The cumulative death toll from AIDS has reached over 25 million people, and more than 33 million persons are currently living with HIV-1. Although it is one of the most-widely studied viruses, many mysteries remain about this pathogen. Global MPH student Erin Murphy (Epidemiology) is helping to shed light on those mysteries, most recently by authoring a chapter in the just published book "HIV-1: Molecular Biology and Pathogenesis to Women's Health", edited by August, Murad and Jeang and published by Academic Press. Ms. Murphy's chapter, "Current Clinical Treatments of AIDS", is meant to help clinicians understand the underlying data that inform current HIV treatment guidelines. In the textbook, leading investigators in HIV research present a timely picture of the molecular mechanisms which guide HIV-1 expression and replication and provide the most current clinical strategies for combating the virus.

Current GMPH students along with recent graduates will present their work at the 136th American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition, taking place October 25-28 in San Diego, CA.

A team of recent graduates including Besa Bauta, Ricardo Restrepo-Guzman, and Dagmar Kostkova will present on their project Needs Assessment of Elderly Colombian Population in Jackson Heights (Queens), New York . Their study assessed the needs of the elderly Colombian population in Jackson Heights, Queens and focused on the perceptions of community and availability of services in Jackson Heights, a neighborhood which contains the largest Colombian population in New York City. Findings identified in their study provide useful information for further development of research, program planning and advocacy to close the gaps observed in the Latino population, especially Colombian elderly living in urban settings.

A group of current students, including Joan Combellick, Lalitha V. Ramanathapuram, Moneesha Kamani, Nok Chhun, and Vanesa Rios will present their research on Maternal Mortality in Honduras and Peru: Meeting the Millennium Development goal target of 2015 The project recognizes that as maternal mortality throughout the developing world remains stubbornly resistant to improvement, the remarkable, short-term advance in Honduras holds out hope for the possibility of significant progress before the Millennium Development Goal target of 2015. At the end of their comparative analysis, the group sees political prioritization of funding towards infrastructure, accurate census data, sustained commitment to accessible primary health care, and accountability in health systems development to be chief role players.

Current MD/MPH dual degree student Laura Rueff will also be on hand at the APHA meeting and expo to present on A Comparison of Tobacco Control Policy in Two Newly Independent States: Lessons Latvia Can Learn from Poland, a group final paper she worked on with fellow GMPH students Marty Putenis and Huub Gelderblom . The paper was produced as part of Dr. Victor Rodwin's course Global Health Policy and Management.

More info on the 2008 APHA Annual Meeting and Expo can be found at http://www.apha.org/meetings/.