The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Nursing Conference Addresses Current Health Threats

The UTC School of Nursing will offer Current Health Threats to Our Families, Children and Communities on three successive Tuesdays: March 23rd, March 30th , and April 6th, 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. on each day at the Probasco Auditorium of the Erlanger Medical Mall.

On Tuesday, March 23rd, participants will hear:

Timothy Jones, MD, Deputy State Epidemiologist for the Tennessee Department of Health and director of the Tennessee FoodNet Program present “Food Borne and Water Supply Terrorism.” He will describe:

  • the potential impact of food-borne and water supply terrorism in the U.S
  • identify federal, local and personal measures for preventing food-related and water supply terrorism
  • discuss the nurse’s role in responding to this type of terrorism event

Dr. Marion Kainer, MD, MPH, infectious diseases physician and medial epidemiologist for the Tennessee Department of Health (TNDOH) , co-chair of the SARS taskforce for the State Health Department discuss “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)”. Kainer will describe:

  • key strategies for early clinical recognition
  • infection prevention and control strategies for patients and healthcare personnel
  • what healthcare facilities should do now to prepare for the return of SARS

Kristy Gottfried, MS, medical entomologist for the TNDOH in the Communicable and Environmental Disease Service will offer “Arboviral (Insect-borne) Disease in Tennessee,” explaining:

  • current information on West Nile Virus regarding location, transmission, and precautions
  • the possibilities of the resurgence of malaria in the Southeast
  • the prevalence of Lyme Disease in Tennessee
  • LaCrosse Encephalitis regarding location, transmission, precaution, and clinical characteristics

Sonayia Shepherd, MA, MS, Tennessee Bioterrorism Exercise Coordinator for the GA Division of Public Health will identify “Terrorism Effects: Families and Children.” She will describe:

  • the impact of terrorism on families and children
  • how schools and daycares can prepare for a bioterrorism attack
  • ways to assist families and children to cope with the fear of terrorism

On Tuesday, March 30, participants will hear:

Linda Melton, RN, MSN, FNP, a nurse practitioner at the Chattanooga Allergy Clinic who treats patients with asthma and other allergic reactions will present, “Common Allergies and Skin Rashes.” She will discuss:

  • common skin rashes and their treatment protocols
  • types of rashes that would be observed following a bio-terrorism event
  • common allergies and their treatment protocols

Joseph Joyave, MD, director of a pediatric clinic in Calhoun, Georgia, All God’s Children’ Pediatrics, LLC. Served as chair of the Council on Maternal and Infant Health for the State of Georgia, 2003 recipient of the GA Public Health Association Maternal and Child Community Service Award. His presentation of “ADD/ADHD and Childhood Depression” will explain:

  • ADD/ADHD including current trends in diagnosis and treatment
  • treatment controversies in working with children who have ADD/ADHD
  • depression in children
  • ways to work with the parents of children with ADD/ADHD or depression

Billy S. Arant, Jr., MD, professor of Pediatrics at The University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Medical Director of the Hypertension Management Center at Erlanger Medical Center at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, board –certified in pediatrics and pediatric nephrology, among the first group physicians certified by the American Society of Hypertension as a specialist in clinical hypertension. His topic is “Obesity, Hypertension, and Type II Diabetes in Children,” and he will describe:

  • the difference in measuring blood pressure in children and adults
  • causes of obesity in children
  • the relationship between obesity in children to the development metabolic syndrome and Diabetes Mellitus Type II
  • the connection between obesity in children and cardiovascular disease in adults

On Tuesday, April 6, participants will hear:

Ada Baron RN, MSN, FNP, nurse practitioner who primarily serves Hispanic patients, also works in Cares HIV Clinic. She will address, “ Hispanics, Sex and HIV—Cultural Implications,” with reference to:

  • an overview of the adolescent role in the Hispanic family
  • Hispanic views regarding sex and its cultural implications
  • Risky behaviors common to the Hispanic culture
  • HIV/AIDS in the Hispanic community

Cherry Guinn, RN, MSN, EdD, coordinator of Family Nursing at the UTC School of Nursing, national speaker on maternal and child issues will give an “Overview of the Adolescent.” She will discuss:

  • growth and development of the adolescent
  • cognitive development of the adolescent
  • implications of the adolescent’s growth and development for the healthcare provider

Angie Robinson, LMSW, Youth Development Coordinator for Public Health in Rome, GA will present “Adolescents and Risky Behaviors—the Asset Approach.” She will describe:

  • current youth behaviors and their negative consequences
  • best practice methods and programs to work with adolescents
  • how to implement the Asset Approach and teen-friendly services

Kathy Miner, PhD, MPH, CHES, Associate Dean for Applied Public Health at Emory University, Principal Investigator for several public health related grants funded by the CDC will discuss “How Well is Our Community?” She will explain:

  • the importance of determining the well being of your community
  • the role of health, social, and economic indicators in assessing community well being
  • strategies to determine the well being of your community

This conference will provide approximately 18 contact hours for 1.8 CEUs. Register for one or more days of the conference through Dr. Cherry Guinn, (423)425-4659 or (423)425-4750.