Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Kimberlee Wyche-Etheridge, MD, MPH, Director Family Youth and Infant Health, Metro Nashville Public Health Department, 311 23rd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37211, 615-340-5614, kimberlee.wyche@nashville.gov and Michelle Birdsong, Human Resources, Metro Nashville Public Health Department, 311 23rd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203.

The purpose of Lentz University is to provide coordinated, public health training opportunities for employees, students, interns and community partners to develop, sustain and enhance their understanding and application of community-based, public health skills. The vision for Lentz University is that it promotes professional development and strengthens public health practice competencies within the core guidelines of the 10 essential public health services. Lentz University seeks to ascertain the ongoing educational needs of the Health Department staff and community partners. Consistent with the Department's commitment to competent public health practitioners, Lentz University educates and supports individuals in the public health workforce by enhancing their knowledge and skills in public health theory, policy, research and practice. Lentz University, a program of the Nashville/ Davidson County Metropolitan Public Health Department, offers a variety of trainings designed to hone the practicing professional's ability to identify, analyze, and intervene in the health problems facing Nashville. The curriculum of Lentz University is divided into 5 series of classes: 100 Series offers an introduction to the fundamentals of public health practice. 200 Series addresses public health systems and networks. 300 Series enhances leadership and supervisory skills. 400 Series is offered by special arrangement, and is reserved for those advising thesis projects, and managing interns. 500 Series offers public health practice information to community partners All classes are offered during work day and registration takes place through the health department internal web site. Once completed, employees receive certificates of completion which are used when completing yearly performance evaluations.

Learning Objectives:

• To give an overview of how public health staff development can be achieved in the work environment
• To show how it is possible to educate an entire staff on public health competencies and essential services

Keywords: Competency, Essential Public Health Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No