College of Health and Human Services

Social Work News

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

Mother Jones: Dr. Denise Hines discusses intimate partner violence in relation to the Amber Heard vs. Johnny Depp trial

eander6 — Tue, 31 May 2022 14:22:43 +0000

Mother Jones: Dr. Denise Hines discusses intimate partner violence in relation to the Amber Heard vs. Johnny Depp trial eander6 Tue, 05/31/2022 - 10:22

In This Story

Denise Hines, PhD

And the Winner of the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard Trial Is…Men.

Topics

Domestic Violence

Intimate Partner Violence

Social Work Faculty

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

Coming Full-Circle: A Career Dedicated to Making Health Visible, Bookended by Two Pandemics

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 09 May 2022 20:18:57 +0000

Coming Full-Circle: A Career Dedicated to Making Health Visible, Bookended by Two Pandemics Mary Cunningham Mon, 05/09/2022 - 16:18

Dr. Germaine Louis gives a patient a COVID-19 vaccine at the Mason and Partners Clinic vaccination event with Prince William Health District on February 23, 2021.

As Dean Germaine Louis retires at the end of the 2021-22 school year, we reshare this story where she reflects on the similarities in the beginning and end of her career.

When Germaine Louis became Dean of the College of Health and Human Services, she never envisioned serving during a pandemic like COVID-19. “Certainly, when I accepted the position in 2017, a pandemic was not on my horizon—what was on my horizon was bringing together the College’s faculty, staff, and students to become a college of public health.”

When asked about leading the future college of public health during COVID-19, Louis is quick to point out that the COVID-19 is not the first pandemic in her lifetime or her 30+ year career as an epidemiologist, referencing the AIDS pandemic which peaked in the U.S. while Louis was completing her graduate studies. “Becoming an epidemiologist during the AIDS pandemic was impactful for me on so many levels, as this new infectious agent disproportionately took the lives of young men and women. I sadly recall the stereotyping and other shaming actions on the part of some towards affected individuals. As a reproductive epidemiologist, I understood why individuals with risky behaviors were often being blamed for their disease, and I recall with great pride the many scientific advances that led to successful treatment and a more compassionate understanding of AIDS."

“Of course, COVID-19 is very different from AIDS in many regards with a larger susceptible population and its airborne transmission,” says Louis. Still, COVID-19 is an important reminder why public health is essential for contemporary life. “COVID-19 has taught us that it’s almost impossible to imagine a world without a strong public health infrastructure to protect the health and safety of all people.”

Louis credits the College's faculty, staff, students, and alumni for their many contributions in fighting COVID-19 and protecting communities, saying “I’ve been incredibly impressed with everyone in the College each of whom has stepped up to make sure we deliver on our academic mission and one that includes practice and community service.”

Leading by example, the Dean has also been active in the University’s response to COVID-19 – from helping develop Mason’s randomized surveillance testing plans to administering vaccines for the community at the Mason and Partner Clinics. Louis can clearly see how her early career as a nurse and then as an epidemiologist led to this moment.

“I used to tell my nursing colleagues that being a nurse made me a better epidemiologist. What I’d learned in a hospital setting really helped me design better study protocols when focusing on clinical populations. I could think about what it meant to implement a research protocol in a hospital setting for busy nurses and physicians or patients under varying stages of duress. And I really do think that my experience as a nurse was formidable in the success that I experienced with clinical studies (e.g., Buffalo Women’s Health Study, ENDO Study, and NICHD Fetal Growth Study). What I didn’t expect at the time was that I would be using some nurse skills as an epidemiologist in responding to a pandemic,” says Louis.

She reports that prior to volunteering at the MAP Clinic vaccination events, after years of not administering an intramuscular (IM) injection, she was required to refresh her injection skills and have her competency checked. “All of a sudden, I was very anxious about vaccinating after years of not doing so as some technical guidance had changed. Mason’s student nurses were a great source of reassurance, and they shared tips with me. I have found that early training really never leaves you, and it kicked in when I needed it most. It does remind me of the importance of lifelong learning.

Louis shares a story about an opportunity to also bring her training in reproductive epidemiology to bear while vaccinating a group of early childhood workers. A young female worker asked if Louis had a few moments to talk with her after her vaccination. She wanted advice on when to safely begin trying for pregnancy following her vaccination. “And I thought, 'Now that is something I know about,’” said Louis.

Dr. Germaine Louis began her career in nursing before becoming an epidemiologist.

After 30 years as a reproductive epidemiologist and working with couples trying for pregnancy, she was reminded how desperate people are for reliable information about pregnancy-related exposures and lingering data gaps. “My advice to her was that healthy pregnancies and babies start with healthy women and mothers. And, first and foremost, unless there is a contraindication from her physician, the woman was doing the right thing to ensure her own health by being vaccinated. I could see the woman’s smile behind her mask and knew there was a good chance she would take that message back to sisters, friends, and coworkers who may have similar questions about the vaccine.”

“It is rewarding to think about taking nursing skills to epi and now epi skills back to nursing,” says Louis.

When asked for advice she would share with future generations of men and women about empowering women who wish to make history in science, health, and leadership - Louis’ response is simple and clear: mentorship.

“I know what made a difference it made in my life – and that was having a mentor (who happened to be a man) who believed in me. When I was worried about finishing my dissertation, he was already talking about my first faculty appointment—before I was even thinking about a position. When I was in my first faculty position and worried about tenure, he was already talking about my next career move. Having someone believe in you or to see something in you that you may not see in yourself is impactful - you need to pay attention to that.”

Louis believes that academicians have an obligation to seek out students who may have natural leadership abilities or who otherwise have a skillset or narrative that sets them apart and to talk with them ... encourage them for even more. “We should support everyone, but we will always need leaders,” she says. “We also need to do a better job of cultivating hunger in our graduates. By that, I mean helping students really think about and become excited about pursuing a career beyond having a job.

Louis closed the conversation by sharing a story about Ruth Kirschstein (former director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, deputy director of National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the 1990s, and acting director of the NIH in 1993 and 2000-2002) who during a presentation to female leaders at NIH once said that women sometimes need to ‘remind people to think of you.’ “Her advice has always resonated with me,” said Louis. “It’s ok to self-nominate or to apply for positions even if not invited to do so, as long as you have the qualifications.” Louis also says that women can help others by nominating them for awards and special recognitions. “Most nominations take time and effort to do well," cautions Louis, “But, if we don't create a culture of recognition for women and for future women leaders then we will never have the same recognition as others.”

Topics

coronavirus; covid-19

Epidemiology

Public health leadership

Public Health

Expert addresses common misconceptions about men who experience intimate partner violence.

CHHS News

Medical Xpress: Dr. Denise Hines comments on men as victims of domestic abuse

eander6 — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 17:33:04 +0000

Medical Xpress: Dr. Denise Hines comments on men as victims of domestic abuse eander6 Wed, 04/27/2022 - 13:33

In This Story

Denise Hines, PhD

Topics

Domestic Violence

Intimate Partner Violence

Social Work Faculty

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

Evelyn Tomaszewski Appointed to International Federation of Social Work United Nations Commission

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 14:28:27 +0000

Evelyn Tomaszewski Appointed to International Federation of Social Work United Nations Commission Mary Cunningham Mon, 04/11/2022 - 10:28

In This Story

Evelyn Tomaszewski, MSW, ACSW

Mason faculty member to provide perspectives on social justice and social work as representative for the International Federation of Social Work to the UN for North America.

Evelyn Tomaszewski, Master of Social Work program director and assistant professor, was appointed to a four-year term as a United Nations (UN) Commissioner for the International Federation of Social Work (IFSW). As one of five commissioners for North America, she will bring a social work perspective to the UN and the UN agencies and work towards joint action based on social work principles and highlight social solutions that can be achieved through applying the social work principles as a framework for achieving social justice, inclusive participatory democracy, sustainable peaceful societies, and social transformation for equality and rights. Tomaszewski has been asked to lead IFSW’s efforts related to the UN’s High-Level Meetings (HLM) and High-Level Political Forums (HLPF) as well.

“The appointment to represent IFSW as a United Nations Commissioner provides a unique opportunity to connect with and build partnerships and collaborations with social workers from across the globe,” said Tomaszewski. “My role as a commissioner will allow me to increase the visibility and importance of social work on an international scale and tie social work into the UN’s global public health work. As a faculty member, I am equally excited about the real-time learning opportunities for students interested in the social worker’s role and leadership in promoting global human rights.”

Tomaszewski has been involved with the IFSW as a representative to the UN for more than a decade. Through her previous positions, she attended the UN HLM on HIV/AIDS, HLM non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and HLPF sustainable development (SDGs). She has continued participation in HLMs while at Mason, and her impeccable work throughout the years led to her appointment as a commissioner.

The UN Commission is comprised of representatives from the five IFSW regions. IFSW is the global body for the social work profession.

Topics

Comparison of Intimate Partner Violence Injuries among Sexes.

CHHS Faculty

United Nations

Lab Manager: Dr. Denise Hines mentioned as a co-author on a study about intimate partner violence.

eander6 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 14:59:30 +0000

Lab Manager: Dr. Denise Hines mentioned as a co-author on a study about intimate partner violence. eander6 Fri, 01/07/2022 - 09:59

In This Story

Denise Hines, PhD

Topics

Intimate Partner Violence

Social Work Faculty

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

Mason’s Next Generation of Social Workers

John Brandon Cantrell — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 15:57:28 +0000

Mason’s Next Generation of Social Workers John Brandon C… Wed, 09/08/2021 - 11:57

Topics

Social Work Education

Student Spotlight

Daniel Freedman, PhD, MSW, LCSW

CHHS News

In This Story

Students in the BSW program reflect on their aspirations to become social workers.

From helping families affected by domestic violence and food insecurity to educating others on mental health and helpful resources, social workers increase access to support services, build stronger communities in the areas they serve, and play a fundamental role in public health. Students beginning the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program this academic year share why they aspire to join the profession and their excitement to join a supportive community of students and faculty.

On August 18, new BSW students attended an orientation led by Daniel Freedman, BSW program director. During the session, students learned about the course requirements and resources for Mason students and gained insight from seniors in the program, who shared advice and spoke about professional development opportunities.

Josselyn Ruano, a junior who changed her major from business management to social work, joined the program to work in a field that aligns with her passions. “[Social work has] always been something I am really passionate about,” Ruano says. “My older sister graduated from Mason, and she was a social work major, so seeing how she enjoyed her college experience as well as what she is doing [in the workforce] now has always interested me.”

Eager to learn new skills that will help her support others, Ruano views social work as an opportunity to become someone she has always wanted to be. “I want to be the person I didn’t have growing up,” Ruano says. “As a first-generation student, it’s like I’m breaking barriers, something my parents couldn’t do. Now I have an opportunity to give back to people who do need help.”

For junior Amy Burkhart, the ability to help people has been the driving force in deciding her major. While exploring her options, Burkhart became interested in social work after taking a personality test. “All of the results were either counselor or social worker, so I was like, ‘What does a social worker do?’ And that’s when I realized they were literally underground heroes,” Burkhard says. “It’s like we are supposed to see a problem in society and fix it.”

Both Burkhart and Ruano look forward to joining a community of students who share common interests. “You don’t hear about social workers a lot, so it’s kind of lonely when you realize you have a passion for something, but you don’t have any community in your normal, day-to-day life as a young adult,” Burkhart says.

“I definitely think within the program and by attending this [orientation], there is a strong sense of community, and everybody is in it to help each other,” Ruano says.

In a show of that community spirit, several accomplished BSW seniors—Abdelaziz Hasen, Nia Hutson, and Casey Nelson—spoke at the orientation to offer advice and share information on professional development opportunities for future social workers.

“I was encouraging them to get involved and take advantage of the resources that we have here,” says Nelson, who is the president of Social Workers at Mason (SWAM). “There are a lot of research opportunities and club opportunities, like SWAM. I also told them to put themselves out there, talking to [others] with similar passions, because it’s really nice to talk with like-minded people who want to see change in the world.”

Hutson and Hasen both spoke to the new students about the importance of having confidence in themselves as they begin the program and confronting any fears they have about learning new skills. “I think that if you understand your fear and confront it, you will find room to grow, find your strengths and weaknesses, and be more open-minded to things,” Hasen said at the session.

When asked about their experience in the program, the seniors felt prepared and motivated to join the social work field after graduating. “I am really thankful that I found a major and a career field that I am 110 percent into and I know that I’m going to enjoy,” Hutson says.

Social Work Student Mengqi Li Is a Fierce Advocate for the APIDA Community On-Campus and Beyond

mthomp7 — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 14:17:47 +0000

Social Work Student Mengqi Li Is a Fierce Advocate for the APIDA Community On-Campus and Beyond mthomp7 Thu, 08/26/2021 - 10:17

In This Story

Evelyn Tomaszewski, MSW, ACSW

Emily Ihara, PhD, MSW, FGSA

Li shares her passion for social justice and the opportunities the MSW program has offered her so far.

Mengqi Li is a Master of Social Work student with a passion for social justice and advocating for the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) community. She was recently accepted into the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Minority Fellowship Program, with a mission to reduce health disparities for racially and ethnically diverse populations through cultural competency training. Additionally, Li accepted a new position at Mason’s Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment (CCEE) as a graduate assistant within the Student Engagement for Racial Justice team.

Li started the MSW program as a major career transition a few years after graduating with an undergraduate degree in business. “I just knew it really wasn’t where my heart was,” she says about working in business. She decided to pursue social work due to her interest in clinical mental health and the field’s emphasis on social justice values.

“The program at Mason has the most diverse faculty, and as a BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, and person of color] student that was really important to me,” Li says about why the MSW program stood out to her.

She’s found many ways that the curriculum has intersected with her activism and advocacy. Last spring, she took SOCW 659 Organizing and Advocating for Change, a course on community organizing, during which Li and her classmates brainstormed ways to organize around issues on campus.

Li’s engagement as a student goes beyond the classroom too. She is the founding president of the Asian Graduate Student Association. So far, the organization has recruited nearly 100 APIDA graduate students. “I’m very excited for the potential of this RSO [registered student organization] to build community at Mason,” she says.

Faculty and staff have had a tremendous impact on Li’s life as a student, and MSW Program Director Evelyn Tomaszewski, MSW, ACSW, has been a great ally to her in and out of the classroom. Social Work Department Chair Emily Ihara helped connect Li to CCEE for her graduate assistant position and to other opportunities as well, including the CSWE Minority Fellowship Program.

“Having APIDA faculty and staff [in the department] has been very meaningful,” says Li. She notes that Julie Kim, the director of graduate student life, is an APIDA staff member who has also made a huge impact on her experience at Mason so far.

After she completes her master’s degree, Li plans to continue her advocacy work for the APIDA community, particularly within the field of mental health. She notes that a lack of diverse practitioners may be one reason why Asian Americans do not always seek mental health services, even when they need it. Li is currently in a training program to be a meditation teacher and hopes to integrate mindfulness training into her future clinical work.

When asked about what advice she has for future MSW students, Li says, “Let others know what you care about. I really believe that’s a huge part of what will open the door to opportunities.” She also adds that leaning into your interests and passions “will keep [them] burning and sustain you in whatever form of work that you do.”

Topics

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

What is child neglect? And how well do our response programs work?

WBFO 89.7 FM (local NPR affiliate in Buffalo, NY): Dr. JoAnn Lee is mentioned for being part of team studying child neglect.

eander6 — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 17:46:23 +0000

WBFO 89.7 FM (local NPR affiliate in Buffalo, NY): Dr. JoAnn Lee is mentioned for being part of team studying child neglect. eander6 Tue, 08/24/2021 - 13:46

Topics

Children and Youth

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

UBNow (Buffalo): Dr. JoAnn Lee part of research team to study child neglect.

eander6 — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 17:29:58 +0000

UBNow (Buffalo): Dr. JoAnn Lee part of research team to study child neglect. eander6 Tue, 08/24/2021 - 13:29

UB social work researcher receives major grant to study child neglect.

Topics

Children and Youth