On Monday, November 18, 2019, CAC will host a Kick Asthma Knowledge Forum at the UIC College of Nursing 3rd Floor Event Center located at 845 S. Damen in Chicago (see instructions below). We invite members and non-members to come to the event, share their work, network and hear from leaders in the field of asthma.
The College of Nursing building is located off of Damen. The entrances are located at the north and south ends of the building. Once inside, take the elevator closest to the south entrance to the 3rd floor. Upon exiting the elevator, you will be greeted at the registration table and then shown to the event center space.
8:00 am – 8:30 am – Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 am – Welcome & Knowledge Share – Attendees are invited to share information about what is happening at their respective organizations. You may announce upcoming events, ask for assistance with projects, announce job openings, etc.
8:45 am – 9:45 am – Current Updates on the Burden of Asthma in Schools
Presenter: Dr. Kamal Eldeirawi, PhD, RN, Epidemiologist and Associate Professor Department of Health Systems Science, University of Illinois at Chicago
Dr. Kamal Eldeirawi, PhD, RN, is an epidemiologist and Associate Professor with the Department of Health Systems Science at the College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago. His interdisciplinary research focuses on individual and neighborhood factors associated with asthma and respiratory/atopic conditions, especially in vulnerable and underserved populations. He has pioneered an area of inquiry on the effects of immigration/acculturation on the risk of asthma and atopic conditions in children of Mexican origin. He has garnered intramural and extramural support for his research and received several prestigious awards. Dr. Eldeirawi’s work has been disseminated widely in scientific conferences, top-tier journals, and media outlets (e.g., BBC News and Chicago Sun-Times). He is actively engaged with community initiatives and professional organizations. In 2013, Dr. Eldeirawi was one of just 12 nursing educators from across the United States to win a highly competitive 3-year grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Nurse Faculty Scholars program. Eldeirawi’s research has implications for identifying causes of asthma and defining effective multilevel and culturally appropriate interventions as well as policies to prevent asthma and reduce asthma-related disparities.
Description: In this session, current statistics on the burden of asthma in children in the United States, Illinois, and Chicago will be presented. In addition, we will discuss the impact of neighborhood characteristics (crime) and environmental factors (proximity to traffic and greenness) on the burden of asthma in a sample of school-aged children in Chicago.
Presentation Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Describe the prevalence of asthma and asthma-related symptoms in children in the US, Illinois, and Chicago
- Discuss disparities in the burden of asthma and asthma-related outcomes affecting children
- Discuss the impact of environmental factors on the risk and asthma-related conditions in school-aged children in Chicago
9:45 am – 10:00 am – Networking Break | Visit Exhibitor Booths & Membership Table
10:00 am – 10:45 am – Managing Environmental Asthma Triggers in Schools
Presenter: Jeanette Marrero, Environmental Engineer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 Office (Chicago)
Jeanette Marrero, B.S. in Chemical Engineering, is an Environmental Engineer with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 Office in the Air and Radiation Division’s Clean Air Strategies Section. In her 28 years of service, Jeanette has worked in many community projects most recently focusing on schools, indoor air quality, radon and asthma.
Presenter: Sheila Batka, MPH, Environmental Engineer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 Office (Chicago)
Sheila Batka, M.S. in Public Health, is an Environmental Engineer with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 Office in the Air and Radiation Division’s Clean Air Strategies Section. Sheila has worked at U.S. EPA for 27 years in various areas, including indoor air and nonregulatory ambient air programs, environmental management of asthma, diesel initiatives, adaptation, energy efficiency, solid waste and pollution prevention programs, ambient air modeling and air quality state implementation plans.
Description: Managing environmental asthma triggers is an important factor for managing asthma in schools. Learn how students and staff can benefit from having a proactive approach to addressing environmental air issues. Discover the tools and resources from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) that helps the school community to manage the environmental asthma triggers in schools.
Presentation Objectives:
- Describe the impact of the school environment and indoor air quality (IAQ) on student and staff health, comfort, performance, and cost savings, especially those who are living with asthma.
- Prevent, identify, and address IAQ issues and indoor environmental asthma triggers using a suite of tools and resources including the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit and Checklists.
- Learn how to conduct a comprehensive walkthrough of your schools to identify key IAQ issues, including asthma triggers, and opportunities to incorporate preventive maintenance strategies.
10:45 am – 11:00 am – Networking Break | Visit Exhibitor Booths & Membership Table
11:00 am – 12:00 pm – Asthma Management in School-Based Health Centers: Opportunities and Challenges
Moderator: Matt Siemer, Executive Director, Mobile Care Chicago
Matt Siemer is the Executive Director of Mobile Care Chicago. For 20 years, Mobile Care has used Asthma Vans to provide allergy and asthma care to over 13,000 children at no cost. Through partnerships with local schools, the organization also surveys 15,000 children annually, attempting to identify children who have asthma but lack a diagnosis. For asthma patients who stay with their Asthma Van for one year or more, 95% will never go back to an ER for asthma. During Matt’s tenure, Mobile Care’s programs have won local and national distinctions including most recently the American Lung Association in Greater Chicago’s 2016 Impact Award, the 2017 Premier Cares Award, the 2018 CHEST Community Service Award, and the 2019 EPA National Environmental Leadership Award. Matt holds a BS in Philosophy & Literature from Truman State University and an MA in Philosophy from Duke University.
Panelist: Julianne Russell, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, Family Nurse Practitioner, Evanston Township High School, School Based Health Center
Julianne Russell, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC is a family nurse practitioner at Evanston Township High School, School Based Health Center where she provides comprehensive primary health care to adolescents. She is a professional staff member in the Department of Pediatrics at NorthShore University HealthSystem, and is a clinical preceptor for students at the University of Illinois College of Nursing in the family and pediatric nurse practitioner programs. She completed her education as a family nurse practitioner at UIC College of Nursing in 1987. Ms. Russell is a founding staff member of the Evanston Township High School Health Center which opened in 1996.
Panelist: Elizabeth Finck, PA, Heartland Health Centers
Elizabeth Finck is a board certified Physician’s Assistant, and received her certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She earned her medical degree from Midwestern University College of Health Sciences. Elizabeth has a strong ability to diagnose urgent medical complaints, and specialized training caring for newborn to adolescent emergencies. Her professional interest includes infant and adolescent health.
Panelist: Kateri Evans, RN, BSN, MPH, RN Program Coordinator, School Based Health Centers, Rush Community Based Practices
Kateri Evans is the RN Program Coordinator for School-Based Health Centers at Rush University Medical Center. In her role, she provides programmatic management, care coordination, clinical support, and community outreach for clinics located within three Chicago Public Schools located on the west-side. She received her BSN at University of Illinois and a MPH at University of Colorado. She has provided care and chronic disease coordination services to diverse populations throughout her nursing career and is particularly interested in disease prevention and health disparities-focused programming.
Panelist: Katherine Orlin, RN, BSN, RN Clinical Manager, Community Based Practices
Kate Orlin is the Nurse Clinic Manager for Rush’s School Based Health Centers and Adolescent Family Center. Kate has been working in the SBHC setting since the fall of 2018, providing oversight and support to Rush’s three school-based clinics. Kate works closely with the SBHC clinic teams to actuate quality improvement projects including increasing STI testing, improving health risk and depression screenings, and furthering transition of care standards. Kate received her BSN from Northeastern University in 2009 and has been spent her nursing career working to break down social inequities and help achieve health equity for vulnerable populations.
Description: Uncontrolled asthma is a significant contributor to chronic school absenteeism, and can have an impact on the social and physical wellness of children and youth. School-Based Health Centers are uniquely situated to manage asthma for children who would otherwise struggle to access more distant medical centers. Panelists will discuss the challenges and opportunities of school-based asthma management, which include parent engagement, communication with school nurses, and medication access.
Presentation Objectives:
- Understand how SBHC’s work with schools to reach and engage children with chronic conditions
- Knowledge of the challenges and opportunities of school-based asthma management
12:00 am – 12:15 pm – Closing & Evaluations
