Poster Descriptions
Common Inborn Errors of Metabolism in Wisconsin
Jessica Scott Schwoerer and Ashley Kuhl
This community project is an initiative through the University of Wisconsin Genetics Clinic and the Wisconsin Newborn Screening Program to provide accessible, affordable kit testing to identify members of the Plain Population who are at risk for having children with Maple Syrup Urine disease (MSUD) or Propionic Acidemia (PA), or who have PA. Early identification of at-risk couples sets the foundation for early care of at-risk neonates, thereby improving future clinical outcomes. Eighty individuals were successfully tested; diagnosis was confirmed for three adults with PA, and one couple was identified to be at risk for having a child with PA.
Jessica Scott Schwoerer completed her medical education and genetics and biochemical genetics training at the University of Wisconsin and is now an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics there. She works with the Plain communities in the diagnosis and treatment of genetic disorders including newborn screen disorders.
Ashley Kuhl received her master’s in medical genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is currently a certified genetic counselor working the University of Wisconsin Metabolic and Medical Genetics Clinics and has the privilege of working with and providing care to Plain communities in Wisconsin.
Ensuring Quality and Safety of Canned Food
Jasjeet Bola
Canning is an effective way of preserving good quality food. The heating process destroys organisms that cause spoilage and illness. There are multiple published reports of illnesses associated with improperly canned food. Insufficient temperature treatment and inadequate pH in the final product have been identified as likely contributing factors in illness. The key to producing safe canned food is to use a validated recipe that will achieve proper temperatures, pH, and water activity, and verify and record processing steps.
Jasjeet Bola has been working as a public health inspector at Grey Bruce Health Unit, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, since 2011. He graduated from Ryerson University, Toronto, with a bachelor's of Applied Science Public Health in 2006.
The Pathway Publishers Journal: Family Life
Mark Dewalt
This poster explores the growth and changes in Family Life. The subscription rate of Family Life has seen dramatic growth with a subscription rate of 15,290 in 1968 and 28,485 by 1984. As of 2015 Family Life is the most popular of the Pathway Publishers journals. The 2015 subscription rate is 34,603, which is about 1,800 more than Young Companion and 7,000 more than Blackboard Bulletin. In 1968 the article topics focused on the areas of rules/expectations/advice (55 percent) and nature (10 percent). In 2015 the article topics focused on community/helping others (16 percent) and thankfulness/being positive (13 percent).
Mark W. Dewalt is professor of educational research at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He has been studying Amish educational practices for over twenty years. Dewalt teaches courses in Educational Research, Educational Practices in China, and Amish Culture.
Anna Evenson is a graduate student in the Counseling program at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, working to become a middle school counselor. She is currently a research assistant in the College of Education, working on several projects related to Amish culture and education.
Amish Caregiving of Older Adults
Helen Farrar
There is evidence that the Amish are increasingly interacting with western health care; however, little is known about how Amish older adults and their caregivers experience WHC services when they go outside of their family and community health care network. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to describe and explore Amish caregiving of older adults and their experiences with WHC from the perspective of Amish caregivers. Primary themes indicate that caregivers place significant cultural value on home caregiving, emphasize caregiving of older adults as a blessing, and relate misunderstandings between themselves and WHC as significant concerns.
Helen Farrar is a nurse educator and researcher specializing in gerontological and psychiatric nursing care. Her primary research interests include the experience of older adults in western health care systems and the use of community-based participatory research methods to partner with vulnerable populations in research.