State of Flint Kids 2021 Report

The second annual State of Flint Kids report, along with a special video and updated website, was released this week by the MSU-Hurley Pediatric Public Health Initiative and the Greater Flint Health Coalition. The report highlights data trends over time and opportunities for improvement. The State of Flint Kids website at stateofflintkids.com has been updated to include in-depth dashboards and new assessment measures.

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha's daughters get COVID-19 Vaccine

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, doctors, and state and national public health leaders today urged Michigan parents to get their 12- to 15-year-old children vaccinated with Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, authorized for emergency use in this age group on Monday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended yesterday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha holds up lead pipe

Flint pediatrician Mona Hanna-Attisha today testified on safe water infrastructure before the U.S. Congressional Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade.

Dr. Mona, a pediatrician and public health expert, identified safe drinking water infrastructure as a public health crisis and pressed lawmakers to support President Biden’s proposal in the American Job’s Plan to replace 100% of the nation's lead pipes.

Cristina Szelingowski

Cristina Szelingowski is entering her final year in Michigan State University’s Master of Public Health (MPH) Program in the College of Human Medicine. Cristina is currently a Value Evidence Dissemination Operations Manager at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. in New Jersey. She holds an MS in Healthcare Management from The College of Saint Elizabeth and a BS in Business Administration from the Catholic University of America. Professionally, Cristina is interested in increasing patient diversity and creating access to oncology clinical trials.

Woman to Woman Community Dialogue

The Woman to Woman Community Dialogue features Flint area women who devote their lives to service, purposeful work, activism for the betterment of people and gives hope to individuals and families living throughout the City of Flint. This event will provide information on community resources, give motivation, tangible tools, and strengthen women near and far. Join the Flint Registry and the Michigan State University-Hurley Children's Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative on April 20th and April 29th. 

Flint Kids Cook in class with chef

After Flint residents were exposed to lead in their drinking water, a Michigan State University College of Human Medicine professor helped launch a series of cooking classes for kids, hoping it would teach them the importance of proper nutrition.

It did that and more.

As the kids gained confidence in the kitchen, they began trying foods they previously would have shunned, a recent study found.

Noel Pingatore

Armed with her MSU master’s degree in public health and more than 25 years of experience, Noel Pingatore, Spartan in Public Health, joined the fight against COVID-19 to decrease transmission and improve patient outcomes for tribal communities in Michigan. Tribal communities were experiencing higher rates of underlying risk factors for COVID-19 and disproportionate health outcomes.

National Public Health Week

Making communities safe and healthy is public health’s top priority. During National Public Health Week, April 5 - 11, we honor faculty, alumni, students, staff, community partners, and professionals that are building bridges to better health. Thanks for all you do to keep our communities safe. We asked several of our faculty to explain 'what is public health' and have put together highlights of some of the work being accomplished by Spartans working in public health. 

Dr. Gurbaksh Esch

We are excited to welcome pediatrician Dr. Gurbaksh Esch back to Flint as the inaugural Pediatric Public Health Initiative Alice Hamilton Scholar. Esch will participate in a two-year post-residency position for pediatricians that includes public health training, mentored research, and clinical care with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha and the Michigan State University-Hurley Children's Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative.

Chrissiey Jackson

A team of medical students, pediatric residents, and Flint Southwestern High School staff have been working together to deliver over 12,000-period supplies to Flint’s Southwestern High School. Under the direction of Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine, this is a project of the MSU-Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative.

To share information about COVID-19 with Flint and Genesee County residents, the Healthy Flint Research Coordinating Center will be hosting the 50th episode of the Flint Community Weekly COVID Webinar on Friday, February 26, 2021, from 12 pm – 1 pm.

Hope Starts Here

Flint community and families are invited to the Hope Starts Here virtual resource summit on Thursday, February 25, 2021, from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Learn about resources and services available to help meet the needs of families striving to make ends meet.

The MSU-Hurley Children's Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative (PPHI), a Flint community local partner, is hosting the event.