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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Christina A.T. Osei-Yeboah, MWACP, MBChB and Priscah Mujuru, DrPH RN. Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University, P.O.Box 9190, 3852 Health Science South, Morgantown, WV 26506, 304-293-2173, cyeboah@hsc.wvu.edu

West Virginia is a rural state with limited infrastructure and access to health care. Commuting to some parts of the state is difficult especially during inclement weather. To address these challenges are technologies such as IVIN, a distant education network of the state's major university and MDTV, the telehealth facility that enable patients and other doctors in remote areas to have specialty consultation from the 2 major health centers. Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA) is an academic enrichment program developed to reach out to under-served and under-represented high school students who have interest in pursuing health science careers in college. It is currently in 25 of the 55 counties. HSTA using these resources designed a teleconference curriculum to foster continual education and interaction between WVU faculty and high school students on health-related topics. Topics in the past included cardiac surgery, forensic science and lung cancer. Topics for the two 2005 teleconferences were ‘The biology and Prevention of Human Papilloma virus” and “Recent advances in understanding the brain”. In an hour and half the presenter(s) stationed at the primary site share information with over 100 students gathered at more than 5 different sites. Additionally DVD/VHS copies are made available to science teachers thus reaching out to more students. The post teleconference evaluations reveal that most students feel comfortable participating and over 80% learn ‘a lot' from teleconferences. With audiovisual excerpts we will demonstrate that teleconference is an innovative technology to provide health education to people isolated by geographical location.

Learning Objectives: