The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #39483

Carol L. Roddy, JD and Thomas A. Bruce, MD. UAMS College of Public Health, 4301 W. Markham, Slot 820, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199, 501 526-6613, roddycaroll@uams.edu

A small health policy organization called the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement has had a huge impact. This group had the vision to use the entirety of the state’s Tobacco Settlement funds to improve the health status of Arkansans. A new school of public health was included in a package of proposals that was submitted to the legislature for funding. Organized as a professional school of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), the new College of Public Health has begun the numerous tasks associated with start-up of graduate education. In its first year the College has: § Received approval from the University Board of Trustees and the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to initiate two academic programs, a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Public Health, and a Master of Public Health degree. § Recruited over 100 “virtual” faculty members from UAMS, the Arkansas Department of Health, and several institutions of higher learning throughout the state. § Conducted a nationwide search to hire the Founding Dean. § Started design for a new six-story building to house the College. § Enrolled the inaugural class in January 2002, nearly half of which is from racial and ethnic minorities. § Received outside funding for research exceeding $3 million. § Established two community partnerships (one rural, one urban) to demonstrate public health in action where students can observe and learn the principles of community-based public health and community-based participatory research.

Although budget shortfalls plague the state, the outlook for the College looks nonetheless promising, in large part because of the College’s potential for positive health impact throughout Arkansas and in the lower Mississippi Delta.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the learner will be able to

• Describe the process used to gain grass-roots support for preventive health programs in a small, rural state.
• Identify an organizational structure that was successful as a precursor to a school of public health.
• Discuss the various tasks involved in the start-up of a new public health college.
• Recognize and articulate some of the pitfalls when an organization is closely associated with a highly politicized issue.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.