Dr. Nicole Bowles, a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Steven Shea’s laboratory, recently presented several short seminars to the Northeast Portland community. The seminars focused on sleep disorders and how disturbed sleep impacts the health of African Americans. Dr. Bowles also discussed methods to improve the bedroom environment in order to improve sleep duration and quality.

Dr. Bowles spoke as part of PreSERVE’s October Talk’n’Taste series. PreSERVE is a coalition of individuals from non-profits, health institutions and Portland’s African American community that seeks to improve the health of older African Americans. Talk’n’Taste is an educational series that combines health information presented by experts in the field and healthy soul food cooking. Talk’n’Taste is cosponsored by the Portland Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. At October’s event, in addition to Dr. Bowles talk on “Sleep and aging: how much sleep do I need?”, Andre Pruitt, MSW, PSU adjunct faculty and doctoral candidate, also presented a powerful talk on the need for increased African American involvement in research.

During the month of November, Dr. Bowles also gave a seminar at the AARP’s local chapter’s monthly meeting, held the second Tuesday of the month at the North Portland Police Station on Martin Luther King Blvd. She also led a discussion on sleep and aging for OASIS, Mt. Olivet Baptist Church’s senior group.

Here at the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences we continue to look for new partners and organizations to share our research findings, and learn more about interests, needs and concerns of our community as related to health, safety and well-being. Learn more about our research, and outreach and education.