The Mystery and Epidemiology of Long COVID (September, 29 @ 12pm CT)

Dr. Stella Aslibekyan, Senior Scientist, Genetic Epidemiology, 23andMe and Adjunct Professor, Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham and University of Kentucky

This webinar is presented by the Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance. Two and a half years into the COVID-19 pandemic, there is emerging evidence that in some patients, its symptoms may linger for months or even years after the initial infection. While prevalence estimates vary widely, such ‘long COVID’ symptoms likely persist in more than 10% of all COVID-19 cases. This webinar, Dr. Stella Aslibekyan, Senior Scientist, Genetic Epidemiology, 23andMe and Adjunct Professor, Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham and University of Kentucky, will summarize the current scientific debate about long COVID– is it an autoimmune disease, a consequence of comorbidities, or something else? We will draw on a recent study of 100,000+ COVID-19 cases to understand who is susceptible to long COVID, how long the symptoms can last, and whether vaccination can improve long COVID outcomes.

This webinar is co-sponsored by Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance, Region IV Public Health Training Center, and Deep South Center for OH&S .

The Deep South Center for OH&S is an approved provider of continuing education units for nurses by the AL Board of Nursing (Provider ABNP0420 Expiration Date 12/22/2025) and has awarded this program 1.0 CEUs.

Responding to the 2022 Monkeypox Outbreak (September 15 @ 12pm CT)

The Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance presents “Responding to the 2022 Monkeypox Outbreak.” In this webinar, Dr. Nicolas Van Wagoner, associate professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, will provide a historical overview of monkeypox before 2022 and how the outbreak has reemerged globally, as well as in the United States. This webinar will outline the current state of monkeypox, and the public health response including testing, prevention, and vaccination, as well as provide guidance on communications to prevent misinformation and stigma.

This webinar is co-sponsored by Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance, Region IV Public Health Training Center, and Deep South Center for OH&S .

The Deep South Center for OH&S is an approved provider of continuing education units for nurses by the AL Board of Nursing (Provider ABNP0420 Expiration Date 12/22/2025) and has awarded this program 1.0 contact hours.

Predicting Human Disease Risk from Animal-borne Pathogens (July 28, 2022 11am CST)

Dr. Barbara Han, a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, will explore recent approaches that combine knowledge about animal ecology with machine learning and artificial intelligence tools to make predictions about where and from which species the risks of zoonotic outbreaks are greatest. Examples will emphasize the ongoing spillback transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to animals, the risk of establishing new viral reservoirs of COVID-19, and predicting wild reservoirs of bat-borne filoviruses (Ebola, Marburg) and rodent-borne pathogens such as monkeypox.

Dr. Han is a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in New York. She completed her PhD at Oregon State University during which time she also completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Venezuela. Dr. Han went on to complete consecutive postdoctoral fellowships in biological informatics (NSF) and machine learning (NIH) at the University of Georgia. Her research program at the Cary Institute develops predictive analytics of zoonotic diseases and is supported by grants from the NIH, NSF, and DARPA.

This webinar is cosponsored by the Alabama Regional Center for infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance Center, The Region IV Public Health Training Center, and the Deep South Center for Occupational Health and Safety.

The Deep South Center for OH&S is an approved provider of continuing education units for nurses by the AL Board of Nursing (Provider ABNP0420 Expiration Date 12/22/2025) and has awarded this program 1.0 contact hours.

To view the recorded webinar and complete the evaluation, please see below.

Misinformation as a Risk Factor During the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 26, 12pm CST)

Misinformation has been a risk factor throughout the pandemic, leading to more disease and death from COVID-19. Dr Katrine Wallace (UIC School of Public Health) is an epidemiologist and social media science communicator who debunks misinformation and false claims about COVID-19 and the vaccines. In this talk she discussed the difference between misinformation vs disinformation, the techniques that people use to mislead, why misinformation goes so viral on social media, and how viral misinformation is negatively affecting public health. This webinar was co-sponsored by the Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control and the Region IV Public Health Training Center.

Scientific Reporting During a Pandemic: A Conversation with Katherine Wu (May 11, 12PM CT)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, media outlets have been tasked with translating complex and evolving scientific data about the nature and risks of SARS-CoV-2 to the public. Journalists in these roles have had to stay up to date with rapidly evolving information, wade through misinformation, scrutinize data, and amplify voices from underrepresented and marginalized communities at unprecedented speed to keep the public informed. In this webinar, Dr. Katherine Wu, a staff writer at The Atlantic, joins us for a conversation about her experience, challenges, and lessons learned while reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic.

This webinar will be held virtually Wednesday, May 11, at 12PM CST.

It is sponsored by the Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control and co-sponsored with the Region IV Public Health Training Center. Register by clicking the button below.

Climate-Disease Connections: Associations, Processes and Incorporation in Infectious Disease Forecast (May 4, 12pm CT)

In this lecture, Dr. Jeffrey Shaman (Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Director, Climate and Health Program, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health) will explore the relationship between disease systems and the broader effects of climate and weather on human health.

Dr. Shaman is also Faculty Chair of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at the Columbia Climate School. He studies the survival, transmission and ecology of infectious agents, including the effects of meteorological and hydrological conditions on these processes. His work-to-date has primarily focused on mosquito-borne and respiratory pathogens. He uses mathematical and statistical models to describe, understand and forecast the transmission dynamics of these disease systems, and to investigate the broader effects of climate and weather on human health.

The lecture is sponsored by the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy, Office of Public Health Practice, Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control, and Department of Environmental Health Sciences and will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on May 4 via Zoom. Participants can register using the button below.

Infection Prevention: What is it? Can it really help protect us from pathogens? (March 22, 12pm CT)

The Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance presents “Infection Prevention: What is it? Can it really help protect us from pathogens?”. COVID has reminded us how vulnerable the human race is to pathogens. Infectious disease outbreaks and pandemics are not new. They have helped shape how the human race has evolved and how we live in the world. In this webinar, Mary Duncan, Senior Director of Infection Prevention at the University of Alabama-Birmingham Health System, will explain what infection prevention is and how it can help protect us from infectious diseases. She will review the evolution of infection prevention and explore key infection prevention measures that are used every day. Participants will also be able to identify potential trends in infection prevention and how these may help protect us from another pandemic. This webinar is co-sponsored by Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance, Region IV Public Health Training Center, and the Deep South Center for Occupational Health and Safety.

This webinar is co-sponsored by Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance, Region IV Public Health Training Center, and Deep South Center for OH&S .

The Deep South Center for OH&S is an approved provider of continuing education units for nurses by the AL Board of Nursing (Provider ABNP0420 Expiration Date 12/22/2025) and has awarded this program 1.0 contact hours.

Difficult Dialogues: Learning effective communication about tough topics (March 10, 12pm CT)

In today’s polarized and increasingly isolated communication landscape it can feel impossible to break through the noise and establish a meaningful dialogue about issues related to the COVID019 pandemic. In this webinar Dr. Adam Brooks from the University of Alabama shares with us the basis for effective communication and how to shift tough topics from a debate to a dialogue.

By the end of this webinar you will be able to:

  • Identify the techniques of effective communication.
  • Break down barriers to arrive at shared understanding.
  • Determine the difference between dialogue and debate.
  • Apply the four steps of active listening.
  • Recognize the barriers put up around complex issues like vaccine.
  • Develop strategies to structure conversations for better outcomes.

This webinar is co-sponsored by Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance and the Region IV Public Health Training Center.

Epidemiology 101: Fundamental Concepts for Understanding the Pandemic (February 24, 12pm CT)

Understanding epidemiologic concepts has been consistently and increasingly important in personal and professional decision-making as the pandemic has continued and all elements of it have evolved. Join Dr. Stella Aslibekyan as she presents several tools to help you read and think critically about pandemic-related news from an epidemiological perspective. The webinar will focus on concepts like herd immunity, vaccine efficacy, and endemic infection, and what they mean for COVID-19 control. There will also be a focus on disentangling correlation from causation.

This webinar is co-sponsored by Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance, Region IV Public Health Training Center, and Deep South Center for OH&S .

The Deep South Center for OH&S is an approved provider of continuing education units for nurses by the AL Board of Nursing (Provider ABNP0420 Expiration Date 12/22/2025) and has awarded this program 1.0 contact hours.

Face Masks: Materials, Fit, and Filtration during the COVID-19 Pandemic (February 17, 2022 12pm CT)

Masking has become one of the most pervasive topics since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Join Dr. Jeremy Walker, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, as he presents on different types of masks, fit, filtration, and behaviors in wearing masks, as well as his current research on mask usage. Specific learning objectives include understanding the distinction between airborne and droplet spread of viral pathogens, recognizing important considerations when choosing a mask, and data on the effectiveness of masking in decreasing viral spread. Nursing CEUs are pending for this event.

The Deep South Center for OH&S is an approved provider of continuing education units for nurses by the AL Board of Nursing (Provider ABNP0420 Expiration Date 12/22/2025) and has awarded this program 1.0 contact hours.