今天准备明天的健康解决方案

Dr. 院长爱抚 公共卫生硕士 (MPH)项目的新主席 Department of 公众及环境健康 (尤), 还有公共卫生学院, is working to develop exciting offerings 和 opportunities to meet the needs of 365英国上市官网 students 和 the public health workforce.

The MPH program aims to develop future public health professionals who are equipped with the appropriate skills to address health disparities 和 inequities, 以及新出现的疾病和状况, 在社区中. 这个项目 enrolled its first cohort of 12 in 2013 和 has grown tremendously since then, with 32 new students welcomed into the program in 2023.

公共卫生硕士项目产生了三个令人兴奋的 毕业证书: 全球和人口保健服务, 卫生公平 和 流行病学 研究. These distinct certificates were recently developed in order to provide skills 和 training to current public health employees 和 those interested in joining the field. 

As another key way of meeting a workforce need, the 卫生科学学院’ (SHS) public health program 和 OU’s William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB) have partnered to offer the university’s first dual degree program: a M.D./英里. “这方面的需求在不断增长。. 迪安. “OU is one of the few in the state that can provide this degree.”

以M开头.D./英里双学位, OUWB students complete two years of medical school, take MPH courses in their third year 和 then complete the remaining two years of their medical degree. Despite medical school being a four-year program 和 the MPH being a two-year program, an overlap in courses 和 related competencies allows this program to be completed in five years instead of six.

While there are specific positions where both a M.D. 和 MPH degree are beneficial or even required, such as executive 和 leadership positions in health departments 和 employment in federally qualified health centers, this degree program is highly beneficial for any future physician. “Having a public health degree changes your views 和 perspectives of how to engage your population 和 improve their health,博士解释道。. 迪安. 通过追求M.D./英里程度, future physicians will be prepared to emphasize healthful choices 和 underst和 why health issues are prevalent; develop innovative 和 holistic care models, practices 和 strategies; 和 promote public health policy 和 leadership.

The public health program offers a scholarship funded by the Health Resources 和 Services Administration (HRSA). Dr. 迪安 notes that the impetus behind the funding was partially due to the increase in awareness 和 limited resources available during the p和emic, 特别是在服务不足的社区. Upon hearing of this grant opportunity 和 having only a month to turn in the application, Dr. 迪安毫不犹豫地提出了申请. One of the top public health student needs is cost. “We want to ensure equitable opportunity to all students,” Dr. 院长说. 这个项目 will award annual need-based scholarships to MPH 和 combined program students through the 2024-2025 academic year.

从历史上看, public health careers have focused at the graduate 和 post-professional educational levels. 然而, with all of the innovations 和 resources created, SHS recognized the value of launching a new bachelor’s degree in public health (beginning in fall 2024). 类似于MPH, the upcoming bachelor’s in public health will focus on individual 和 community wellness, 促进健康和预防疾病. 这个项目, which aligns with the faculty’s areas of expertise 和 national health needs, will provide excellent opportunities for collaboration between undergraduate students, 研究生和教师. 

从本科到研究生，甚至更高, the public health programs are addressing health disparities 和 inequities experienced by our communities, particularly through enhancing the preparation of the workforce. 

As she begins her new role as department chair, Dr. 迪安 aims to continue 和 support student engagement 和 preparation for the workforce. “That’s one thing I love about our whole department,” she says. “我们不仅教授基础知识, but also provide experience with new software 和 techniques through community engagement that help our graduates gain professional preparation.”

To learn more about the public health programs offered through SHS, visit the 公共卫生网站.