1. Incoming Graduate Student Orientation
Welcome to PHE!
Incoming Graduate Student Orientation

3. Founded in 1887 by stone masons from the village of Roseto Valfortore’ in Italy.
With a total population of about 1600, nothing ever happened here…and that’s why it made national news in 1967.

4. The medical mystery of Roseto
No one under the age of 55 had died of a heart attack in 30 years.
Those between ages 65 – 85 had a 1% chance of dying of heart disease.
Deaths from any cause were 35% lower than the national average.

5. The Roseto Effect Three generations in each household
22 civic organizations in town
Very little ostentation
Evening strolls were the norm
No social isolation
Zero crime rate

6. The SPARTAN Effect

7. Schedule

8. Welcome to PHE!

9. Top 5 Things To Enhance Your UNCG Graduate Student Experience
Know where to get answers:
PHE grad student website:
Especially look at MPH / PhD Handbooks (and additional resources listed at end of handbook)
PHE graduate school calendar
UNCG Graduate School: (“Current students” and “Documents & Forms” links at top)
UNCG Graduate Student Bulletin:
6-tech (Information Technology Services):
PHE grad student listserv: Send to:
Also check archives: Go to -> Click on “Groups” -> My groups -> PHE Graduate Students #5

10. Top 5 Things To Enhance Your UNCG Graduate Student Experience
Know where to get answers But only after you have checked the resources on the previous page… we follow the “3 before me” policy
Questions about?
Who to see
Contact info
General questions related to policy/procedures
Barbara Henry
Coleman 437
Individual (specific situation) Graduate student questions related to policy/procedures
Mike Perko
Coleman 437C
Individual (specific situation) graduate student questions related to your graduate experience (e.g., coursework)
Your advisor
Listed under current student section Check PHE faculty page

11. Top 5 Things To Enhance Your UNCG Graduate Student Experience#4
Work smarter, not harder
Changing Behavior
Changing Behavior
What people think
changing behavior looks like
What changing behavior
really looks like

12. Top 5 Things To Enhance Your UNCG Graduate Student Experience#4
Work smarter, not harder
Resources:
Writing Center (
The Digital ACT (Action, Consultation, and Training) Studio (
Your instructors

13. Top 5 Things To Enhance Your UNCG Graduate Student Experience#3
Develop your professional and support networks
Lean on each other
Moral support
Professional support (feedback on drafts; study groups; ask questions)
Attend conferences / workshops
Introduce yourself to people while you are there
Meet with faculty outside of class (not just your instructors)

14. Top 5 Things To Enhance Your UNCG Graduate Student Experience#2
Don’t let your schoolwork get in the way of your education:
It takes more than a 4.0 to get a job
Have a resume (MPH) / CV (PhD) and look for ALL ways to add to it
Work with faculty to gain experience
Do a quality internship (MPH)
Join a professional organization – APHA, SOPHE, ESG
Develop expertise across competencies
Volunteer in the community, department

15. Top 5 Things To Enhance Your UNCG Graduate Student Experience#1
Have Goals (but be open to change and new opportunities)

16. Sick in America – we will and do get sick
A reminder that people will and do get sick. Loved ones, family members, us. A good prompt on why we do wellness and why it should be taken seriously.
100+ million Americans diagnosed with pre- or type 2 diabetes.
A major precursor to CVD is musculoskeletal health.
65% of Americans do not have their risk biomarkers under control.
70% of people take at least 1 Rx drug daily; 50% take 2; 20% take 5.

17. The Greatest Opportunity In The Last 200 Years
“The Health & Wellness industry is now a staggering $500 billion opportunity—it’s only going to get bigger due to a population whose health status is rapidly declining.”
- Paul Zane Pilzer
Wellness is not going away – its huge and will only continue to grow.

18. When it comes to Public Health…
Classic tag line – when it comes to wellness, “we are gong to need a bigger boat.”

19. Top 5 Things To Enhance Your UNCG Graduate Student Experience#1
Have Goals (but be open to change and new opportunities)
What are your next steps after you graduate? For MPH students: What might you want to do for your internship?
Yes, start thinking about what you will do after you graduate today! It is not too soon
What skills do you need to get there and be successful?
Consider health educator and core public health competencies
Also consider 21st century skills, such as:
Communication skills
Team work and collaboration
Problem solving
Time management

20. Welcome to the PHE Family!
Incoming Graduate Student Orientation