How Effective Are Poultry Corporations At Reducing Salmonella In Their Products?

Source: Beatrice News Channel

Amid the growing concern of the Romaine Lettuce contaminated with E.Coli over the Thanksgiving weekend, there has been a heightened discussion surrounding bacteria -- Salmonella in general.  For up to date information on the Romaine Lettuce contamination, please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web page for the outbreak.  This discussion is not new.  In fact, behind the scenes, the Food Safety Inspection Service conducted inspections (audits) and found surprising results (not good) through the last year from October 2017 thru til October 2018.  Below are the results and grades for the corporations at controlling Salmonella contamination in their products.

Corporations are self-regulated?

As I wrote in a previous blog post, the Food Safety Inspection Service does not inspect each outgoing package of poultry/meat which is sold in the United States.  Instead, corporations are subject to stringent documentation processes along with frequent visits to sites by regulators to audit safety of work flow and poultry/meat processing.  Which leaves the responsibility to the consumer to ultimately handle the poultry/meat safely (removing bacteria) before serving the final dish to family and friends.



After Thanksgiving weekend, writers at Politico Agriculture followed up on the news of the Romaine lettuce contamination along with potential problems with certain poultry/meat products which are popular around the holidays:

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS ON FOOD SAFETY: After getting everyone's attention pre-Thanksgiving, the FDA thinks it has traced the E. coli outbreak in romaine lettuce to growing regions in northern and central California, Pro Ag's Helena Bottemiller Evich and Sarah Zimmerman report. To help better assess future problems, leafy green distributors have now voluntarily agreed to identify where and when their lettuce was grown and harvested (effective immediately).

Now for the bad news: The day after Thanksgiving, when few were paying attention, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service released data showing that dozens of poultry plants have failed Salmonella performance standards.

FSIS reviewed dozens of slaughterhouses from October 2017 through October 2018, after reports of major salmonella outbreaks in chicken and turkey that sickened hundreds around the country. (Each plant is given a category rating from 1 to 3, with "category 3" signifying the company failed performance standards.)

— Four Jennie-O plants were found to have high levels of salmonella. That includes the plant in Barron, Wis., that issued a voluntary recall of around 150,000 pounds of ground turkey after FSIS determined the company was one of many brands likely connected to an outbreak that sickened at least 164 people over the past year.

— Jennie-O said it has created a "salmonella task force," according to a company statement shared with MA, to "better understand salmonella, and more importantly, what actions we can take to prevent it." 

— Nearly three-fourths of slaughterhouses of Perdue Farms, one of the country's top poultry producers, failed to meet performance standards for chicken parts. A Perdue spokesperson said the rankings "don't necessarily reflect current plant salmonella levels."

Thomas Gremillion, director of the Consumer Federation of America's Food Policy Institute, told MA the number of failed performance standards was due in part to "weak incentives under federal rules for poultry companies to attend to the bacteria."

— Most major poultry companies have at least one "category 3" processing plant, with more than 15.4 percent of samples testing positive for salmonella, Gremillion noted.

Wow.  Bad grades were found among poultry plants - which is concerning from a health and safety standpoint.  After reading the above news, the 'rating system' is probably sitting heavily on your mind (as it was for me last night).  The United States Department of Agriculture posted results of the survey with a glossary of terms shown below:

Source: USDA - FSIS

Note that the USDA posted the glossary at the end of the web page which piqued my curiosity.  Why not show the rating categories in the beginning?  Before the data rather than after.  Regardless, the results are concerning to say the least.  In order to interpret the results effectively as a reader/consumer, the following 'rules' which dictate the 'category' are shown below:

Source: USDA-FSIS

After posting the image of the categories for the inspectors to place grades into, I realized that the text is too small.  Below are the categories restated:

Category Definitions

Category 1: Establishments that have achieved 50 percent or less of the maximum allowable percent positive during the most recent completed 52-week moving window.

Category 2: Establishments that meet the maximum allowable percent positive but have results greater than 50 percent of the maximum allowable percent positive during the most recent completed 52-week moving window.

Category 3: Establishments that have exceeded the maximum allowable percent positive during the most recent completed 52-week moving window.

NA: FSIS did not collect or analyze the minimum number of samples to categorize the establishment and the establishment has not exceeded the maximum number of positives allowed under the standard.

The inspectors additionally broke down the inspections into specific parts of the chicken and different chickens as shown below:

Source: USDA-FSIS

Again, the image is rather small (the text in the image), therefore to view the results, click on the hyperlinked text "USDA-FSIS" and scroll down to the bottom of the web page (which is long).  The glossary and breakdown of results are worth viewing.  The overall message of the results is that the inspection uncovered the fact that major outbreaks of salmonella have occurred frequently and are of great concern.  I do not pretend to have the solution.  Although, I would offer that less regulation is not the answer.  More inspections and regulations are needed.

Conclusion...

According to a report from the news website 'Today' titled "FDA update on romaine lettuce: Safe to eat as long as lettuce is not from central CA" Romaine lettuce is good except from Central (California).  Still, I would suggest exercising great caution while handling lettuce before preparing it for a meal.  Recent research out of University of California at Riverside has unveiled the fact that "pre-rinsed" lettuce is not without bacteria.  Simply because of the shape of the pore inside the lettuce leaf, the thought is that bleach does not effectively reach into the pocket (pore) and appropriately kill the bacteria at 'regulated concentrations' of bleach used by corporations.  Professor Sharon Walker leads the research as shown in the video below:

As Professor Walker points out that there is very little scientific evidence behind the regulation which is involved in cleaning lettuce.  The work here will have impact in other areas of food research.  The poultry industry will undoubtedly be included in the new research.  According to the results shown above, there is plenty of room for improvement in developing new ways to remove/control the spread of bacteria (i.e. Salmonella) in the food industry.



Until those new innovative ways are translated into policy and regulations, please take appropriate steps to avoid the unwanted spread of bacteria among consumer products both inside and outside of your household. 



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One Unknown Fact Which Should Cause Consumers To Be Careful About Handling Meat Before Cooking!

Source: WSB radio

The wave of using 'reusable shopping bags' has made its way across certain states -- to become popular in some while losing appeal in others.  Why do some people love 'reusable shopping bags' while others do not?  Who knows?  Maybe due to the fact that in between usage, authorities advise to clean the shopping bags and sterilize them.  The simple build up of bacteria from poultry or beef before cooking could cause enough harm to consumers if not minimized in between each trip to the store.  Which brings me to the point of this blog post (which is short to say the least): Did you know that beef and poultry can be sold with bacteria in the United States?



I was not aware of this revelation.  Prior to Thanksgiving, Politico Agriculture sent out a newsletter which contained the revelation which entailed that certain products are allowed to be sold with bacteria known to be present:

TURKEY AND FOOTBALL, MA EDITION: In the lead-up to the Thanksgiving season, consumer advocates pressured USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service to disclose the owners of 22 turkey slaughter operations and seven processing plants tied to an outbreak of Salmonella that has caused 164 illnesses and one death. The outbreak has persisted for more than a year, and only ground turkey has been recalled, but the Thanksgiving holiday renewed food safety advocates' sense of urgency.

FSIS responded to the calls with a terse statement. The agency said authorities have yet to pinpoint a single common supplier of the tainted turkey products. It then used a football metaphor to push back, arguing that trace-back investigations aren't done through "Monday morning quarterbacking from the comforts of an urban high rise in New York City or K Street in Washington, D.C., with fundraising pleas attached."

Sarah Sorscher, deputy director of regulatory affairs for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, called the statement "disappointing" and said FSIS officials were "taking a page from Trump's playbook."

The drama underscores a little-known fact: FSIS doesn't have the authority to issue a mandatory recall because it is legal for the meat industry to sell Salmonella-contaminated meat in the marketplace. The rationale is that consumers can protect themselves by cooking the meat thoroughly, thus killing the bacteria.

"Essentially, it's not the responsibility of the industry to fix a salmonella outbreak, but it's up to the consumer to cook the s--t out of their food," said Bill Marler, a leading food safety plaintiffs attorney based out of Seattle.

FSIS can gather evidence that a company is linked to a foodborne illness outbreak and request that they issue a voluntary recall. That threshold is incredibly high, however.

'Holy grail': The agency has to locate an unopened container of the product in a sick person's home before it can request a voluntary recall. That unlikely event — which Marler calls "finding the holy grail" — occured in Arizona last week, when FSIS officials found an intact, unopened package of Jennie-O ground turkey in the home of someone who had reported an illness. The package tested positive for the outbreak strain, and Jennie-O issued a voluntary recall of 91,000 pounds.

But Jennie-O is only a piece of the larger outbreak puzzle, as FSIS officials said patients have reported eating and handling a variety of different turkey brands.

What do we learn from the above excerpt?  That the responsibility to keep Salmonella along with other bacteria out of your beef products is your responsibility.  Wow!  If that is the case, then why don't regulators come down harder on the movement for 'reusable shopping bags' to ensure safety from additional bacteria-based outbreaks?  The answer lies in the placement of responsibility ultimately.



With the holidays just beginning with future meals planned, be careful about handling meat.  From the package (plastic bag or packaging) to the oven in which you place the beef.  Keep sanitary procedures in place to be consistent.  Furthermore, be careful when using 'reusable shopping bags' - be mindful of potential bacterial contamination to the remainder of your food.  By practicing safe handling, the responsibility which has been placed in our hands (by regulators and manufacturers for safety) is upheld and keeps people safe in the time being.  Each of us have a responsibility to make this potential threat known to other family members and friends.



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New trend in the Thanksgiving Holiday for 2018? Smaller Turkeys?

Source: Los Angeles Times

Happy Thanksgiving To All!!!

This year's projection for the total amount of Turkey's which will be sold could be as high as 45 million birds.  Wow!  Last year, I did an analysis on the amount of homeless people who could be fed by such a large amount of Turkeys.  With that being said, this year a new trend is emerging around this Thanksgiving Holiday according to an article in Time magazine titled "Tinier Turkeys Are Trending for This Thanksgiving 2018"-- the choice of smaller Turkeys in the marketplace:

Bloomberg reports that smaller turkeys are breaking big this year, noting that inventories of whole hens are down, shoppers are snapping up smaller birds from grocers and some breeders are even developing a distinctive six-pound turkey type (not yet for sale).

Experts are suggesting that smaller family sizes, alternative gastronomic interests and increased desire to avoid food waste could be reasons behind the new trend. (So, yeah, this one can be pinned on millennials too.)

“People are starting to understand it’s not natural to grow turkeys up to 30 pounds,” Ariane Daguin of food company D’Artagnan LLC told Bloomberg.

The main drivers are listed in the excerpt above.  Mainly, that more people are becoming vegetarian or turning to an all out vegan lifestyle which is absent of any poultry or meat products.   Additionally, Americans might be more aware of the waste that is produced on the Thanksgiving holiday.  Although, I would imagine that cooking a 30 pound Turkey is slowing slipping in popularity.



A 30 pound Turkey can hardly walk -- yet alone live a short healthy life before being shipped to the dinner table.  Regardless of the way any of us feel, the trend is taking hold and should be noted for the years to come.  Does this trend continue?  Who knows?  As for now, take note of it and enjoy the family time around the dinner table and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!



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Natural Disasters Have Long Term Effects Which Are Quickly Forgotten?

Source: National Audubon Society

The news media is great at shining a large (huge) spotlight on any particular event and making that news which will widely discussed.  At the same time, the news tends to move on quickly to the 'next big story' -- and leaves the aftermath in the dark only for those who suffer to live with for years.  This is particularly true of natural disasters such as hurricanes and fires which devastate our nation at different times throughout the years.  Hurricane Michael left damage which will not be forgotten by residents of Florida for years -- as highlighted below - briefly.

How large was the impacted area?

With the wild fires raging out West in California, the East Coast has been under repair from the devastation caused by Hurricane Michael.  Hurricane Michael was a category 4 hurricane which destroyed parts of Florida leaving devastation and loss of life along with loss of resources.  According to a briefing by Politico Agriculture, the total damage to crops was enormous:

Florida ag took $158M hit from Hurricane Michael: Nearly 1 million acres of crops were damaged in the storm, not including timberlands, according to economists at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Specialty crops in the Panhandle, like melons and tree nuts, suffered the most damage. POLITICO Florida's Matt Dixon explains the findings.

Just crops alone tallied up to 1 million acres.   Similar to the news addressing an issue then moving on, I find reading the statistic above of 1 million acres easy to gloss over and move on too.  Although, when a person (such as myself) stops to think about the size of a million acres and the potential loss of crops, I find the size astonishing to say the least.



As a result, I tried to imagine a geographical area to which I could compare the size of 1 million acres to.  I will walk you through the process below of reasoning out with dimensional analysis the magnitude of a million acres.  To start with a unit conversion needs to be accomplished.  What units to what units?  I do not typically view sizes of land in units of 'acres' - I cannot speak for you.



Therefore, first, we have to ask the question of Google:  1 million acres to square miles?  Not very well worded, but the algorithm by which Google operates on will know how to sort out the query.  The answer is shown below:

The answer indicates that there are roughly 1500 square miles in 1 million acres (1571 square miles to be exact).  Next, a metric is need for comparison.  Since I live in North Los Angeles, I chose the city of Los Angeles to use a 'metric' for a comparison in the current analysis.

How does that area compare to the size of Los Angeles?

To find out the size of the city of Los Angeles, just simply consult the 'Wikipedia' page for the city of Los Angeles which has statistics of the city on the side of the web page.  The total square area in miles of the city of Los Angeles is 502.76 square miles in total.  A map is shown below of the city council districts for the entire city of Los Angeles shown below:

Source: Los Angeles

The city of Los Angeles is very large - so large that the city is broken up into 15 council districts -- each with a council member representing the geographical area of the city.  According to the 'Wikipedia' page above for the city of Los Angeles, the total square miles is around 502 sq. mi. -- which is large.



How does the size of Los Angeles compare to 1 million acres of damaged crops in Hurricane Michael?



Hurricane Michael has caused devastation to crops at around 1 million acres.  If the area of the city of Los Angeles is used as a metric for comparison, then 3 copies of the city of Los Angeles would be required.  Yes, wow -- the total damage to crops down in Florida from Hurricane Michael is equal to roughly three times the size of Los Angeles!

Conclusion...

Analyses such as the one above again drive home the point (magnitude) of disasters like Hurricane Michael.  The news media might just run to the next "big story" despite the tremendous amount of damage done by the current storm.  Hurricane Michael has caused damage which will take years to repair.  The total damage caused by such a devastating storm as Hurricane Michael takes time to tease out.  Although, as the numbers come in, think of the size (magnitude) of the devastation from this analysis to rationalize the total extent of the cost and damage to the communities which are impacted and will continue to be for generations to come.



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NIDA Director Nora Volkow: How Health Communicators and Journalists Can Help Replace Stigma with Science

Source: Clay Behavioral Health Center

Drug addiction affects us either indirectly or directly in some way.  To say that it does not, is not really looking at the whole picture.  Statistics of death and addiction from drugs are all over the news along with stories which stigmatize people who suffer from drug addiction.  These actions are not only not helpful, but actually can result in greater drug use and distortion of the problem at large.  Director Nora Volkow is very familiar with these distortions on behalf of the news.  She wrote a letter as director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) to spell out the issue at large:

Director, NIH's National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

No matter how much progress we make in understanding addiction and how to treat it, my colleagues and I in the field of addiction science keep running into the same obstacle: There are still people who believe addiction is a moral failing that could be solved if the person had more willpower. In fact, the science is clear: Addiction is a chronic, relapsing neurobiological disorder caused by changes in the brain that make controlling drug use extremely difficult, even when an individual knows it has terrible consequences for his or her life and health and wants to stop. It goes well beyond willpower.

Sadly, the drug seeking and related behaviors that typify this disease—which can include lying and failing to meet work and family responsibilities—can make it challenging for loved ones or care providers to have compassion or empathy, and this reinforces the misconceptions. The resulting social stigma can make it difficult for those suffering with addiction to ask for help and can make them less likely to get the help they need when they do summon the courage to ask.

Indeed, only a fraction of people with substance use disorders seek out or receive treatment. For example, in 2015, an estimated 21.7 million people aged 12 or older needed substance use disorder treatment, but only 2.3 million received treatment at a specialty facility. Even those who can access affordable treatment often find themselves in a rehab facility that does not use evidence-supported treatments, such as buprenorphine or methadone for opioid addiction.

I have imaged the brain of addicted individuals for decades, and through these studies I have seen how drug use and addiction changes activity in the brain. Though drugs act by activation of brain reward circuits, which generates the high and the euphoria, their repeated use leads to adaptations that makes them increasingly less sensitive to both natural and drug rewards. The result is that the person no longer experiences pleasure in response to natural rewards—such as food, sex, or positive social interactions—and loses the motivation for achieving these rewards. In parallel, drug use renders brain circuits that control stress responses more reactive, making the person more vulnerable to stress and negative moods while also impairing frontal cortical areas of the brain that enable self-control and decision-making. These changes make it harder for someone with an addiction to manage stress, control impulses, and make the healthy choice to stop drug use.

How Communicators Can Help

Many science journalists go to great lengths to report the science behind addiction, but others do not, perhaps because they believe they have a commonsense understanding of substance use and addiction. But we are often misguided when we assume that our own experiences translate to someone else’s. Most people who use alcohol or drugs never become addicted, and there are many individual biological, social, and psychological factors that influence one’s risk.

Journalists can help reduce the stigma toward addiction by providing information that helps the reader understand the person suffering from addiction rather than writing stories that generate anger and disgust. Increasing the public understanding of the underlying pathology and cultural reinforcers of addiction is a critical first step for improving the way our society addresses addiction. Journalists can now dig deeper and ask how we can facilitate a more compassionate public health-based approach to those suffering from addiction.

There is no immediate solution to solve the ongoing problem of drug abuse and addiction.  As I said in a previous post, I am a member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).  I say this because there are routes which are not highly publicized which lead to viable solutions.   One of the best solutions is one drug/alcohol addict talking to another.  Just like one person casually asks a network of friends what are the best solutions to issues at hand, an addict can get help from another addict in AA.



The power behind the AA program is that there will always be an 'ear' available to listen and help you when in need.  There are a whole host of AA meetings throughout the United States (and world for that matter) to give a person an ample change to get help.  What AA will not do for you is provide a solution which is 'effort free'.  Sobriety is great but work too.  Living life on the straight and narrow as is said takes work and dedication.  The framework behind AA gives a person the opportunity to live a wonderful life.  I highly recommend trying the program if in need.



With that being said about treatment, there is a lot of room for improvement on the Journalism front.  What is reported in the news is highly stigmatized -- which upon entry is counter to what you learn about the program.  Further, alcohol addiction is not very much different from any other addiction.  As indicated by Director Nora above in the letter -- activating the brain 'rewarding circuits' can be achieved by a number of 'vices' - which can lead easily to addiction.  Traditionally, drug/alcohol addiction is stigmatized the greatest in the news and society.



In closing, I will provide an example.  Think of a person riding their bicycle around town -- an adult.  At first sight, if the cyclist is not wearing lycra (spandex pants), a common perception is that person got a DUI - driving under the influence of alcohol.  That designation stigmatizes the person into a negative category.  Instead, maybe the person just wants to incorporate a little exercise into his/her commute by riding a bicycle around town.  Instead, a potentially good situation has now been perceived (and quite possibly reported) as a negative situation.



Further, reporting on the negative stigma might persuade a person (separate person from the cyclist) not to pursue riding a bicycle -- making a better change for their health.  That is one example which serves as evidence of a need to change how reporting on society could link drug/alcohol addiction to a problem which does not exist.   That is one example - perception.  What about science?



The science behind addiction treatment has been changing over the last couple of decades.  Medicines do exist to curb addiction to alcohol along with other drugs.  The efficacy of these treatments by themselves is severely under reported.  Treatments only can take an addict so far.  Common treatments (drugs, short term treatment) are usually coupled with other treatment methods from the medical community -- psychiatry and psychology.  More could be reported on this front to provide solutions to people.



Other medications are being developed to treat people with addiction on a long term basis.  These medications are still being developed or are in clinical trials.  Why not report on these medications?  Society needs to understand where each field is at presently.  Otherwise, why should anyone expect viable treatments to be funded in the future.  Journalists could change how they portray situations and drug/alcohol abuse in general.  Maybe then, more people might find the help that they are in great need of.



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What is the next big step in Mental Health Research?

Source: Texas Public Radio

Today is Veterans Day and I would like to reach out to all of my brothers and sisters who have donned a U.S. Military uniform and SERVED OUR COUNTRY to say a Big THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.  Your service does not go unnoticed in the Kaiser family household and is greatly appreciated.  The opportunity to wear a U.S. Military uniform and serve our country is not afforded to each resident of the United States.  I have had the opportunity and respect every other person who has had the chance to as well.  Unfortunately, each of us have varied experiences during our time in the service.  There are those who serve and leave the service to lead a somewhat normal life with memories which are unshakable.  While there are others who leave the service is an unfortunate state of mind -- which is tragic and needs to be dealt with -- especially given the sacrifice to our country offered by soldiers. No one gets out for free without memories of their service.



Last week on Wednesday night in Thousand Oaks (California), a 28 year old veteran entered a bar named "...." and released terror by shooting up the place to leave 11 killed and untold number of people with mental scars with which they will live for years to come.  How did this happen?  Why did this happen?  Especially, as early reports suggest that Ian David Long was visited by law enforcement earlier (in April) in 2018 which included a deployment of mental health services to clear him (as no current threat).



Now 13 people are dead and the rest of us are wondering what is going on in the world?  The shooter was a student at California State University at Northridge (up to 2016) -- which directly impacts myself and others who are employed here.  Released the next day was a press release from the National Institute of Mental Health titled "NIMH Explores the “Next Big Thing” in Mental Health Services Research" with the following updates on Mental Health Research from a conference held earlier in the year (in August).  With the tragedy that just unfolded, what is the "next big thing" which will address/mitigate these terrible occurrences from recurring.  According the the NIMH, a whole range of issues confront the Mental Health Research system which mainly stem around patient treatment:

NIMH Explores the “Next Big Thing” in Mental Health Services Research

November 8, 2018 • Institute Update

What’s the “next big thing” that could help people with mental illnesses get the treatment and services they need? This important question was the theme of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)’s 24th biennial Mental Health Services Research (MHSR 2018) conference held August 1-2, in Rockville, MD.

“This conference brings together mental health researchers and other experts, trainees, consumers, advocates, and mental health care providers to learn about current research findings and discuss new research that might close the gap between what science shows is most effective and what services people actually receive in real-world settings,” explained Michael Freed, Ph.D., EMT-B., a conference co-chair. “We are thrilled that this year the conference had more presentation proposals, more sessions, and more attendees than ever before. There is clearly a lot of interest in this research.”

Health services research is a multidisciplinary scientific field that examines how to improve people’s access to health care providers and services; how to improve the quality, continuity, and equity of the care they receive; how to most efficiently pay for needed health care; and ultimately, how to improve the symptoms and functioning of people with health conditions. The research considers individual and provider preferences and behavior, innovations in technology, and community, organizational, and systems-level factors to understand how to implement effective practices in care-delivery settings.

In his opening address, Dr. Freed acknowledged the participants’ passion and ongoing contributions to mental health services research and challenged them to use the meeting to generate new research ideas. In a pre-recorded welcoming address, NIMH Director Joshua Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., noted that, “Research doesn’t stop with the discovery of a new treatment, because even the best treatment won’t work if people can’t or won’t use it. We also need research to figure out how best to deliver effective therapies and services to those who need it now.”

The wide range of conference topics reflected the realities of mental health delivery today. Judge Steve Leifman, J.D., Administrative Judge for the Eleventh Circuit Court of Florida, delivered a compelling keynote address, noting that people with mental illnesses are more likely to be in jail—where mental health treatment is typically not available—than in a mental health facility. The key to addressing this problem is to make mental health care more easily available to those who have difficulty obtaining it, and he described his long-time efforts to do just that. Judge Leifman’s advocacy work in Miami-Dade County created an opportunity for the criminal justice system there to divert low-level offenders with mental illnesses to treatment and social services rather than to incarceration. The goal is to reduce psychiatric symptoms in order to break the cycle of repeat arrests and to provide services that lead to community reintegration and stability. This approach has significantly decreased the number of arrests and repeat incarcerations of people with mental illnesses, as well as the overall jail population in the county.

Jürgen Unützer, M.D., M.P.A., M.A., professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the University of Washington, delivered the inaugural Wayne Katon Memorial Lecture.Dr. Katon was an accomplished mental health services researcher, teacher, and mentor whose research established the collaborative care approach as an effective intervention in psychiatry).

In his address, Dr. Unützer described the robust body of research supporting the effectiveness of collaborative care, in which primary care physicians actively collaborate with mental health care managers and psychiatric treatment specialists to provide comprehensive patient care. With provider training, he explained, treatment for less severe mental health concerns can be delivered in the primary care setting while patients needing more intensive treatment can be referred to contacts working in mental health specialty settings. He discussed how this approach could address provider shortages and reduce the long wait-times often faced by people seeking mental health care. Dr. Unützer also reviewed the possible—but addressable—challenges to wide-spread adoption of collaborative care and underscored the approach’s potential for broadly improving mental health treatment outcomes.

Two plenary sessions of the conference were directly focused on this year’s theme—what are our visions of “The Next Big Thing” in mental health services and research. Talks in these sessions focused on a wide range of topics including how electronic health records and health information exchanges can be used advantageously in both research and care delivery; research and practice considerations in the use of telehealth platforms; the promise of practice-based research networks; and, the use of learning health networks for improving services for those with severe mental illnesses.

As in prior years, the conference also provided career development opportunities for a competitively selected group of Early Stage Investigators (ESIs). Thirty ESIs presented posters at the main conference and attended a post-conference New Investigators Workshop. During the workshop, experts from NIMH and academia gave presentations on developing a career in mental health services research and on navigating the process of NIMH grant submissions. ESIs also met with these experts to receive feedback to refine their ideas for future grant applications.

“Thanks to the presenters and attendees, the meeting exceeded our expectations in exploring ideas for new research directions,” stated Denise Juliano-Bult, M.S.W., a meeting co-chair. “The quality of the presentations and panels was outstanding, and it was not only the biggest conference to date but included some of the most visionary sessions we’ve heard. Ultimately, we hope that MHSR 2018 will enable the synthesis of ideas from a broad range of perspectives that can inform the development of future NIMH services research priorities.”

The meeting agenda with links to the video recordings of the presentations are available on the NIMH website.

With the above press release being stated, hopefully the result will be mental health services which are offered to more people and effective.  There are too many people who are suffering from mental illness in the United States -- who go untreated.  Additionally, there is such a large change needed across the entire nation that a solution seems out of sight.  Although, if each local government tries to make changes which are accessible, then large scale changes across the nation will be noticeable. 



Conclusion...



Mental illnesses impact each of us either directly or indirectly.  If you know of someone in need of mental health services, please don't hesitate to contact the right services to help them.  Each of have a responsibility to say something if a danger is present.  Furthermore, each of us can contribute to society to urge elected leaders to take action and find a solution -- i.e. direct money toward services along with other accessible solutions -- policy making, community discussions, outreach to other government officials.  All of these combined actions will hopefully result in a more efficient and effective system which provides treatment to all of those in need.




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Want To Improve Science Communication: Add Artists!

Source: Alberta Smith Elementary

Why is communicating science to the public so difficult?  At least that is a major perception by the science community.  There is a 'disconnect' between the public and science community when any topic of science is raised in a public forum.  Regardless, science communication to the public seems rather difficult.  I believe that should not be the case.  In fact, inside each of us is a scientist at heart.  But the world does not revolve around my belief's now does it.  Thank goodness for that.



With that being said, scientists much continually reach out to the community and demystify science for the public.  I have tried through writing on this blog to do my part.  Recently, I read about another distinct avenue by which science is being disseminated -- through art.  I was fascinated by the scope of the project and want to introduce this avenue to you (the reader).  Enjoy!

Science and Art Merge?

Over the last few years, the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics have been seen expanding to incorporate the Arts too.  Meaning that the recent acronym "STEM" is changing to "STEAM" to include the arts.  Why?  According to  a recent article from the website 'ScienceMagazine' titled "Tuning into the channel" the addition of the arts is becoming more prominent and is in the experimental phase already.  Last December, graduate student Kelsey Bisson (at University of California at Santa Barbara), received a grant to document the daily rhythm of the plankton life in the Santa Barbara channel -- which is rich with marine life.



The only caveat with the award of the grant was to incorporate the findings with four artists who will join the trip to contribute to an interdisciplinary project called -- ROAM: Rendering Ocean in Artistic Mediums.  While on the exploration, the four artists will have the following goal:

 Four artists — a creative writer, a videographer, an illustrator and a musician — will join the expedition to collaborate with one other and the scientists aboard. The goal? To translate scientific efforts in ways that are compelling and relatable, including the production of a documentary, an illustrated novella and a public art science installation.

Remember, these four artists will be working along side scientists collecting data to publish in research journals.  The original intent of the ROAM project is:

"ROAM was designed to leverage the strengths of art and science to motivate a love for the deep ocean across a range of communities," Bisson said. "By translating the science experience through art, ROAM will build empathy and wonder for our ocean — and ultimately spark a commitment to marine stewardship."

Huynh and Bisson will be joined by 14 students and five faculty members from three universities, including UCSB biogeochemist David Valentine. The team will characterize how marine microbes influence and are influenced by their geochemical environment on hourly time scales by employing a wide range of oceanographic methodologies and technologies from water incubations to autonomous underwater vehicle surveys to remote sensing.

"We will look at processes such as rates of photosynthesis, herbivory, decomposition and infection, zooplankton migration up and down the water column and water mass circulation," Bisson explained.

The scientists plan to make their data publicly available after publishing their results in peer-reviewed journals. All members of the expedition will blog about their experiences during the voyage. The online efforts, according to Bisson, will make the ocean more accessible to people who live far from it, which in turn will breed concern for ocean health, stimulate interest in the deep ocean and perhaps inspire careers in oceanography.

Aside from a deep love of the ocean emerging from this exploration, the participants on the journey will be able to express their work in terms of creativity.  This is a major avenue through which we can connect distinctly different disciplines together in a project.  That is right -- through the shared love for 'creativity' -- which is an underlying factor in any endeavor.  Some might argue against this realization, but I would counter by asking them to take time to think deeply about 'creativity' and the educational process.  Especially here in the United States of America.



International Students Learn U.S. Students are very creative?



Creativity is the distinct quality of United States students compared to students from other countries.  I have mentioned this briefly in previous posts -- talking about the benefits of integrating graduate students from different countries.



Through numerous hours of discussion during my graduate and post-doctoral years with international students, one overarching quality which students from the United States express freely is their creative energy.  Students have told me this time and time again from other countries -- which to me is disappointing to say the least.



With this being said, the merging of two seemingly different fields through a common project as described above will come rather naturally.  At first sight, this might not be the predicted conclusion from either participants.  Just wait.  The blog posts along with the documentary will reveal a fruitful learning adventure from both sides.  Especially, through the communication channel which is formed between scientists and artists who must work together to achieve a common goal -- track the beauty and rhythm of the marine life in the Santa Barbara channel.



The study results will be sought after along with the documentary, blog posts, and other documentation.  This could be a start to a new way of conducting science -- that is -- humanizing science.  Which is much needed at this time in our history.  Additionally, the outcome will inevitably be artists with a much richer understanding and respect for science and scientists with a much deeper respect for visual instruction along with different perspectives from which to view science and the world around themselves.  Overall, the expedition is a win win for society.  Stay tuned for the results.

Conclusion....

Art is not separate but intertwined with science.  They are indistinguishable.  Even though there exists two different fields of study, the love for each is a love for one and the same -- the inner workings of the world around us.  How do we view the world around us?  How do we study the world around us?  More often than not, scientists are thought of a 'rigid people' in lab coats.  When in reality, scientists are creative and curious people.  Adding art will only enlighten the scientists more and make society a better place as a result.



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You Can Be In Your Own Hall Of Fame?

Source: UWA Athletics

Success is relative and usually measured against a highly valued person or act in society.  Just last week, I was sitting at a board meeting for our nonprofit organization listening to one of our board members talk about the absurdity of the value (we as a society) place on sports players versus respectable jobs such a teaching, plumber, social worker, etc.  And he is correct.  Right about now, you might be wondering where I am going with this line of thought?  When we value a person's achievement -- such as a sport player's achievement -- that player is entered into the 'Hall of Fame'.  By the same token, each of us can be placed in our respective 'Hall of Fame' - which does not mean that we will receive the same level of recognition.  But who cares.  Do great work for yourself not for others.



About a month ago, I ran across this song while perusing 'YouTube' titled "Hall of Fame" by Script featuring Will.I.am.  Here is the official video shown below:

Now, lets look at the same song without the story line (visual aids) but with lyrics only as shown in the form of video shown below:

The artists who wrote the song hit on a very important concept for all of us who chose to not pursue 'music' as a profession.  In any profession the possibility exists to be in a respective 'hall of fame'.  Furthermore, there are many professions which do not have a 'hall of fame' but are extremely noteworthy of their service.  In the video with lyrics, a few are mentioned: Students, Teachers, Politicians, Preachers, Believers, Leaders, Astronauts,....most importantly BE A CHAMPION along with BE TRUTH SEEKERS. 


Be the best at whatever you strive to do! 

Should you consider science while before voting next Tuesday?

Source: SciJinks

Why is science important to society?  Do you know why science should be incorporated into policy making decisions in Washington D.C.?  Maybe you are of the opinion that science plays no role in politics at all?  Contrary to those who believe that science plays no role in society are the majority who understand that science and society are intertwined.  One would not exist without the other.



As we approach election day next week - November 6th - issues surrounding science should figure prominently in your decision on a given candidate (in a given state).  The employees of the non-profit organization 'Science Debate' along with most scientists believe that an elected official's position on science should figure into your decision to back them.  According to a press release last year, elected officials should have been given a questionnaire which asks questions surrounding science and their stance on these issues:

Science Debate Invites All 2018 House, Senate and Gubernatorial

Candidates to Address Science and Technology on the Campaign Trail

NEW YORK—Science Debate today called for all House, Senate and Gubernatorial candidates running for office in all parties to respond to 10 questions related to the greatest science policy challenges facing America. Topics cover a wide range of issues from scientific integrity in policymaking to cyber security to health, medicine, and the environment.

“Unless we insist that candidates address science and technology policy when campaigning, we cannot expect them to do so once they’re in office,” said Matthew Chapman, president of Science Debate. “Since January, this administration has repeatedly ignored scientific consensus on a wide range of topics.”

Since Science Debate was founded in 2008, every major presidential candidate has answered a series of questions on science policy, including President Donald Trump prior to the 2016 election.

“My administration will ensure that there will be total transparency and accountability [regarding science] without political bias,” Trump responded to a question on scientific integrity. “The American people deserve this and I will make sure this is the culture of my administration.” This marks the first time that Science Debate is inviting all Senate, House, and Gubernatorial candidates to participate.

“Science is inherently related to every significant challenge of the 21st century and vital in policy making,” said Sheril Kirshenbaum, executive director of Science Debate. “We are opening questions to more candidates across levels of government because every incoming politician should be prepared to address issues crucial to voters, our children and the future of our planet.”

Visit www.sciencedebate.org to read the 10 questions and get involved.

The employees (founders included) of Science Debate are concerned citizens who work in a range of fields from science to film to law including marketing.  Which covers a large range of the spectrum. I love the simple statement made by journalist Matthew Chapman (now President of Science Debate):



"Unless we insist that candidates address science and technology policy when campaigning, we cannot expect them to do so once they're in office,"



Which is why it is important to serve as a science ambassador and hold each politician to answering the following questions posed below.  What are their views?  How are they going to help each person through supporting science?  The best answer given occurs on the campaign trail as Matthew Chapman stated above.



In a blog post two years ago, I posted the questions and answers which were given to all of the 2016 Presidential Candidates - which can be read here.  Now, with the changing political climate, more than ever science is in need to retain - or - regaining a place at the national level - in Washington D.C.  Naturally about now you may be wondering what do these questions cover?  Or you may have an idea of some of the issues encompassed in the questionnaire.  Without further prolonging your interest, the questions are:

2018 Q&A for House, Senate and Gubernatorial Candidates

Candidates: Please send responses to answers@sciencedebate.org in a word document with your name, state and seat you are running for in the subject line.

INNOVATION. Science and technology have been responsible for half the growth of the U.S. economy since World War II. What role, if any, should government play in stimulating innovative science and technology so we continue to benefit from them?

CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY. What are your views on climate change and how would they affect your energy policies if at all?

CYBER SECURITY. What will you do to protect America from cyber attacks while also protecting personal privacy?

MENTAL HEALTH. PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, depression, anxiety, drug addiction, and suicide affect millions of Americans with cost of care and lost productivity greater than $400 billion a year. What mental health policies will you support if you are elected?

EDUCATION. In an age dominated by complex science and technology, how can we ensure that students receive adequate STEM education?

WATER. The long-term security of water supplies is threatened by aging infrastructure, pollution, climate variability and a growing population. What should government do to ensure access to clean water?

FOOD. How would you manage American agriculture so it provides healthy and affordable food grown in a just and sustainable way?

SPACE. What should America’s goals be for space exploration and earth observation and what steps would you take to achieve them?

OCEANS. Large areas of our oceans are polluted, acidification is damaging coral reefs and other habitats, and overfishing could wipe out certain species and diminish this vital source of food. What will you do to improve ocean health?

SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY. Politicians are disputing settled science and firing government scientists for political reasons. How will you foster a culture that respects scientific evidence and protects scientists?

Share any science policy issues involving medicine, national security, environment,education, the economy or other pressing issues that impact your state/district that you would like to expand on.

Send these questions to your local politicians immediately.  I understand that the time has vanished and we are at the end of the campaign cycle.  There is still a weekend left for you to inquire into your local politicians viewpoints on these issues.  At the very least, the issues highlighted above weigh heavily on scientists minds across the globe.  Educate yourself as much as possible on the viewpoints of politicians in your region.  That way, the vote is informed as much as possible. Last but not least, spread the word to others around you.  Have a great weekend.



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