Public health is a noble calling, largely unappreciated until recent events (namely, a global pandemic) shone new light on its importance. We need public health workers and leaders now more than ever.
Contact tracing is important. There are documented cases of patients who tested positive for COVID-19 and were asymptomatic, which means people may spread the virus without any idea that they have it. Contact tracing can inform individuals who may feel healthy—or who have mild symptoms they attribute to allergies or other causes—of their risk to others, allowing them to get tested or quarantine as appropriate, hopefully reducing the spread of the virus.
Across the country, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to see dramatic increases as communities slowly implement reopening phases. At the time of this writing, Alaska recorded its largest single-day increase of 44 infections, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases to 973 since the pandemic began.
Health sciences senior Quacyya Cuaresma had no trouble keeping busy during quarantine. Simply known as Q to her friends and family, Cuaresma began the application process to be considered one of the 2020 African American, Hispanic, Asian, International and Native American (AHAINA) Students of Excellence back in January 2020.
UAA Associate Professor of Public Health Philippe Amstislavski was recently awarded a J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship. He will spend spring 2021 in Tampere, Finland, working with the biomaterials group at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. Headed by colleague Lisa Wikstrom, the biomaterials group works to develop bio-based alternatives to plastic.
