PROFNET EXPERT ALERTS: Bullying / Chilean Miners / Violence in Music

PROFNET EXPERT ALERTS: Bullying / Chilean Miners / Violence in Music

Oct. 8, 2010

TOPIC ALERT:

Bullying (62 experts)

EXPERT ALERTS:

1. Behavior: Life Will Never Be the Same for the Chilean Miners

2. Health: Education, Not Regulations, Will Help Fight Obesity

3. Health: Misunderstandings About Supplements, Calcium and Cholesterol

4. Health: The Future of Nursing

5. Relationships: Dating Violence in Music

6. Travel: Travel Deals Abound This Fall and Winter

***************************************

BULLYING:

Following are experts who can discuss various aspects of bullying and cyberbullying. You can also find additional experts who can speak about this topic by visiting our forum about bullying on our new social networking site, ProfNet Connect: http://bit.ly/bullyingexperts

**1. Dr. Stephen Birchak, professor of counseling at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y.: "Cyberbullying takes on many forms -- relational, verbal and psychological. What separates it from traditional bullying is the lack of accountability. The other particularly unique dynamic of cyberbullying is the deflection of responsibility onto others, not unlike the social-psychology experiments that gave evidence as to why the Nazi guards blindly followed orders. Children are losing their social conscience by simply saying, 'Everyone does it.' Even when it results in suicide by the victim, students have no rationale for their behavior other than, 'It's not that big of a deal; everyone does it.'" News Contact: Benjamin Marvin, marvinb@strose.edu Phone: +1-518-454-5102

**2. Dr. Jamilia Blake, an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at Texas A&M, is the director of the Peer Relations and Adjustment Lab: "Preliminary findings from research conducted about cyberbullying indicate boys are more likely to use cyberbullying than girls are, but that girls are more likely to be the targets of cyberbullying (or victimized through cyberbullying) than boys are. Signs that children may be victimized typically center on sudden changes in friendships. For instance, does the child still have the same friends and is he engaging in activities with them, or is your child excluded from these activities? How does your child feel about it? Your child's feelings about the exclusion could be a sign as to whether this a normal change in friendship patterns or victimization. I think the important thing to remember is that researchers are finding that bullying, no matter what form (e.g., relational, physical, verbal, cyber) is exhibited, has detrimental effects on children's social and psychological adjustment. Therefore, all forms of bullying are worthy of discussion and study in order to help us appropriately intervene when these incidents occur." Blake is a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) and is certified in school-crisis response. Her research interests are related to peer-directed aggression and bullying in ethnic minority populations and females, and the relation between peer-directed aggression/bullying and children's psychological/social adjustment and academic achievement. Blake: jjblake@tamu.edu Phone: +1-979-862-8341

**3. Dr. Michele Borba, educational psychologist, parenting expert, and contributor to "Today," "Dr. Phil," "Dateline" and CNN: "Make no mistake: Bullying is a cruel, intentional act that is usually repeated and can have a serious impact on children. Every bullying episode really has three victims: the bullied, the bully and the bystanders. The bullied: Repeated bullying can cause severe emotional harm, and can be so serious that some school-age victims have committed suicide. The bully: Nearly 60 percent of students identified as chronic bullies in middle school had at least one criminal conviction by the age of 24. The bystander: New research suggests that students who witness their peers endure verbal or physical abuse could become as psychologically distressed, if not more so, by the events as the victims themselves." Borba can also discuss: proven ways parents can boost their children's character so they are more like to step in; how to know if your child is a bully, victim or bystander; why bullying is increasing and what schools and parents can do to reduce it; six strategies to teach your child so he knows what to do if he sees bullying; what to do if your child is a bully, bullied or a bystander; and the difference between reporting and telling, and why you must teach it to your child. Borba is the author of 23 books, including "The Big Book of Parenting Solutions: 101 Answers to Your Everyday Challenges and Wildest Worries" and "Building Moral Intelligence." She also serves on the board of directors for the Character Education Partnership. She will address bullying issues to an audience of 800 educators from 40 states and 12 foreign countries at the 17th National Forum on Character Education on Oct. 30, in San Francisco. Her speech, "Turning Cruelty into Compassion -- The Proven Ways Educators Are Making a Lasting Difference," will show teachers, administrators and parents how they can teach strategies to stop bullying and build empathy in our nation's youth. News Contact: Rebecca Sipos, rsipos@character.org Phone: +1-202-296-7743, ext. 20 Website: http://www.MicheleBorba.com Twitter: @micheleborba

**4. Brene Brown, Ph.D., is research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, an expert on shame, addiction and authenticity, and has written several books: "For teens and young adults, the yearning for belonging is so strong and the sensitivity to shame is so high that 'fitting in' becomes an acceptable substitute, even if it means sacrificing their sense of self and engaging in high-risk behaviors." Brown frequently presents workshops on shame-resilience strategies that can help teens and young adults navigate the very real need for belonging while cultivating their sense of an authentic self. Brown: brenebrown@mac.com News Contact: Melissa Carroll, mcarroll@uh.edu Phone: +1-713-743-8153

**5. Dr. Gilda Carle, Ph.D., is an internationally known psychotherapist, relationship educator and management consultant. She writes Match.com's "Ask Dr. Gilda" advice column, which is published on MSN.com and in Happen Magazine, and is the author of several books: "Muggers may lack Ph.D.s in mugging, but they know to attack those who won't fight back. Bullies thrive only because of their victims' fears. So the antidote to bullying is to develop strong self-confidence in the early years. High self-regard shows." To watch how Carle helped develop a program to raise the self-esteem of inner-city girls in L.A. who were being bullied, see here: http://tinyurl.com/24q4qqe Carle: DrGilda@DrGilda.com Phone: +1-914-378-1233 Website: http://www.DrGilda.com

**6. Dr. Stuart Chen-Hayes coordinates the graduate program in school counseling at Lehman College in the Bronx, N.Y., and is president of the North Atlantic Region Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors. He was instrumental in strengthening the American School Counselor Association code of ethics to address issues such as bullying, and spoke this week at the rally for Tyler Clementi in Ridgewood, N.J.: "The most important thing is for adults to recognize bullying is a serious problem, and that every K-12 school needs to have evidence-based school counseling programs and curricula in place, such as Bully Busters, Peacemakers or Olweus, that teach anti-bullying skills. Adults must give children and adolescents the tools to stop bullying, especially for child and adolescent bystanders, who are the ones most likely to witness it and be able to stop it. We need to create allies in every school and community to end the violence. We also need to acknowledge and affirm the most vulnerable among us in every school -- LBGT and questioning youth, immigrants, dual-language learners, students with disabilities, girls, children with non-dominant appearances, poor and working-class students, youth of color, students from non-dominant religions/belief systems, and persons from non-dominant family types." Chen-Hayes: stuart.chen-hayes@lehman.cuny.edu Phone: +1-718-960-7304

**7. Allison G. Dempsey, Ph.D., is assistant professor at the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Houston: "Bullying is a significant problem that can have serious consequences for all involved parties. Advances in cyber technology have created new venues for bullies to target their victims. Schools and parents should focus not only on preventing the prevalence of cyberbullying through education and monitoring proper Internet use, but also on providing support services to victims." See a list of Dempsey's recent publications here: http://tinyurl.com/28fnl84 Dempsey: agdempsey@uh.edu Phone: +1-713-743-8636 News Contact: Melissa Carroll, mcarroll@uh.edu Phone: +1-713-743-8153

**8. Bobbi DePorter is the founder of SuperCamp life skills and academic summer-enrichment programs, and author of more than a dozen books, including "The Seven Biggest Teen Problems and How to Turn Them into Strengths (An Insider's Look at What Works with Teens)": "Bullying is reaching epidemic proportions. Kids bully other kids. Parents bully their own kids. And now, parents are bullying other kids. Parents are role models for their children and they have a responsibility to model positive behavior and values. Combine this with conversations about their family's values, and it can make real change." DePorter can offer details on how parents can "bully-proof" their kids by creating strong connections with them. News Contact: Michelle Tennant, storytellertothemedia@gmail.com Phone: +1-828-749-3200

**9. Tracey DuEst, M.Ed, is an adjunct professor of cultural diversity at Xavier University and program director of Developing Inclusive Schools, Communities, and Organizations (DISCO). She has worked extensively with multiracial families and other diversity issues. DuEst has received several recognitions and awards for her service: "The recent suicides of five teenagers in one month due to homophobic bullying should serve as a wake-up call to our schools and our nation that this is a national crisis and something must be done. Many schools have mission statements that state that all students will achieve to their fullest potential. How can students, however, achieve their fullest potential when thousands of students around the country do not feel valued, respected or safe at school? The 2009 GLSEN National School Climate Survey of 7,261 middle- and high-school students found that nearly nine out of 10 LGBT students experienced harassment at school in the past year, and nearly two-thirds felt unsafe because of their sexual orientation. Nearly a third of LGBT students skipped at least one day of school in the past month because of safety concerns." DuEst: duestt@xavier.edu Phone: +1-513-678-6809

**10. Dr. Edward F. Dragan, founder of Education Management Consulting, LLC, and author of "The Bully Action Guide: How to Help Your Child and How to Get the School to Listen" (Palgrave MacMillan, spring 2011), is a school-safety and education-law expert with over 30 years of experience, who can give advice to parents and schools on how to deal with bullying before it leads to suicide: "Parents of children who are victims of bullying often report such problems to schools hoping to get help and are told by the schools, 'We'll take care of it,' but too often nothing is done. When bullying tragically turns to suicide, the schools typically say, 'We never received any reports that the student was being bullied; if we knew about it we would have followed through.' With common-sense strategies and determination, parents can hold schools accountable, end bullying and save their children's lives." Dragan, who most recently appeared on "The Today Show" and PBS, can provide practical tips for parents on how to recognize if their children are being harassed, what to do/not do, how to work with the schools, how to get the schools to listen, and when to enlist the help of the legal system. Dragan is located in Lambertville, N.J. News Contact: Patty Murray, patty@murraypublicrelations.com Phone: +1-732-249-6493

**11. Scott Foulkrod is a member of the faculty of Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in Pennsylvania, where he teaches ethics and philosophy classes, and is an attorney who specializes in criminal law: "We are tempted to think that social media technology drives cyberbullying behavior, but as a truly ethical matter, the behavior has to be and should be considered human-driven, not technology-driven. This kind of behavior has always been there, whether it be taking photographs and posting them on a public bulletin board at college, or making a videotape and showing it at a party -- this is just the next step in technology that makes it easier for us all, a broader audience, to see. But in the end it all comes back to the human behind it." Harrisburg University of Science and Technology recently cut off student, staff and faculty access to Facebook, IM, Twitter and other social networking sites on campus. The week-long consciousness-raising exercise was designed to promote awareness and reflection on how social media was being used. Foulkrod: Sfoulkrod@harrisburgu.edu Phone: +1-717-579-7678 News Contact: Steven Infanti, sinfanti@harrisburgu.edu Phone: +1-717-901-5146

**12. Dr. Sybil Keane, a mental-health expert on JustAnswer.com, is currently a clinical psychologist and has been a therapist for 16 years: "The chronicle of 'bullying' can be traced back to ancient times. Bullying as we know it today has evolved into a dangerous social problem. We have come a long way since the biggest fear we had was the schoolyard bully. Today, bullying has been at the forefront of the news due to the drastic, hopeless actions of its victims. The reason for this cyberbullying trend is simple: they do it because they can. It's different than schoolyard antics since using the Internet affords them the time to plan out and implement their attack without being face-to-face. The motives are the same but the execution is different. Schools have tried to address these problems but it's still difficult in that the victims (especially in grade school and middle school) are reluctant to report the bully to either their parents or the school. I have worked with quite a few grade- and middle-school students who report that as much as they would like the bullying to stop, they will not report it for fear of retaliation. Kids in high school experience the same beliefs. However, many have the cognitive ability younger children don't possess and can learn to handle the bully intellectually. It's the few who can't that we read about. With the attention that this problem is receiving in the media today, having legal recourse hopefully will stop the trend. When a person is desperate enough to believe that suicide is their only recourse, when we read about these incidents more often, then it is time for the public to pay attention and address this growing problem." News Contact: Bri Vorse, bri@justanswer.com Phone: +1-415-400-7959

**13. Carleton Kendrick, EdM and LCSW, received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Harvard University and is a licensed psychotherapist, author, noted national speaker and social commentator: "I have been a family therapist for over 30 years, and have counseled many bullied children and young adults, as well as bullies. I was bullied as a child, as were both my now-adult children. The bullying landscape has changed radically, from one which formerly involved public confrontations -- primarily with boys intimidating other boys, often by physical force -- to a more varied landscape that now features not only public, one-on-one bullying, but also the seductive, dangerous and sometimes fatal arena of cyberbullying, and a much greater number of female bullies. Technology allows anyone to be an anonymous, cowardly bully with as large an audience as he/she chooses. It has enabled people who otherwise might not have bullied to do so. We must teach children not to use technology to humiliate, taunt, embarrass or otherwise hurt others with either a mindful or mindless click. According to various studies, one in three kids is either bullied or a bully, and on any given day, 160,000 kids are so traumatized by fear and intimidation that they are afraid to go to school. That doesn't even factor in those in college, like Tyler Clementi." Kendrick: Carletonwk@aol.com Phone: +1-508-376-9078

**14. Dr. Harold Levinson, a Long Island, N.Y.-based neurologist and psychiatrist, has a unique take on bullying: "Bullies and victims have more in common than one might think, and the hidden link between them is often physiological." Levinson has worked with hundreds of kids who were either bullies or victims, and in his 35-year research, he has found they often shared a dysfunction in the inner-ear and cerebellum. Furthermore, Levinson found ways to successfully treat these children. His research has been published in many scientific and peer-reviewed journals and reviewed by top media, including the New York Times, Science, Time, The Smithsonian and others. Levinson has appeared on television shows such as "Today" and "Larry King Live." News Contact: Marci Tomascak, marci@mediamuscle.com Phone: +1-203-226-0199 Website: http://www.dyslexiaonline.com/index.html

**15. Julius L. Licata, Ph.D., is director of TeenCentral.Net and KidsPeace: "Everyone should be concerned about bullying. It is fast becoming a deadly trend. Bullying today follows the victim throughout his/her daily life, hindering not only their daily routines outside the home, but actually following the victim into his/her own bedroom. Bullying is a weapon of devastation in which the victim is stripped bare of his/her own dignity to the point of being devalued as a human being. Parents, school professionals and law enforcement must take this trend seriously to help avoid more tragedies like that of the Rutgers University student." Licata: Julius.Licata@kidspeace.org Phone: +1-610-799-7913 Websites: http://www.teencentral.net and http://www.kidspeace.org

**16. Dr. Claudia Lingertat-Putnam, associate professor of counseling at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y.: "We're now on board, as adults, with texting, sending pictures or bullying over Facebook. But the situation at Rutgers brought cyberbullying to another level. Invading someone's privacy and posting something online that is hurtful -- to me, that is cyberbullying. It's an inappropriate and irresponsible use of technology that I don't believe technology was intended for." News Contact: Benjamin Marvin, marvinb@strose.edu Phone: +1-518-454-5102

**17. Dr. Matthew Lynch, assistant professor of education, Widener University: "Being bullied is the most traumatic experiences that the average person ever faces in their lifetime." Lynch: mlynch@mail.widener.edu

**18. Sensei John Mirrione, director of the Harmony by Karate program at Reebok Sports Club/NY, was a victim of bullying as a child and is now a renowned karate expert and spiritual leader. He is author of the book, "Philosophy of the Week": "A bully is probably angry at herself on the inside. Maybe she's been bullied at home, by family members who haven't shown her good boundaries and how to appropriately express her anger or fears (which can be at the bottom of anger). A bully's behavior may be a reaching out to be loved, noticed. On the other hand, a bullying victim (which I was as a child) may actually attract a bully's attention. Maybe the victim was raised at home to not face his fears and stand up to bullies. Although the circumstances surrounding bullying incidences may be complex, a solution to bullying that can be implemented at home is raising children with the tools that they need to face their fears and other emotions, and appropriately express and deal with these feelings. Some of the inner-work -- the spiritual and philosophical techniques -- that I teach and practice concerning meditation and building self-confidence can help." News Contact: Michael Darden, mdarden@perfectpitch-media.com Phone: +1-917-868-8780

**19. Paul Moretti is an attorney and legal expert at JustAnswer.com who has roughly 25 years of experience enforcing and practicing law: "There are a few legal matters involved with this bullying issue. There are some states, such as Massachusetts, that have recently passed bullying ordinances after a recent suicide of a high-school girl over a posting on Facebook. The laws make it a crime to engage in cyberbullying of that nature, and they are able to charge the offenders with an actual crime. Unfortunately, not so many states are so progressive, and bullying of this nature in the workplace or in person has yet to be covered by state laws because of rights to free speech guaranteed by the Constitution." News Contact: Bri Vorse, bri@justanswer.com Phone: +1-415-400-7959

**20. Mary Muscari, associate professor in the Decker School of Nursing at Binghamton University and author of "Not My Kid: 21 Steps to Raising a Nonviolent Child": "Bullying behavior is purposeful and aimed at gaining control over another person. It usually encompasses direct behaviors, such as taunting, threatening, hitting, kicking and stealing. However, bullying behaviors can also be indirect (also called relational aggression), such as racial slurs or spreading cruel rumors that cause the victim to be socially isolated by intentional exclusion. Cyberbullying is the use of the Internet, cell phones or other devices to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person. If your child is a bully, take the problem very seriously. If your child is a bully now, he's at risk for more severe problems later in life. Be sure to set limits. Tell him that bullying will not be tolerated, and make sure he understands you. If your child is being bullied, instruct him to try to avoid places where the bully hangs out. Staying out of harm's way is sensible, not cowardly. Tell him not to show anger or fight back. Anger and violence won't solve the problem; they actually can make matters worse. Fighting back gives the bully exactly what he wants, encouraging him to come back to taunt again. Fighting may also put him at greater risk for physical injury, since the bully is most likely stronger." Muscari's bio: http://tinyurl.com/2a6qn86 Muscari: mmuscari@binghamton.edu Phone: +1-607-777-5411

**21. Srini Pillay, M.D., is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of "Life Unlocked: 7 Revolutionary Lessons To Overcome Fear." He has worked extensively with victims of bullying and bullies themselves. His view on bullying differs slightly from those of other experts: "Not all victims of severe bullying kill themselves, and while bullying can be a precipitant of a psychological crisis, often there are other underlying vulnerabilities that exacerbate the response. The following are overlooked, but important: 1) Rather than wait for the first time your child is bullied, speak to them about this as soon as they are interacting with others. Explain that often children can be unkind to other children, and that if this happens, they should talk about this at home. Also, children who pick on other children often do so because they feel badly about themselves. Let your child be forewarned that this is really about the weakness of the bully and not them. 2) Be alert to signs of depression or changes in mood that signal hypersensitivity in your child. If you suspect depression or anxiety, seek appropriate care rather than overlooking it and hoping for the best. 3) Reassure children that you won't act impulsively if they talk about the bully. Often children are afraid they will be even more embarrassed if they tell their parents and their parents are reactive. Disempowerment in the home may lead to disempowered children. Hence, they seek to bully others to feel better. The reverse can also be true. Anxiety at home can lead a child to feeling lonely without additional support systems from which to seek help if bullied." Pillay's bio: http://www.srinipillay.com Pillay: boundariless@mac.com Phone: +1-617-794-1509

**22. Ronald Primas, M.D., is a distinguished New York-based internal- and preventative-medicine expert: "If an allergy-bullying incident is suspected at school, report it immediately to the school nurse, who should have an emergency kit available on-site. When you see rashes, shortness of breath and coughing in someone who you think may be a victim of allergy bullying, seek medical help immediately for that possible victim. Frankly, kids sometimes don't think and, indeed, may not realize the consequences of their actions. Medically speaking, the human brain doesn't fully develop good judgment until an individual is in his 20s age-wise. Children who are bullies, by the way, typically end up in jail as adults. So maybe there will be less crime if more and tougher anti-bullying laws are passed." News Contact: Michael Darden, mdarden@perfectpitch-media.com Phone: +1-917-868-8780 Website: http://www.TravelMD.com

**23. Faye Rogaski is the founder of socialsklz:-), which provides tools for children and adults to thrive in the modern world, featuring a class for tweens and teens titled, "Use Your Smartz Online." She is also adjunct professor in the department of media culture and communication at New York University. As part of her classes both at socialsklz:-) and at NYU, she teaches with a specific focus on the do's and don'ts online, appropriate Internet interaction and safe social-media use. Rogaski's premise is to be proactive in teaching children how to be digitally responsible citizens before they're set free on the wild, wild Web: "They must be given guidelines and be supervised rather than set free without being equipped with tools. Instead of debating the best form of punishment or who should be responsible for enacting it, we should work together in implementing a curriculum that properly educates kids about the dangers of technology so that they can avoid the dilemma altogether. The anonymity and detachment of cyberbullying may make it more vicious and harmful than previous versions, but before we suspend students for textual harassment, shouldn't we teach them what that means first?" During classes she uses an Internet Manifesto that both children and parents review and sign. Rogaski also contributes to NYC Private Schools Blog. Rogaski: faye@fayeelizabeth.com Phone: +1-212-579-5033

**24. Dr. Peter A. Ross, associate professor of education and psychology at Mercer University's Tift College of Education (Atlanta campus), is a recognized child/developmental psychologist who has earned two recent grants to address bully behavior in schools. He is also the author of the book "Developmental Discipline," which addresses bully behavior and interventions: "Bullying has always been a negative aspect of social-functioning and can be one of the most damaging events to the human ego for the victim. Cyberbullying is just a new version of bullying. The added problems with cyberbullying are: the relative anonymity of the bully; the relative ease with which to perpetrate the bully action (i.e., from one's own desk and computer); much greater exposure of the bully act upon the victim (i.e., across the Web); and new versions of exposure of the bully act (i.e., chat rooms, online videos). However, what haven't changed much are the methods to address bullying. Most current methods do not work. My work has set out to change exactly that -- to address bully-behavior prevention with a different and more effective intervention program." Ross: rosspeter1@gmail.com Phone: +1-678-547-6330

**25. Stephen Russell, director of the McClelland Institute at the University of Arizona and president-elect of the Society for Research on Adolescents, recently released a paper in the journal Developmental Psychology on the subject of bullying: "There is increasing attention on anti-LGBT bullying in schools. Our research makes it crystal clear that anti-LGBT bullying is a major reason that youth who don't conform to gender rules or expectations have poorer mental health later in life." The paper discusses how bullying of LGBT high-school students fosters depression and other mental ailments in adulthood. Russell: strussell@arizona.edu, Phone: +1-520-621-8067 Website: http://ag.arizona.edu/fcs/faculty/stephen_russell

**26. Philip A. Rutter, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, suicidologist and sexuality educator, is both an assistant professor in the Human Sexuality Graduate Programs at Widener University (the only such nationally accredited doctoral program in the United States) and a clinical psychologist who focuses his practice on suicide prevention and intervention strategies, consultation for counselors on suicide assessment, family and individual therapy, and orientation and identity concerns: "The recent string of suicides among gay youth in just the past month could shed light on some important issues: 1) factors contributing to a rise in suicides among gay youth, including the fact that boys and girls are coming out at an earlier age (14 and 16, respectively, as opposed to 17 and 19 previously), and the fact that this coming out at an earlier age makes peers and schools unprepared to deal with it; schools' anti-bullying curriculums in middle schools and high schools don't typically address homosexuality and, therefore, most youth are not trained/prepared to be sensitive to LGBT peers; 2) schools, parents and communities are typically reactive to suicide; they should learn to use instances of suicide to understand and train others about identifying suicide risk factors like bullying and responding to threats of suicide to stem these instances." News Contact: Allyson Roberts, alroberts@widener.edu Phone: +1-610-499-4244

**27. Thomas Schanding Jr., Ph.D., NCSP, is an assistant professor in the department of educational psychology at the University of Houston: "Bullying has become a problem of epic proportions in U.S. schools. I believe schools, as well as students, parents and community members, need to make a commitment that school will be a safe, nurturing environment for all students. Having all school personnel and students trained on what constitutes bullying and providing specific responses to dealing with bullying -- creating school policies, intervening directly with bullies, providing assertiveness training for victims of bullying -- are necessary to solve the problem. While this is an important issue for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning youth, all students will benefit from taking actions to solve these problems." Schanding is conducting research related to LGBT students in our public schools. See a list of his recent publications here: http://tinyurl.com/32ugzzq Schanding: tschanding@uh.edu Phone: +1-713-743-4698 News Contact: Melissa Carroll, mcarroll@uh.edu Phone: +1-713-743-8153

**28. Graciela Slesaransky-Poe, Ph.D., is associate professor of special education at Arcadia University and an advisory council member and trainer of the Welcoming Schools program: "The increased number of suicides by students who have been victims of bullying has drawn much-needed national attention to an issue most of us have been very concerned about for quite some time. Even though many schools still take bullying as a natural and inevitable process, many others are committed to improving their overall climate and have launched initiatives to ensure that diversity and difference are not only 'tolerated,' but accepted and embraced. Those of us working on creating welcoming and inclusive schools for all, including those who are in the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) community, are very familiar with the intolerance, ignorance and hostility these individuals face on a daily basis, in and out of school. As a teacher-educator and parent of a child who challenges society's assumptions and expectations of what it means to be a boy, I have many opportunities to work with schools and school districts to help them make a difference toward ending bullying and creating a climate of inclusion and respect for all. These schools are involved with a variety of initiatives, including: developing and implementing system-wide policies that spell out zero tolerance for bullying and harassment based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression; educating and training staff, students and families on issues of gender diversity; creating gender-inclusive schools and classrooms; establishing leadership teams to advance the education, resources and supports for students, families and staff; and establishing gay-straight alliances, or other affirming or accepting groups in their schools." Slesaransky-Poe: SlesaranskyPoe@arcadia.edu Phone: +1-215-572-4692

**29. Dr. Susan Swearer is associate professor of school psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, author of the book "Bullying Prevention and Intervention: Realistic Strategies for Schools" (2009, The Guilford Press) and co-editor of the soon-to-be-released "Bullying in North American Schools" (October, 2010; Routledge Press): "Bullying in schools and workplaces is the result of growing distrust of differences. The furor over the proposed Islamic Center in New York City; pastors who preach anti-homosexual messages; and the recent spate of suicides as a result of homophobic bullying are the result of ignorance, intolerance and xenophobia. Federal and state anti-bullying legislation seeks to protect the right of all students to be educated in a safe environment free from bullying, harassment and discrimination. However, it will take the collective work of everyone to build a generation of students who are tolerant and accepting, and who promote kindness and respect for everyone." Swearer: sswearernapolitano1@unl.edu Phone: +1-402-472-1741

**30. John P. Vincent, Ph.D., ABPP, is professor and director of clinical psychology and the director of the Center of Forensic Psychology at the University of Houston: "Once considered a relatively benign and temporary blight on child and adolescent development, bullying is now recognized as having far more serious, long-lasting and sometimes tragic effects. Physical intimidation has been supplanted by emotional bullying ranging from subtle forms of innuendo, to more flagrant character and reputational assassination. Face-to-face confrontation also has morphed into cyberbullying, where the perpetrator often hides behind a computer screen and takes advantage of the viral nature of negative communication transmitted through social networks. Effective intervention targets perpetrators, victims and the reluctance of many to come forward only after significant damage has already been done." Vincent: jvincent@uh.edu Phone: +1-713-790-1330 or +1-713-743-8503 News Contact: Melissa Carroll, mcarroll@uh.edu Phone: +1-713-743-8153

**31. Kim Westheimer, director of Welcoming Schools, which provides elementary schools with LGBT-inclusive resources to help them embrace family diversity, avoid gender stereotyping and end bullying: "Attitudes that are at the core of recent cases of anti-LGBT bullying develop long before a student starts middle or high school. It our responsibility to make sure that elementary schools are places where students know that they and their families are respected, and where students learn to respect the diversity around them." Westheimer: kim.westheimer@hrc.org Phone: +1-202-572-8950

**32. Kenneth Trump, a 25-year veteran national expert in K-12 school-safety issues, says federal and state anti-bullying laws are unnecessary and are civil rights laws disguised as anti-bullying and school-safety bills. Trump says school safety is now being politicized at unprecedented levels. He questions whether media and special-interest advocacy groups are inadvertently contributing to the "contagion effect" of suicide with excessive public coverage of recent teen suicides. He also believes new policy shifts in the Obama administration's U.S. Education and Justice Departments are overreaching into local school bullying cases and do not reflect appropriate federal roles. Trump says local school policies, conduct codes, climate strategies and criminal laws are adequate to address bullying incidents if educators and law enforcement take the leadership to do so. See Trump's blog series on bullying (http://tinyurl.com/29nfnjm) and civil rights and school safety (http://tinyurl.com/296tkjs). Trump is a four-time invited Congressional expert witness on school safety, security and emergency-preparedness issues. He has authored two books and over 60 professional articles on K-12 school security and emergency-preparedness issues. Trump has appeared on all cable and network news channels, and is quoted regularly as a school-safety expert in national daily newspapers and professional publications. He is located in Cleveland. Trump's bio: http://tinyurl.com/38oevyw Trump: kentrump@aol.com Phone: +1-216-251-3067

**33. Dr. Ron Avi Astor, Richard M. and Ann L. Thor Professor of Urban Social Development Professor, University of Southern California School of Social Work, can discuss school bullying. Astor holds joint appointments in the USC School of Social Work and USC Rossier School of Education. His work examines the role of the physical, social-organizational and cultural contexts in schools related to different kinds of school violence (e.g., sexual harassment, bullying, school fights, emotional abuse, weapon use, teacher/child violence). Astor's nationally representative quantitative studies have included more than 75,000 students, teachers, parents and administrators. Over the past 10 years, findings from these studies have been published in more than 100 scholarly manuscripts. Astor has also developed a school mapping and local monitoring procedure that can be used with students and teachers to generate "grassroots" solutions to safety problems. The procedure is used in schools across the globe, including Los Angeles and Tel Aviv. Along with colleagues at Bar Ilan and Hebrew University, he continues to conduct studies on the epidemiology of school violence in different cultures, the effects of stereotyping on the approval of violence across development in different cultures, and democracy-oriented intervention studies that promote student and teacher participation to achieve school safety. News Contact: Theresa Spinner, tspinner@naswdc.org Phone: +1-202-408-8600, ext. 468 Bio: http://sowkweb.usc.edu/people/details.php?pg=8

**34. Stephen Balkam, founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), can debate topics involving online safety and cyberbullying. He can talk about a variety of online safety issues, including: cyberbullying, sexting, social networking sites and safety, and the debate over Internet regulation. FOSI is an international, nonprofit organization that works to make the online world safer for kids and their families by identifying and promoting best practices, tools and methods in the field of online safety that also respect free expression. FOSI is a trusted convener, bringing together leaders in government, industry and the nonprofit sectors to collaborate and innovate new solutions in child safety in a Web 2.0 world. Its members include AOL, AT&T, Comcast, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, MySpace, Verizon and Yahoo. Rather than focus on the hysteria of a few cases, FOSI provides families with actionable steps to keep their kids safe online. News Contact: Anna Hughes, anna.hughes@ogilvypr.com Phone: +1-202-729-4156

**35. Stuart Biegel, author of the newly released book, "The Right to Be Out: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in America's Public Schools" (http://tinyurl.com/2ev5wvj), can discuss reasons for the trend of bullying, what parents can do, legal implications and more. Biegel is a member of both the law and education faculties at UCLA. He is also the author of "Beyond Our Control? Confronting the Limits of Our Legal System in the Age of Cyberspace and Education and the Law." Biegel has served as director of teacher education and special counsel for the California Department of Education. Biegel: biegel@ucla.edu Phone: +1-310-206-0132

**36. Jennifer N. Caudle, DO, is an osteopathic family physician who has spoken to more than 50,000 students, parents and teachers on the topic of bullying. Her book, "Bullying: Stories from Our Young People," is a collection of letters from those affected by bullying. News Contact: Vicki Martinka, vmartinka@osteopathic.org Phone: +1-312-202-8159

**37. Todd DeMitchell, professor of education, is available to discuss school liability, adequate supervision and responses to prevent bullying from school administrators and state legislatures. In addition to his research in this area, DeMitchell has two decades of experience in K-12, including as a teacher, principal and superintendent. (Comments from DeMitchell about cyberbullying: http://tinyurl.com/2dsd5lv) DeMitchell: tad@unh.edu Phone: +1-603-862-5043 News Contacts: Lori Wright, lori.wright@unh.edu Phone: +1-603-862-0574, and Beth Potier, beth.potier@unh.edu Phone: +1-603-862-1566

**38. Rosalind Dorlen, PsyD, is a board-certified clinical psychologist Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology, Fellow of the Academy of Clinical Psychology and certified psychoanalyst. She has been a clinical psychologist at Overlook Hospital in Summit, N.J., for more than 25 years, and serves as a field supervisor of doctoral students at the Rutgers University Graduate School of Professional Psychology. Dorlen started her career counseling college students and created Bully Busters, a 12-step process to eliminate bullying. News Contact: Stephen Wilson, swilson@coynepr.com Phone: +1-973-939-8165

**39. Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a renowned psychologist, has appeared on Bravo's "Intervention" with Jackie Warner. She is an expert in children and teen behavior, and with her experience dealing first-hand with parents and children, Durvasula can speak about cyberbullying -- why it is happening and what can be done about it among children and parents. News Contact: Kaitlyn Reilly Axelrod, kaitlyn@brownsteinpr.com Phone: +1-212-265-3666 Website: http://www.doctor-ramani.com

**40. David Finkelhor, director of UNH's Crimes against Children Research Center, can discuss the current research about bullying and cyberbullying, signs of bullying and cyberbullying, and ways to stop it. He is a nationally recognized researcher and expert on crimes against children. Finkelhor: david.finkelhor@unh.edu Phone: +1-603-862-2761 News Contacts: Lori Wright, lori.wright@unh.edu Phone: +1-603-862-0574, and Beth Potier, beth.potier@unh.edu Phone: +1-603-862-1566 Website: http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/bullying

**41. Michael Finkelstein is an M.D., board-certified internist, certified holistic physician and parent. His celebrated concept of Skillful Living has been employed by many parents seeking ways to address issues such as bullying with their children. In addition, Finkelstein offers a fresh perspective on the timely issues that surround parenting in a digital world. Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter can amplify typical teenage drama, allowing it to play out in a very public way. But should parents regulate kids' use of social media, or do kids need to learn how to regulate themselves? Finkelstein is the former chief of integrative medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital. He left traditional medicine to found SunRaven (www.sunraven.org), where he consults with patients on how to live more "skillfully." His integrative concept of Skillful Living approaches health as a wholly singular unit, starting at the core family unit. News Contact: Vida Engstrand, vida@trentandcompany.com Phone: +1-212-966-0024

**42. E. Scott Geller is a professor of psychology and Alumni Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech. He is internationally known for his research in topics such as the motivational behaviors behind safety, and personal health and wellness. He is overseeing a study on bullying and has initial results from phase I. News Contact: Catherine Doss, cdoss@vt.edu Phone: +1-540-231-5035

**43. Judith Glaser is a renowned change-management leader who works with Fortune 500 CEOs and others, and is a keynote speaker and author. She has strong, informed opinions, has written about this very topic, and has appeared on or in major media outlets discussing various aspects of bullying. To see three news clips of Glaser talking about bullies and what to do about them (on NBC "Today," Fox TV and NY1), and to read an article she wrote about how leaders lead, why bullying at work (or anywhere else) is unhealthy and how to combat it, please visit this link: http://tinyurl.com/27fq7j5 Abolishing the scourge of bullying is one of her top priorities. News Contact: Judy Katz, judy@katzcreative.com Phone: +1-212-580-8833

**44. Claudia M. Gold, M.D., practices psychiatry in a pediatric physical- and mental-health-care facility in Western Massachusetts, and is a training analyst with American Psychoanalytic Association's Berkshire Institute for Psychoanalysis. She is a staunch advocate for talk therapy as an alternative to medicating children for personality disorders and disciplinary issues. She has had her works published in the Boston Globe, has a book in development and maintains a blog at: http://www.claudiamgoldmd.blogspot.com News Contact: Jake Lynn, jlynn@apsa.org Phone: +1-212-752-0450, ext. 29

**45. Robert Goldman, JD, PsyD, is both a psychologist and a criminal-defense attorney, and is the founder of Psychological Restorative Solutions, P.C., a corporation that develops programs that facilitate peaceful resolutions to conflict and promote personal growth. Goldman is also the clinical psychologist for the Suffolk County Probation Department in New York and develops programs that combine his experience as a criminal-defense attorney and psychologist with goals aimed at reducing the rate of recidivism and placement. Among the topics he can discuss are: bullying as both a national and personal issue; tips for telling if your child is a bully or a victim (and when they are "at risk"); how bullying affects individuals and society; what the pros and cons of present "solutions" are; whether punishment helps or hinders prevention; and why gay teens in particular are targets. News Contact: Richard Kuritz, richard@strategiespr.com Phone: +1-858-467-1978

**46. Nancy Guerra, professor of psychology and director of the Southern California Center of Excellence on Youth Violence Prevention at the University of California, Riverside, co-authored a 2007 study reporting that more than 13 million children in the U.S. aged 6-17 were victims of cyberbullying. One-third of teens and one-sixth of primary-school-age children reported having been threatened, called names or embarrassed by information shared about them on the Internet. Guerra says that interventions that address bullying broadly should also be effective for preventing cyberbullying. One preventive intervention is for schools to develop school-wide anti-bullying policies that encourage and reward students for respecting each other, and for recognizing the right of each student to be free from bullying. Given the influence of peers from a prevention standpoint, one of the best school-wide strategies to prevent bullying is to create a climate of fairness and trust, where others actively intervene rather than act as bystanders, and provide mutual support through positive peer-support systems. Guerra: nancy.guerra@ucr.edu Phone: +1-951-827-6421 Bio: http://www.psych.ucr.edu/faculty/guerra/index.html

**47. Dr. Joel Haber, a clinical psychologist and parenting expert, has dedicated more than 20 years to the prevention of abusive behaviors in children and adults. News Contact: Alex Jessup, alex.jessup@ogilvypr.com Phone: +1-310-248-6119

**48. Tom Hafers, martial-arts maven and founder of Bully Be Gone boot camps, directs an award-winning martial arts center in Greater Boston, The United States Mixed Martial Arts Training Center, which focuses on elevating the physical and spiritual well-being of students through mixed martial arts and yoga. This is accomplished through a four-pronged approach to reality self-defense training centered in total body wellness. News Contact: Steve Dubin, SDubin@PRWorkZone.com Phone: +1-781-582-1061 Website: http://www.USMMA.org

**49. Dr. Sameer Hinduja is an associate professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida Atlantic University and co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center. He is also a member of the Research Advisory Board for Harvard University's Internet Safety Task Force, and works nationally and internationally with schools, law enforcement, businesses, parents and adolescents to reduce online victimization and its real-world consequences. His most recent book is entitled, "Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying," with Sage Publications (Corwin Press). Hinduja's interdisciplinary research is widely published in a number of peer-reviewed academic journals, including Journal of Adolescence, Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, Journal of School Violence, Ethics and Information Technology, CyberPsychology and Behavior, and Security Journal, and has been featured in hundreds of print and online articles around the world, as well as on radio and TV. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. in criminal justice from Michigan State University (focus area: computer crime), and his B.S. in criminal justice (minor in legal studies) from the University of Central Florida Honors College. At FAU, he has won both Researcher of the Year and Teacher of the Year, the two highest honors across the entire university. Hinduja: hinduja@fau.edu Phone: +1-561-799-8227

**50. Stanley Holditch, marketing manager, InternetSafety.com, can discuss how parents can communicate with children about cyberbullying, how it impacts children and how to handle the situation. News Contact: Sarah O'Connor, soconnor@sspr.com

**51. Stacy Horn, associate professor of educational psychology and a long-time advocate for gay and lesbian youth, is beginning a Ford Foundation study of adolescents' reasoning about homophobic harassment. She is available to comment on incidents like the recent suicide at Rutgers. News Contact: Anne Brooks Ranallo, aranallo@uic.edu Phone: +1-312-355-2523

**52. Dr. Anthony Jurich is a professor of family studies and human services at Kansas State University who can discuss bullying issues. He has helped with many stories about bullying, including childhood bullying and cyberbullying. Additionally, K-State has several audio news reports that include Jurich talking about bullying. You can listen to them here: http://tinyurl.com/38y5tpa Jurich's bio: http://tinyurl.com/2v3y5y6 Jurich: jurich@k-state.edu Phone: +1-785-532-1488 or +1-785-539-4101

**53. Ron Penna, chief strategy officer of Awareness Technologies, can comment on cyberbullying, which has quickly turned into a pandemic on the Web, causing severe emotional and psychological pain to children across the nation. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, over 40 percent of all teenagers with Internet access have reported being bullied online. Awareness Technologies recently issued a Parent Advisory detailing the top 10 ways to protect children from cyberbullies. Penna can offer additional thoughts on protecting children online -- from cyberbullies, as well as other online dangers and predators. News Contact: Maggie Duquin Nolan, duquin@braincomm.com Phone: +1-212-739-6737 Website: http://www.webwatchernow.com

**54. David Reynolds, MPH, CPH, senior public policy and research manager for The Trevor Project, can discuss LGBT teen suicide prevention. Reynolds manages The Trevor Project's educational programs and works on local, state, and federal policy and advocacy initiatives to promote the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ youth. During his undergraduate career at Occidental College, Reynolds interned at GLAAD, helping to construct an HIV/AIDS Media Resource Guide. He also spent four months living in South Africa to research HIV/AIDS prevention education in public schools in townships. News Contact: Theresa Spinner, tspinner@naswdc.org Phone: +1-202-408-8600, ext. 468 Website: http://www.thetrevorproject.org

**55. Dr. Karriem Salaam, an adolescent psychiatrist who specializes in teen and young-adult mental health, serves as medical director of the Adolescent Unit at Friends Hospital, an inpatient, acute behavioral health facility in Philadelphia. He specializes in caring for young people who suffer from psychiatric or emotional difficulties and leads a team that is responsible for identifying and stabilizing the acute psychiatric problems that young people face, with the goal of returning them to home, school or outpatient treatment as quickly and safely as possible while ensuring their continued recovery. Salaam would be happy to talk about bullying and various ways to avoid becoming the victim of bullying. News Contact: Virginia Landau, Virginia@Gregoryfca.com Phone: +1-610-228-2149

**56. Kari Sassu, is assistant professor of counseling and school psychology at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Conn. She has conducted significant research in the field of bullying, particularly with regard to how teachers perceive and respond to various forms of bullying. Her largest study involved about 900 Connecticut middle-school teachers who were surveyed about what types of bullying they found, differences between boys and girls with regard to how they bullied other students, and the responses that teachers/administrators took when dealing with bullies. Sassu can easily speak to any of those issues, as well as how teachers deal with boy bullies and girl bullies, and how they deal with physical/aggressive forms of bullying versus social/rumors-based forms of bullying. She is also a former school psychologist at E.O. Smith High School in Storrs, Conn., and a former substitute teacher. News Contact: Joe Musante, musantej1@southernct.edu Phone: +1-203-392-5073

**57. Phoenix Schneider, MSW, program director, The Trevor Project, can discuss LGBT teen suicide prevention. Schneider joined The Trevor Project in 2007 after working in youth enrichment services at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in New York City as a social worker for its summer camp program. Under his leadership, The Trevor Project's programs have grown exponentially and The Trevor Lifeline became the first and only crisis and suicide prevention service delivery program specifically serving the LGBTQ community to be accredited by the American Association of Suicidology. News Contact: Theresa Spinner, tspinner@naswdc.org Phone: +1-202-408-8600, ext. 468 Website: http://www.thetrevorproject.org

**58. Mark D. Smaller, Ph.D., is director of the Neuropsychoanalysis Foundation, and is also the current and founding director of the Analytic Service to Adolescents Program (ASAP) -- a joint in-school treatment and research project for at-risk teenagers at the Morton Alternative High School in Chicago. He is a member of the American Psychoanalytic Association. News Contact: Jake Lynn, jlynn@apsa.org Phone: +1-212-752-0450, ext. 29 Website: http://www.markdsmaller.com

**59. Malcolm Smith, extension associate professor of family studies, and family-life specialist for UNH Cooperative Extension, is able to discuss steps parents can take if they learn their child is being bullied or has bullied others. He has written "Understanding Bullying," a curriculum and comprehensive training package for parents, parent-educators and community groups. Smith: malcolm.smith@unh.edu Phone: +1-603-862-7008 News Contacts: Lori Wright, lori.wright@unh.edu Phone: +1-603-862-0574, and Beth Potier, beth.potier@unh.edu Phone: +1-603-862-1566 Website: http://tinyurl.com/2wqr5ky

**60. Dr. Charles Sophy, a leading psychiatrist specializing in adult, child and adolescent psychiatry, and family practice, has dedicated his life to the physical and mental well-being of children and families nationwide. News Contact: Alex Jessup, alex.jessup@ogilvypr.com Phone: +1-310-248-6119

**61. Stuart Twemlow, M.D., is the co-founder of "Back Off Bully," a nationally recognized anti-violence program that integrates psychological behavior training and self-defense to stem bullying in schools, and is a member of the American Psychoanalytic Association. Twemlow is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Baylor College of Medicine and has broad experience in psychoanalysis, psychiatry and social systems interventions. He has published numerous scientific articles, books and book chapters, including many on social and psychological aspects of individual and community violence. He delivers hundreds of lectures and symposia on bullying and aggressive behavior in school districts throughout the country. Besides directing the Peaceful Schools and Communities project, he has engaged in wide-ranging consultation on conflict and peace to cities and governments in the U.S. and Jamaica about creating healthy communities and resolving labor disputes. In addition, he is a consultant to the FBI on school shootings and specializes in "systemic" interventions that impact the school's learning climate. This approach relies heavily on traditional martial-arts philosophy, applied psychoanalysis and large-group psychology. News Contact: Jake Lynn, jlynn@apsa.org Phone: +1-212-752-0450, ext. 29 Website: http://www.backoffbully.com

**62. Rosalind Wiseman, author of the best-selling "Queen Bees and Wannabes" (the basis for the 2004 movie "Mean Girls") and the young-adult novel "Boys, Girls, & Other Hazardous Materials," is internationally recognized as an expert on children, teens, parenting, social justice and ethical leadership. News Contact: Alex Jessup, alex.jessup@ogilvypr.com Phone: +1-310-248-6119

EXPERT ALERTS:

**1. BEHAVIOR: LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME FOR THE CHILEAN MINERS. Dr. Dan Beach, chair of Dominican University's psychology department, advises that after their rescue, the Chilean miners will need to be individually evaluated to make sure they aren't suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome: "The immediate aftermath of their rescue will be a chaotic turmoil of family and medical concerns, media frenzy, legal battles, and a rush of opportunists hoping to benefit financially from this tragedy. It will be difficult for families to really understand the emotional price the miners have paid. Their situation and sense of isolation may be very similar to that felt by returning military personnel who have experienced brutal combat conditions." Beach has appeared in American media, as well as BBC Radio and BBC TV, as a resource on the Chilean miners, and has worked with prisoners of war and incarcerated prisoners. He is located in River Forest, Ill. News Contact: Jessica Mackinnon, jmack@dom.edu Phone: +1-708-524-6289

**2. HEALTH: EDUCATION, NOT REGULATIONS, WILL HELP FIGHT OBESITY. Pat Baird, a registered dietitian born and raised in New York, is available to speak about a recent proposal from Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. David Paterson, which if approved, would prevent participants in the state's food-stamp program from purchasing soda and other sugary drinks: "In search for yet another 'quick fix' to obesity, legislators and politicians nationwide have been trying to regulate what we eat and drink, and this latest proposal is no different. As a registered dietitian who advises clients on a daily basis, I know that telling people they can't have something does not teach them how to make healthier choices. Education is key to cracking obesity -- people need information to help them make healthy lifestyle changes." Baird can also offer helpful, easy tips about diet and exercise, which can help people manage their weight. She is an award-winning author who has been featured in key publications including Diabetic Living and Redbook. Baird was a featured speaker at the UN World Health Day, is a member of the American Dietetic Association and serves as a consultant to the beverage industry. News Contact: Amy Schneiderman, ASchneiderman@ccapr.com Phone: +1-212-462-8730

**3. HEALTH: MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT SUPPLEMENTS, CALCIUM AND CHOLESTEROL. Dr. Nieca Goldberg is a nationally recognized cardiologist and pioneer in women's heart health. Currently, Goldberg is seeing and hearing from more and more women upset about the calcium study that links supplements to heart attacks in women: "What people do and do not understand about calcium might surprise you. I have had many patients say to me that low-fat milk has less calcium than regular milk -- not true. People also have no concept of how much calcium may already be in their diets before they even take a supplement, so if your recommended daily amount is 1,000 mg and you eat a cup of yogurt, which has 400 mg, you will have eaten almost half what you need in one sitting. We have also been discussing the best time to get a cholesterol test, in light of the recent study on the timing of a woman's menstrual cycles raising cholesterol-test results. Many things can affect cholesterol-test results -- for example, taking birth control pills or a recent prescription for prednisone." Goldberg is the medical director of New York University's Women's Heart Program, clinical associate professor of medicine, the co-medical director of the 92nd Street Y's Cardio Rehabilitation Program, and a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association's "Go Red" campaign. She is also the author of "Women are Not Small Men" and "Dr. Nieca Goldberg's Complete Guide to Women's Health." News Contact: Marci Tomascak, marci@mediamuscle.com Phone: +1-203-226-0199 Website: http://www.niecagoldbergmd.com

**4. HEALTH: THE FUTURE OF NURSING. Darlene Curley, MS, RN, executive director of the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence in New York City, health policy expert and former legislator and nurse, can comment on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Institute of Medicine's newly published report on the future of nursing: "Our health care system is undergoing unprecedented change. Nurses, the largest segment of the health care workforce, play a fundamental role in leading change, improving quality of care and making health care more affordable for every American. The report's recommendations provide a blueprint for action that align with the Jonas Center's core mission: advancing nursing through education, leadership and innovative practice. This is an opportunity for both strong nursing leadership and effective collaboration with policymakers, businesses, health industry leaders and professionals, education institutions, and advocacy organizations to respond effectively to a rapidly changing health care system." News Contact: Olivia Goodman, olivia.goodman@gabbe.com, Phone: +1-212-220-4444

**5. RELATIONSHIPS: DATING VIOLENCE IN MUSIC. Jeff R. Temple, Ph.D., psychologist and assistant professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, is available to discuss the impact of songs like "Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem and Rihanna have on adolescent listeners, help audiences better understand dating/domestic violence, and provide tips to help recognize and extricate oneself or a loved one from an abusive relationship: "Music is a great tool to educate and get through to teenagers, but we should be doing a better job at helping them understand what they are hearing. It's our responsibility to promote healthy relationships and help them recognize and understand the complexities of abusive relationships." Temple has researched the causes and consequences of violence in intimate relationships for more than 10 years. News Contact: Brianne O'Donnell, brianne.odonnell@gabbe.com, Phone: +1-212-220-4444

**6. TRAVEL: TRAVEL DEALS ABOUND THIS FALL AND WINTER. Ian Ford, founder of Undercover Tourist, has been in the travel industry for more than 15 years and has the inside track to great travel deals and pitfalls: "There are some great tips of the trade in finding those travel steals this fall, especially right before the holidays, and during the winter season. The domestic market in the U.S. is picking up this fall, with hotels already offering deals, and many offering stays that include a free night with a three-night stay or longer. They are also offering kids' programs and coupon booklets for discounts at the spa or in restaurants and lounges." Undercover Tourist is an online discount travel site that provides consumer advice and discount tickets to popular tourist attractions. It offers "real" tickets versus vouchers, eliminating the need to stand in long ticket lines upon arrival. News Contact: Amanda Abbott, amanda@anthonybarnum.com

PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire. To submit a request for experts: http://budurl.com/profnetquery To consult the ProfNet Experts Database: http://profnet.prnewswire.com To contact ProfNet by phone: +1-800-PROFNET, ext. 1 To share a thought on Expert Alerts: profnetalerts@prnewswire.com

/PRNewswire - Oct. 8/

SOURCE ProfNet

ProfNet

Web Site: http://www.profnet.com

-------
Profile: intent