TB Notes Newsletter
No. 1, 2007
TB Education and Training Network
Updates
TBETN Member Highlight
Kristina Ottenwess, MPH, is a Training Specialist for the Southeastern National Tuberculosis
Center (SNTC). She received her BA and MPH degrees from the University of Michigan.
As a Training Specialist at the SNTC, Kristina is responsible for the development
and implementation of educational products and trainings for a variety of health
care audiences in the southeast region of the United
States. In line with the SNTC’s goal of connecting TB health
care professionals with information, training, and expertise, Kristina is also
involved in actively communicating with peers, stakeholders, national TB Centers,
and state and territory TB programs to promote use of training services, methods,
and techniques, and marketing of activities throughout the region.
Kristina learned of TB ETN through Karen Simpson, the Director of Education and Training at
the SNTC. She joined TB ETN to learn more about TB
and to network with colleagues around the country working in TB education and
training. She is also the co-chair of the Cultural Competency subcommittee.
“I originally joined the Cultural Competency subcommittee because I am working
on various Cultural Competency– related products and trainings at the SNTC.
Furthermore, learning about other cultures is a personal interest of mine,”
Kristina explained.
In the next 2 years, Kristina hopes TB ETN can continue
to grow its membership, have successful Annual Conferences and active subcommittees,
and continue to develop its resources.
Kristina is currently involved in the development of two Cultural Competency–related
products for the SNTC. First, the SNTC and the Lung
Health Center at the University
of Alabama at Birmingham are working collaboratively
to create country-specific “snapshots” for the birth countries most commonly
reported by foreign-born TB patients treated in the Southeastern
United States. The goal of this product is to help TB program staff and health
care providers learn more about their patients and enhance their cultural competency
skills. Currently, 31 country snapshots are scheduled for development. Second,
the New Jersey Regional Training and Medical Consultation Center (RTMCC) is
in the process of developing a cultural competency resource guide and is collaborating
with the three other RTMCCs, including the SNTC, to include case examples specific
for a variety of TB job functions. The guide should be completed in the spring
of 2007. In addition, Kristina is in the process of developing a TB Program
Manager’s course that will be similar to CDC’s course, but will be offered in
various locations throughout the Southeast region.
Kristina was recently married, and devoted some time and effort to making it
fun and memorable. “We started taking dance lessons in preparation for our November
11 wedding,” she said, adding that they needed much practice before the big
event. In her leisure time, she also enjoys spending time with her two dogs.
Kristina is fluent in Spanish and is always looking for ways to use her skills.
If you’d like to join Kristina as a TB ETN member
and take advantage of all TB ETN has to offer, please
send an e-mail requesting a TB ETN registration form
to tbetn@cdc.gov. You can also send a request
by fax at (404) 639-8960
or by mail at TB ETN, CEBSB, Division of TB Elimination,
CDC, 1600 Clifton Rd., N.E., MS E10, Atlanta, Georgia, 30333. If you would like
additional information visit the
TB Education and Training Network
website.
—Reported by Regina Bess
Div of TB Elimination
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