Underrepresented Population in COVID-19 Clinical Trials

January 17

Speaker: Joshua S. Yang, Ph.D., MPH, Professor, Department of Public Health, CSUF

Medical innovations have grown with investment in clinical research made by the United States. Ethnic minorities, however, have consistently been underrepresented in clinical trials, including cancer and now COVID-19 vaccine and therapy trials, despite the disproportionate impact on these communities. Additionally, young people and young people of color are underrepresented in trials. The lack of minority and young adult groups in trials may worsen existing health disparities due to concerns of access, cost, quality and appropriate use of therapeutics for diverse populations. In this presentation, preliminary results of a study to develop digital tools to increase young adult minority enrollment in clinical trials will be presented.

The Second Amendment and the Right to Bear Arms

January 31

Speaker: Rob Robinson, Associate Professor of Political Science, CSUF

The Second Amendment had long been the odd man out in Constitutional Law, receiving little judicial attention and generating even less caselaw. This neglect ended in 2008, when the Court first held that the Amendment guarantees an individual right to possess and bear weapons for self-defense. After years of refusing additional cases that might clarify this right, the conservative post-Trump Court decided NY State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen in the last Supreme Court term. What did this decision hold, and how might it affect state regulation of firearms going forward?  

New Syphilis in Older Adults

February 14

Speaker: Mojgan (Mo) Sami, Assistant Professor of Health Equity, CSUF

Sexual health among older adults is a major public health concern globally. The syphilis burden is increasing in older adults in China. This presentation will discuss the study aimed to describe factors associated with syphilis infection and diagnosis among older adults.

Disparities in Localized Malignant Lung Cancer Surgical Treatment: A Population-Based Cancer Registry Analysis

February 28

Speaker:  Dr. Lohuwa Mamudu, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, CSUF

Surgical treatment offers a favorable prognosis and five-year relative survival for lung cancer, especially for small, localized tumors. However, disparities exist in the receipt of lung cancer surgical treatment. Dr. Mamudu will highlight novel research findings on disparities in surgical treatment among patients diagnosed with localized malignant lung cancer using population-based cancer registry data. The findings provide a better understanding of factors influencing the receipt of surgical treatment for localized malignant lung cancer.

Well-Being

March 14

Speaker: Marla Parker

Zoom only

What are the overall dimensions of well-being (positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, accomplishment, health). 

Why well-being is not a solo endeavor, how to engage your community/family in your well-being journey, and developing a doable well-being plan and putting it on autopilot with tiny habits.  

No Class

March 28

The History and Ethics of True Crime

April 4

Speaker: Adam Golub, Professor and Graduate Advisor, American Studies, CSUF

Zoom only

Professor Golub’s research on “criminal crossovers” looks at true crime and popular culture. He is especially interested in the history of true crime and the ethics and consequences of turning true crime into a form of entertainment that saturates the culture and is essentially available “on demand.” He is also interested in trying to understand what it means when real criminals like Dahmer, Manson or Bundy enter into the popular culture as “characters” for our consumption. Is popular culture a helpful way for us to truly reckon with criminal transgression and its meaning, or is popular culture just endlessly retelling and recirculating the same sensationalized true crime stories (and the same characters) over and over again for pleasure and profit?