263090 Using Spatial Analysis to Address College of Public Health Administration Needs

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 9:30 AM - 9:50 AM

Stephanie Springer, MPH , The Zuckerman College of Public Health's Office of Student Services and Alumni Affairs, The Univeristy of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Chris Tisch , The Zuckerman College of Public Health's Office of Student Services and Alumni Affairs, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Background and Purpose: John Snow's work during the cholera epidemic in London revealed the utility of spatial information in solving a public health problem. This approach has continued to be used for various public health applications from epidemiology to the environmental health sciences. Public health administrators can also build on Snow's legacy by utilizing spatial data to make more informed and cost-effective decisions about their targeted audience. This presentation provides an example of how College of Public Health administrators utilize spatial analysis to better understand their past, current, and future students.

Methodology: The Office of Student Services and Alumni Affairs within the University of Arizona's Zuckerman College of Public Health has a rich database with over 2500 student and alumni records. Using the location data from this database and mapping applications we created maps to identify priority areas for recruitment and alumni fundraising and networking.

Results: In this presentation, we will discuss what kind of data to capture for this application and how to manage a useable database. Additionally, we will demonstrate the kinds of maps that can be created and interpret how the results can be utilized.

Conclusion: University of Arizona administrators found that utilizing spatial analysis helps inform recruitment efforts and alumni services. Furthermore, this spatial analysis application has transportability to addressing other challenges that public health administrators face in their work.

Learning Areas:
Communication and informatics
Public health administration or related administration

Learning Objectives:
By the end of the session, the participant will be able to (1) Describe opportunities for using spatial analysis in public health administration, and (2) Identify resources and challenges in using spatial analysis for public health administration projects.

Keywords: Public Health Administration, Geographic Information Systems

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been affiliated with the Office of Student Services and Alumni Affairs at the University of Arizona's College of Public Health since 2006, as a student, alumnae, and employee. I have also been examining spatial analysis issues for two years as a graduate student in the University of Arizona's Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.