Homicide rates have increased in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties since 2004 nearly twice the rate of the national average. For the first time these rates are being examined as more than crime statistics, but statistics that have a significant effect on South Florida’s public health.

With the lives of victims, families and communities drastically altered by these acts of violence, homicide should be considered part of any public health prevention agenda argues Dr. Evelio Velis, associate director for Barry University’s master in health services administration program.

His research is an observational study of homicide victims in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties between 2004 and 2007. Data was obtained from the medical examiner’s office in both counties and was compared to identify associations and differences among selected groups.

His findings are bleak. Although Black Non-Hispanics account for 19 percent of the population in Miami-Dade County, 56 percent of homicide victims are in this ethnic group. The same trend can be seen in Broward County, where 53 percent of homicide victims are Black Non-Hispanics although the group makes up only 23 percent of the population. Likewise, Dr. Velis’ research shows that Hispanics faced a greater risk of being a victim of homicide in 2007 than in 2004 when he began his research.

Most startling, however, is the ages of the victims. In both counties, more than 80 percent of the victims aged between 14 and 17 were killed by gun-related injuries. Almost 90 percent died by this type of injury among victims aged 18 to 24.

According to his research, Velis asserts that a substantial portion of homicide victims are considerably young, with median age decreasing during his research. However, Velis hopes his research will bring attention to this issue across professional lines.

“The active participation of public health professionals should be a constant component in any effort aiming to reduce homicide. Addressing socio-economic factors such as poverty and education must be part of any intervention.”



Under a new articulation agreement with Nova Southeastern University (NSU) pre-med students at Jacksonville University (JU) now have a leg up in the medical school admissions process. The agreement establishes a dual admission 4+4 program for students who want to pursue their undergraduate degree at JU and seamlessly enter NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM).

“This strategic relationship with Jacksonville University will help to strengthen the higher education environment throughout our entire state, said Health Professions Division Chancellor, Dr. Fred Lippman. “The agreement will provide Florida students with enhanced access to NSU’s outstanding medical school and be instrumental in producing a number of tomorrow’s compassionate, caring physicians.”

NSU will reserve up to five slots annually for JU graduates who have completed undergraduate degrees and pre-med prerequisites. High school seniors seeking dual admission to the 4+4 program will need to apply to JU, and upon acceptance if eligible, apply and be interviewed at NSU. Upon completion of their bachelor’s degree and meeting the prescribed academic requirements, the students will matriculate into NSU’s medical school.



Gilda’s Club South Florida, a community for men, women, and children living with cancer, offers a School Re-Entry program for kids with cancer returning to school.

Going back to school can be scary and overwhelming for a child, imagine if you had no hair, or looked different from your friends.

Gilda’s Club offers a way that it can reduce the fear by attending class with the child and education the children what cancer is and that the children do not want to be treated different.

If you would like any information on this program please call Trish Lira at (954) 763-6776. A program can be scheduled just in time for returning to school.



Since its founding more than 130 years ago, Chatham College has earned a reputation for providing its students with a high-quality learning experience at its Shadyside, Pennsylvania campus. Now the College is taking this same level of learning online by providing continuous education courses for students all across the country.

“For students in the health care field, online learning provides a great opportunity for professional development,” said Stephen Anspacher, vice-president, Chatham College School of Continuing Education. “Taking online courses enables students to put themselves in a position to move up in their careers or to explore other facets of the health care industry without having to leave their current jobs.”

Chatham College currently offers a number of online degree programs in the health care field, and is launching even more this fall. These include an RN-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Master of Arts in Wellness; Master of Arts in Gerontology; Master of Education in Health; Master of Physician Assistant (post-professional); Master of Health Science and a Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD). While most courses are available to anyone with a bachelor’s degree, some, like the OTD, Physician’s Assistant and RN-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing, require that students be licensed, and the OTD also requires a master’s degree.

“One of the main things that differentiates our programs from other online graduate programs is our open-entry admissions process that makes it easier for busy adults to gain admission to the program,” said Anspacher. “There are no complicated applications to fill out or tests to take; in fact, students can often start within one day of applying.”

There are many benefits to taking advanced courses through an online program, according to student Joanie Campsie, who has been part of Chatham College’s RN-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing program for nine months. “Because it is an accelerated program, I will be able to finish it in about half the time of a conventional program,” she said. “And because it’s online, I can continue to work full-time while I’m taking it.”

Campsie says she most likes the flexibility of the program, which allows her to set her own parameters. “Another thing I like about it is that when you post your papers on the discussion board, you get a lot of feedback from other students about your work,” she said. “You wouldn’t get this kind of sharing with your peers in a typical ‘brick-and-mortars’ class, where the only person who would see your work is the professor.”

According to Anspacher, online courses are set up to offer the same benefits of traditional classes, including a small student-to-professor ratio of about 15 to 18 people. Instructors mediate the learning environment electronically, and courses require the same reading as their on-ground counterparts. Students are expected to log on roughly three to five hours per week, as well as work independently.

Campsie, who hopes to enter a nurse anesthesia program after receiving her degree from Chatham College, says that she believes online courses help to develop self-discipline. “People shouldn’t think that this is just a correspondence course—it really isn’t,” she said. “It requires a lot of independent learning, and you have to be motivated. There’s no one to push you but yourself.”

Most of Chatham’s health care programs take between 12 and 18 months to complete, and the cost per credit is the same as an on-ground course, with credits ranging from $583 each for an undergraduate course to $622 per credit for graduate courses. Most are three-credit courses.

“In addition to all of the advantages of taking an online course, such as the convenience and flexibility of working within your own schedule, students at Chatham can also take advantage of all of the other benefits of higher education, including financial aid, and bookstore and library support,” said Anspacher. “We make it easy to get back into the classroom.”

And easier to move up in the health care industry. “In the next 10 to 15 years, we are going to see a tremendous boom in health services occupations,” said Anspacher. “This is a great time for career professionals to get the training they need to position themselves for success.”



The Nova Southeastern University Nursing Department has received a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Florida to begin a 36-credit MSN designed for the working nurse executive who holds a bachelor’s degree in any field. Nurses in director-level positions or above may complete this online program in as little as 18 months. In this program, the nurse executive will complete course assignments designed specifically meet real workplace issues related to JACHO accreditation, magnet status, and fiscal and human resource management issues. The new MSN track was developed in response to American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) new requirement that Chief Nursing Officers in Magnet facilities hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing. Nurse executives in Florida hospitals may receive tuition assistance through this grant.