Colorado School of Public Health Top Stories of 2024

In 2024, the Colorado School of Public Health celebrated a year of remarkable achievements and impactful initiatives. Governor Jared Polis declared August 22 as Colorado Day of Total Worker Health, highlighting the state's commitment to workplace well-being. Colorado passed groundbreaking legislation to support recovery-friendly workplaces, while research revealed that living near oil and gas well sites exacerbates atrial fibrillation symptoms and hospitalization risks. The Stephen Berman, MD Endowed Chair surpassed a $2 million milestone in support, and a significant federal award was granted for type 2 diabetes research.  The school also launched an innovative program to support working cancer patients and explored the effectiveness of workplace wellness apps. These stories underscore the school's dedication to advancing public health and fostering a healthier community.

Governor Jared Polis Declares August 22, 2024, as Colorado Day of Total Worker Health®

Health Links^® extends its deepest gratitude to Governor Jared Polis for proclaiming August 22, 2024, as Colorado Day of Total Worker Health^®. This declaration underscores the critical importance of investing in the health, safety, and well-being of Colorado's workforce.

Colorado Day of Total Worker Health^® highlights the essential role of a healthy workforce in preventing injuries and promoting well-being across the state. With over 3 million workers in Colorado dedicating countless hours to their jobs each day, this proclamation emphasizes the vital responsibility of employers to create and maintain safe and healthy work environments. Such efforts not only protect workers but also enhance productivity and organizational success.

Beth Carlton Selected as New Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health

Much like trying to solve the puzzle of waterborne illnesses, which she did when she was in the Peace Corps in Honduras, Beth Carlton, PhD, MPH, BS, hopes to bring those same skills to use in her new role as the Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH).

Carlton, who has been a member of the faculty at Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) for over a decade, is stepping into her new role as an ecologist steps into a complex ecosystem.

Colorado Passes New Legislation to Support Recovery Friendly Workplaces

Governor Polis has signed Senate Bill 24-048. The legislation will invest nearly $1.5 million over the next four years in the Center for Health, Work, and Environment (CHWE) at the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH). Specifically, the legislation will support the Center and School’s efforts to establish Recovery Friendly Workplaces (RFW) and implement a voluntary employer participation and certification program to support individuals recovering from addiction and coping with other mental and behavioral health challenges.

Atrial Fibrillation Symptoms and Potential for Hospitalization Exacerbated When Living Near Oil and Gas Well Sites

A new study conducted by researchers at the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz) revealed older adults and women with atrial fibrillation (AFib) living within 0.39 miles (or 2059 feet) of oil and natural gas well sites may experience increased severity and exacerbation of their condition during the development of these sites.

Support for Stephen Berman, MD Endowed Chair Surpasses $2 million Milestone

The Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) is pleased to announce the establishment of the Stephen Berman, MD Endowed Chair in Global Health. Philanthropic gifts totaling more than $2 million generously provided by The Jack and Sarita Gantz Foundation, and scores of esteemed community leaders, family, and friends, have been directed to ColoradoSPH to establish the first endowed chair at the Center for Global Health.

“I am profoundly grateful to the Berman Family for selecting our school as their partners in philanthropy and for honoring Dr. Berman’s legacy in this meaningful way,” said Dr. Cathy Bradley, dean of ColoradoSPH. “Now, the school is turning its attention to recruiting a director of the Center for Global Health to build its next phase of research, education, and community impact,” she continued. The center’s new director will be the inaugural holder of the Stephen Berman, MD Endowed Chair in Global Health.

Large federal award will fund ColoradoSPH and CU School of Medicine researchers in expanding efforts to prevent, treat, and manage Type 2 diabetes

Researchers on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have received a substantial federal award that promises to deepen understanding of the roots of the most common form of diabetes.

The five-year, $7 million award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) funds a Biostatistics Research Center (BRC). The BRC will support DEFINE T2D (Definition, Etiology, Function: Integration to Enhance Type 2 Diabetes treatment), a consortium of four study sites that are probing the processes that drive Type 2 diabetes in tens of millions of adults.

Dr. Susan Niermeyer Receives 2024 Florence Rena Sabin Award

Susan Niermeyer, MD, MPH, a graduate of the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH), senior scientist in the school’s Center for Global Health, and Professor Emerita of Pediatrics was honored this week with the 2024 Florence Rena Sabin, MD Award. Presented by the leadership of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz), Dr. Niermeyer became the first ColoradoSPH graduate to receive this distinguished honor.

“Dr. Niermeyer’s professional journey, contributions to public health, and many humanitarian efforts make her an extraordinary recipient for this prestigious recognition,” said Cathy Bradley, PhD, Dean of ColoradoSPH.

ColoradoSPH Appoints New Associate Dean for Research

Since 2001, Dana Dabelea, MD, PhD, has served in many capacities at the Colorado School of Public Health and at University of Colorado Anschutz. As a Distinguished University Professor and director of the LEAD (Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity & Diabetes) Center, she has championed diabetes research and improved health outcomes.

She will continue to drive research in her new role as the Associate Dean for Research for ColoradoSPH, by promoting collaborative, innovative research and delivering practical solutions to the most pressing public health issues of the day, in order to develop potential policy recommendations impacting the future of public health in Colorado and elsewhere. “It gives me satisfaction to give back to the school that shaped my career and helped me become who I am,” Dr. Dabelea said. “I really want to help others reach their potential.”

Colorado School of Public Health Launches Innovative Program to Support Working Cancer Patients

The Center of Health, Work & Environment (CHWE) at the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) proudly announces the launch of WeCanWork (Well-Being and Cancer at Work), an innovative program designed to provide comprehensive support to cancer patients as they balance work responsibilities and treatment.

With 18 million cancer survivors in the United States, half of whom are of working age, there is a significant need for support to help them stay in the workforce during their treatment. Many cancer survivors face higher absenteeism and struggle with well-being when their physical abilities cannot align with job demands. Moreover, many oncology practices are not fully equipped to support these patients in overcoming these challenges.

Is Your Workplace Wellness App Working?

If you offer your employees access to digital mental health applications, how do you know if the apps are actually helping them? Many employers understand their workforce’s need for mental health support. Nearly 60% of adults in the U.S. report having been concerned for either their own mental health or that of family and friends, increasing 9% since April of 2020. Poor employee mental health is associated with a $1 trillion annual global cost in productivity.