Public health education in international health needs to be grounded in realistic field experiences and measurable competencies. This paper presents an experiential model that integrates theory and practice. Integrated Community Development, a required graduate level course taught by Loma Linda University School of Public Health in a selected developing country, is a case study approach to teaching public health and development strategies. Over a three-quarter sequence, students review public health issues of a selected region, an exercise which develops transferable skills in community assessment. Then, as a cohort, they engage in a 3-week intensive field study supervised by faculty and host country counterparts. In the field, students interface with United Nations organizations, government ministries, non-governmental organizations and nationals at all levels. They observe urban problems and travel to remote villages to study health access issues. Topical areas include primary health care, maternal-child health, family planning, sexual and drug trafficking, food security, land utilization, agroforestry, fisheries, traditional practices, occupational and environmental health, sanitation and water develolpment. The post-course essay exam is the comprehensive exam for the students in the international health major. The course has been taught for fourteen years. Sites have included Central America, Thailand, India, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Important attributes in site selection are robust public health programs and innovative projects. This course has been instrumental in developing mutually supportive linkages and opportunities for host countries and Loma Linda University. Student, faculty and national counterparts highly evalute the learning outcomes.
Learning Objectives: By the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Discuss the relevance of a competency-based curriculum which integrates realistic field experience in public health education for international health. 2. Describe a regional case-study field approach to implementing the curriculum. 3. Develop a field-based approach to experiential group learning in international public health.
Keywords: Professional Training, Public Health Education
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Loma Linda University School of Public Helth, Department of International Health
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Chair, Department of International Health
Professor, School of Public Health, School of Medicine