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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Edward Mensah, PhD, Public Health Informatics Program-Health Policy and Administration Division, University of Illinois @ Chicago, School of Public Health, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-996-3001, dehasnem@uic.edu

Public health informatics has been defined as the systemic application of information and computer science and technology to public health practice, teaching, and research. Despite an increasing reliance on health surveillance databases and analytical tools less than one percent of the national public health workforce has any formal training in health information/database management or computer science.

The aim of the online public health informatics program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is to produce a new generation of public health professionals capable of playing leadership roles in the development, implementation, and evaluation of information technology projects an surveillance systems in such diverse areas as traditional public health agencies, managed care organizations, nongovernmental organizations and international health agencies.

The purpose of this poster presentation is to discuss the implementation and the evaluation of the online public health informatics program at UIC. The program, which enrolled its first cohort of students in fall, 2002, has already graduated 14 MPH (public health informatics) and 6 certificate students. The current enrollment and alumni population total 90 students from 24 states and 7 foreign countries. Two types of online programs are offered: The Master's degree and certificate programs in public health informatics. As part of their training students are required to undertake field practica and knowledge to real-world public health problems. Reviews of other fully operational public health informatics programs are presented.

Learning Objectives: After reviewing this presentation a participant will be able to

• Discuss the competencies, course structure, technological and organizational infrastructure of a public health informatics program)
• List the major constraints to the development and implementation of a global online public health informatics program
• Assess the value of a health informatics education to public health professionals

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered