HealthNets Sponsors Partnerships in Health Conference

Some 150 health education teachers, physical education teachers and community health professionals attended the 12th annual Partnerships in Health Conference hosted by HealthNets at the Ruth S. Harley University Center in Garden City on November 7, 2013.

Founded by Adelphi University faculty in 1997, HealthNets is a professional organization that promotes the exchange of ideas in teaching and research among health educators.

Adelphi professor Cynthia Proscia led the conference. Approximately half the attendees were regulars and half were newcomers. Ms. Proscia established a partnership between HealthNets and the Nassau County Physical Education Consortium that led to a hundred paid participants two weeks before the conference.

Jean Harris, Ph.D., mentored Ms. Proscia and served as the conference coordinator. Dr. Harris moderated a general session on New York State mandates that featured Adelphi students, high school students and middle school students.

HealthNets co-founders Monica Homer, Ed.D., and Mary Barrese once again brought inspiring energy to the conference, which served to connect alumni with current faculty and students of the health studies programs.

Assistant Professor Kadi Bliss, Ph.D.,a first-time participant, presented the New York State guidance document refresher.

The conference featured presentations by several members of Adelphi’s faculty and staff: Adjunct professor Hanna Matatyaho of the New York State Department of Education and Christine Reslmaier, Adelphi Web Content Editor and student in the master’s program in Community Health Promotion, presented “Communication in the Educational Domain: Detaching from Technology”; adjunct professor Patricia Gremillion-Burdge, the coordinator of Healthy Schools NY, presented “Eat, Move, Succeed”; and Professor Devin Thornburg, Ph.D., presented “DASA – Bullying – Dignity for All Students Act.”