Public Health Student Response to COVID-19.

To understand the role public health students play in response to COVID-19 despite cuts in funding for graduate student emergency response programs (GSERPs), we reviewed the websites of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Council on Education in Public Health, and individual schools and programs to identify student participation in COVID-19 response activities. Thirty schools and programs of public health are supporting public health agencies in response to COVID-19, primarily through the provision of surge capacity (n = 20, 66.7%), contact tracing (n = 19, 63.3%), and training (n = 11, 36.7%). The opportunity to participate in formal and informal applied public health experiences like practica, service-learning, and field placements can benefit both public health students and agency partners. Although recent publications have identified gaps in academic public health response to COVID-19, in part due to the cessation of funding for workforce development and other university-based programs in public health preparedness, schools and programs of public health continue to support public health agencies. Future funding should explicitly link public health students to applied public health activities in ways that can be measured to document impacts on public health emergency response and the future public health workforce.

As escolas estaduais de saúde pública: contribuições pedagógicas e político-institucionais para o SUS / State schools of public health: pedagogical and political-institutional contributions to SUS

O investimento em aperfeiçoamento profissional sempre foi objetivo prioritário durante minha carreira no serviço público. Acredito que o incentivo à capacitação técnica e humana daqueles que conduzem a burocracia brasileira seja o caminho mais sólido para garantirmos políticas públicas que façam a diferença e beneficiem toda a população, tanto em médio quanto em longo prazo. Assim, enxergo a gestão da educação na saúde como um mecanismo essencial para o pleno desenvolvimento do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). A Constituição Federal de 1988 estabelece como competência do SUS a ordenação e a formação de Recursos Humanos na área da saúde. A Lei federal 8.080, de 1990, reforça e completa esse conceito. O dispositivo legal, além de incluir a ordenação da formação de recursos humanos entre as atividades do SUS, afirma que entes da federação têm como prerrogativa participar, no seu âmbito administrativo, da formulação e da execução da política de formação e desenvolvimento de recursos humanos para a saúde. Pensar as diferentes relações institucionais, operando em um sistema por natureza complexo, é um desafio para poucos. Esse aprimoramento da visão estratégica dentro da gestão de saúde, discernindo suas prioridades e enxergando com nitidez suas limitações, proporciona a superação de desafios e, consequentemente, a melhoria do sistema. Dessa forma, a Política Nacional de Educação Permanente em Saúde (PNEPS) é, ao mesmo tempo, um conceito e uma estratégia político-pedagógica. Digo isso porque ela estabelece relações orgânicas entre o ensino e o serviço; a docência e a atenção à saúde; o trabalho e a gestão. Além disso, reconhece o caráter educativo do trabalho, porque entende o trabalho como lugar de problematização. As Escolas Estaduais de Saúde Pública (EESP), vinculadas às Secretarias Estaduais de Saúde, são espaços institucionais fundamentais para desenvolver essas ações. Reúnem funções pedagógicas que aprecio muito e que são fundamentais para a formação dos profissionais do SUS. O Conass, pelas razões apresentadas, tem clareza sobre a importância da educação permanente em saúde e o papel das EESP. Por essa razão, vem desenvolvendo, ao longo dos anos, um conjunto de ações de apoio ao tema. Esta publicação, que muito nos orgulha, insere-se no contexto do projeto de apoio à ampliação e ao fortalecimento das EESP. Nos apresenta um quadro claro e objetivo da história, missão, natureza jurídica, público-alvo e ações desenvolvidas pelas EESP, bem como as ações concebidas para ampliá-las. Estamos fortemente empenhados em contribuir para o permanente fortalecimento dessas Escolas e reunindo esforços para, em breve, constituir uma potente rede colaborativa de EESP. Por fim, nunca é demais lembrar que promover a disseminação da informação, a produção e difusão do conhecimento, assim como a inovação e o incentivo à troca de experiências, integra a missão do Conass. Este livro vem em boa hora. A ciência continua sendo um porto seguro, no qual ancoramos nossas maiores esperanças de que nada, além da ciência, nos livrará da negação da realidade. Iniciativas como esta só reforçam o pacto indelével que temos com o avanço constante da educação, na sua valorização e no papel importantíssimo que ela desempenha em fortalecer a saúde pública no Brasil.

Assessment of Climate-Health Curricula at International Health Professions Schools.

Importance: Researchers have published surveys on health professionals' perceptions of the possible association between climate change and health (climate-health) and assessed climate-health or planetary health curricula in medical schools. However, curricula on climate-health are still lacking and gaps in knowledge persist. Objective: To understand the state of climate-health curricula among health professions institutions internationally. Design, Setting, and Participants: A survey of 160 institutional members of the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education, which includes international health professions schools and programs, was conducted from August 3, 2017, to March 1, 2018. The survey, hosted by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, used an online survey tool for data collection. Main Outcomes and Measures: The survey assessed climate-health curricular offerings across health professions institutions internationally, including existing climate-health educational offerings, method of teaching climate-health education, whether institutions are considering adding climate-health education, whether institutions received a positive response to adding climate-health curricula and/or encountered challenges in adding curricula, and opportunities to advance climate-health education. Results: Overall response rate to the survey was 53%, with 84 of 160 institutional responses collected; 59 of the responses (70%) were from schools/programs of public health, health sciences, or health professions; 15 (18%) were from medicine; 9 (11%) were from nursing; and 1 (1%) was from another type of health profession institution. Among respondents, 53 (63%) institutions offer climate-health education, most commonly as part of a required core course (41 [76%]). Sixty-one of 82 respondents (74%) reported that climate-health offerings are under discussion to add, 42 of 59 respondents (71%) encountered some challenges trying to institute the curriculum, and most respondents have received a positive response to adding content, mainly from students (39 of 58 [67%]), faculty (35 of 58 [60%]), and administration (23 of 58 [40%]). Conclusions and Relevance: Current climate-health educational offerings appear to vary considerably among health professions institutions. Students, faculty, and administration are important groups to engage when instituting curricula, and awareness, support, and resources may be able to assist in this effort.

Education and training in public health: is there progress in the European region?

BACKGROUND: The Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER) is confronted with challenges to improve education for public health professionals. In this article, we attempt to answer the question: Did ASPHER members improve their organization and programmes to enable their graduates to acquire the competences to tackle the diverse areas of public health defined in the Ten Essential Public Health Operations (EPHOs)? METHODS: ASPHER run two surveys among its membership: In 2011, 66 Schools and Departments of Public Health (SDPHs) took part (82.5%), while in 2015-16, 78 SDPHs (81.3%). The performance of graduates was estimated using a Likert scale. RESULTS: In 2015-16, the SDPHs delivered 169 academic programmes (2.2 on average per SDPH). Among the SDPHs participating in both surveys, significant differences could not be determined, neither for the organization (except increasingly using social media) nor for teaching areas. The performance of graduates did not show significant differences except for the deterioration of EPHO-8 ('assuring sustainable organizational structures and financing'). However, the qualitative data revealed progressive dynamics regarding innovations in the organizational set-up, digitalization, teaching/training, introduction of new modules and research. CONCLUSIONS: The results generated do not allow us to state that the innovative elements introduced after the first survey in 2011 have had a clear impact reflected in the second survey carried out in 2015-16, but perhaps this is due to the need for a broader follow-up in order to objectify the potential consequences derived from the boost generated by the changes introduced.

Developing a Community-Based Research Project Proposal to Build Public Health Educator Capacity: A Graduate Student Perspective.

This article is the author's first-person perspective of completing an Applied Practice Experience (APE) at an accredited public health program. Graduate-level public health students in the United States are mandated by the Council on Education for Public Health to complete this supervised field experience to apply knowledge and concepts to real-world public health practice. For his APE, the author worked with a faculty advisor and two community groups to facilitate and submit a community-based participatory research grant proposal. This article discusses the author's experiences before, during, and after the APE. The author outlines challenges and success of working on this applied project. The article concludes with implications for public health education specialists regarding experiential learning and applied practice experiences for graduate students.

Competencies acquired in epidemiology doctoral programs.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to compile and describe the range of competencies imparted by doctoral programs in epidemiology using publicly available information. METHODS: Through the Council on Education for Public Health database, institutions conferring doctoral (PhD, ScD, DrPH) degrees in epidemiology were identified. The competencies listed on the corresponding institutions' websites were extracted and summarized. RESULTS: Forty-eight PhD and thirteen DrPH institutions indicate that their graduates will gain 11 common competencies. The most frequently noted competency for both PhD (93.7%) and DrPH (100%) degrees is related to the communication domain, reflecting the need for graduates to be able to effectively communicate epidemiologic information to others (epidemiology peers, other scientists, policy makers, students). CONCLUSIONS: Although variations in the listed competencies exist among doctoral programs in epidemiology, there are common competencies across programs. Further examination of these programs is required to capture information beyond that conveyed on the websites. This preliminary report, along with those findings presented in previous reports on doctoral education, may stimulate further discussion with a group of faculty teaching at the doctoral level, employers of doctoral graduates, and/or the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health representatives.

Harnessing the expertise and enthusiasm of university students for assistance in disasters.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center's, College of Public Health modeled a student response team after similar successful programs at Emory University and the University of North Carolina. The team was created for three specific scenarios: epidemiology outbreak assistance, points of dispensing assistance, and monitoring social media in a disaster. Graduate students in public health are an overlooked volunteer resource. Many have prior work experience and are eager for the opportunity to gain additional practical experience while demonstrating classroom knowledge about the foundations of public health. Requesting agencies gain access to a dependable, replenishable volunteer pool. Academic institutions are encouraged to create teams to serve local communities, giving students access to serve local communities and to give students access to valuable applied experience that can be beneficial as they enter the public health workforce.

Perceived Benefits of Collaboration Between Local Health Departments and Schools and Programs of Public Health: A Mixed-Methods Study.

OBJECTIVES: Collaboration between local health departments (LHDs) and schools and programs of public health (SPPH) may be a way to improve practice, education, and research. However, little is known about why LHDs and SPPH collaborate. This mixed-methods study addressed this issue by exploring what LHDs and SPPH perceive to be beneficial about their collaboration. METHODS: A mixed-methods study using quantitative and qualitative data was conducted. A survey of 2000 LHDs that completed the 2013 National Profile of LHDs measured how important and effective LHDs perceived 30 indicators of the 10 essential public health services to be for collaboration with SPPH. Focus groups were held with LHD officials and the faculty from SPPH to further explore their perceptions of the mutual benefits of their collaboration. RESULTS: This study showed that LHD officials and the faculty from SPPH valued their collaborative work because it can improve education and training, support public health accreditation, enhance LHD credibility, enhance LHD technological capabilities, and improve research and evidence-based practice. Benefits increased with an increase in the degree of collaboration. This also showed that LHD officials would like to collaborate more closely with SPPH. CONCLUSION: Collaboration between LHDs and SPPH is mutually beneficial, and close collaboration can help transform public health practice, education, and research. In light of this, more attention should be paid to developing goals and objectives for a collaborative agenda. Attention should be paid not only to the immediate needs of the organizations and individuals involved but also to their long-term goals and underlying desires. Funding opportunities to support the development of partnerships between LHDs and SPPH are needed to provide tangible tasks and opportunities for taking a more long-term and strategic view for collaborative relationships.

An Academic-Practice Partnership at the University of Washington School of Public Health: The Student Epidemic Action Leaders (SEAL) Team.

In 2015, the University of Washington School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology established the Student Epidemic Action Leaders (SEAL) team to provide public health students with experience in field epidemiology in state and local public health communicable disease divisions. The University of Washington Department of Epidemiology developed the SEAL team in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Health to offer public health graduate students opportunities to contribute to the real-time needs of public health agencies during a communicable disease event and/or preparedness event. The SEAL team combines classroom and field-based training in public health practice and applied epidemiology. During the first 2 years of the SEAL team (2016-2018), 34 SEALs were placed at 4 agencies contributing more than 1300 hours of assistance on 24 public health projects.

Public health educational comprehensiveness: The strategic rationale in establishing networks among schools of public health.

The establishment and continuing development of a sufficient and competent public health workforce is fundamental for the planning, implementation, evaluation, effect and ethical validity of public health strategies and policies and, thus, for the development of the population's health and the cost-effectiveness of health and public health systems and interventions. Professional public health strategy-making demands a background of a comprehensive multi-disciplinary curriculum including mutually, dynamically coherent competences - not least, competences in sociology and other behavioural sciences and their interaction with, for example, epidemiology, biostatistics, qualitative methods and health promotion and disease prevention. The size of schools and university departments of public health varies, and smaller entities may run into problems if seeking to meet the comprehensive curriculum challenge entirely by use of in-house resources. This commentary discusses the relevance and strength of establishing comprehensive curriculum development networks between schools and university departments of public health, as one means to meet the comprehensiveness challenge. This commentary attempts to consider a two-stage strategy to develop complete curricula at the bachelor and master's as well as PhD levels.

From Albania to Zimbabwe: Surveying 10 Years of Summer Field Experiences at the Rollins School of Public Health.

The objective of this article is to describe summer field experiences at the Rollins School of Public Health. An online survey was conducted among Master of Public Health students returning from summer field experiences. We used printed reports from 2004-2012 and original survey data from 2010-2013 to perform a trend analysis using correlation analysis and linear regression. We found that our students have worked for more than 300 organizations in 84 countries. The average cost of a summer field experience fluctuated around US$3,500, with students receiving an average of US$2,180 in funding. About 50% of students conducted human subjects research. This survey was used to improve student practical experiences through information sessions for students and feedback to key constituents, including the Emory Institutional Review Board and the Emory Travel Clinic.

Student outbreak response teams: lessons learned from a decade of collaboration.

OBJECTIVES: Student response teams within colleges of public health effectively address important concerns for two stakeholders. For universities, students learn the fundamentals of field epidemiology and provide popular training and networking opportunities. For health departments, students serve as surge capacity as trained workforce available during outbreak investigations and potentially for routine tasks. STUDY DESIGN: This paper describes the interaction between a student response team and several health departments utilizing specific examples to demonstrate the various roles and activities students can fulfill. Lessons learned from both University team leaders and the various health departments are also included. METHODS: The program evolved over time, beginning with a needs assessment of local health departments and a determination of student training needs, collection, and confidential transmission of data, and interviewing techniques. Over the last decade students have worked on outbreak investigations, case-control studies, program evaluations, and in-field responses. RESULTS: Since 2005, over 200 public health graduate students have contributed more than 1800 h investigating 62 separate disease outbreaks in Arizona. In addition, over the past four years students also worked an additional 2500 h to assist county health departments in routine enteric investigations, specifically for Campylobacter and Salmonella. Best practices and lessons learned found that communication, preplanning and a willingness to collaborate increased the learning opportunities for students and ability for health departments to increase their capacity both during an emergency and for routine work. CONCLUSIONS: Establishment of a student response team (1) trains students in field experiences; (2) creates trained surge capacity for health departments; (3) increases collaboration between schools of public health and state/local health departments; (4) establishes a way to share funding with a local health department; and (5) increases the number of students being placed in health departments for projects, internships, and jobs following graduation.

The National Permanent Health Education Policy in Public Health Schools: reflections from practice. / A Política Nacional de Educação Permanente em Saúde nas Escolas de Saúde Pública: reflexões a partir da prática.

This study aimed to analyze aspects of the implementation of the National Permanent Health Education Policy of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, based on the experiences of Public Health Schools. Five workshops were held in schools located in different regions of the country, taking into account an analysis of the conceptual and organizational basis of the policy. The methodological premises hinged on a reflexivist approach based on a dialogue between the research team and school participants, which built on the identification and meaning of the experiences of these institution in permanent health education (PHE). This study shows that the principles and values of the PHE were adequate in these schools and employed as pedagogical practice, not only in clearly educational situations, as formative processes, but also in the very institutional development management and actions, as well as in their political action. The important role of these schools as co-fosterers of PHE in the country and their capacity of mobilizing different social agents should be emphasized.

A Política Nacional de Educação Permanente em Saúde nas Escolas de Saúde Pública: reflexões a partir da prática / The National Permanent Health Education Policy in Public Health Schools: reflections from practice

Resumo O estudo teve como objetivo analisar aspectos da implementação da Política Nacional de Educação Permanente em Saúde, do Ministério da Saúde, tendo como referência as experiências das Escolas de Saúde Pública. A partir de uma análise das bases conceituais e organizacionais da política, foram realizadas cinco oficinas em escolas situadas em diferentes regiões do país. Os pressupostos metodológicos se orientaram por uma abordagem reflexiva, pautada no diálogo entre a equipe de pesquisa e os participantes das escolas, que partiu da identificação e dos significados das experiências em educação permanente em saúde (EPS), vivenciadas nessas instituições. O estudo aponta que os princípios e valores da EPS foram apropriados nessas escolas e se encontram presentes como prática pedagógica não apenas em instâncias evidentemente educativas, como processos formativos, mas na própria gestão e ações de desenvolvimento institucional, bem como na sua atuação política. Ressalta-se o importante papel desempenhado por essas escolas como coindutoras da política de Educação Permanente em Saúde no país e sua capacidade de mobilização de diferentes agentes sociais.

Abstract This study aimed to analyze aspects of the implementation of the National Permanent Health Education Policy of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, based on the experiences of Public Health Schools. Five workshops were held in schools located in different regions of the country, taking into account an analysis of the conceptual and organizational basis of the policy. The methodological premises hinged on a reflexivist approach based on a dialogue between the research team and school participants, which built on the identification and meaning of the experiences of these institution in permanent health education (PHE). This study shows that the principles and values of the PHE were adequate in these schools and employed as pedagogical practice, not only in clearly educational situations, as formative processes, but also in the very institutional development management and actions, as well as in their political action. The important role of these schools as co-fosterers of PHE in the country and their capacity of mobilizing different social agents should be emphasized.

The DNP/MPH Dual Degree: An Innovative Graduate Education Program for Advanced Public Health Nursing.

Strong professional priorities, evolving Affordable Care Act requirements, and a significantly limited public health nursing workforce prompted the University of Colorado College of Nursing to collaborate with the School of Public Health to implement one of the first Doctor of Nursing Practice/Master of Public Health dual degree programs in the nation. Federal grant funding supported the development, implementation, and evaluation of this unique post-baccalaureate dual degree program, for which there were no roadmaps, models, or best practices to follow. Several key issues emerged that serve as lessons learned in creating a new, novel higher education pathway for Advanced Public Health Nursing. This paper highlights two of those: (1) marketing, admission, and matriculation across two programs, and (2) enhancing curricula through distance coursework and interprofessional education. When collaboration with a school of public health is possible, the Doctor of Nursing Practice/Master of Public Health dual degree is an efficient way to prepare public health nurses' with the highest level of public health knowledge, practice, and leadership expertise.