News reports from Oakwood University, Brazil, Serbia, Romania, and Andrews University:

Captain!

From an Oakwood University Facebook update:

The US Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps, led by the US Surgeon General, recently announced that Antoinette Percy-Laurry, DrPH, was awarded the new rank of Captain through a very competitive promotion process.

During Dr. Percy-Laurry’s 14-year career in the USPHS, she has received several awards for exhibiting public health senior leadership throughout her deployments to assist with public health diseases, hazards, and emergencies, and for scientific research within the US federal government agencies. From 2013-2021, she worked with federal agencies to set national goals and measurable objectives to guide evidence-based policies, programs, and other actions to improve health in the nation.

Most of Dr. Percy-Laurry’s work has been in cancer prevention and control, and building the research capacity of scientists in the health disparities and implementation science fields. She currently leads projects to improve minority health and reduce health disparities, and oversees NIH-funded initiatives to advance scientific research and improve institution infrastructure at minority institutions. Dr. Percy-Laurry has written several publications in peer-reviewed journals, presents extensively at scientific conferences, and mentors students as well as junior scientists.

Dr. Percy-Laurry received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Oakwood University and a Master of Science in Public Health from the UAB – The University of Alabama at Birmingham. She later earned a Doctor of Public Health degree from Morgan State University, focusing on cancer epidemiology and health disparities.

Needed Shelter

From ANN

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), together with the City Hall of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, inaugurated the first shelter for pregnant women and women who have recently given birth on the streets of the city. The service has been in operation since September 9. The unit, located in Betânia, in the western region of the capital, has the capacity to accommodate up to 20 people (mothers and children combined).

The initiative guarantees pregnant women, mothers, and babies social protection and medical follow-up. The service also aims to preserve the care of babies, together with their mothers, thus upholding the right to family life. In the case of pregnant women, all will have prenatal care, while those who have recently given birth will have all post-birth care guaranteed.

Historic Digs

From tedNEWS:

The summer of 2022 has come to an end, but not without the South-East European Union Conference (SEEUC) annual teen getaway! From Friday 26 to Sunday 28 of August, 30 teens gathered at Bagremara, a former communist military base in Serbia, to grow closer to God and develop friendships.

“I had a chance to see and experience communism during my younger days, and I need to say that worshiping in an ex-communist base was something really special,” said Dejan Stojković, Trans-European Division (TED) Youth director. “It was quite a surprise to find out that the garage where we worshiped was a place where tanks used to be parked,” he added.

Funding a Worthy Cause

According to EUD News, the General Council of the Municipality of Bucharest, Romania, along with the General City Hall, through the General Directorate of Social Assistance of the Municipality of Bucharest has granted funding to the Romania office of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency to support victims of domestic violence within ADRA House, a facility dedicated specifically to serving survivors of domestic abuse. The center received 160,000 lei (33,000 euros/32,350 USD) — from the local budget of the Municipality of Bucharest — for a period of four months, starting in September 2022.

Sad to See Him Go

From an Andrews University Facebook update:

David Faehner, vice president for University Advancement at Andrews University since 1985, will retire Nov. 1, 2022. Dave was especially known on campus for his annual “Dave’s Top Ten” presented at University Convocation and for introducing Almost Anything Goes (AAG), an annual class competition tradition he instituted in 1985. This year’s AAG, held on Sept. 17, 2022, featured this surprise tribute and a renaming to “The David Faehner Almost Anything Goes.” https://youtu.be/5Nj9tNPRaEs

Image credit: Oakwood University Facebook 

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