State of the HEDIR

With 2008 having recently ended I just wanted to send out my annual review of the HEDIR and reflect on some issues regarding health education, technology and what 2009 will hold.

2008 saw 1,242 messages posted. Archives of all HEDIR messages (since its inception) can be found at http://www.hedir.org/archives/2009/index.html. Messages are typically posted each Sunday.

The election certainly had a major focus of the conversation in September and October. However, several major themes highlighted the year. With a couple of exceptions, I thought the conversations were sincere, wide-ranging, and respectful. Nice job folks.

The HEDIR Directory

In addition to the HEDIR list, the HEDIR Directory continues to grow. At this time, we have over 3,050 individuals listed. Now, I’m sure some of these are inaccurate listings, so I ask that you go to www.hedir.org/directory and type your name in (you can also search by state and areas of interest). You should see your listing. If it’s inaccurate please click the Update Link on the directory website. If you see duplicates, please let me know (kittle@siu.edu) and I’ll remove the ‘duplicate’ information. Finally, if you see somebody’s information that is inaccurate, please let me know (or contact that person and let them know to update the directory).

I’m not sure how often people use this directory…I get an awful lot of emails each month asking if I know ‘Such and Such’s email’. When I direct them to the HEDIR directory they’re surprised that it exists. The bottom line is that this what started the HEDIR…an email directory. HEDIR actually stands for Health EDucation DIRectory. The directory started in 1992 and the HEDIR List started January 1, 1994.

The HEDIR Technology Award

2008 saw the HEDIR Technology Award go to Dr. Valerie Ubbes from Miami University. Dr. Ubbes received her award in San Diego at the American Public Health Association’s annual conference. This award, in cooperation with AAHE, has a luncheon sponsored by Pearson Publishing. Unfortunately, due to travel dollar restrictions, this was the first HEDIR Award luncheon that I was unable to attend.

There will be new changes for the 2009 Award Recipient. Instead of having the luncheon in the fall during APHA, the 2009 recipient will be honored at the AAHE Awards Luncheon and be given an opportunity to make a formal presentation at the next conference. I thank Becky Smith and the AAHE Board of Directors, for working with me and making those changes.

By the way, we are in the process of accepting nominations for the HEDIR Award. For more information, go to http://www.hedir.org/2009award.htm. This is a chance to recognize those health educators who are using technology to change our profession. Our previous winners include: Dr. Robert Gold (1997), Dr. Billie Lindsey (1998), Dr. Vic Strecher and Dr. Judy Baker (1999), Dr. Alyson Taub (2000), Dr. James Eddy (2001), Dr. Michael Pejsach (2002) and HPCAREER.net/Michaela Conley (2002), Dr. Don Chaney and Elaine Auld (2003), Dr. Min Qi Wang (2003), Dr. Mark Tomita (2004), Dr. Cristy Jefson (2007) and BlueKids.org (2007).

The HEDIR Photo Directory

The HEDIR also hosts the Picture directory. This idea came to light when at a national meeting somebody mentioned we should have some sort of photo directory. Since it’s practically impossible for the national organizations to pull something like that off (because of limited staffing) my staff and I created the Photo Page (www.hedir.org/people). Feel free to send me a photo and I’ll post it for you. I think it’s important that we add faces to our names/emails.

The HEDIR Blog

Probably the most exciting aspect of the this year has been the creation of the HEDIR Blog. I encourage all to visit the blog and feel free to respond to any of the writings listed. Observations of the blog are open to all-however, if you want to comment you’ll have to register. For this first month I’ve asked Larry Olsen, Bill Cissell, Tyler Watson, and Mark Fulop to help deliver some thoughts. We’ll be rotating these people periodically and I may be asking some of you to help with that process. Starting this week the HEDIR will get a brief memo/note indicating that a message has been posted. You can click to observe the message or you can simply delete. It is hoped that such prompting will encourage more people to visit the site (and make comments).

Sad News

The year brought some sad news…deaths of legends who I had personal connections with. Mary Sutherland, Elena Sliepcevich, Bill Carlyon and Peter Cortese all left us in 2008. Mary served as a key person when I started my first job at the University of Maine at Farmington in 1978. Her quiet persona and her wisdom was a perfect person for me to start my university career.

I first met Peter Cortese in 1982 (or whatever year he was president of AAHE). I approached Peter at the national AAHE conference where I was walking around the exhibit hall. I was dumbfounded at some of the products that were advertised by the Physical Education groups-things like the ‘Thigh Master’, tanning beds and a host of questionable ‘vitamin’ supplements. I approached Dr. Cortese and indicated that we (health educators) need to take the lead in the Alliance in identifying some sort of criteria on who can exhibit at the convention…he agreed and he did incorporate some changes (that to this day still exist).

I had the great pleasure of working with both Drs. Sliepcevich and Carlyon when I started at SIU in 1989. Being around Dr. Sliepcevich was indeed a real treasure. Watching the way she worked with students served to help me formulate my own strategy in advising PhD students. She showed that one should never allow a student to proceed to the prospectus or defense stage until she was completely certain that the student would succeed (seems logical but often this concept is violated). Dr. Carlyon was another very interesting person. He showed me a very different way to work with doctoral students…again, something I have also tried to emulate. Bill was very quiet at the prospectus/defense meetings, always stating his famous, self-deprecating line “I’ll let the people who know something ask questions.” The fact is Bill did know a lot…but he preferred to work with people prior to their defense (in the quiet of his office)…he never wanted to put the student in an awkward situation in front of their peers and professors.

Other News

Finally, 2008 saw an award given that was indirectly attributed to the HEDIR. As you probably know, I received the AAHE Scholar Award for 2008. With this, I get to give the scholar presentation this spring in Tampa. There’s no question that I received this award due to the HEDIR…and of course, the HEDIR would not exist without the contributions of the members. You, the subscriber of the HEDIR, make this list one of the most professional, active, and beneficial list in the health education profession. My talk this spring will focus on the role of technology within the health education profession. I am hoping that for those of you who will be attending the AAHE conference this spring that you attend my talk (scheduled for Friday, April 3, 10:15 am). For those of you who are unable to attend, I’ll create a podcast for you to download.

Again, I’d like to thank my staff for all of their support and hard-work but mostly I want to thank you for making the HEDIR what it is.