Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114283

David T. Dyjack, CIH, Department of Environmental Health, Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Nichol Hall Room 1202, Loma Linda, CA 92350, 909-558-8545, ddyjack@sph.llu.edu and Juan Carlos Belliard, PhD, MPH, School of Public Health/International Health Dept., Loma Linda University, Nichol Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350.

Loma Linda University School of Public Health (SPH) received funding for one year to enhance its working relationship with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health (DPH). The project scope included convening joint administrative meetings, providing financial remuneration for student internships and concurrent experiences, DPH orientation programs for junior faculty, and other opportunities. We found the student concurrent experiences, provided in the form of surge capacity, provided value to both the DPH and students. The demand for activities under this arrangement exceeded our budget, which was ultimately augmented by federal work-study and other sources of financial support. Alternately, the project could have benefited from additional participation by senior basic science faculty. Outcomes included one peer refereed journal article submission, development of a memorandum of understanding, and 3650 MPH and Dr.PH student contact hours at the DPH. The grant provided the knowledge and momentum necessary to be competitive for further funding by other agencies. The SPH has received two additional grants, which are providing financial support for 5400 student and 6500 faculty contact hours with state, local and Native American health agencies. These combined efforts have raised issues related to the faculty participant's rank, tenure and promotion potential. In light of this consideration, the SPH is vested in a three-year effort spearheaded by the Community Campus Partnership for Health to examine academic practice functions viewed through the lens of promotion committees.

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