BlogSpot

by Marcel Souffrant

February 06, 2015

BlackBerry in Healthcare

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the wealthiest physician in the world, is relentlessly working to becoming one of the most innovative as well. Dr. Soon-Shiong works at University of California Los Angeles as a medical surgeon, but his most recent work involves revolutionizing the way cancer is approached, starting at the very definition. Cancer.gov sites a cancer as being a “disease in which abnormal cells divide without control” but Dr. Soon-Shiong believes there can be a different approach to the term. In an interview with 60 Minutes he proclaims, “A cancer is not what people think it is, cells growing. Cancer is actually the inability of the cells to die.” His new concept of the definition is the first of many steps he has taken to rethink cancers. Although this is innovative in its own right, Dr. Soon-Shiong believes he is on his way to something much more groundbreaking. He has recently developed a technology that can analyze a patient’s tumor biopsy and then proceed to report the specific gene mutated by the disease. All of this can be processed and accessed in the palm of the patient’s hand, through BlackBerry.

To most, Blackberry is now irrelevant in the world of mobile phones, dominated by Apple and Samsung. BlackBerry however will soon be very relevant in the field of healthcare if Dr. Soon-Shiong’s product finds any success. There was recently a report claiming a rumored purchase offer from Samsung, resulting in a significant increase in BlackBerry shares. This possible partnership could make waves in the ever-growing mobile-health market. It truly prompts the question what role can technology, specifically smartphones, play in the dissemination of health awareness and information.

We do not need to look far to see what mobile technology is already doing for health. FHI 360, a company located in our Research Triangle Park, has been using mobile technology in health, or “mHealth,” for a quite some time. They use smartphones to “share information on family planning, reproductive health, HIV and sexually transmitted infections.” The use of technology however is quickly progressing. The Wall Street Journal recently published an article mentioning several new methods in which smartphones and other forms of technology are being used to monitor health, and even collect and interpret medical data. Blood-pressure readings and electrocardiograms are already common procedures smartphones are capable of performing with a few accessory instruments, but we are not far from the day where all it takes is a watch to record our vital signs.

by Denae Ford

January 28, 2015

The REAL Empire

On Wednesday, January 7th, Empire made it’s big debut. This show stars the incredibly, mesmerizing duo of Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard which is what is believed to make the show such a hit. This may be the show to take Fox out of this American Idol ditch that it has found so comfortable these past couple years.

Fox is trying to grab the attention of a new audience; the one that loves powerful black figures. There's no denying that this is a completely different change of pace for Fox. The storyline seems to pick up where the 2005 movie “Hustle & Flow” left off, which I think will draw in a different type of audience for Fox. ABC definitely started the trend with shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal. This past season they added Blackish and How to get Away with Murder to their resumes. Fox followed suit with Gotham and Sleepy Hollow last season. Empire has a different feel than these shows with all the main characters being people of color and power and facing different internal conflicts. In the show, Henson is recently released from prison for selling drugs with her husband, played by Howard. Howard’s character is suffering from ALS; Smollett is gay, and his father, Howard, is still homophobic, Gray is the youngest son trying to live up to Dad’s expectations, and Byers is the eldest son who is college educated and married...to a white woman.

According to ABCNews, Lee Daniels, who also directed “Precious” and “The Butler”, aims for the show to tackle homophobia, particularly in the African-American community and hip hop world, by drawing on his own experiences. This show has ample ways it can address the community, and that’s what makes people want to watch.

Nevertheless, there has been a great increase of color on primetime television that has not gone unnoticed. ABC and Fox have used it to their advantage, and I am not complaining. I’m hoping this is a trend that catches on more and not just a colorful cashcow phase.

Find more pictures and details about the show on instagram: @EmpireFox

These and other images impact how our others view our community and how we often view ourselves. Follow us @myhealthimpact for more on what impacts us in 2015.

by KaMar Galloway

January 25, 2015

Not Another Wearable Technology

As smartphones have become more commonplace in today’s society, technologists have been in search of the next big thing. We’ve gone from adding touchscreens to everything (home appliances, car infotainment systems) to using gestures to interact with the world around us -- think the Minority Report.

After all, the future world we live in is just a guess or figment of the imagination. This magical nature of tomorrow is on display every year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) down in desert plaid Las Vegas. Where high rollers shell out tons of money on personal bets and invest in small start-ups that hail from all over the world. The comos surrounding CES has been a bit different the past few years, as more savvy players have introduced hardware at the center of their enterprise. Wearables, the heir to smartphones are slowly sweeping the conference floor. From recognizable names like Fitbit and Pebble to up and comers with Android Wear as their understudy -- every manufacturer has tossed their hat in the ring.

Besides telling the time, they all claim to do one thing well: help you reach your fitness goals.

track steps
take pulse
measure blood pressure
monitor heart rate

That was last year!

In 2015 the trend is now shifting towards real health applications:

diagnose skin cancer
examine menstrual cycle
tell how well your lungs are working
transmit physiological information to doctors
treat depression
and so much more…

With electronics and health care merging together ever so slightly, technologists will no longer have to ponder about what’s next. Wearables will cement the next revolution that is as fashion forward as it is helpful in quantifying your life.

Stay tuned to @myhealthimpact for more discoveries and technology driven solutions to a healthier future.

by Marcel Souffrant

January 22, 2015

Breaking the Silence

With the new sense of hypervigilance, particularly in relation to domestic violence, I hope that we as a community can come together in active support of survivors of abuse. It must be clear that violence towards others in any form should not to be accepted, regardless of profession. I hope to see advancements with the NO MORE PSA campaigns, Purple Purse, and the NFL, realizing their goals of decreased rates of domestic violence and increased support of the victims.

In recent months there has been significant media coverage concerning the lives, specifically the legal matters, of professional athletes. The abuse perpetrated by Ray Rice was seen by many outside of the sports world, and was the first of many noteworthy incidents involving his colleagues of the National Football League. Since Rice’s arrest, Greg Hardy, Ray McDonald, and Adrian Peterson have been in the news for their respective criminal acts. Athletes breaking the law is nothing new. In the past, fans have often been aware of the personal lives of athletes, even with minimal media coverage, but there seems to be a shift regarding the awareness. It is no longer solely fans who hear about the incidents, the coverage by major news outlets has increased the audience.

USA Today compiled a database of all NFL player arrests since 2000, citing 85 of the 713 arrests were made regarding situations of domestic violence. Being that domestic violence is the one of the most underreported crimes, it is reasonable to assume that these numbers are not completely representative of the truth. The difficulty to speak about domestic violence is highlighted in the “Speechless” series of NO MORE PSA. The commercials have aired in recent weeks showing celebrities, as well as current and former NFL players sitting in silence as they attempt to speak on domestic violence. Allstate Foundation Purple Purse is another group bringing domestic violence, and financial abuse in particular, to the forefront. Allstate Foundation reports that financial abuse occurs in 98% of domestic violence cases. This staggering number has prompted Purple Purse to make it “fashionable” to speak about domestic violence through fundraising to support survivors.

As we have seen, the issues faced by athletes are mirroring the societal issues we are facing today. The question of corporal punishment, the prevalence of substance abuse, the charges of domestic violence, and even the statements of solidarity displayed following the killings in Ferguson and Staten Island, in relation to the athletes of the NFL, have all led to further questions addressing all people, instead of athletes exclusively. We must continue to recognize that as contributing members of society we have a responsibility to treat ourselves, and each other, with respect and dignity at all times.

Continue to follow @myhealthimpact on the latest news regarding domestic violence and your health!

by Research Scholars

January 13, 2015

What’s In Our Ear Starting 2015

by Dr. Fay Cobb Payton

January 09, 2015

It’s 2015: Tech-Social Activism was Big in 2014…It will continue

2014 included many social, political, global, business, technology and economic events that influence society. All of which has implications, consequences, and rooted issues related to health. Society took to @Twitter and other social media channels in a show of social activism. Here are a handful (and we note only a handful) of the 2014 leading hashtags.

One may ask what are the health implications. There are many: women’s health, men’s health, sexual health, mental health, health disparities, global health, workforce diversity, health policy, stigma, health economics, health law, social policy, and race/ethnicity.

As we continue to work to shape the health + tech discourse, we would like to hear your voices of these issues. Follow us at @myhealthimpact. Visit us on the web. Follow us on Tumblr. Read and comment on this and other blogs on our site. Tag us at #myhealthimpact.

by Denae Ford

December 11, 2014

Kitchen Beautician

I spent this weekend being a beauty stylist. I colored and straightened my sister’s hair, colored my friend’s dreadlocks, wash and straightened my hair, and tried another hair project that was completely new for me. My sister and I tried our hand at wig making! We watched a couple YouTube videos and decided, “Hey, Let’s do it!”

To give you an idea of my hair, I am a naturalista with shoulder length hair. I have the opportunity to try a lot of styles with my hair and that’s what I love about it. One day my hair can be bone straight and the next day I can have a bushy twist out. I LOVE THIS FLEXIBILITY! However, playing with all the flexibility of my hair does have a down side. The constant manipulation of my hair can lead to hair damage. This is why wigs and wearing tracks(hair extensions) is so amazing. In addition, I really want to see my hair in a short pixie style but I’m honestly not ready to cut my real hair yet.

Wigs often get the connotation of being only for those who are suffering from hair loss related diseases or the inability to grow hair, but wigs offer so much more than that. They are a fun way of expressing yourself and I challenge you all not to knock it until you have tried it. With extensions, you can keep your real hair in a low maintenance style such as cornrows and on top sew in some weave or wear a ‘hair hat’ to try a different look. One of the most beautiful things about being a black woman is the choice to have versatility with your hair. So why not explore that versatility? If things don’t come out the way you want it’s not the end of the world. It’s just hair, and certainly, I do not let hair dictate my workouts.

#Images #Self-Expression #Health #Hair

Follow @myhealthimpact for more on self-expression.

by Victor Ajewole

December 03, 2014

Graduation

In less than a month I graduate from college. Exciting right? Well not entirely. Throughout my entire college career I’ve never been so lost in what this graduation means to me. I usually don’t get very excited for things, but I may be one of the least excited to graduate. I’m not upset about missing the college experience or wanting to live the college life forever, its just… well I’m not sure what I’m doing after graduation. This is rooted from not even being sure if I like my major.

I’m usually pretty good at taking bad news, but I’m not sure if I’ll be okay if I don’t pass my Advanced Microprocessor Design class(ECE 463). This is the class you hear terrible stories about. This is that class that almost everyone is afraid to take, but have to. This is the only class thats standing in my way of a dual degree. I’ve never been so worried about a class in my life. I’ve been working towards two degrees and I can’t just give up and settle for one! I can’t just look past all of those late nights, impromptu team meetings, and probably some of the worst stress I’ve gone through. Time is running out and my circumstances don’t look too great, but I NEED TO PASS! There’s too many people looking out for me and keeping me in their prayers for me not to pass.

What makes my thoughts race even more is a conversation I had with one of my friends the other day. She was telling me how she doesn’t feel like she’s learning how to be an engineer, but rather being taught how to do a job. I definitely see where shes coming from. Its an ongoing joke in the engineering department of “What’s the purpose learning the material, if they’re just gonna teach you the way they want us to do it there.” Of course we’re not serious when we say this, but at the same time we are.

What have we really learned in college? I mean sure I can spit out some formulas, but I find myself kinda lost in direction. What do I really want to do as a career?

Thanks to @myHealthImpact for permitting me to share my thoughts.

by Victor Ajewole

November 25, 2014

Stressless Playlist

It’s almost finals season and the last thing you want is stress. It’s getting cold out and daylight savings makes the sunshine more precious with every passing day. Whenever I need some me time just to think, these are some songs I’ve been listening too recently.

Continue to follow @myhealthimpact on Twitter for more relaxing music when you need it the most!

by Denae Ford

November 19, 2014

Spoon Full of Sugar

The hottest topic in the news now is EBOLA. So naturally it makes sense that people have taken to their social media sites to share their opinion on the pandemic. They say that humor is the best way to sooth the soul, but the real question is how much is too much?

Source: Instagram

There are many memes circulating on Instagram and Twitter poking fun at Ebola. It makes you wonder whether or not people understand how serious this disease is. I think it’s the fact the people haven’t had a personal example with ebola. People never realize how serious something is until it happens to someone near and dear to them. I’m sure that the family of the Thomas Eric Duncan would not find these memes as hilarious. Thomas Eric Duncan was the first case of the ebola virus in the United States. Duncan unfortunately passed away last week in Texas due to the disease.

I guess it honestly really does come down to health literacy and how social media sprinkles sugar on situations so that they are easier to swallow. Allowing things to not appear as they truly are. The reasoning behind this could be that people are too afraid of the truth. They choose to hide their fears, especially on social media where it’s the easiest place to do that.