The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #40860

Leah Z. Ziskin, MD, MS, School of Public Health - Stratford Campus, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 40 East Laurel Road, Suite 243, Stratford, NJ 08084, 856-566-2790, ziskinlz@umdnj.edu and Sindy M. Paul, MD, MPH, Division of AIDS Prevention and Control, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, P.O. Box 363, Trenton, NJ 08625-0363.

An innovative addition to the MPH curriculum has been initiated by the UMDNJ-School of Public Health (UMDNJ/RU/NJIT) and the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). Providing Infectious Disease Fellows with a two month rotation at the DHSS is intended to: enhance the didactic portion of the MPH curriculum by exposing students to the experiences of clinicians(Infectious Disease Fellows); enhance the fellowship training in Infectious Disease; and to prepare fellows as potential researchers and teachers in public health. During the rotation at the DHSS, the fellows will learn first hand the scope, responsibility and methods of operation of the Divisions of AIDS, Epidemiology and the Public Health Laboratory. Examples of the input that the Infectious Disease Fellows will bring into the MPH curriculum are the presentation of information on methods of detection, prevention and intervention for potential agents of bioterrorism and lectures on epidemiologic and statistical issues related to infectious disease. This curriculum model can be replicated with fellows in clinical specialties other than infectious disease and linkages can be made for rotational experiences to divisions of state and/or local public health departments appropriate to the clinical specialty. The public health infrastructure of the state will be strengthened through closer collaboration between public health and medicine and by developing a cadre of public health-trained clinicians who will be alert to recognize and respond to unusual events..

Learning Objectives:

1.Identify three reasons to seek partnerships between public health professionals and clinical practitioners.
• Describe a method to strengthen the public health workforce within a MPH curriculum.
• Develop an enhancement for the MPH curriculum linking resources of clinicians and state government.

Keywords: Curricula,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey NJ Department of Health and Senior Services
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am the Associate Dean of the UMDNJ-School of Public Health, Stratford/Camden Campus