Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Windber Research Institute
Center for Health
Promotion and
Disease Prevention
Annual Review
2011
A Letter from Tom Kurtz:
The message in my 2010 Annual Report has become even more formidable and clear. The Center
for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
(CHPDP) at Windber Research Institute is a very
dynamic and progressive resource for health services and health systems worldwide.
Though the country has many political and societal
challenges to confront, the importance of health
promotion continues to experience growth in the
U.S. The health promotion programs, developed
and supported by WRI, now play an integrated role
at local, regional, national and international levels.
Tom Kurtz, MBA
President & CEO, Windber Research Institute
The public health and biomedical scientists at WRI
continue to be innovative and creative in their collaboration, research and service to the community.
The CHPDP team is progressive, passionately dedicated and extremely professional in their ongoing
effort to provide better health for all.
Matt Masiello, MD, MPH, FAAP
Chief Wellness/Medical Officer, Windber Research Institute
Director, Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention
Tom Kurtz, MBA
President & CEO, Windber Research Institute
The Honorable Judge Klementik, JD
Chairman, Windber Research Institute Board of Directors
Prepared by:
Charvonne N. Holliday, MPH
Research Associate, Center for Health
Promotion and Disease Prevention
Windber Research Institute
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Contents
A Letter from Tom Kurtz, MBA, President & CEO, Windber Research Institute
Executive Summary, Matt Masiello, MD, MPH, FAAP
National and International Programs
Bullying Prevention
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Health Promotion in a Pediatric Asthma Clinical Setting: the Expanded Chronic Care Model
World Health Organization
New Programmatic Ventures
Cambria County Health Coalition
Continued Support from the Highmark Foundation
Holistic Educational Approach to Learning
Pennsylvania Youth Survey
Pfizer Project
Past Significant Public Health Programmatic Activity
Center Staff
Grants
Photos
Links
Presentations and Publications
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“Health is considered a human right and thus we are committed,
through political will and leadership, to assure this right for all.”
-Matt Masiello, MD, MPH, FAAP
Plenary Session, WHO Health Promoting Hospital & Health Services International Conference,
Turku, Finland, June 2011
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Executive Summary
Health– No Boundaries
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame,
in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”
-Thomas Edison (1847 - 1931)
In the 2010 Executive Summary I had the opportunity to comment on the ―hope‖ the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (CHPDP) at the Windber Research Institute (WRI) was providing to countless numbers of children, adults and families. When I referred to my ―Health is Everywhere‖ commentary in
the 2010 report, it was meant to serve as an impetus to other health systems and health service providers to
think outside the box, not to apply any constraints, but go forth to design and implement strategies to provide
both good medical care and the science of public health to our citizens.
Though we are all dealing with a multitude of economic challenges we are also living in an environment
where there is a greater emphasis on wellness and health promotion. As the CHPDP prepares to comment on
the cost benefit to our multimillion-dollar statewide bullying prevention initiative, it is implied that the theories and practices of public health got us to this very important point. To comment on the savings to health
care systems, foundations, and other nongovernmental and governmental agencies in their support of strategically designed health promotion programs is a significant accomplishment in this health care reform movement. Many other ―health services‖ and ―health systems‖ are now developing health promotion strategies that
are beneficial to the community as well as to their bottom line.
CHPDP’s consultative and programmatic relationship with colleges, universities and health systems continues across Pennsylvania and beyond. In our six-year relationship with the World Health Organization –
Health Promoting Hospital Network, CHPDP at WRI now has a position on the Governance Board of that
international organization, which has expanded beyond Europe and rapidly into Asia. In addition, our U.S.Pennsylvania network has expanded. St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, PA is now part of the Pennsylvania Network of health systems. The prevalence of child and adult asthma is increasing worldwide. With the
collaborative effort beginning in 2008, WRI has developed a formal agreement with the third largest health
care system in Europe. This international clinical health promotion initiative will serve as a resource for clinicians and health systems in the application of the Chronic Care Model for both children and adults. We are
innovative, collaborative and working together for better health for our communities.
CHPDP continues to have a growing number of requests to publish the results of our work and speak at various state, regional, national and international forums. Due to the ongoing support of our President and CEO,
Tom Kurtz and our Board of Directors led by The Honorable Judge Klementik, the future of CHPDP remains
exciting and productive. We look forward to developing those positive, innovative and friendly public health
relationships with health, business and educational professionals worldwide. Thank you.
Matthew Masiello, MD, MPH
Pediatrician and Director, Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
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National and International
Programs
I. The significance of evidence-based bullying prevention
Highmark Healthy High 5 Bullying Prevention in PA
$9 million in funding
# of schools impacted: more than 400
# of students impacted: over 210,000
# of Olweus trainers in PA: 117
# of teachers impacted: 17,000
# of parents impacted: 345,000
Largest bullying prevention initiative in the U.S.
Highmark Healthy High 5 HALT!® A Bullying Prevention Program:
CHPDP has been named a signature partner under the Highmark Healthy High 5 Initiative™. This initiative
was created by the Highmark Foundation in 2006 to concentrate on five important issues affecting the lives of
children and families in Pennsylvania: self-esteem, grief, physical activity, nutrition and bullying. In heading
the efforts to address bullying under this initiative, CHPDP has implemented HALT!® A Bullying Prevention
Program in a 49-county area of Pennsylvania. We have collaborated with Sue Limber, PhD of Clemson University, as well as the Center for Safe Schools’ PA CARES (Creating an Atmosphere of Respect and Environment for Success) initiative. These programs utilize methods and strategies that have been proven effective
over the early course of our programmatic activities in bullying prevention. CHPDP has created a unique cross
-agency partnership that endorses a public health approach to awareness, prevention and intervention.
The HALT!® program’s home base is located at CHPDP in Windber, Pennsylvania, but virtual Centers for Excellence exist in the York/Harrisburg area, Erie area, and Allegheny County. All sites are directed by CHPDP
utilizing certified Olweus Bullying Prevention Trainers who serve as site coordinators.
The overall mission of the HALT!® Program is to:





Bring bullying prevention strategies to schools and communities who lack
current intervention.
Educate students, parents, and faculty about the issues surrounding bullying.
Enhance the school climate towards a more positive, civil model for all children.
Enhance the effectiveness of teacher and parent intervention when bullying
behavior arises.
Provide resources for all schools in targeted areas that may need additional
resources to enhance bullying prevention efforts.
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School districts participating in HALT!® complete three years of program implementation and evaluation.
During the first six months of that time, schools identify key personnel who are charged with leading program
implementation, reviewing and adjusting school district policies and procedures regarding bullying,
coordinating training of teachers and ancillary staff and educating parents on the topic of bullying and the
HALT!® program. During year one, HALT!® trainers provide technical assistance, program materials and onsite support to schools on a weekly basis. A second focus of HALT!® is to offer quality assurance for schools
implementing the OBPP, providing support to increase readiness and minimize known fidelity risks. In partnership with the Center for Safe Schools, a division of the Center for Schools and Communities, HALT! ® also
provides feedback and support to trainers delivering the OBPP in Pennsylvania, as well as targeted information
and referrals to students, parents and families who are experiencing bullying firsthand.
Key behavioral impacts that resulted from implementation of our bullying prevention initiative:
The initial goal of the Highmark Foundation bullying prevention effort was to reduce bullying and produce a
positive change in school climate by the end of the 3-year implementation period. Reductions in bullying are
measured using students’ responses to two key questions: the frequency with which they have bullied others
and the frequency with which they have been bullied within the last couple of months. (See graphs below)
Percentage of Students
Graph 1. Percent of Students Being Bullied 2-3 times/month or more: 2008 cohorts (RC=Relative Change)1
Reductions in students’ self-reports of being bullied were observed in all age groups, meaning fewer students
reported being victimized.
______________________
1
Clemson University researchers used a measure of relative change which is calculated as the difference in percentages between
the baseline (initial or T1) assessment prior to program implementation and subsequent assessments (final or Tx where Tx is the
most recent data point). As an example, if the percentage of bullied students in elementary school is 20% at Time 1 (baseline) and
15% at Time 2 (after 6+ months of implementation), the relative change score will be -25% [(15-20)*100/20 = -25%].
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Percentage of Students
Graph 2. Percent of Students Bullying Others 2-3 times/month or more: 2008 cohorts
Likewise reductions in the number of students who reported that they had bullied others were seen across all
age groups.
Bullying Prevention Institute Overview:
The Highmark Healthy High 5 Bullying Prevention Institute was founded by, and is supported by, the Highmark Foundation. The Bullying Prevention Institute (BPI) was created to afford professional development and
educational opportunities to school personnel and other professionals as part of the wide-scale implementation
of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in Pennsylvania. CHPDP at WRI serves as ―project consultant‖
for the BPI.
The Bullying Prevention Institute provides support in the following ways:
 Maintains the BPI website, which includes background information and insight as well as bullying prevention best practices for school personnel and their students and colleagues.

Plans and presents Continuing Education sessions, which are designed to increase the skill level of school
personnel involved in bullying prevention initiatives. To date, these sessions have attracted more than
3,000 individuals, including certified OBPP trainers, school OBPP coordinating committee members, administrators and others concerned about bullying.

Funds research to establish key baseline measures and continued benchmarking that will allow for analysis
of the impact of investments made within Pennsylvania to prevent bullying.

Supports two school-based prevention programs funded through Highmark Healthy High 5: HALT!® A
Bullying Prevention Program and PA CARES.

Funds and develops enhancements to the OBPP, based on identified need in Pennsylvania.
It is our hope to bring as much focus as possible to the issue of bullying through the efforts of HALT! ® and
BPI. Dr. Matthew Masiello, Director of the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention will orchestrate community awareness opportunities to engage parent groups, school personnel, media representatives
and others in discussion about the physical and social well-being of students involved in bullying, whether as
victims, bullies or bystanders.
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Hershey Summit
In October 2007, CHPDP hosted a bullying prevention summit drawing more than 750 attendees, in Hershey,
Pennsylvania; the inaugural event of the Highmark Healthy High 5 Bullying Prevention Institute. The event
included a lineup of nationally recognized presenters, experts and leaders in bullying prevention; a ―Stand Up!
Speak Out! Teen Forum‖ that engaged teenagers in a discussion of the impact bullying has on students and
their school environment; and a half-day primer on bullying prevention, ―Bullying Prevention 101: A Look at
the Basics of Bullying Prevention.‖ The overwhelming interest in the summit spurred planning for further, regional, ongoing continuing education sessions.
This year, The Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention added a hotline
managed by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Jim Bozigar. The hotline allows parents and
students to seek immediate attention regarding bullying, suicide, and depression.
II. Cost-Benefit Analysis
When evaluating a health promotion or disease prevention program, cost-benefit analysis
should be considered a vital component of the program’s impact. New economic challenges, as
well as healthcare reform in general, places a greater importance on determining the cost benefit of such programs. The OBPP was introduced into Pennsylvania schools through funding from a regional foundation, resulting in decreased reports of bullying. The long term health effects of bullying on victims, bystanders, and
bullies are only beginning to be understood. This project is the first of its kind to examine the cost benefit
analysis (CBA) of the OBPP model as related to health outcomes. Our hypothesis is that, from a commercial
insurer’s perspective, the cost of the OBPP intervention will be less than treating the bullying-related health
outcomes.
The incremental cost-benefit from a payer's perspective was generated by Dr. Carla Zema, PhD by comparing
the cost of implementing OBPP in 49 counties in PA for all school-age children (grades K-12 based on PA Department of Education enrollment reports) with the savings due to decreased utilization of the health-related
consequences of bullying over three years. OBPP implementation costs include: trainer costs, materials/
supplies, administrative support, trainer consultation, and data support. Health-related consequences of bullying included in the model: mental health disorders (depression, anxiety, ADHD and other behavioral conduct
disorders), psychosomatic symptoms, migraine and recurrent headaches, abdominal pain, and alcohol abuse.
Program costs and reductions in bullying were based on the actual implementation of OBPP in PA. Prevalence of health-related consequences of bullying, treatment rates and costs were determined through published
literature.
This study demonstrated the overall cost of program implementation is minimal when the
benefits regarding savings in bullying-related health care costs are considered.
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III. Health Promotion in a Pediatric Asthma Clinical Setting:
the Expanded Chronic Care Model
The prevalence of pediatric asthma is increasing worldwide (The Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc.,
2010) and is often underdiagnosed (de Marco, Cerveri, Bugiani, Ferrari, & Verato, 1998). This is despite a
rather sophisticated advancement in clinical management, and to some degree, educational support to this
population. (Guarnaccia et al., 2007). What we are now realizing is that the clinical pathway represents only
one part of what is necessary to care for children with asthma.
The relationship of smoking and asthma has been demonstrated at multiple levels (Gomez, Vollmer, Caceres,
Jossen, & Baena-Cagnani, 2009). More recent research has also demonstrated a relationship between obesity
and newly diagnosed asthma in school aged children; television viewing and exercise (Corbo et al., 2008). In
addition, children with asthma are certainly placed in that category of children with special needs; thus, being
exposed to other social challenges such as school-based bullying (Blackman & Gurka, 2007).
Since 1999 and under the direction of Dr. Sebastiano Guarnaccia, the Laboratorio Clinico Pedagogico e Ricerca Biomedica, Spedali Civili, has been active in developing a comprehensive clinical environment serving
the children of Brescia (Guarnaccia et al., 2007). In addition, this third largest health care system in Europe
has been committed to the development and practical use and institutional dissemination of the Chronic Care
Model (CCM). The relationship between the two, pediatric asthma and the chronic care model, has been positively demonstrated in that the implementation of the CCM has resulted in better outcomes for this population
(Mangione-Smith et al., 2005). Most recently, an electronic database has been developed by Dr. Sebastiano
Guarnaccia and his team at the Ospedale dei Bambini, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy. The database is able to
document the demographics, clinical management and progress of the identified patient population. In addition, it is intended to integrate with the clinical practices of the physicians of the region.
The Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the Windber Research Institute is nationally and
internationally recognized for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of evidence-based programs in
a community, especially in schools. This Pediatrician/Public Health Professional-led Center has been quite
active in addressing the public health issues of childhood obesity and school-based bullying.
Since 2010, and with support from Pfizer, Inc., the two centers, both members of the WHO-HPH Network,
have worked cooperatively to develop a clinical health promotion database, Expanded Chronic Care Model.
These indicators will allow the clinical/health promotion team to document and follow important health/social
issues impacting the life of a pediatric asthma patient on. This two year collaboration has now allowed for the
development of an initiative that will provide a health promotion component to the existing pediatric clinical
environment in Spedali Civili; with both components supporting the new database.
Le parti interessate (Stakeholders)
1. Il Laboratorio Clinico Pedagogico e Ricerca Biomedica (LCPeRB), Az.
Spedali Civili, Bs;
2. L’Associazione ALCP e RB;
3. L’ Azienda Spedali Civili di Brescia;
4. Il Windber Research Institute, PA - USA;
5. L’Istituto Farmacologico di Ricerca Mario Negri;
6. L’Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Brescia;
7. L’Università Statale di Brescia;
8. L’Ufficio Scolastico Regionale;
9. Il Comune di Brescia, la Provincia, la Regione;
Dr. Sebastiano Guarnaccia, WHO
10. Gli Ordini professionali (medici, farmacisti, infermieri….)
International Conference on Health
Promoting Hospital & Health Services,
11. Il Rotary club Brescia Sud-Ovest Maclodio-Distretto 2050
Turku Finland, June 2011
12. La Fondazione della Comunità Bresciana
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IV. World Health Organization
International Network of Health Promoting Hospitals & Health Services
In 2010 Dr. Masiello was elected to serve as the U.S. representative to the WHO-HPH International Governance Board.
The World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the
United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the
health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing
technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.
USA - Pennsylvania Network of HPH
-Member Hospitals and Health Services
Saint Mary Medical Center, Langhorne, PA
Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA
Windber Medical Center, Windber, PA
Windber Research Institute, Windber, PA
**Saint Mary Medical joined the PA Network in 2011
Health Promoting Hospitals
The Health Promoting Hospitals (HPH) project and network facilitates change to promote total quality management of the hospital. It produces evidence to help hospitals achieve their health mission and to support
cooperation and exchanges of experience between participating hospitals. Health promotion is considered a
core quality dimension of hospital services as well as patient safety and clinical effectiveness. Against the
rising incidence of chronic diseases, the provision of health promotion services is an important factor for
sustained health, quality of life and efficiency. The
project also addresses the health of staff and the link
of the hospital to its community.
It has the following objectives:
 To change the culture of hospital care towards interdisciplinary working, transparent decisionmaking and with active involvement of patients
and partners.
 To evaluate health promotion activities in the
health care setting and build an evidence-base in
this area.
 To incorporate standards and indicators for health
promotion in existing quality management systems
at hospital and at national levels.
With support from Pfizer, Inc., the following members of the PA HPH Network attended and presented at the 19th WHO International Conference on Health Promoting Hospital & Health Services
in Turku, Finland: Dr. Masiello, Dr. Zema, Tom Kurtz, Barbara Adons, Charvonne Holliday.
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Cambria County Health Coalition
A prioritization on childhood and adult obesity
The County Health Rankings (CHR) released in 2010 by the University of Wisconsin and Robert Wood Foundation compared the overall health and wellness of every county in the U.S. Among 67 counties in Pennsylvania, Cambria County is ranked 64th concerning health outcomes and 51st regarding health factors. Some of the
most adverse health issues in this area include poor health behaviors, and socioeconomic factors, resulting in
increased morbidity and mortality.
Following the release of the CHR in February 2010, WRI initiated community interest on these findings
through media attention. Subsequently, the Cambria County Commissioners were contacted and agreed to host
a legislative health forum in Johnstown, PA, where Tom Kurtz, President and CEO of WRI spoke of the responsibilities of organizations, such as WRI, to address the health needs of our community. At this session,
Matthew Masiello, MD, MPH, Director of CHPDP, presented recent WRI community health data and a PowerPoint entitled, Cambria County Health Rankings: A Call to Action. Multiple stakeholders attended the forum, including community human service agencies; local and regional non-profit organizations; local and regional governmental agencies; health care providers; schools (elementary, high school, college, and university); a national pharmaceutical representative, and representatives from the media. Following the forum an
electronic survey was generated as a tool to prioritize issues and distributed to those who attended the forum.
The survey was also made available on a WRI informational website designed for this project. The coalition
then developed an action plan with a decision to further evaluate the available health data as well as to identify
additional stakeholders and become more aware of community programs.
County-specific issues were prioritized, and the implementation of appropriate programming was initiated.
According to the survey, general poor/fair health, adult obesity, unemployment, children living in poverty and
access to healthy foods were the most concerning issues (response rate: 54%). The coalition decided to focus
their efforts and resources on childhood and adult obesity in Cambria County.
Preliminary discussion and planning by coalition members resulted in the need to discuss future development
and evaluation of the existing KidShape® and TeenShape® programs from a public health perspective. Both
initiatives are evidence based, Highmark Foundation funded wellness awareness programs for obese or at-risk
children, adolescents, and their families that have impacted many Cambria County children through the cohorts facilitated by WRI since 2006.
This Coalition is now tasked to develop an expanded public health approach to enhanced community participation in KidShape® and TeenShape®. Community stakeholders need to be identified to lead this obesity prevention/health promotion initiative as well as identifying additional community and school based resources
and programs to maximize participation, pre-event planning and effective follow-up sessions for these Highmark funded initiatives.
For more information about the Cambria County Health Coalition, Please visit:
www.healthiercountieswri.org
―We are failing in our ability to address the issue of obesity. It is a public health issue
and must be addressed in such a manner‖
--Dr. Matt Masiello, Director,
Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Windber Research Institute
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New Programmatic Ventures
In the past year, CHPDP has established regional academic partners through generating undergraduate public
health curricula, research, and professorship. In addition, CHPDP has formed a partnership with Washington
& Jefferson College regarding Combat Stress Intervention Program (CSIP).
Academic Partners:

Washington & Jefferson College
-CHPDP has been contracted to provide public health support regarding W&J’s Combat Stress
Intervention Program.

Saint Francis University
-CHPDP has supported the development of an undergraduate Public Health curriculum for the
university. Dr. Masiello is an adjunct professor at Saint Francis University.

University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
-CHPDP assisted in the development of a smoking cessation policy which will be presented at the
Pennsylvania Public Health Association in September 2011. Dr. Masiello serves as the university’s
Medical Director while Diana Schroeder is the Program Coordinator for the BSN program and a fulltime faculty member.

Saint Vincent College-Saint Vincent College is a member of the WHO-HPH Pennsylvania Network which is coordinated by
CHPDP. Furthermore, Carla Zema, PhD an Assistant Professor at Saint Vincent College has worked
with CHPDP in determining the cost-benefit of implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention
Program.

Pennsylvania Highlands College
-Charvonne Holliday is an Adjunct Professor in the Health Sciences Department.

Allentown School District
-CHPDP is working with the school district to enhance their bullying prevention activities and student
health activities.
Combat Stress Intervention Program:
National Guard units and Reserve forces in Pennsylvania have been dramatically impacted by Operation Iraqi
Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). CSIP is a is a three-year, Department of Defense
funded research grant examining the mental health needs of Reserve and National Guard veterans from rural
Southwestern Pennsylvania returning from deployments supporting OIF and OEF. CSIP and its research partners at WRI and Clemson University will investigate ways to reduce barriers to mental health care by engaging mental health care providers, family members, and the community to help them to understand how they
can better serve the veteran population.
Development of Undergraduate Curricula:
National emphasis has been placed on the development of undergraduate programs to include the core
competencies of health promotion and disease prevention. WRI has supported this concept in working with
colleges to develop unique, undergraduate public health curricula and other health promotion and disease
prevention efforts.
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Continued Support from the
Highmark Foundation
KidShape® and TeenShape®
KidShape® and TeenShape® are family weight-management programs designed for children ages 6 to 14 and 13 to 17, respectively, who have a BMI above the 85th percentile. KidShape®
and TeenShape® are included in the Highmark Healthy High 5
initiative which promotes healthy habits in children’s health issues including nutrition, grieving, physical activity, self-esteem,
and bullying. Funded by the Highmark Foundation and offered
through the Windber Research Institute, fourteen KidShape®
cohorts have taken place in Cambria and Somerset Counties
since 2004. Kidshape® sites rotate throughout these communities.
Participants are taught health initiatives in weekly, two-hour sessions held over a nine week period, while accompanied by an
adult or caregiver. Improving eating habits, decreasing sedentary
behaviors, increasing daily physical activity, and enhancing selfesteem are emphasized under the supervision of a site coordinator, mental health professional, certified exercise instructor, and
a registered dietician. Incorporated into the program are peer and
support groups, physical activity, and nutrition education
through hands on educational activities that both the parent or
caregiver and child can enjoy.
Staff:
Tonya Spader Dickson
Matt Smith
Bridget Wilson
Tony Kline
Mary Jo Bam
Jane Maslonik
Dominick Ricupero
Kathy Masiello
SUCCESSES

®
Since 1987, the KidShape program
has had more than 12,000 kids graduate
nationally; 80% have kept the weight off
for at least two years; several hundred
have graduated from CHPDP’s program;
87% of those have lost weight
Previous Sites:
Central Cambria School District
 Children who complete the program
have shown a 50% decrease in television
Conemaugh Township School District
watching
Ferndale School District
 Children who complete the program
First Presbyterian Church
have also shown a 30% decreased intake
Forest Hills School District
of fats and sweets
Greater Johnstown School District
 Children who complete the program
Penn Cambria School District
have shown a 500% increase in exercise
Richland School District
Saint Patrick’s, Johnstown
Westmont School District
Windber Area School District
To enroll in an upcoming cohort or learn more about KidShape, please call (814) 361-6966
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HEAL®
Holistic Educational Approach to Learning
The HEAL® (Holistic Educational Approach to Learning) Program is a training program geared towards helping educators reach and teach the whole child, placing an emphasis on the learning and development of children and adolescents. Developed by Windber Medical Center, the Center for Health Promotion and at Windber Research Institute, and Windber Area School District (WASD), the pilot program includes was launched
within the Windber Area School District in 2010 and has since been extended to Allentown School District
this year. The program includes a series of four, full-day professional development sessions aimed at teacher
practices, but with measurable outcomes for both teachers and students.
ͻ ͻ ͻ ͻ ͻ ͻ ͻ ͻ
The goal of the HEAL® Program is to equip educators with the tools and knowledge necessary to effect
changes in the classroom that impacts individual student health and fitness, enhance academic achievement, and improve self-esteem. Students come from
Focuses
different socioeconomic backgrounds, endure a spectrum of nurturing, dysfunctional, and even frightening
I. Wellness, education, and research
home situations, and carry with them an array of physiII. Childhood development and disease awareness
ological, behavioral, nutritional and developmental
stumbling blocks. These factors may hinder learning
III. Childhood environment and learning
and often play out in the classroom as disinterest, laziIV. Resiliency
ness, disruptive behavior, and for many, poor performance. Program participants will also be instructed in
how adopting and modeling healthy habits and positive attitudes of their own can benefit everyone’s educational experience.
Windber Area School teachers at a HEAL® training.
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Pennsylvania Youth Survey
The Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS), a comprehensive youth-at risk behavior survey, is administered by
the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Cambria County is the only county in
Pennsylvania to initiate a bi-annual survey with this type of collaboration. Since 2004, all eligible students in
twelve public schools and every parochial school have been surveyed. In 2010, a total of 3,706 Cambria County students in grades 6, 10, 11 and 12 were surveyed. The PAYS reports on student’s attitudes and behaviors,
as well as knowledge about alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and delinquent behavior. The results of the survey
help to monitor trends over the years in order for special attention to be directed toward specific areas of concern.
The 2009 PAYS results indicated that students in the county have lower than normal national rates for Marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, and hallucinogen use. However, these students have higher than state or national rate of
alcohol and tobacco use, and there is a growing concern for gambling in eighth grade males. More than thirty
percent of eighth graders are involved in Internet or lottery gambling, sports betting, and table games. Other
problems among county students include early onset of alcohol experimentation as well as Internet and school
bullying.
PAYS also measures student percentages of protective factors—assets important to the community that reduce
risky behavior. The highest percentages are seen in school rewards for prosocial involvement, belief in the
moral order and family attachment. In addition to protective factors, risk factors that increase a student’s likelihood of becoming involved with drugs, alcohol, or delinquent behaviors is measured. Among students in the
county, community disorganization, perceived availability of handguns, and perceived availability of drugs
risk factors need improvement.
Although alcohol and tobacco use rates among county students are high, results since 2000 demonstrate the
overall experimentation and regular use of alcohol has decreased, as well as experimentation and regular use of
marijuana, specifically in the eighth grade. Throughout the years there has been a large decrease in cigarette
use across all grade levels, while a large increase in chewing tobacco experimentation is seen in eight and tenth
grade students. The PAYS survey allows the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention to communicate to the schools the areas of concern and improvement in student behaviors throughout the county, in
addition to identifying the successfulness of the programs, and to make recommendations to schools on how to
address these problem areas or seek additional resources.
Cambria County is the only county in Pennsylvania to initiate a bi-annual survey of
all students in 12 school districts and every parochial school in the area.
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Pfizer Project
“Good health is vital to all of us, and finding sustainable solutions to the most pressing health care
challenges of our world cannot wait.” -Pfizer, Inc.
In 2008, Dr. Masiello received the Pfizer funding to conduct research on the public health advocacy roles of
a hospital in the healthcare reform movement, as well as further demonstrating the benefits of health promotion partnerships between government, hospitals and health service.
Large population-based Health Promotion initiatives:

The World Health Organization-Health Promoting Network continues to grow in the U.S. The network in
Pennsylvania and Connecticut continue to expand in the form of hospitals and health services. Dr. Masiello
now represents the U.S. as a member of the Governance Board.

The development of public health curricula is taking place in a number of schools through-out Pennsylvania. Such training is lacking not only in Pennsylvania, but around the country.

Pediatric asthma is an increasing medical and public health concern, worldwide. Through the support of
Pfizer, Dr. Masiello and Dr. Sebastiano Guarnaccia of Brescia, Italy, have joined to improve pediatric
asthma treatment through utilization of the Expanded Chronic Care Model.

A pilot initiative involving the entire, 200 teacher faculty of a Pennsylvania school district was developed
to introduce adults to this social, physical and physiological issue of children as well as holistic health
practice for themselves, the teachers, to reduce their personal stress and anxiety in their teaching environment. This initiation is a Holistic Educational Approach to Learning, also known as HEAL®. These activities/impacts were evaluated resulting in a formal report presently in preparation for journal submission.

In 2010, RWJ and the University of Wisconsin released The County Health Rankings Report. Based on
existing, local, regional and state health data, all U.S. counties were ranked against each other at the state
level. Cambria County was ranked 64/67. WRI initiated a successful county wide response to the report,
Cambria County Health Rankings Initiative, resulting in a multi-agency/educational institution initiation to
aggressively and collaboratively address childhood and adult obesity. The University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown campus, has provided our intern to support the project.

Human Rights-A slow (change of Collaborative Center site) but deliberate process is taking place to introduce the concept of the Rights of Children in a Hospital Setting to the U.S. health care environment.

The issue of children in a war time setting and the relationship to the stated mission of U.S. institutions responsible for the care and wellness of children was discussed at the 2010 annual American Public Health
Association in Denver, Colorado.
Presentation: Masiello, M.G. & Jarosz, D. The Prevention of War Related Deaths of Children: The
Advocacy Role of Pediatricians and the American Academy of Pediatrics. American Public Health
Association, Denver, CO, November, 2010
17
Previous Significant Projects
The Pennsylvania Cancer Education Network
Summary
The Pennsylvania Cancer Education Network (PACEN) is a statewide effort, funded by the PA Department
of Health to increase citizens’ awareness of prevention and early detection of four cancers (colorectal, skin,
ovarian and prostate), representing one third of the state’s cancer burden. Through a subcontract with Fox
Chase Cancer Center, Jennifer Saylor from the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at
Windber Research Institute was selected to provide programming in southwestern PA. Targeting the counties
of Cambria, Indiana, Somerset and Westmoreland, 85 programs have reached 1,251 people over the course
of twenty-four months.
Fiscal Year 2009-2010
From July 2009 through June 2010, 33 programs
reached nearly 500 attendees. In 2010, alone, 22 programs were presented to 272 people on the topics of
colorectal, prostate and ovarian cancers. Skin cancer
was removed from the repertoire in 2010 due to lack
direct funding for that topic, and scheduling of programming was halted entirely in March, as the DOH
reassessed remaining funds for the contract year. The
current grant cycle concludes June 30, 2010. Continuation is unknown at this time.
Overall Attendance 2008-2010
290
290
Skin
Prostate
Prostate
Colorectal
Ovarian
Colorectal
Ovarian
Skin
122
262
All of the ASI Social Centers of Indiana County received prostate cancer education in April 2010, while all
of the Somerset County Low Vision meetings received colorectal cancer education in May and June 2010. In
addition, Somerset County employees, St. Vincent College students and staff, as well as the senior citizens of
Jackson Township (Cambria County), all received educational programming.
Success and Collaboration
Because the PACEN is partly education and partly research, data is collected at each program in the form of
a pre-post knowledge and attitude survey, as well as a sign in sheet requesting contact information for follow
up. In fall of 2008, three programs were presented to members of Somerset Blind and Low Vision through
the Windber Library’s ―Hot Coffee and Conversation‖ series. Due to the limited vision of most of the attendees, we were only able to collect names for attendance records at the first presentation. The second and
third sessions had better results, thanks in part to the assistance of a county blind and low vision worker, and
a WMC volunteer (volunteer only at one program).
Sessions Held in 2008-2010
17
Skin
19
Ovarian
12
Colorectal
17
Prostate
0
5
10
15
In spring of 2010, five programs were presented to
twice the number of members of Somerset Blind and
Low Vision (and some county senior center members)
through regional monthly meetings. Thanks to the coordination of Barb Bubenko in Windber Medical Center’s
volunteer services, we were able to increase the amount
of completed program surveys for this population by
54% from 2008 to 2010.
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18
Other Past Significant Public Health Programmatic Activity
Think First for Kids and Teens Injury Prevention Program – Has resulted in a decrease in trauma related
pediatric ER visits in Cambria County, with over 7,000 children participating.
School-based Bike Safety Clinics – A state recognized, innovative initiative allowing for hundreds of children per event to participate in a formal educational program.
Car Seat Safety Clinic – Car seat clinics have now been established in the community allowing all citizens
to have their car seat and belts checked for proper use and wear.
CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Survey – A Highmark supported initiative survey that assesses adults on
health-risk behaviors and comments on the prevalence in the community.
Dental Program – Over 2,000 children participating with a specific partnership developed with the Head
Start population.
Tobacco Cessation Project – In partnership with the tobacco funded groups numerous, successful and innovative programs have been developed in the schools and community.
Regional Coordinated School Health Council – An innovative approach to bring numerous school districts
together to comply with a federal mandate to develop school wellness policies and plans via the development of school health councils. CDC guidelines have been introduced into the process.
School and Community Disaster Preparedness Tool Kit – Cambria County Emergency Services Office
has identified these two partnership programs developed to serve as resources to the community.
Firearm Safety– In Pittsburgh, PA, Dr. Masiello, a pediatrician, and Dr. Mike Hirsh, a pediatric surgeon,
organized a community based, nationally recognized, gun buy back program. The effort continued in
Cambria County with gun safety programs and the distribution of gun locks.
19
CHPDP Staff
Matt Masiello, MD, MPH, FAAP
Dr. Matt Masiello is the Chief Medical Officer/Chief Wellness Officer and Director of the Center for Health
Promotion and Disease Prevention, Windber Research Institute, Windber, PA. He serves on the governance
board of the World Health Organization-Health Promoting Hospital Network, and is the Project Coordinator
(U.S.), International Health Promoting Hospital Network. He works closely with the World Health Organization Collaborative Center (WHO-CC) in Copenhagen, Denmark, developing international protocols and studies to evaluate and develop DRG-health promotion processes. Dr. Masiello is also the Director of the Pfizer
Clinical Health Promotion Initiative.
Diana Schroeder, MSN, RN
Diana Schroeder has worked in school-based prevention since 1995. She is a pediatric clinical specialist and
also currently holds a faculty position as program coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
nursing program. She is a Certified Olweus Bullying Prevention Program trainer since 2001 and has nearly
10 years of experience in working with schools in implementing bullying prevention programming. She
serves as the Director of Bullying Prevention Initiatives at the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at Windber Research Institute.
Shiryl Barto, M.Ed.
Shiryl Barto, Olweus Technical Assistance Consultant and certified trainer for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, has demonstrated success in implementing the model in Southwestern PA, reaching over 29
buildings and nearly 12,000 students during the past eight years. Prior to focusing on bullying prevention,
she worked as an advocate and educator in the field of violence prevention, concentrating on the prevention
of and response to child sexual abuse. Shiryl has also spent time as a classroom teacher and as home-school
liaison for students who were separated from the school environment due to illness or other long-term setbacks. Shiryl is a graduate of Frostburg State University with an undergraduate degree in Elementary/Middle
School Education and a concentration in Social Sciences. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education from
Indiana Wesleyan University.
Allison Messina, MHPE
Allison Messina is a Coordinator of Bullying Prevention Initiatives at CHPDP. She has worked for the past
four years in the bullying prevention field as a project manager for HALT!®. She has a Master’s Degree in
health promotion and education from the University of Pittsburgh's School of Public Health and has worked
in the public health field for more than 10 years. Her prior work experiences have focused on smoking cessation, worksite wellness, and community health education.
Karla Good, BS
Karla Good is a Coordinator of Bullying Prevention Initiatives at the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Community Outreach Coordinator of Combat Stress Intervention Program. Karla has
been working on the HALT!® Bullying Prevention Program since the program’s inception, in 2006. She is a
certified Olweus Trainer and has conducted numerous Olweus Trainings throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Additionally, Karla has presented various workshops relating to the topic of bullying prevention and
Combat Stress. Karla received a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, and will complete her
Master’s of Social Work this year.
20
Charvonne Holliday, MPH
Charvonne Holliday is Program Director of Combat Stress Intervention Program and the Coordinator of the
Highmark Foundation Bullying Prevention Initiative, School Health Council, and Communications for the
Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. She also serves as the Program and Research Coordinator of the Pennsylvania Regional Network for the World Health Organization, International Health Promoting Hospital Network. Charvonne’s responsibilities are focused on school climate and community health and
wellness as they relate to bullying prevention, holistic education, obesity, and combat stress. Charvonne is
currently pursuing a DrPH at the University of Pittsburgh.
Annalisa Ferrau, BA
Annalisa Ferrau is the Administrative Coordinator. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Italian Language and Literature and a certificate in Western European studies. Annalisa is involved with the HALT!® A Bullying Prevention Program and the Bullying Prevention Institute projects and the World Health Organization – Health
Promoting Hospital Network in which she provides support with Italian/English translation.
Chelsey Price, BS
Chelsey Price was interning with CHPDP before officially joining the staff. Throughout her time at WRI, she
has focused on combat stress and community awareness, school climate and community health and wellness.
Chelsey will attend Graduate School to earn a MPH at West Chester University.
LaShae Jeffers, MA
LaShae Jeffers is Research Assistant for the Highmark Foundation Bullying Prevention Initiative. Lashae’s
educational background is Community Health and Community Counseling.
Contracted Staff:
Sue Limber, PhD
Dr. Sue Limber Professor of Psychology at Clemson University, South Carolina, and an Olweus Bullying
Prevention Program collaborator and data analyst for CHPDP. Dr. Limber’s research and writing have focused on legal and psychological issues related to youth violence, child protection, and children's rights. Dr.
Limber’s work on prevention of bullying has been recognized as exemplary by three federal agencies, and it
has served as the basis for the federally funded design of a national public information campaign.
Carla Zema, PhD
Dr. Carla Zema is a Public Health professional with a strong background in Economics. She is currently assisting CHPDP develop a three-model, Cost-Benefit Analysis of CHPDP’s Pennsylvania bullying prevention
initiative. Dr. Zema has conducted health care quality and outcomes research for a variety of organizations in
addition to serving as a Associate Professor at Saint Vincent College, Pennsylvania. She most recently was
Associate Director in Health Economics and Outcomes Research at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. Dr. Zema has also served as the Director of Cardiac and Critical Care Medicine at the Pittsburgh Regional Healthcare Initiative and as a Kerr White Visiting Scholar with the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Service's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Jim Bozigar, LSW
Jim Bozigar is the Western Pennsylvania Coordinator of HALT!® at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. Since
2001 he is a certified Olweus trainer currently working in 85 schools in Western Pennsylvania. As Safe
Schools Coordinator he created The School Safety Net. This community based program was one of the first
in the country to include students in the process of school violence programming. Jim has extensive experience in suicide prevention and helping schools recover in the aftermath of a suicide or sudden death.
21
Mary Dolan, MA
Mary Dolan is currently an educational consultant providing safe schools related training and information to
parents, educators and community partners. Her professional experience includes public school counseling
as a Pennsylvania school counselor for grades K-12 and a high level of expertise in comprehensive safe
schools planning as a former Safe Schools Coordinator for the Center for Safe Schools. She has received
training and certification in the areas of Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, Operation Military Kids, Internet safety, peer mediation, crisis response and resiliency. She speaks to audiences on topics such as bullying, cyber-bullying and how to implement and sustain the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.
Michelee Curtze , M.Ed.
Michelee Curtze is a coordinator and trainer for the HALT!® Bully Prevention Program sponsored by the
Highmark Foundation. She was formerly a Director at the Northwest IU5 for 3 years. She previously
worked for the Erie City School District for over 30 years as a teacher, assistant principal, administrator and
Mediation Specialist and has implemented many student programs in the tri-county area. Michelee’s areas of
expertise are: Mediation, Conflict Resolution, Generational Differences, Bully Prevention and Relational
Aggression.
Colleen Lorelli, M.Ed
Colleen Lorelli is currently providing Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) training to schools in
Pennsylvania. In addition, Colleen is working with schools in projects related to readiness, fidelity, and sustainability of the OBPP. Colleen employed as an Instructional Support Teacher and has certifications in the
areas of Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She is a certified Reading Specialist. In her role as a
public school teacher, Colleen has been involved in implementation of the program in her own school. Colleen has used class meetings in her own classroom and assists other teachers in developing class meetings.
Jennifer Saylor, BS, CHES
Jennifer Saylor is Program Support for Bullying Prevention Initiatives with The Center for Health Promotion
and Disease Prevention at Windber Research Institute. Jennifer has researched and presented, nationally, on
the bullying prevention efforts in Pennsylvania. Since 2008, she has been presenting and providing support to
schools involved with the HALT!® Bullying Prevention Program across the state. In addition to her work
with bullying prevention, Jennifer has served as a Health Educator for the Pennsylvania Cancer Education
Network, Health Education Coordinator for the Erie County Department of Health, and as Assistant Director
of Adult Education for the S.P. Byrnes Health Education Center. Jennifer has been a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) since 2002.
Betsy Schroeder, MPH
Betsy Schroeder is a research assistant for the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, at Windber Research Institute. She has been involved in school based prevention since 2003, and has been preparing
WRI manuscripts for publication since 2009. Betsy has a Master of Public Health degree from the University
of Minnesota in epidemiology, and she is currently a dual DVM/PhD student at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech.
Jill Lusk, BA
Jill Lusk is a research assistant for the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, at Windber Research Institute. She has been involved in various phases of school-based bullying prevention since 2000,
assisting with data entry, data analysis, and program planning. Jill has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from the University of Notre Dame, and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh.
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GRANTS
Since 2002
2011
Highmark Foundation
Washington & Jefferson College
The Heartwood Institute
Allentown School District
Spedali Civili, Brescia Italy
$1,054,626
$174,000
$10,300
$100,000*
$75,000*
2010
Highmark Foundation
Highmark Foundation
Highmark Foundation
$ 429,492
$ 1.44 million
$ 7,200
2009
Pfizer Foundation
Highmark Foundation
Highmark Foundation
$ 130,000
$ 80,000
$ 575,000
2008
Highmark Foundation
Highmark Foundation
KidShape
DOH
$ 45,000
$ 345,000
$ 7,000
$ 5,000
2007
Lee Initiatives, Inc
MMC Auxiliary
$ 23,000
$ 7,500
2006
Highmark Healthy High Five
Highmark challenge grant
Safe Kids Bicycle Safety
Safe Kids Bike helmet grant
PA Dept. of Health
MMC Auxiliary
Early Intervention
AAP-Epic
Community Foundation
$ 1.75 million
$ 11,900
$ 4,915
$ 750
$ 2,746
$ 10,000
$ 25,000
$ 3,000
$ 5,000
2005
PA Safe Kids
PA Chapter of the ATS
MMC Auxiliary
AAP-EPIC
$ 4,500
$ 2,000
$ 12,000
$ 3,000
2004
Highmark BCBS
Safe Kids
PA. Chapter AAP
$ 25,000
$ 5,000
$ 10,000
* Contracts to be finalized
23
MMC Auxiliary
General Mills Foundation
Conemaugh Health Foundation
Community Foundation of the Alleghenies
$ 19,000
$ 10,000
$ 5,000
$ 10,000
2003
Highmark BC/BS Public Health
Obesity Prevention Grant
Community Foundation of The Alleghenies
Injury Prevention Grant
Glosser Foundation Community health Grant
Glosser Foundation Community Health Grant
SAFE KIDS of PA. Injury Prevention Grants
PA. Dept. of Health Injury Prevention Grant
Memorial Medical Center Auxiliary – Grant
American Dental Association- Grant
PA. Chapter of the AAP – Medical Home grant
Community Foundation of the Alleghenies
Highmark BC/BS – grant
$ 40,000
$ 10,000
$ 5,000
$ 5,000
$ 5,000
$ 20,000
$ 26,000
$ 5,000
$ 10,000
$ 10,000
$ 17,000
2002
Community Foundation of The Alleghenies Grant $ 5,000
Highmark BC/BS Injury Prevention Grant
$ 5,000
PA Chapter of the American Trauma Society Injury
Prevention Grant
$ 1,500
PA SAFE KIDS Grant
$ 1,500
2001
American Academy of Pediatric CATCH Grant
PA Safe Kids Injury Prevention Grant
State of Pennsylvania Summer Safety Grant
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and
Delinquency Grant:
Community Mobilizer Position
Conemaugh Health Foundation Grant
Memorial Medical Center Auxiliary
GRAND TOTAL SINCE 2001
$ 5,000
$ 1,500
$ 1,500
$ 15,000
$ 5,000
$ 1,000
$6,446,929
Due to the community and school’s health surveys initiated by CHPDP, many schools have successfully
applied for grants totaling over $11 million (2001 to 2008).
24
Photos
Center Staff
Top row from left to right: Karla Good, Annalisa Ferrau, Matthew Masiello, Chelsey Price, Charvonne Holliday
Bottom row from left to right: Shiryl Barto, Diana Schroeder, Allison Messina
WHO Winter School, 2009
At Windber Research Institute
Dr. Hanne Tønnesen, CEO
WHO Collaborating Centre Secretariat for Health
Promoting Hospitals and Health Services
25
Dr. Shu-Ti Chiou (Taiwan) & Dr. Matt Masiello, 2011 WHO Summer School, Turku Finland
Congressman Mark Critz (PA-12) and Dr. Hanne Tønnesen
Dr. Masiello talking with local elementary school students
26
Links
Windber Research Institute
http://www.wriwindber.org/wriwindber/CenterforHealthPromotion.aspx
Highmark Healthy High 5
http://www.highmarkhealthyhigh5.org/index.shtml
Bullying Prevention Institute
http://www.bullyingpreventioninstitute.org/
Cambria County Health Coalition
www.healthiercountieswri.org
Combat Stress Intervention Program-Coping After Combat
http://copingaftercombat.com/
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=147800241905482
Follow us on Twitter @CenterforHPDP
www.twitter.com
WHO Collaborating Center– Secretariat for Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services
http://www.who-cc.dk/
Laboratorio Clinico Pedagogico e Ricerca Biomedica, Spedali Civili Hospital-University, Brescia, Italy
http://www.spedalicivili.brescia.it/servizi/menu/dinamica.aspx?
idArea=16943&idCat=16945&ID=21598
Centro “Io e l’Asma”
www.ioeasma.it
27
Publications and
Presentations
Publications since 2008
Schroeder, B.A., Messina, A., Schroeder, D., Good, K., Barto, S., Saylor, J., Masiello, M. (2011). The Implementation
of a Statewide Bullying Prevention Program: Preliminary Findings From the Field and the Importance of Coalitions
Health Promot Pract 1524839910386887, first published on March 21, 2011 as doi:10.1177/1524839910386887
Schroeder, B.A, Messina, A., Holliday, C.N., Schroeder, D., Masiello, M. (2010). The Role of a Health Care Foundation in a Statewide Bullying Prevention Initiative. Academy of Healthcare Management Journal, [Accepted].
Holliday, C.N., Xie, Y., Masiello, M. (2010, Fall). Cambria County Health Coalition: a response to the County Health
Rankings. Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section Newsletter, [online].
Masiello, M. (2010). A Public Health Approach to School Based Bullying. Worchester Medicine. 74(4), 10.
Holliday, C.N. (2010, August). The Truth About What We Eat. Western Pennsylvania Hospital News and More,
(8):38.
Masiello, M. (2009, March 12). World Health Organization– why here and now? The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved
from http://tribune-democrat.com/editorials/x519187472/World-Health-Organization-why-here-and-now/print
Masiello, M. (2009, January 15). Childhood obesity– can’t kill these messengers. The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved
from http://tribune-democrat.com/editorials/x519182754/Childhood-obesity-can-t-kill-these-messengers/print
Masiello, M. (2009, December 06). War no longer an option for our nation. The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved from
http://tribune-democrat.com/editorials/x546432835/DR-MATTHEW-MASIELLO-War-no-longer-an-option-for-ournation
Masiello, M. (2008). A Health Promoting Hospital: A Strategy in the Re-Design of the U.S.
Health Care System. Commonwealth: A Journal of Political Science, 14(1), 125-136.
Masiello, M. (2008). Health is Everywhere. Western Pennsylvania Hospital News and More, (12):4.
Presentations since 2008
Masiello, M. & Holliday, C. The Cost Benefit of a Bullying Prevention Program for a Health Insurer. Pennsylvania
Public Health Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, September 2011
Masiello, M. Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges, Hershey, PA. July 2011
Schroeder, D. Bullying: Implications and Impact for School-Based Health Care. School-Based Health Care Convention, Chicago, IL, June 2011
Masiello, M. Hospitals/Health Services and Schools: Cooperation in establishing and sustaining health promotion initiatives-what works? WHO International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals & Health Services, Turku, Finland,
June 2011
Masiello, M., Zema, C., Adons, B. Development of a workshop on health promotion programmatic evaluation. WHO
International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals & Health Services, Turku, Finland, June 2011
28
Guarnaccia, S. & Holliday, C. A Health Promoting Hospital Initiative: development of an expanded chronic care model
to address the public health epidemic of childhood asthma– a model for pediatric and adult clinical health promotion
initiatives. WHO International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals & Health Services, Turku, Finland, June
2011
Masiello, M. WHO Summer School, Turku, Finland, May 2011
Barto, S. & Schroeder, D. Best Practices in Bullying Prevention in Pennsylvania: A 10 year Retrospective of Learning.
Pennsylvania Safe Schools Conference, Harrisburg, PA, May 2011
Barto, S. What’s New in Bullying Prevention. Cambria/Somerset Child Abuse Workshop. University of Pittsburgh at
Johnstown, Johnstown, PA. May 2011
Barto, S. & Snyder, M. High School Implementation of OBPP: Voices from the Field. International Bullying Prevention
Association Conference, Seattle, WA, November 2010
Schroeder, D. Sick of Bullying or Sick Because of Bullying. International Bullying Prevention Association Conference,
Seattle, WA, November 2010
Masiello, M.G. & Jarosz, D. The Prevention of War Related Deaths of Children: The Advocacy Role of Pediatricians
and the American Academy of Pediatrics. American Public Health Association, Denver, CO, November, 2010
Holliday, C.N. Cambria County Health Coalition: A Response to the U.S. County Health Rankings Initiative- a prioritization on childhood and adult obesity. Pennsylvania Public Health Association Conference, Harrisburg, PA, October,
2010
Masiello, M.G. The Educational and Corporate Development of a State Health Promotion Coalition- an Important
Strategy in Addressing Large Population based Health Issues; a Model for the U.S.
18th International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals & Health Services, Manchester, UK, April, 2010
Masiello, M.G. A Strategic Partnership between a Health Service and Schools in Developing an Optimal School
Climate. 18th International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals & Health Services, Manchester, UK, April, 2010
Masiello, M.G. Moderator: Plenary Session : 18th International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals & Health
Services, Manchester, UK, April, 2010
Masiello, M.G. Obesity, K-12 Health and Physical Education Conference, The DiSepio Institute, St. Francis University,
March 4, 2010
Masiello, M.G. A Successful Statewide School based Bullying Prevention Model: The Impact of a Cooperative
Children’s Health Promotion Initiative.
 International Bullying Prevention Association Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, December 2009
 Pennsylvania Public Health Association Joint Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, October, 2009
 (Barto, S., & Saylor, J.) American Academy of Pediatrics-National Conference & Exhibition, Washington,
D.C.,October, 2009
 American School Health Association. 83rd Annual Conference, Denver, CO, October 2009
 PSEA Summer Leadership Institute, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA, July 2009
 Prevention, Health & Wellness Expo, Pasquerilla Conference Center, Johnstown, PA, May 2009
 17th International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals & Health Services, Crete, Greece, May 6-9,
2009
 (Barto, S., & Good, K.) Institute on Family & Neighborhood Life Symposium, Clemson University,
March 2009.
 Evidence Based Health Promotion Programs - WHO Winter School, Windber Research Institute, February
2009
 (Saylor, J.) Society for Public Health Education, 2009 Annual Meeting
 (Barto, S., Messina, A.) National Association of Health Education Centers Joint Conference, Harrisburg,
June 2009
29


(Schroeder, D.) Blueprints for Violence Prevention Annual Conference, San Antonio, April, 2010
(Barto, S.) American Federation of Teachers, School Health- Education and Leadership Conference, Washington, DC, May 2010.
Barto, S. Bullying Prevention Successes at the School Level. International Bullying Prevention Association Annual
Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, December 2009
Masiello, M.G. Health Reform- The Role of a Health Promoting Hospital. Memorial Medical Center- Grand Rounds,
Johnstown, PA, October, 2008
Masiello, M.G. Implementation of the Standards and Practices of the World Health Organization Health Promoting
Hospital & Health Services Network. Pennsylvania Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA,
October, 2008
Masiello, M.G. A Health Promoting Hospital: A Strategy in the Re-design of the U.S. Health Care System, Pennsylvania Public Health Association, Philadelphia, PA. October, 2008
Masiello, M.G. Obesity & Diabetes. University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown, May 6, 2008
Health Literacy and the Health Care System, Pennsylvania State PAACE Conference, State College, PA, February
2008
Selected Media Mentions
Griffith, R. (2011, May 10). Research confirms success of WRI’s anti-bullying programs. The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved from http://tribune-democrat.com/local/x519174932/Cambria-anti-bullying-program-statewide-model
Jacobs, N. (2011, January 21). Finding the cure...for bullying. Western Pennsylvania News and More. Retrieved from
http://www.wphospitalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/1-25-Pitts-Hosp-News-3-2011-low.pdf
Mauriello, T. (2010, September 19). Study: anti-bullying effort paying off. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved from
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09262/999180-298.stm
Highmark Healthy High 5 Awards More than $3.3 Million to Support Ongoing Bullying Prevention Efforts in Pennsylvania. (2010, September 15). PR Newswire. Retrieved from www.prnewswire.com
DiPaolo, D. (2009, August 7). Health officials call for wellness education, universal health care. Daily American. Retrieved from www.dailyamerican.com
Griffith, R. (2009, March 29). Leaders vow to work together. The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved from http://tribunedemocrat.com/local/x519188918/Leaders-vow-to-work-together
Griffith, R. (2009, February 14). Windber to host health conference. The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved from http://
tribune-democrat.com/local/x519185330/Windber-to-host-health-conference
Griffith, R. (2008, November 06). State official praises efforts of Windber Medical Center. The Tribune-Democrat.
Retrieved from http://tribune-democrat.com/local/x519177594/State-official-praises-efforts-of-Windber-MedicalCenter/print
Bullying program goes statewide | Locally developed initiative used as model. (2008, October 10). The TribuneDemocrat. Retrieved from http://tribune-democrat.com/editorials/x519175292/Bullying-program-goes-statewideLocally-developed-initiative-used-as-model/print
Griffith, R. (2008, October 05). Cambria anti-bullying program statewide model. The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved
from http://tribune-democrat.com/local/x519174932/Cambria-anti-bullying-program-statewide-model
Griffith, R. (2008, July 22). Ex-Conemaugh official joins Windber hospital staff. The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved
from http://tribune-democrat.com/x519169170/Ex-Conemaugh-official-joins-Windber-hospital-staff
30
31
Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Windber Research Institute
620 Seventh Street-Suite B
Windber, PA 15963
(814) 361-6966
a.ferrau@wriwindber.org
32