CHHS Faculty

Allison Miner, EdD, MS, RDN

mthomp7 — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 21:03:36 +0000

Allison Miner, EdD, MS, RDN mthomp7 Mon, 01/22/2024 - 16:03

Assistant Professor, Nutrition and Food Studies

Contact Information

aminer4@gmu.edu
(703) 993-7322

Personal Websites

ORCID

CV

Download the CV here.

Biography

Dr. Allison Miner is a licensed dietitian and educator. Dr. Miner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at ��ӽ紫ý in Fairfax, Virginia. She also provides medical nutrition therapy at the Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration (TSA, Health Unit). At the TSA she moderates a virtual weekly weight loss support group which is available to its 68,000+ employees. Miner is a member of the International WELL Building Institute, Nourishment Advisory Board which provides a roadmap for creating and certifying spaces that advance human health and well-being. Miner blogs on a variety of health and food topics on her website http://thesmarteater.com. She holds a bachelor’s degree in dietetics and master’s degree in international nutrition from the University of Maryland as well as a doctorate in education from Morgan State University. Her specialty is obesity and cardiovascular diseases, and her interests include urban gardening, using social media for weight loss advice, exercise, and her new grandson. She is very active in her community of Alexandria, Virginia where she serves on the Alexandria Public Health Commission. Miner is presently writing a book on weight loss strategies relevant to African American women.

Research Interests

Obesity in the African American female population,
Cardiovascular health, and
Food systems and the urban environment.

Select Publications

Miner, A., & Jackson, R. (1995). Assessment of Coronary Heart Disease Risk in a Central and South American Sample Living in Washington, D.C. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 95(9). doi:10.1016/s0002-8223(95)00666-4
Gill, R., Jackson, R. T., Duane, M., Miner, A., & Khan, S. A. (2017, August 5). Comparison of Metabolic Syndrome Indicators in Two Samples of Central and South Americans Living in the Washington, D.C. Area in 1993-1994 and 2008-2009: Secular Changes in Metabolic Syndrome in Hispanics. Retrieved April 14, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28783050

Memberships and Affiliations

Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN), State of Maryland (DX2910), State of Florida (ND7719 - inactive), District of Columbia (DI925) (2008 – Present)
Member, Alexandria, Virginia Public Health Advisory Committee (2018 – Present)
Member, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2016 - Present)
Member, International WELL Building Institute, Nourishment Advisory Board (2021 - Present)

Degrees

Doctor of Education, Community College Leadership, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland (May, 2014)
Master of Science, International Nutrition, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland (May, 1995)
Bachelor of Science, Dietetics, University of Maryland (May, 1992)

Iulia Fratila, PhD

mthomp7 — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 20:19:49 +0000

Iulia Fratila, PhD mthomp7 Tue, 09/05/2023 - 16:19

Assistant Professor, Global and Community Health

Contact Information

Email: ifratila@gmu.edu

CV

Download CV

Personal Websites

ORCID

Research Gate

Google Scholar

Biography

Dr. Iulia Fratila is an assistant professor in the Department of Global and Community Health. Fratila’s research interests have practical and scholarly contributions related to health promotion, health education (e.g., drug education, sexual health education) and leisure and health studies. She is a knowledgeable scholar on the role of leisure and recreation in health and well-being with a life course approach.

Fratila is a passionate educator that seeks to prepare students for their professional careers in public and community health. Specifically, Dr. Fratila emphasizes evidence-based decision making and developing student research skills. Additionally, Fratila prioritizes creating and teaching inclusivity in the classroom. Her teaching repertoire includes classes such as social determinants of health, public health, ethics in health sciences, and research methods.

Before coming to Mason, Fratila was a faculty member in the Department of Health Sciences at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA.

Publications

Berdychevsky, L. & Fratila, I. (2023). Young adults’ acceptance of later-life sexuality is predicted by their general sexual attitudes and viewing sex as leisure. Leisure Sciences, DOI: 10.1080/01490400.2023.2273382
Fratila, I., & Berdychevsky, L. (2021). Aiming ‘high’ in college: The meanings of recreational drug consumption in/as leisure and existential authenticity. Leisure Sciences, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2021.1957728
Clary, L. K., Habbal, M., Smith, C. D. & Fratila, I. (2021). The green sheep: Exploring the perceived risks and benefits of cannabis among young veterans. Cannabis, 4(2), 31- 46. https://doi.org/10.26828/cannabis/2021.02.003
Fratila, I., & Berdychevsky, L. (2020). Understanding drugs as leisure through the (de)differentiation lens and the dialectic of Logos- and Eros-modernity. Leisure Studies, 40(4), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2020.1843694

Professional Affiliations/Memberships

Book Review editor – International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure
Associate editor – Leisure Sciences Journal

Degrees

PhD, Recreation, Sport, and Tourism, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
MBA, Business (Concentration in Sport and Entertainment Management), University of South Florida
BS, Recreation Management, Western Michigan University

Kenneth Frese

eander6 — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 02:10:29 +0000

Kenneth Frese eander6 Wed, 05/31/2023 - 22:10

Director of Clinical Operations Nursing

Contact Information

Phone: 703-993-5613

Biography

Dr. Kenneth Frese is Director of Clinical Operations in the School of Nursing. Frese’s research and quality improvement interests are in patient safety, expanding healthcare access, new nurse preparedness and professional identity. Before coming to Mason, Frese was a clinical nurse for 31 years, spanning roles from Practical Nurse to Clinical Nurse Specialist. His experience includes 27 years with Inova primarily in Critical Care, and he has led and collaborated on multiple successful facility and system-wide QI projects.

Awards

Iams Quality Award, Inova, 2020
Iams Quality Merit Citation, Inova, 2018
Iams Quality Award, Inova, 2017
Iams Quality Award, Inova, 2016
Nursing Excellence Award, Inova, 2015
Iams Quality Award, Inova, 2014

Professional Affiliations/Memberships

Member, American Nurses Association (ANA), https://www.nursingworld.org/
Member, American Association or Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), https://www.aacn.org/
Member, Virginia Nurses Association (VNA), https://virginianurses.com/

Degrees

Doctorate of Nursing Practice – Education & Administration, ��ӽ紫ý, 2023
Masters of Science in Nursing – Advanced Clinical Practice, ��ӽ紫ý, 2012
Associates of Science in Nursing, Northern Virginia Community College, 2007
Associates of Science in Psychology, Northern Virginia Community College, 2007

Cuellar appointed to National Academies committee on improving health and well-being for children and youth

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 16:36:44 +0000

Cuellar appointed to National Academies committee on improving health and well-being for children and youth Mary Cunningham Mon, 02/20/2023 - 11:36

In This Story

Alison Evans Cuellar, PhD, MBA

Alison Evans Cuellar, professor in the Department of Health Administration and Policy, was appointed to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's committee on Improving the Health and Wellbeing of Children and Youth through Health Care System Transformation.

“As a national leader in health care systems and research, Dr. Cuellar adds an important voice to this discussion around improving the health and well-being of children,” said PJ Maddox, chair of the Department of Health Administration and Policy.

The committee is tasked to conduct a consensus study to examine promising mechanisms and levers for innovations that can be implemented in the health care system to improve the health and well-being of children and youth.

“Improving health for children and youth is a priority for the country and an important investment in our future, and I’m delighted to be nominated to this committee. The committee is tasked with creating recommendations that reflect the complex nature of children’s health care. Children can receive care in many places–at a pediatrician’s office, in school, at home, and possibly in specialty health care settings, hospitals, or even foster care.”

Currently, Cuellar serves as the Chair Community Preventive Services Task Force. Previously, Cuellar served on a National Academies committee on Community-Based Solutions to Promote Health Equity in the United States.

Sponsors for the Improving the Health and Wellbeing of Children and Youth through Health Care System Transformation committee include the Academic Pediatric Association, American Board of Pediatrics, Robert Wood Foundation, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Children’s Hospital Association, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, American Academy of Pediatrics, Health Resources and Services, and The David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

Topics

HAP Faculty

CHHS Faculty

CPH faculty appointments

Campus News

New bivalent vaccine is a consequential next step to preemptively address colder month COVID peaks

Taylor Thomas — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 13:10:35 +0000

New bivalent vaccine is a consequential next step to preemptively address colder month COVID peaks Taylor Thomas Fri, 11/04/2022 - 09:10

In This Story

Amira Roess, PhD, MPH

Professor of public health Dr. Amira Roess shares why it is imperative we all get the latest COVID vaccine

The decreasing temperatures usher in our third fall and winter with the addition of COVID to cold and flu season. Despite feelings of normalcy returning, health professionals are still wary and continue to stress the crucial nature of preventative measures to protect against the illnesses that rise during this time of year. In addition, the country has seen a spike in RSV cases and the region is reporting a strain on the local pediatric hospitals, with several reporting they are nearing capacity.

Amira Roess, epidemiologist and professor in the Department of Global and Community Health, recently shared all the need to knows regarding the bivalent vaccine. Currently, only about seven percent of individuals ages five years and older are vaccinated with the updated booster, and she was quoted in Teen Vogue and AFAR Magazine to provide her expertise and comment about the importance of COVID-19 vaccination.

As Dr. Roess remains a foremost expert on infectious diseases, she provides further detail about the importance of remaining updated on vaccinations and is available for further comment.

How is the bivalent booster different from other COVID vaccines?

The new bivalent booster is expected to be even better at reducing the chance of infection and, if you do get infected, reducing the duration and severity of COVID-19. Bivalent refers to the booster having an mRNA component from the original strain of COVID in addition to the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5. These are two of the variants currently circulating as well as one of the older variants. The new booster is anticipated to provide greater protection against variants that are closely related to those that the booster is formulated from and protect against future strains.

Why should those who are eligible get the new booster?

COVID-19 vaccines have consistently shown that they reduce the chance of severe infection and death. We now have a vaccine that is tailored to target the newer variants. Stay up to date on your vaccines. Vaccinated individuals have a much lower chance of severe illness. Once you are eligible to get the new booster then get it. Getting the booster will give your body a chance to develop antibodies and increase your protection against infection and severe disease.

The FDA has also recently approved the booster vaccine for people five years and older. Those who are eligible are recommended to receive one bivalent mRNA booster dose after completion of any FDA-approved or FDA-authorized monovalent primary series or previously received monovalent booster dose(s).

For this year, our models cannot adequately predict when the peaks of COVID will be or how bad they will be, but the last two and a half years have shown us that we should expect peaks.

If we wish to avoid severe rises in cases, it is imperative for more people to receive the newest dose.

Should we still mask even if we are vaccinated with the booster?

It is a good idea to wear a mask when you are in crowded indoor settings with people you don't know, especially if you are vulnerable to severe infection. During periods of high transmission in your community consider wearing a mask when you're in crowded areas. And if you are symptomatic wear a mask and limit your interaction with others while you are infected, especially members of your community who are immune compromised or elderly. Wear the best quality mask that you have access to. The more effective masks are the N-95 or K-95 (or equivalents).

Is COVID still considered worse than the flu?

Overall, more than four times as many individuals are infected with the COVID-19 virus than with the flu virus. Flu did not disrupt life, businesses, health care, school, and other aspects of life the way COVID-19 does. The sheer number of individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and have to isolate is many times more than that due to flu. I think these are reasons why it's hard to say that the pandemic is over. It's still infecting and killing more people than other infectious diseases in this country.

The disparities in health care access are also still very troubling and will continue to lead to higher rates of severe illness and death among minoritized and low-income populations. Effective treatments will continue to be out of reach for poor individuals and those who are ignored by the medical system furthering the difference in severe illness and mortality rates.

Is the pandemic over?

For segments of our population the pandemic is over. For healthy young adults and healthy children, the pandemic has been over for quite some time. They have the lowest COVID-19 disease severity and death rates compared to other groups.

For others, the pandemic is still disrupting day-to-day life. Older individuals and people with underlying conditions remain the most vulnerable to COVID-19 and to them the pandemic will never be over. For those who live with vulnerable individuals the pandemic is still very real. We are continuing to see about 400 COVID-19 deaths per day. We are continuing to have at least 50,000 cases a day, and we know we are severely undercounting cases.

The end of the pandemic would mean that we would evenly distribute therapeutics and high-quality health care to infected individuals no matter what their race or ethnicity or income level. The end of the pandemic would mean that we would have a functioning public health infrastructure that has resources uniformly distributed across the country, across the world, regardless of the income status of the population it serves. That had never been our past. It's certainly not our present, but I do hope it becomes our future.

Dr. Amira Roess specializes in infectious diseases, especially reducing the transmission of diseases that spread between animals and humans, including coronaviruses like MERS-CoV and SAR-CoV-2, the latter of which causes COVID-19. She has expertise in emerging zoonotic infectious diseases and interventions to reduce the transmission and impact of infectious diseases.

She is a professor of Global Health and Epidemiology at ��ӽ紫ý's College of Public Health Department of Global and Community Health. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Roess served as the Science Director for the Pew Commission on Industrial Food Animal Production at Johns Hopkins and was an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer at the CDC. She has served as a consultant for the United States Agency for International Development, the World Bank, and Westat Inc.

For more information, contact Michelle Thompson at 703-993-3485 or mthomp7@gmu.edu.

About Mason

��ӽ紫ý, Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at http://www.gmu.edu.

About College of Public Health at ��ӽ紫ý

The College of Public Health at ��ӽ紫ý is the first and only College of Public Health in Virginia combining public health transdisciplinary research, education, and practice in the Commonwealth as a national exemplar. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in our nationally recognized programs, including six undergraduate degrees, eight master’s degrees, five doctoral degrees, and six professional certificate programs. The College is comprised of the School of Nursing and the Departments of Global and Community Health, Health Administration and Policy, Nutrition and Food Studies, and Social Work.

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Mason researchers develop first social media intervention for Chinese American dementia caregivers

Mary Cunningham — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 14:06:40 +0000

Mason researchers develop first social media intervention for Chinese American dementia caregivers Mary Cunningham Wed, 11/02/2022 - 10:06

In This Story

Y. Alicia Hong, PhD

Led by Alicia Hong, professor of Health Administration and Policy, the interdisciplinary team developed a culturally-tailored WeChat wellness program to improve caregiver skills and reduce their stress.

More than 6 million Americans aged 65 years and older are living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias (ADRD). More than 11 million family caregivers of ADRD provide an estimated 15.3 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $255.7 billion a year. Family caregivers of ADRD experience high rates of psychosocial distress and negative health outcomes. Minority and immigrant family caregivers face additional barriers; however, few culturally tailored mobile health (mHealth) were designed for these populations.

To address this public health need, ��ӽ紫ý researcher Alicia Hong, professor of Health Administration and Policy, led a multidisciplinary research team to develop Wellness Enhancement for Caregivers (WECARE) program to improve caregiving skills, reduce distress, and improve psychosocial well-being of underserved Chinese American family caregivers of ADRD. The protocol development of WECARE was recently published on JMIR Aging. To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first culturally tailored social media-based interventions for Chinese American dementia caregivers.

According to Hong, several cultural factors can influence caregivers’ experience. Chinese American family caregivers tend to keep problems within the family and do not seek external help because of the stigma associated with dementia and their cultural value of “saving the face.” The isolation is exacerbated by their minority and immigrant status, and those without English proficiency are further marginalized. Caregivers have limited knowledge and use of formal care and support services; they are also disconnected from “mainstream” dementia support groups due to language and cultural barriers.

“We developed this wellness program for Chinese American caregivers with the specific barriers they face in mind. We wanted them to see themselves in the program and get the most out of it to help them and the family member they care for. We hope more mHealth interventions can be developed for immigrant and minority caregivers,” said Hong.

WECARE is a seven-week mHealth program delivered via WeChat, a social media app popular among Chinese Americans. By subscribing to the WECARE official account, users can receive multiple interactive multimedia articles pushed to their WeChat accounts each week. Users also have the option of joining group chats for peer support.

Other team members of WECARE include Kang Shen, a recent Mason graduate from the Health Informatics master’s program; Kate Lu and Hsiaoyin Chen from Chinese Culture and Community Center, Inc; Yang Gong of University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Biomedical Informatics; Van Ta Park of University of California San Francisco School of Nursing; and Hae-Ra Han of Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.

The team is currently testing the feasibility and effectiveness of WECARE. The study was funded by Virginia Center for Aging Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases Research Award Fund. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of ��ӽ紫ý.

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Anand discusses research on paid leave with U.S. policymakers

Mary Cunningham — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 01:12:02 +0000

Anand discusses research on paid leave with U.S. policymakers Mary Cunningham Thu, 10/13/2022 - 21:12

In This Story

Priyanka Anand, PhD

Priyanka Anand, associate professor of Health Administration and Policy, shared her research with staffers from the Joint Economic Committee and the National Partnership for Women and Families.

Priyanka Anand, associate professor of Health Administration and Policy

Priyanka Anand, associate professor of Health Administration and Policy, has conducted research on the impact of paid family leave mandates on labor supply and caregiving decisions following a spousal disability or health shock. Recently, she discussed her research with staffers on the U.S. Joint Economic Committee, the National Partnership for Women and Families, and a legislative aid from Senator Jamie Raskin’s office.

Anand’s trip to the Hill allowed for important dialogue about paid leave, which remains a hot topic after being excluded from the recent Inflation Reduction Act. The United States does not have a universal paid family leave policy. Her research was featured in the 2022 Economic Report of the President.

With staffers on the Joint Economic Committee, Anand provided a brief overview of her research and answered their questions related to how covid has changed the perspective on paid leave, gender differences in the impact of paid leave, and some of the long-term benefits of receiving federal disability benefits. Anand says they were interested in learning about findings regarding the benefits of expanding access to paid leave and providing federal disability benefits. The Joint Economic Committee uses data to shape the economic narrative via hearings and reports.

“I was happy to see that the staffers were still interested in talking about paid leave, but I think everyone (myself included) was still disappointed about how it got left out of the Inflation Reduction Act and uncertain about when will be the next chance to pass any kind of universal paid leave policy,” said Anand. “Our findings have important policy implications for current efforts to expand access to paid leave to those who are most in need. I am still hopeful that change can happen.”

Anand also met with a representative from the National Partnership for Women and Families to discuss a variety of issues related to paid leave, including why the adoption of paid family leave is so low, even in states with a paid leave policy, and whether there was a way to incentivize employers to encourage their employees to use paid leave when they are eligible. They discussed the abundance of research on parental leave, but the lack of research on paid sick leave and paid caregiving leave, which is part of Anand’s research focus. The National Partnership for Women and Families aims to improve the lives of women and families by achieving equality for all women.

“Learning what questions policymakers are asking about paid leave and disability policy was really helpful for me to use when shaping the direction of my future research. It was also helpful to learn about how to make my research most accessible to them since it can lead to policy changes,” said Anand.

The meetings were set up for Anand as part of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth’s Grantee Conference that showcases cutting-edge research on how economic inequality affects economic growth and stability. Equitable Growth is funding Anand’s current research that uses machine learning methods to predict who has access to paid leave through their employer. Their preliminary results show that workers who most need paid leave because of a household shock are less likely to have access to it.

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Gaming vignettes support teaching gender-affirming care

Mary Cunningham — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 14:31:27 +0000

Gaming vignettes support teaching gender-affirming care Mary Cunningham Wed, 10/05/2022 - 10:31

In This Story

Bethany Cieslowski, DNP

A teaching intervention by Andrea Landis and Bethany Cieslowski in the School of Nursing suggests that experiential learning opportunities are fundamental to learning about gender-affirming care.

Sample of gaming vignette. Image courtesy of Kognito.

LGBTQ2+ people face notable health disparities and nurses can help improve care and access by providing inclusive, non-judgmental, gender-affirming care. Nursing, medicine, and public health programs, including ��ӽ紫ý, are adopting gender-affirming care as part of the curriculum. As defined by the World Health Organization, gender-affirming health care attends to transgender individuals' hormonal, surgical, medical, mental, and social health needs while respectfully affirming their gender identity.

A new teaching intervention from Assistant Professor Andrea Landis and VR Simulation Coordinator Bethany Cieslowski in the College of Health and Human Services suggests that experiential learning opportunities are fundamental to learning key concepts of gender-affirming care. Additionally, repeated practice in a safe environment helped students better understand proficient gender-affirming care. Landis and Cieslowski used gaming vignettes to teach nursing students about gender-affirming care.

"The call for action to improve care for LGBTQ2+ people requires nurse educators to introduce curriculum that integrates the barriers to care with the effects of bias and discrimination in the patient/clinician relationship,” said Landis. “Using gaming vignettes and simulations can be a great way to introduce students to gender-affirming care and help them approach scenarios from the point of the patient."

The results found that including gender-affirming care in the curriculum increases inclusive practices and the visibility of LGBTQ2+ people; this affirms previous studies’ findings. In a post-teaching intervention survey, students stated that visuals from gaming vignettes were helpful in understanding the concept of gender-affirming care and providing it. Students left the lesson better understanding the importance of pronoun and name use and respecting the patient.

The short simulation vignettes covered using chosen name and pronouns during care, the effects of bias and discrimination in the patient/clinician relationship, and the role of electronic health records in gender-affirming care.

“The simulations demonstrated how these practices contribute to a trust relationship if established at the start of patient care visits,” said Cieslowski. “The scenarios highlighted barriers to care for LGBTQ2+ patients and exemplified action steps a health care professional could take to partner with the patient.”

An Innovative Teaching Modality to Promote Proficient Gender-Affirming Care was published in August 2022 in Clinical Simulation in Nursing.

Gaming image courtesy of Kognito.

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Awareness of the many forms of intimate partner violence enables action

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 20:26:01 +0000

Awareness of the many forms of intimate partner violence enables action Mary Cunningham Mon, 09/26/2022 - 16:26

In This Story

Karen Trister Grace

Assistant Professor Karen Trister Grace shares eight forms intimate partner violence, sometimes called domestic violence, can take. Some are commonly known and others are less visible.

Nearly 1 in 4 women and nearly 1 in 10 men have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetimes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). IPV, sometimes called domestic violence, involves romantic partners who may or may not live together, and this violence can take a variety of forms.

Karen Trister Grace, assistant professor in ��ӽ紫ý’s School of Nursing and a Certified Nurse-Midwife

Karen Trister Grace, assistant professor in ��ӽ紫ý’s School of Nursing and a Certified Nurse-Midwife, is an expert on reproductive coercion, a lesser-known form of domestic violence. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Grace wants to increase awareness of different types of IPV.

“There are forms of IPV that may not be perceived as abusive or coercive at first glance. The first step in getting help is identifying behavior as abusive,” said Grace.

The CDC identifies four types of IPV—physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, and psychological aggression. Physical violence is the most commonly known type of IPV; however, there are lesser known and less visible types of IPV, and IPV can happen in person as well as online.

Types of Intimate Partner Violence

Physical violence – Hurting or trying to hurt a partner with physical force, such as hitting, punching, beating, choking, or kicking.
Sexual violence – Forcing a partner or attempting to force a partner to participate in any sexual act, including non-physical acts such as sexting, without consent.
Stalking – Repeated, unwanted attention and/or contact by a partner that causes concern for one’s safety. This may be via phone, text, mail, or in person.
Psychological (mental/emotional) violence – Verbal or non-verbal communication with the intent to harm another mentally or emotionally to exert control over the other person. This may include intimidation, threats, harassment, gaslighting, criticism, monitoring activities, or preventing a partner from doing things they enjoy or seeing friends or family.
Reproductive coercion – Pressure to become pregnant, sabotaging or blocking access to birth control methods, or controlling the outcome of a pregnancy.
Economic/financial abuse – Controlling a partner’s access to or use of money or economic resources, such as tracking their spending, preventing them from becoming financially independent, disrupting employment or education, and stealing or disposal of assets.
Isolation – Restricting a partner’s movements/activities or whom they socialize with and their ability to access resources.
Technology abuse – Using technology to harass, monitor, or control a partner, such as by text message or on social media, non-consensual image-sharing, or recording a person without their knowledge or consent.

These are not the only forms of IPV. If you are experiencing domestic violence, you are not alone and help is available. Visit thehotline.org or call the National Domestic Violence Support Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text “Start” to 88788 to speak to a trained advocate. Reaching out is the first step to improving your situation.

Dr. Karen Trister Grace is an assistant professor at ��ӽ紫ý in the School of Nursing. Her research interests are in reproductive coercion, pregnancy intention, and health disparities. She is lead editor of the forthcoming third edition of the “Prenatal & Postnatal Care: A Person-Centered Approach” textbook and has published numerous papers on reproductive coercion and intimate partner violence. She has been a practicing midwife for 22 years and has taught in nursing and midwifery education for 15 years.

For media inquiries about Mason’s faculty experts in intimate partner violence, contact Michelle Thompson at 703-993-3485 or mthomp7@gmu.edu.

About Mason

About the College of Health and Human Services

The College of Health and Human Services prepares students to become leaders and to shape the public's health through academic excellence, research of consequence, community outreach, and interprofessional clinical practice. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in its nationally-recognized offerings, including 6 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 6 certificate programs. The college is transitioning to a college of public health in the near future. For more information, visit https://chhs.gmu.edu/.

Topics

Intimate Partner Violence

The truth about breast cancer myths

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 15:52:48 +0000

The truth about breast cancer myths Mary Cunningham Mon, 09/26/2022 - 11:52

In This Story

Michelle S. Williams, PhD, MSPH

Michelle S. Williams, assistant professor in the Department of Global and Community Health, shares important facts about breast cancer that are often misconstrued or misunderstood.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in the United States. Each year in the United States, approximately 264,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and about 42,000 women die each year from breast cancer. Men can also develop breast cancer, although it is not as common.

Michelle S. Williams, assistant professor in the Department of Global and Community Health,

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October), Michelle S. Williams, assistant professor in the Department of Global and Community Health, shares important facts about breast cancer that are often misconstrued or misunderstood. Williams’ research focuses on developing culturally appropriate health behavior interventions for cancer prevention and control that will lead to a reduction in cancer disparities. She is available for further comment on breast cancer prevention and early detection.

“Based on my research, many women are misinformed about breast cancer risk factors. Many women also have fears and misconceptions about mammograms,” says Williams. “Understanding your individual risks for breast cancer, obtaining age- and risk-appropriate breast cancer screenings regularly, and maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviors can lead to reductions in breast cancer mortality.”

Myth: A mammogram can cause or spread breast cancer.
Truth: Mammograms do not cause or spread breast cancer. Annual mammograms are a powerful tool to detect breast cancer early. Women with an average risk for breast cancer should get a mammogram annually starting at age 40. A health care provider may recommend them earlier if other factors make a woman’s risk for breast cancer higher than average. All women should exam their breasts monthly and report any breast changes their health care provider.

Myth: You can only get breast cancer if you have a family history of breast cancer.
Truth: Any women can develop breast cancer, regardless of family history. In fact, only about 10% of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history. An individual’s risk for breast cancer may be higher if they have a first-degree family member (female or male) who developed breast or ovarian cancer. Knowing your family history of breast cancer is important. Women with a family history of breast cancer may seek genetic counseling to assess their risk.

Myth: Breast cancer only affects women; Men don’t get breast cancer.
Truth: Men can also get breast cancer. In the U.S., approximately 2,400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and about 500 men die from breast cancer each year.

Myth: Breast cancer only affects post-menopausal women.
Truth: Breast cancer can affect women of any age. It is important to note that, the risk of breast cancer increases as a woman gets older.

Myth: If I have breast cancer, I will be able to feel a lump in my breast.
Truth: A lump in the breast is just one of the many signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Breast cancer signs and symptom can vary for each individual. Swelling of the breast, irritation of the breast skin, redness of breast or nipple, nipple discharge, change in size or shape, or pain in the breast are additional breast cancer signs and symptoms. Women should see a health care provider they feel or see any change in their breasts.

Myth: There’s nothing I can do to prevent breast cancer.
Truth: There are ways you can decrease your risk for breast cancer. Making healthy lifestyle choices including not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, and exercising regularly can help to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.

Dr. Michelle S. Williams is an assistant professor in the Department of Global and Community Health at ��ӽ紫ý. Williams’ research is focused on developing culturally appropriate health behavior interventions for cancer prevention and control that will lead to a reduction in cancer disparities. Her research interests include cancer prevention behaviors, Community-Based Participatory Research, qualitative research, and the design and conduct of mixed method studies. Currently, she is conducting studies aimed at developing and evaluating mhealth (mobile health) to reduce cancer disparities in the Deep South region of the United States and in low- and middle-income countries.

For media inquiries about Mason’s faculty experts in cancer research and prevention, contact Michelle Thompson at 703-993-3485 or mthomp7@gmu.edu.

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Thumbnail photo by Olya Kobruseva via pexels.

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