program has been designed to embrace Aboriginal values and spirituality and promotes self-determination. The involved CAMH staff and departments recognize the unique needs and circumstances of Toronto’s Aboriginal population and are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore and overcome their substance abuse.

Topics for discussion and aspects of the program include:

• Intergenerational trauma and substance abuse
• Personal and unique experiences of Aboriginal culture
• Substance abuse and communities/families
• Elder counseling
• Addiction as a learned behavior and predisposition
• Relationships
• Healthy expressions of anger
• Recreational therapy
• Loss, grief and addiction
• Sweat lodge ceremony and other traditional tools
• Blanket teachings

If you have questions or need assistance with the application process feel free to contact Kathryn at CAMH Aboriginal Services at any time, (416)535-8501 ext. 7654 or at kathryn_leblanc[at]camh.net
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Thursday, September 10, 2009

Free Mind Maps online application - Bubbl.us

I just discovered a really fun and free online application. Bubbl.us enables you to create colourful mind maps and brainstorm online. The maps can be saved and embedded on websites. Here is my test map:











Check it out here: http://bubbl.us/edit.php


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Deadline extended - City of Toronto Public Health Champion Awards

From the City of Toronto website:

The nomination deadline for the 2009 Public Health Champion Awards has been extended to September 16. The award was established in 2008 by Dr. David McKeown, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, to commemorate the 125th anniversary of public health in Toronto.

The award recognizes individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting and promoting the health of Toronto’s residents. Nominations will be adjudicated by a committee of the Board of Health assessing demonstrated achievement in one or more of four areas:

  • Providing leadership in efforts to reduce health inequalities
  • Fostering collaboration to improve the health of the population
  • Building community capacity through innovative health promotion strategies
  • Achieving impact by acting as a catalyst for change.

For more info: http://www.toronto.ca/health/awards/index.htm


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Wednesday, September 9, 2009

REGISTRATION OPEN (Toronto) - Research with Pride

Register NOW for Research with Pride - an innovative, student-led forum in partnership with the 519 Church Street Community Centre providing the opportunity for students, community members, and academics to come together to explore community-based research (CBR) with regards to wellness and health among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirited, and queer(LGBTT2Q) people and communities.

Research with Pride is about exploring the potential of CBR to transform our communities and create positive change.

This forum is FREE!

When: Friday October 2, 2009
Time: 8:30 am-4:30 pm
What: Presentations, workshops, and panel discussions facilitated by leaders in the field of LGBTQ community based research.
Where: 155 College (at McCaul) St. 6th floor

REGISTRATION HAS BEGUN!

Space is limited, so please register soon.
For more information, please visit our website or contact info[at]researchwithpride.org
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RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: New evidence of racism as social determinant of health (US)

Full text of article at:
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0006821

Title: Genetic Ancestry, Social Classification, and Racial Inequalities in Blood Pressure in Southeastern Puerto Rico

Authors: Clarence C. Gravlee1*, Amy L. Non(1), Connie J. Mulligan1,(2)
(1) Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America, (2) Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America

Abstract
Background
The role of race in human genetics and biomedical research is among the most contested issues in science. Much debate centers on the relative importance of genetic versus sociocultural factors in explaining racial inequalities in health. However, few studies integrate genetic and sociocultural data to test competing explanations directly.

Methodology/Principal Findings
We draw on ethnographic, epidemiologic, and genetic data collected in southeastern Puerto Rico to isolate two distinct variables for which race is often used as a proxy: genetic ancestry versus social classification. We show that color, an aspect of social classification based on the culturally defined meaning of race in Puerto Rico, better predicts blood pressure than does a genetic-based estimate of continental ancestry. We also find that incorporating sociocultural variables reveals a new and significant association between a candidate gene polymorphism for hypertension (α2C adrenergic receptor deletion) and blood pressure.

Conclusions/Significance
This study addresses the recognized need to measure both genetic and sociocultural factors in research on racial inequalities in health. Our preliminary results provide the most direct evidence to date that previously reported associations between genetic ancestry and health may be attributable to sociocultural factors related to race and racism, rather than to functional genetic differences between racially defined groups. Our results also imply that including sociocultural variables in future research may improve our ability to detect significant allele-phenotype associations. Thus, measuring sociocultural factors related to race may both empower future genetic association studies and help to clarify the biological consequences of social inequalities.
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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Interesting blog entry - Inequities are killing people on a grand scale (Medical Wiki World)

Interesting blog article from Medical Wiki World about the work of the World Health Organization's Commission on the Social Determinants of Health.  The blog posting offers examples of the impacts of local and global health disparities and makes recommendations for promoting equity.  


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FORUM (Toronto) - Research With Pride

Register NOW for Research with Pride - an innovative, student-led forum in partnership with the 519 Church Street Community Centre providing the opportunity for students, community members, and academics to come together to explore community-based research (CBR) with regards to wellness and health among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirited, and queer(LGBTT2Q) people and communities.

Research with Pride is about exploring the potential of CBR to transform our communities and create positive change.

This forum is FREE!
When: Friday October 2, 2009
Time: 8:30 am-4:30 pm
What: Presentations, workshops, and panel discussions facilitated by leaders in the field of LGBTQ community based research.
Where: 155 College (at McCaul) St. 6th floor

REGISTRATION HAS BEGUN!
Space is limited, so please register soon by downloading our registration form at www.researchwithpride.org  

For more information, please visit our website or contact info@researchwithpride.org


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EVENT (Toronto) - FoodCycles Launch - September 12/09

Come and visit the FoodCycles city farm and learn about all the wonderful chances to gain new skills, grow vegetables, create compost and make a difference in the community. You will get a site tour, fresh food and snacks, see the vegetable garden, the greenhouse and worm composting. It’ll all happen Saturday, Sep 12, 2009 from 10:00 am to 1 pm.

The FoodCycles greenhouse and one acre market garden is located at Downsview Park, just southeast of the intersection of Keele and Sheppard (70 Canuck Ave, map and directions http://bit.ly/1GYyWQ).

POSTER in English: http://bit.ly/L3JE9 

Bring rain gear, closed toe boots or shoes and lighter layers in warmer weather. Don't forget a re-useable shopping bag if you're buying veggies! Feel free to bring food of your own if you're in the mood for sharing!

Visit our website http://foodcycles.org for more information or email foodcycles@gmail.com or call 416.845.0818.

POSTER in:
Italian - http://bit.ly/H741H
Hebrew - http://bit.ly/dNhEO
Spanish - http://bit.ly/Ubv1u
Filipino - http://bit.ly/3zHHx
Vietnamese - http://bit.ly/nwGha
Chinese - http://bit.ly/3L1mas


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