By Allison Hydzik
This year’s theme is “Public Health is ROI: Save Lives, Save Money.”
Throughout the U.S., activities are planned to highlight the value of disease prevention
and the importance of well-supported public health systems in preventing
disease, saving lives and curbing health care spending – a significant return
on investment (ROI).
Here in Pittsburgh, Pitt Public Health will host three talks, as well
as a blood drive, all of which are free and open to the public. They can be
found by entering the school through Parran Hall at the corner of Fifth Avenue
and DeSoto Street in Oakland.
- On Monday, April 1, former CBS “Survivor” contestant and Pittsburgh
native Ian Rosenberger, founder of the nonprofit Team
Tassy and for-profit Thread
LLC, will give a talk titled “Eliminating Abject Poverty.” He’ll discuss his
experience in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and explain how Team Tassy came
to be. Tassy Fils-Aime, the Team Tassy family liaison, will tell his personal
story of how he met Rosenberger and how volunteers saved his life. The talk,
sponsored by the Doctoral Student Organization, is from 4:30 to 5:20 p.m. in
room A115, Crabtree Hall. It is open to the public. Advance registration is
not required, but encouraged by emailing dsogsph@pitt.edu.
- On Tuesday, April 2, Pitt Public Health will host Nancy Kass, Sc.D.,
the Phoebe R. Berman Professor of Bioethics & Public Health at Johns
Hopkins University. She’ll be giving a lecture titled “Obesity, Public Health,
and Ethics: When Can We Interfere with Others for Their Own Good?” The lecture
is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p..m. in room A115, Crabtree Hall. It is free and
open to the public.
- From noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, Pitt Public Health will host
a Central Blood Bank blood drive in room 109, Parran, sponsored by the Student
Government Association. Every two seconds someone in the United States needs
blood, and the winter season often leaves our region with a severe supply
shortage. Walk-ins are welcome.
- On Thursday, April 4, Roberta Patrizio, R.N., M.S.N., of the maternal
and child health division of the Allegheny County Health Department will give a
talk titled “Return on Investment: The Nurse Family Partnership Program.” She
will discuss the ROI from evidence-based public health programs. The talk,
sponsored by the Pennsylvania Public Health Training Center, is from noon to 1
p.m. in room 109, Parran. Advance registration is not required, except to view
the live stream, available free to viewers who register at https://www.paphtc.pitt.edu/course.asp?m=f&cr=r&cid=115.
