Graduation ceremony for students in Public Health and Tropical Health programs.
Fifty-five Australian and international students will graduate at a special University of Queensland ceremony at the Westpac Auditorium, Bancroft Centre, 300 Herston Road, Herston on April 24 at 3.45pm.
The ceremony has been organised by the Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health and Nutrition for graduates of the Tropical Health and Public Health programs.
ACITHN combines the teaching and research strengths of the Tropical Health Program, the Nutrition Program, and the Indigenous Health Program of the University of Queensland, and the Tropical Health section of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research.
This year graduates of the Nutrition Program will attend a separate international ceremony at the University of Khon Kaen in Thailand on April 24.
Graduates to receive awards at the Brisbane ceremony include one PhD, 27 masters of public health, four diplomas of public health, and 23 masters of tropical health.
Master of public health (MPH) Program:
The 30 students to be awarded masters and diplomas of public health degrees comprise the largest single cohort to graduate from the Queensland Centre for Public Health, a joint initiative of the University of Queensland, Griffith University and QUT. Since the Public Health program began in 1991, a total of 79 people have graduated.
The current graduating group includes students from Bangladesh, Germany, England and Indonesia. This year a flexible delivery program was introduced for two core subjects in the MPH program, one offered by the University of Queensland and one by QUT.
Co-ordinator Dr Peter O'Rourke said this innovation allowed health and medical staff outside the Brisbane metropolitan area to advance their professional training in public health.
"Students are studying at a range of Queensland locations, including Townsville, Cairns and Mackay in Northern Queensland, Toowoomba, Nambour, and the Gold Coast," he said.
Topics for master of public health dissertations this year ranged from care for children with cerebral palsy; to end-of-life decision-making and patient self-determination; oral health knowledge among adult Filipinos living in Brisbane; coronary heart disease in families; health promotion in the workplace, tobacco smoking and alcohol use on North Queensland Aboriginal communities; and air quality indicators of respiratory disease in Queensland.
Y Among this year's MPH graduates is Dr Bijaya Chamka, a medical graduate of the University of Dhaka whose home region is the tribal hill country of Bangladesh. After completing her course work in 1995, she commenced a dissertation project in 1996 on the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of mothers regarding their children's exposure to the sun.
Her study, conducted in conjunction with the West Moreton Health Authority, found that many infants and toddlers are still exposed to sun for significant periods without adequate (or indeed any) sun protection. The study highlighted the need for further education programs. Dr Chakma has returned to Bangladesh to work in her local community, particularly looking after the welfare of children.
Tropical Health Program (THP):
Y Dr Desmond Foley, who will graduate PhD at the April 24 ceremony, is a foundation staff member of the Tropical Health Program. He completed his PhD part-time while working with THP entomologist Associate Professor Joan Bryan on the vectors of malaria and filariasis in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
This group of mosquitoes contains many species that look similar and have many common characteristics. Using genetic and molecular techniques, Dr Desmond has revealed the existence of many species, and their differences and complexity. In spite of their almost identical looks, these species differ markedly in behaviour.
Y The 1997 Gary Quayle memorial prize for excellence in student research has been awarded to a master of tropical health field group comprising Fanou Burslem, Orapin Laohapensang, Jo Sauvarin and Margaret Young for a study entitled: Naked wire and naked truths: Reproductive health risks faced by teenage girls in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
MTH course co-ordinator Associate Professor Joan Bryan said field studies were an integral part of the Tropical Health Program.
"Students conduct field studies in groups in collaboration with collaborating institutions in Thailand, the Philippines or the Solomon Islands," she said.
"They design projects, carry them out, and write reports in teams of three or four."
Master of tropical health field work topics this year also examined topics including mothers' use of immunisation services in the Philippines, review of a rabies control program in southern Thailand, and dengue virus in north-east Thailand.
For further information, contact Mary Okello (Tropical Health Program) at telephone 3365 5393 or Dr Peter O'Rourke (Public Health Program) telephone 3365 5335/3365 5418.
23/04/97
