Centers for Disease Control and Prevention logo
 link to CDC Home link to search page link to Health Topics A-Z  
 
What's New at CDC's Injury Center  

July 2004 Edition

 
 > What's New
Archive
 > Subscribe to E-mail List
 > Injury Center Home


announcements
 
CDC Honors Retiring Injury Center Director Sue Binder, MD

Celebrating 20 Years of Service to CDC
Photo: Dr. Sue Binder and Dr. Julie Gerberding
Dr. Julie Gerberding presented the flag to Dr. Sue Binder for retiring from the Commissioned Corps.

“This has been such an incredible three and a half years! We did a lot of really excellent work, and we have a lot to be proud of . . . the magic of CDC is that it allows you to do much more, grow much more, and contribute much more than you ever could imagine. I certainly was touched by that magic during my years at CDC, including NCIPC. The magic largely comes from the wonderful people who make up this agency and this Center.”  —Dr. Sue Binder, May 14, 2004

Many of us have been touched by the same magic as Dr. Binder, the visionary. Sue’s accomplishments include developing CDC’s national childhood lead poisoning prevention program, resulting in millions of children being screened and millions of lives being saved. She also crafted a plan for CDC’s strategic approach to countering emerging infectious diseases. Sue helped position CDC’s Injury Center solidly on the Washington agenda, expanded partnerships, and continually touted the talents of the Injury Center’s staff.

Dr. Binder elevated awareness of unintentional injury as a silent killer to which most people think they are immune. Her heartfelt concern motivated her to work tirelessly toward injury losing its rank among the leading causes of death. In her presentations, she was extremely adept at articulating both the stark reality of injury and a message of hope—injuries are preventable.

CDC's Injury Center proudly honored Dr. Binder at a retirement celebration on May 14, 2004. Family, friends, CDC partners, co-workers, and former colleagues, many of whom trekked across the country to attend the gala event, commemorated Dr. Binder’s two decades of CDC contributions. Such a turnout is a testament to her genuine passion for the well being of all people, her strong leadership, and her positive impact on public health.

Photo: Attendees of Dr. Binder's reception
More than one hundred guests attended the retirement reception.

Presentations ranged from poignant trips down memory lane to gag gifts and a rousing parody of “Oh! SUEsannah.” Sue joined in the laughter when presented with a caricature of herself zipping about on rocket roller skates, while simultaneously answering her phone and personal digital assistant, working on her computer, and carrying a tray of her famous brownies.

In the words of CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding, “I know you like to talk about [the Injury Center] being the mouse that roared . . . [the] Injury Center is no longer a mouse . . . it is coming into its own domain and has the respect, the ability, and the power to rally people and coalitions and constituents in an ever-increasing set of domains ....”

This is the legacy Dr. Binder leaves behind. She helped define the Injury Center’s agenda and encouraged all of us to rededicate ourselves to our mission. Thanks to everyone who helped make her retirement reception memorable.

 
CDC's Injury Center Gets Increased FY 2004 Budget

CDC received a 2% increase in Fiscal Year 2004 to reach a funding level of $7.1 billion. The Injury Center funding level gained $5.2 million in Fiscal Year 2004 for a total of $153.6 million. The increase specifically supports child maltreatment, traumatic brain injury, and the National Violent Death Reporting System.

In the Fiscal Year 2005 President’s Budget, CDC received near-level funding of approximately $7 billion, and the Injury Center received level funding of $154 Million. Congress is expected to deliberate on the Fiscal Year 2005 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bills later this summer.
 

Reminder: Applications for the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Program Due September 15, 2004

The Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) is the nation's premier epidemiology training service. This prestigious, two-year, paid, postgraduate program trains health and health-related professionals such as anthropologists, epidemiologists, nurses, physicians, psychologists, sociologists, and veterinarians in the practice of applied epidemiology and public health.

EIS officers take part in peer-reviewed research, field aid, and disaster relief on worldwide projects and domestic public health issues. Officers join the nation’s front lines of epidemic and disaster defense and research. They are integral part of the global public health system, working closely with world leaders in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, other federal agencies, the World Health Organization, and national and international health departments.

To learn more about EIS opportunities with CDC's Injury Center, contact Dr. Lynda Doll at (770) 488-4233. For an application or to learn more about the EIS program, contact the CDC Epidemiology Program Office toll free at (888) 496-8347 or online at CDC EIS website. Please share this announcement widely to foster interest in the EIS program within the injury and violence prevention community.
 

HHS Awards $849 Million to Improve Public Health Preparedness

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced an additional $849 million in awards to states, territories, and four major metropolitan areas. The funding will strengthen the ability of government and public health agencies to respond to bioterror attacks, infectious diseases and natural disasters.

CDC will distribute these federal funds to public health departments in the states, territories, and metro areas (New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles County and Washington, D.C.). The money will improve the readiness of the public health sector and major health-care providers to respond to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.
 More information about the funding is available from the HHS website.
 

CDC's Injury Center Thanks Scientific Review Panels

CDC's Injury Center thanks the individuals who volunteered and served on the 2004 initial scientific review panels. These review panels are an important step in the rigorous scientific peer review process and help the Injury Center select quality research projects for funding. Also, the applicants expressed appreciation to the Center for the review panelists' feedback. 

CDC's Injury Center gave the summary statements to the secondary peer review panel, the Science and Program Review Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee for Injury Prevention and Control.  This subcommittee will review the projects for programmatic evaluation and make funding recommendations to CDC's Injury Center director. 

CDC's Injury Center will announce Fiscal Year 2004 funding awards through the NCIPC Announcements e-mail list.  You can subscribe to the e-mail list online.
 

New Web Page Spotlights Swimming and Public Health

The new Web page "Swim Healthy, Swim Safely" serves as a gateway to CDC's online information related to swimming.  The page features links to information about preventing water-borne diseases, water-related injuries, and skin cancer.
 

Advisory Committee for Injury Prevention and Control Discusses Strategic Imperatives

The 44th meeting of the Advisory Committee for Injury Prevention and Control (ACIPC) convened May 19–20, 2004 in Atlanta, GA. Meeting participants discussed how the strategic imperatives identified through the CDC/ATSDR Futures Initiative will influence the work of CDC’s Injury Center. The strategic imperatives that will drive CDC’s work include:

  • Achieving measurable health impact
  • Being a customer-centric organization
  • Strengthening our science through public health research
  • Providing leadership in the nation’s health system
  • Establishing global health priorities
  • Becoming more effective and accountable.

The ACIPC members broke into three workgroups, and each workgroup addressed an imperative from the perspective of motor vehicle-related injury prevention and control. Among other issues, the workgroups identified the need for the Injury Center to

  • Define its customers
  • Identify and promote the use of metrics to prioritize and measure the impact of injury prevention efforts
  • Support the development of an injury prevention and control public health infrastructure through training and other capacity-building efforts.

Back to Top 


ncipc at work
  
CDC Announces New Organizational Design

CDC's Injury Center Joins Coordinating Center for Environmental and Occupational Health and Injury Prevention

CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding announced new integrated operations that will afford CDC a greater impact on the health of people around the world. The announcement evolved from an ongoing strategic development process called the Futures Initiative, which began a year ago at CDC and included hundreds of employees, other agencies, organizations, and the public in the planning process.

The integrated organization groups the agency’s existing operational units into four coordinating centers to help the agency leverage its resources in responding to public health threats and emerging issues as well as chronic health conditions.  The Coordinating Center for Environmental Health, Injury Prevention, and Occupational Health includes the National Center for Environmental Health, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. More information about CDC's new organizational design is available from the CDC Futures Initiative website.

Ileana Arias, PhD, to Serve as Acting Director of the Injury Center

Photo: Dr. Ileana AriasCDC has selected Dr. Ileana Arias to serve as acting director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). Dr. Arias was the chief of the Etiology and Surveillance Branch in the Division of Violence Prevention in CDC's Injury Center. As a branch chief since 2000, she had lead responsibility for planning, directing, evaluating, and coordinating activities focused on surveillance. She also oversaw epidemiologic and behavioral and social science research studies to understand the etiology of violence.

Dr. Arias began her career as a research associate at the State University of New York, Stony Brook, and then joined the University of Georgia (UGA) as an assistant professor, where she held successively more responsible teaching and supervisory positions. She served as clinical training director and clinical psychology professor at UGA before joining CDC. Dr. Arias holds an AB from Barnard College and an MA and PhD in psychology from the State University of New York, Stony Brook.

Dr. Arias is a well-respected clinical psychologist with research expertise in intimate partner and family violence.  She has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles in professional journals and has given presentations across the United States and in several foreign countries.
She is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma; the Review of Aggression and Violent Behavior; and Violence and Victims. Dr. Arias also is a reviewer for eleven professional journals.

 
Henry Falk, MD, MPH, Heads New Coordinating Center for Environmental and Occupational Health and Injury Prevention

Photo: Henry FalkCDC selected Dr. Henry Falk to lead the new Coordinating Center for Environmental and Occupational Health and Injury Prevention.

Dr. Falk also serves as director of the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) and as assistant administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). He is a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, where his service culminated with being named Rear Admiral and being appointed as Assistant U.S. Surgeon General.

At NCEH, Dr. Falk heads the national effort to prevent or control environment-related diseases, illness, and deaths. He also served NCEH for 14 years as director of the Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects. At ATSDR, Dr. Falk leads the mission to protect public health from hazardous releases of toxic substances.

Since arriving at CDC in 1972 as an EIS officer, Dr. Falk has imparted his knowledge and leadership to myriad public health projects around the United States and the world. His work includes contributions to the federal responses to Three-Mile Island, Mount St. Helens, Hurricanes Hugo and Andrew, and the September 11 attacks. Additionally, Dr. Falk has authored or co-authored more than 100 publications spanning a range of subjects, including vinyl chloride-induced liver cancer, prevention of lead poisoning, and health effects of environmental hazards.  Dr. Falk earned his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1968, and he received a MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health in 1976.

More information about the Coordinating Center for Environmental and Occupational Health and Injury Prevention is available from the CDC Futures Initiative website.

Back to Top 


 
Unintentional and Undetermined Poisoning Deaths - 11 States, 1990-2001

The findings in this Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report article indicate that in the 11 states studied the unintentional and undetermined poisoning death rate increased from 1990 to 2001. The findings also show that the types of substances associated with these deaths varied by state. Among U.S. adults, drug overdoses are the largest cause of poisoning deaths.
 

image of publication coverUsing Evidence-Based Parenting Programs to Advance CDC Efforts in Child Maltreatment PreventionResearch Brief 2004

CDC has launched several prevention initiatives aimed at encouraging and promoting positive parent-child interactions. These initiatives are summarized in Using Evidence-Based Parenting Programs to Advance CDC Efforts in Child Maltreatment Prevention—Research Brief 2004. The initiatives result from extensive strategic planning and consultation with child maltreatment prevention experts and promote positive parenting skills. By acquiring such skills, parents and caregivers can better manage children’s behavior and prevent violence before it occurs.
 

Central Nervous System Injury Surveillance Data Submission Standards

CDC developed Central Nervous System Injury Surveillance Data Submission Standards, 2002 as a guide for collecting, formatting, evaluating, and submitting traumatic brain injury surveillance data to the CDC. The guide will help states to submit their surveillance data in a structured and consistent format.

Back to Top


more injury news from cdc

 
School Health Index: A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide Includes Injury and Violence

Image: Blue check markCDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion announces the release of the third edition of the School Health Index: A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide. This Index will enable schools to address their policies and programs related to safety (unintentional injury and violence prevention) in addition to the physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco-free lifestyle issues addressed in the previous editions. 

To order a free printed copy:

When ordering, please specify

  • elementary school version or middle/high school version
  • number of copies requested.

In addition to the new printed edition, an online version of the School Health Index is available.
 

Report on Deaths: Injuries, 2001 (PDF requires Adobe Acrobat)

CDC's National Center for Health Statistics recently released the report Deaths: Injuries, 2001 based on data recorded from death certificates issued in 2001. This report is the first in an annual series of injury mortality reports.  Among its highlights, the report notes that injuries were the fifth leading cause of death in 2001, accounting for 157,078 (6.5 percent) of the 2,416,425 deaths reported that year.
 

Call for Abstracts: Steps to a Healthier U.S. Workforce Symposium

CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health announces a call for abstracts for the inaugural Steps to a Healthier U.S. Abstracts are welcome for oral presentation, poster presentation, or roundtable discussion session. The symposium will provide researchers, policymakers, practitioners, academics, employers, and labor leaders with an opportunity to share their experiences with integrated and coordinated health promotion and protection programs and will assess the scientific and economic basis of these approaches. The conference planning committee is accepting abstracts about research or worksite programs.

The deadline for abstract submission is August 27, 2004.  For submission guidelines and more information, visit the symposium website.

Back to Top


grantees' corner

 
"What's New" Section Devoted to Grantees

This new section, Grantees' Corner, focuses on CDC Injury Center grantees.  This section will highlight grantee accomplishments, provide funding announcements and information, and spotlight other information helpful to current and potential grantees.
 

New Funding Announcement Released for Injury Research Training in Developing Countries

The Fogarty International Center (FIC) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announces a new program to address the growing burden of morbidity and mortality in the developing world due to trauma and injury.  Supporting the program are seven NIH partners, CDC's Injury Center, the Pan American Health Organization, and the World Health Organization. The program addresses training across the range of basic to applied science, the epidemiology of risk factors, acute care and survival, rehabilitation, and long-term mental health consequences. The current combined financial commitment is approximately $7,000,000 over five years. For the complete announcement, see the National Institutes of Health website.

 
New Injury Control Research Center Study Links In-Person Driver’s License Renewal to Lower Death Rates among Older Drivers


States with in-person drivers license renewal laws had a 17% lower fatality rate among drivers age 85 or older than states without these laws, found researchers working with CDC Injury Center’s University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Injury Control Research Center. The new study is available in the June 16, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).  The study's authors are David C. Grabowski, PhD, Christine Campbell, and Michael Morrisey, PhD.

Using data from January 1990 through December 2000 collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, UAB researchers examined motor vehicle fatalities among older U.S. drivers in conjunction with each state’s license renewal laws. Researchers also looked at state vision tests, road tests, and frequency of license renewal policies for older drivers during the 11-year study period.

The UAB team discovered that the 45 states requiring persons 85 or older to renew their driver’s licenses in person had a 17% lower fatality rate than those states that did not require in-person renewal. The study showed no other factors, including mandated vision testing, road testing, or increased renewal frequency, were independently associated with a lower fatality risk.

Dr. Morissey, a health economics professor in the Department of Health Care Organization and Policy at UAB, said there may be two reasons in-person renewals resulted in lower fatalities in older drivers.

“One possibility is that in-person renewal acts as a sort of marker for self-evaluation, during which the person makes a decision to stop driving,” said Dr. Morrisey. “Another factor is that in-person renewal gives an examiner an opportunity to identify potentially impaired applicants and to require medical evaluation prior to re-licensure.”

Dr. Morrisey explained that the UAB researchers decided to conduct the study, which was funded partially by CDC's Injury Center and by UAB’s University Transportation Center for Alabama, because so little was known about how driver’s licensure laws related to older-driver fatality rates.

“Motor vehicle death rates among older drivers have been steadily increasing for more than two decades and are projected to account for up to 25% of total driver deaths by the year 2030,” Dr. Morrisey said. “Elder driver death rates are reaching that of young teenage males, who have had the highest death rate in the United States for many years. The effort to prevent fatalities among older drivers will become more and more important with each passing year.”

During the study period, there were 4,605 fatalities among drivers age 85 or older in the United States—representing 14% of all motor vehicle fatalities. In 2000, 45 states had in-person license renewal laws for older drivers; 40 states required vision tests; and 2 states required road tests.

Back to Top


injury leadership profiles
 
"What's New" Section Highlights Injury Prevention Leaders

This new section draws attention to leaders in injury prevention and control.  In each "What's New" edition, this section will feature selected injury prevention leaders, spotlighting their interests and accomplishments.  Leaders may be from CDC's Injury Center or an Injury Center grantee.  To nominate a leader for this section, please send an e-mail to ohcinfo@cdc.gov.  Please include the following information:

  • Name of the nominee
  • Brief description (2-3 paragraphs) of the nominee's background, interests, and accomplishments in injury prevention
  • Headshot photo of the nominee, if available (preferably in JPEG format)
  • Nominee phone number and e-mail address.

 
Photo: Len PaulozziLen Paulozzi, MD, MPH, Advances Injury Surveillance

Len Paulozzi, MD, MPH, is a medical epidemiologist who began working in public health in 1983 as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer for  CDC. He subsequently worked for eight years in state health departments as an epidemiologist, focusing on injuries and chronic diseases. He returned to Atlanta in 1993 and shortly thereafter became the director of the CDC’s Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects program, an active, population-based surveillance system for congenital anomalies. He joined the Division of Violence Prevention of CDC's Injury Center in 2000, where he worked primarily on the National Violent Death Reporting System.

This month, Dr. Paulozzi joined the Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention. As a medical epidemiologist with the Motor Vehicle Injury Prevention Team, his work will focus primarily on pedestrian safety.

“I feel lucky to be able to work in a Center with such great statistical, programming, IT, and administrative support," said Paulozzi, "It is a great place to do epidemiology."

Back to Top 


 
3rd National Sexual Violence Prevention Conference Draws More than 1200 People

More than 1200 people attended the 3rd National Sexual Violence Prevention Conference, “Building Leadership and Commitment to End Sexual Violence,” held May 26-28, 2004, in Los Angeles, CA. The conference brought together local, state, federal, and private sector researchers, practitioners, and advocates to address a challenging range of topics. Topics included sex trafficking, working with men and boys, building leadership among women of color, managing sex offenders in the community, and addressing sexual assault in the sexual minority community.

The conference introduced new, intensive three-hour institutes that allowed participants to explore issues in-depth. Activities also included plenary sessions, breakout workshops, government showcases, poster presentations, a welcome reception, exhibit hall, and artwork displaying the healing power of the human heart.  A special highlight was the theatrical presentation by Terrylene on sexual violence in the deaf community.

CDC's Injury Center sponsored the conference in collaboration with the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, and the U.S. Department of Justice. The Injury Center thanks everyone who contributed to the conference's success through their planning efforts and participation.

 Back to Top 


 

Subscribe to the NCIPC Mailing List
To join the Injury Center's News and Announcements mailing list, just fill out and submit the form. You may leave the list at any time by sending an e-mail that says "SIGNOFF NCIPC-ANNOUNCEMENTS" to the e-mail address LISTSERV@LISTSERV.CDC.GOV.

 

News | Facts | Data | Publications | Funding | Contact Us

CDC Home | CDC Search | Health Topics A-Z

This page last reviewed August 05, 2004.

Privacy Notice - Accessibility

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control