February, 2015 Luncheon
Tue, February 24 2015, 11:30am
Campus Club ABC
Internationally recognized expert in infectious disease epidemiology Michael T. Osterholm, Ph.D., M.P.H., will speak at UMRA's February meeting on the topic "The Ebola Epidemic: where we've been, where we're at, and where we are going."
Professor of Public Health, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, and a 15-year veteran as state epidemiologist in the Minnesota Department of Health, Dr. Osterholm is largely responsible for making Minnesota one of the premier states in proactive public health protection.
His gift for informing and educating the media and his fellow citizens about the important dimensions of public health science, preparedness, prevention, and health promotion has earned him frequent interviews on local as well as national public radio stations.
His straight talk on subjects such as influenza, bioterrorism, and pandemic preparedness has thrust him into a global role as advisor and consultant to the highest levels of the World Health Organization and U.S. government agencies: NIH, FDA, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Department of Defense.
In 2008, Professor Osterholm was named to the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center's Academy of Excellence in Health Research, and the same year he was appointed to the World Economic Forum working Group on Pandemics.
He is a member of the National Academy of Science, Institute of Medicine (IOM), and the Council of Foreign Relations. Impressively, he is a recent recipient of the McKnight Presidential Chair in Public Health, one of the University's highest faculty honors.
Dr. Osterholm was a special advisor to Health Secretary Tommy Thompson after 9/11 on issues related to bioterrorism and public health preparedness. He has served on the CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases board of Scientific Counselors and is former president of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. He was a reviewer on an IOM report on chemical and biological terrorism.
Michael Osterholm's passion for and dedication to research and education about the public health implications of infectious diseases have won him many honors.
Always on the cutting edge, always informed, always entertaining…and sometimes scary, Dr. Osterholm promises to be a great speaker for our February luncheon.
— Jean Kinsey, UMRA President-elect and Program Committee chair
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.