UNI Speakers Bureau - Health & Well-Being

Please call the Office of University Marketing and Public Relations at 319-273-2761 or email stacey.christensen@uni.edu, to request a speaker.

Speakers do not charge fees, unless otherwise noted.

Upon request, we will provide background information to introduce the speaker. When the topic or event warrants, the Office of University Marketing and Public Relations will send a news release to media serving your area.

"THE PYSCHOLOGY OF INTERPERSONAL FORGIVENESS: WHAT IS IT, WHAT IS IS NO, AND HOW TO FORGIVE"

Educating people on forgiveness, what it is, what it is not, how to go about forgiving and how it could be healing for people

ETHICS, AIDS, AND NEEDLE EXCHANGE

Needle exhange programs are intended to reduce the risk of AIDS and other diseases for intravenous drug users. Some, however, are concerned that such programs may encourage drug use and thus, indirectly, increase both disease and other social costs. The data from actual studies, however, suggests that the programs actually reduce rates of intravenous drug use.

ETHICS, POLITICS, AND ECONOMICS IN HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS

Despite spending nearly 50% more per capita than any other nation, the U.S. health care system consistenly ranks near last among major industrialized nations in terms of nearly all global measures of access and efectivenss. Why? What can be done to both decrease costs and increase effectiveness? There are two versions of this talk. Once focuses on the U.S. and Canada, the other examines characteristics of multiple care systems.

ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES IN CARING FOR PATIENS FROM ANOTHER CULTURE

What obligations does a physician have when caring for a patient whose culture is fundamentally different than our own? What obligations do physicians have in providing medical translators? If dealing with a culture which believes that a patient should not be told when terminal, how can physicians negotiate this conflict? Presenter explores these issues using cases drawn from Bosnian immigrants.

DIFFICULT PATIENTS, OVER MEDICAITON, AND GROUP THINK

Some patients, or patient interactions, are described as particularly difficult for caregivers - evoking feelings of repulsion, anger, or frustration. These patients are particularly susceptible to over medication because of the nature of these interactions. In this session, the presenter examines a case from a group home where the patient was unnecessarily over medicated. We then explore how to recognize and avoid these sorts of patient interactions and group dynamics.

ETHICAL ISSUES IN REFUSING CARE FOR REASONS OF PERSON CONSCIENCE

The controversy over Plan B has again brought issues of personal conscience to the fore in health care. Should pharmacists be allowed to refuse a legal prescription (or even behind the counter) due to the pharmacist's personal beliefs? On a broader level, how does this issue apply to other care givers, such as physicians and nurses?

RESEARCH ON PRAYER AND PATIENT OUTCOMES

There is a little doubt that, under many circumstances, prayer can improve patient outcomes. But is this due to the intercessory power of prayer, or is it due to a form of placebo effect. In other words, does the person get better simply because they believe prayer helps? Presenter reviews the issues and the research on prayer and patient outcomes.

STRENGTHS AND PITFALLS IN ADVANCED DIRECTIVES FOR HEALTH CARE

Sudies show that advanced directives for health care are often ignored at the end of life. By examining the strengths, pitfalls, and origins of advanced directives (Living Wills, Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, Cruzan), we explore both practical ways for ehalth care providers and patients to help ensure that patient wishes are carried out.

SEXUAL HARRASSMENT

ACHIEVING WORK-LIFE BALANCE.
Identifies strategies that organizations and individuals can use to achieve work-life balance.

BREAST CANCER.
Epidemiology and research in breast cancer risk factors and survival.

CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TERRORISM AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
An overview of the issues that Public Health providers need to address in order to deal with a chemical or biological agent release. Alternatively, agents of concern can be reviewed and a discussion of how the individual can protect themselves while assisting the Public Health authorities can be addressed.

CHILDREN'S HEALTH: ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN YOUNG CHILDREN.
Summaries of ways young children (ages 2-5) are assessed for daily physical activity and the implications of physical activity on the child's health.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TOPICS.
Numerous topics from water quality overviews and human health. Presented in an easy to understand explanation as to why so many human health studies seem to contradict one another.

HIV & AIDS.
History of HIV and AIDS and current therapies.

I LOVE MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, BUT...
A motivational talk on the importance of self-discipline in changing a life-long active, though sedentary, life-style into one of greater fitness and health, while losing the equivalent weight of a mother-in-law. Also, the positive carry-over this brings to all facets of life and the family.

NUTRITION.
Topics for every audience.

REFUGEE & IMMIGRANT HEALTH.
Presentation covers refugee, immigrant, minority, & international health issues in Black Hawk County & in other meatpacking towns around Iowa.

STRESS MANAGEMENT.
Communication, conflict resolution, dealing with difficult people, humor and goal setting.

WEIGHT LOSS.
Teaches the planning, commitment and motivation necessary for effective weight management, especially for working and busy people.

WEIGHT LOSS AND CONTROL.
Motivational speech on how to lose and maintain weight for a healthy and happy lifestyle.