MPH Program Hosts Public Health Grand Rounds on Preventing Firearm Injuries and Deaths

April 22, 2019 By aking50

Eastern Washington University’s Master of Public Health program has partnered with the Washington State Department of Health and Spokane Regional Health District to present a series of presentations highlighting salient public health issues in the state of Washington. These presentations are held on the last Friday of every month from 4-5 p.m. and are held in the Nursing Building Room 105 on the Spokane campus. The presentations are also broadcasted for those who cannot join in person.

The eighth in the series was presented on March 29, 2019, and addressed prevention of firearm injuries and deaths. Therese Hansen, from the Washington State Department of Health’s Section of Injury and Violence Prevention, was one of two speaker’s at the presentation. Therese shared US and Washington specific data on violence and firearm deaths. She also discussed firearm-related suicide rates and prevention strategies. Sergeant Jordan Ferguson from the Spokane Police Department’s Major Crimes Domestic Violence Unit was the second speaker. He presented on laws surrounding gun control and gun safety. Additionally, he spoke on the connection between firearm injury and behavior. A variety of resources were provided on suicide, domestic violence, and firearm safety by both speakers. All resources are displayed in the presentation which can be accessed via youtube, as well as listed below.

Students, faculty, health professionals, and the community at large are the audience for the Public Health Grand Rounds, but all are invited to participate. With each monthly presentation, the hope is to feature the important work that is being done to protect and inform people and improve the quality of life for the community. Attendees will learn more about major public health issues, key challenges, evidence-based practice, potential solutions, and the context that influences our health every day. Join us Friday, April 26 to learn more about Medicaid transformation at our last Public Health Grand Rounds of the semester!