Scott Addressed Global Health Care Concerns

Cheryl Scott, senior adviser for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, presented to address issues in closing the inequitable gaps in health care that exist in developing countries yesterday in front of Washington State University and University of Idaho Extensions.

Washington State University Extensions hosted the event. WSU and UI are land grant institutions, which are institutions of higher education with land provided by the government. Because of its land grant status, they have Extensions programs, in order to informally educate residents throughout their state regarding the research conducted through the institutions.

“Health care isn’t something I think about every day,” Extension Educator Valdasue Steele said. “She brought up things I never thought of before.”

Scott has devoted the majority of her life to raise awareness on issues like what she spoke of yesterday: providing and creating awareness for vaccinations, and eliminating the burdens of illness on developing nations. According to Scott, the main issue is accelerating the access and working these practices into burdened nations.

Scott addressed alarming inequities in health care around the world, such as the difference in malaria infections in the United States, zero per year, and Nigeria, with 57 million cases each year. The science and technology are available: RTSS is a vaccination planned to debut 2012 that is capable of eliminating 60 to 70 percent of malaria cases if vaccinated as a child, according to Scott, but the issue is whether or not people will adapt and accept the vaccinations.

The syndicated speech pulled viewers across the state into the Compton Union Building Auditorium. Washington viewers from Spokane to Mt. Vernon, were able to ask Scott questions following her presentation. One caller addressed these issues and asked Scott how to tap into cultural resources in order to learn. Scott admitted that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation does not devote large amounts of resources to developing an understanding of other cultures and how to infiltrate them, but knows many partnered institutions who are focused in it.

Though Scott attempted to tie in the health issues with the predominately veterinary- and agriculture-based audience by connecting many of the worlds diseases and their origins to animals, she lost touch with viewers. A University of Idaho Extension Specialist applauded Scott’s efforts, but found nothing personally useful in the speech.

Cheryl Scott

Cheryl Scott started working for the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation in 2006. Before she worked for the foundation, she worked as CEO of Group Health Cooperative, a very credible integrated health care system. She started as the Cheif Operating Officer and led a foundation-wide change to increases capacity and impact the world. Scott is a professor at the University of Washington. BioTechnology on the Road claims she is a woman who "has dedicated most of her life to global health," and focuses much more on the patient getting better than the product developing.

Fry-Pierce Nears the End of His Term

An average college student fills hours of spare time roaming the Internet or watching MTV re-runs, but after the busy year Adam Fry-Pierce has had, it is hard to imagine free time anymore.
Adam Fry-Pierce spent his last year working as vice president of the Associated Students of Washington State University. He sat comfortably in his personal office in the Compton Union Building surrounded by lists, framed photos, important letters and business cards. Voting for the new ASWSU term starts this Tuesday, and looking back, Fry-Pierce realized how far he has come in the last year.
The Kenmore, Wash., native came to Washington State University with his mind on music, and his major in business. Later, he changed his major to advertising and opened up to the idea of student government.
Fry-Pierce hasn’t had his mind on ASWSU since he was a freshman, like other applicants have. He decided to run when the current ASWSU President Brandon Scheller proposed the idea. “I’m one of those people that feels they get more out of this than just school,” Fry-Pierce said, regarding the college experience.
Comeran Tileh is a junior accounting and management information systems major and is currently running for his second consecutive term as an ASWSU senator. “This year they both worked extremely hard to outreach to all students and work closely with the senate. Before, it was always seen that ASWSU executives and senate did their own things,” Tileh said. “After all, we are both there to serve the students.”
According to Fry-Pierce, their greatest accomplishment was getting WSU “back on the map.” They raised awareness with the student body, increased participation, worked on the controversial University District proposal, and initiated programs like the Student’s for Safety Fundraising Dinner and Safe Walk.
After looking back on his time in office, Fry-Pierce realized the amount of impact he and Scheller had on WSU. Fry-Pierce and Scheller focused a lot on awareness. At Call-A-Coug, an organization that solicits donations from past friends and family of the university, report builders include some of the Scheller/Fry-Pierce administration achievements.
“Adam and Brandon have really found a way to reach the students… and really get them involved.” Jay Hendrickson, 2009-2010 ASWSU vice presidential candidate, said. “They did a phenomenal job.”
Hendrickson, a senior biochemistry major, acknowledges programs like Wednesday’s weekly PB&J club, which encouraged students to connect with ASWSU to voice opinions and ask questions, while enjoying a free sandwich.
Fry-Pierce has a tough time picturing life without his demanding job next semester. Fry-Pierce said he is considering an additional five credits for next semester in order to be considered a full time student and stay involved. “Without ASWSU, I’m going to be so bored,” Fry-Pierce said.
According to Hendrickson, Scheller and Fry-Pierce had a great term “but there’s always room for improvement.” Fry-Pierce said he wishes that they had focused more on WSU’s presence at the capital in Olympia, and is interested in a lobbyist position for next semester to fulfill those goals.
Even an accomplished student like Fry-Pierce has the economy on his mind. He said he plans on walking in the graduation ceremony this December but is nervous about his life as a graduate. “I’ve heard this is the worst job market since the '50s,” he said, but added that he is working hard to sell himself to prospective employers.



CONTACTS

Adam Fry-Pierce
baxterfp at wsu.edu
Jay Hendrickson
jh214 at wsu.edu
Comeran Tileh
ctileh at wsu.edu

(Contacts did not want their phone numbers posted on the Internet, I'll e-mail them to you upon request)

Math Test

1. The school will spend $7885.00.

2. 82.9 percent passed the test.

3. He will suffer a 50 percent pay cut.

4. He is 66 years old.

5. The school is 8.3 percent Greek.