The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71930

James C. Wohlleb, MS¹, Ann C. Anderson, PhD¹, Joanne Jones, RN, MPH², S. Sue Harvey³, and Charles O. Cranford, DDS, MPA⁴. (1) School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1018 North Arthur, Little Rock, AR 72207-6302, 501/664-0559, wohllebjamesc@aristotle.net, (2) Arkansas Department of Health, 4815 West Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205, (3) College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Slot 820, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199, (4) Vice Chancellor for Regional Programs, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Slot 599, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199

Building professional capacity attracted much attention following publication of The Future of Public Health in 1988. In most states, however, there were no schools of public health. Some responded with educational activities in other states. Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine offered a leadership training institute and a certificate in public health with state health departments of four contiguous states. With the Area Health Education Center Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Tulane developed an MPH degree. This reports results of these efforts. From 1995 through 2001, 72 women and 24 men entered and finished the institute; while 8 of 8 earned certificates, and 6 of them used their certificate credits to finish MPH degrees. In the MPH degree, 55 women and 34 men began, 9 withdrew, 65 graduated through 2002, and another 10 expect graduation in 2003. All Leadership and Certificate participants remained in their organizations, while 10 MPH graduates left the state. Among MPH students, 5 left ADH, while UAMS gained a net of 10. They also contributed significantly to developing and staffing the UAMS’s new public health school, whose certificate and MPH programs were immediately popular. Most unemployed students found positions at UAMS after MPH completion. Thus, for agencies, in-service programs seem to enhance professional capacity more in the short-term than degree programs. Long-term benefits to public health policy and total capacity result from all three efforts.

Learning Objectives:

During this session, participants will learn
• Three programs to build workforce capacity.
• Use of several media for education in several states simultaneously.
• Cooperation among health science centers and health departments in several states.
• Differing preferences and outcomes among the learners of the three programs.

Keywords: Workforce, Health Departments

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Contract with Tulane