UA Preview

BEST BETS

UA RECEIVES GRANT TO ATTRACT UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS TO NURSING PROFESSION – Dr. Robin Bartlett, associate dean for research with UA’s Capstone College of Nursing, and her team have received a $1.2 million Science Education Partnership Award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the NIH for their project, Health Sciences & Technology Academy-Alabama, or HSTA-AL. The goal of HSTA-AL is to build a pipeline for underrepresented students to the field of nursing, teaching them to become change agents in their communities. “Our nation is in dire need for more nurses, particularly nurse scientists, nurse faculty and RNs from rural areas and diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds,” said Bartlett. “To change this dynamic, we must encourage students from underrepresented populations to enter the field of nursing before they graduate from high school.” For more information, contact Rosemary Russell Kirby, UA Capstone College of Nursing, at rurussell@ua.edu

UA RESEARCH PROJECTS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS – Several research projects on campus are seeking participants this summer, with some offering small payments or clinical-grade health information for those willing to take the time to participate. The goal of the projects have a wide range and include improving tornado warnings to understanding how children develop helping behaviors. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA communications, adam.jones@ua.edu

CURRENT COMMENT

THAT HEALTHY TAN? NO SUCH THING – While many Americans look forward to the summer months as a time to work on their tan, the summer sun can be harmful to your skin. “Tanning is a form of skin damage,” said Dr. Alan Blum, professor and Gerald Leon Wallace, MD, Endowed Chair in Family Medicine at UA. “It’s the skin reacting to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, which, like x-rays, can cause cancer. To help prevent skin cancer, wrinkles and age spots caused by the sun’s radiation, consider engaging in outdoor activities before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m., wear a hat with a wide brim and apply a water-resistant sunscreen with a sun-protective factor (SPF) of 30 or higher to sun-exposed area often. Just keep in mind that no sunscreen can block 100% of the sun’s dangerous rays. And parents should be mindful that children have more sensitive skin than adults. Indoor activities during mid-day hours in summer are safer and healthier.” To schedule an interview, contact Blum at ablum@ua.edu.

NEED A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON TOPICS MAKING NEWS? – See our frequently updated experts directory here.

VISIT THE UA NEWS CENTER FOR STORY IDEAS.