Using Student Panels for Practice-Based Teaching and Promotion of PH Issues

Many professional gatherings utilize expert panels as a means of collaborative presentation and to foster discussion on a specific topic of interest. We have adopted this format as an assignment to encourage students to explore specific areas of public health interest. Past topics have included the use of social media to deliver health messages and exploration of career options. Through this assignment, student panelists become experts in their chosen topic area, and audience members gain a deeper understanding of the issue. Students are given approximately two hours to allow each of the 5-6 panelists to present their 10-minute presentations to cover the key concerns and issues that would be found under that broader topic. The presentations are followed by question and answer, and discussion session with the audience. Panel members are responsible for delivering an educational, up-to-date, and informative presentation on their specific focus. A student moderator is also chosen to coordinate the panel agenda, lead the discussion, and summarize how the presentations are linked. We use this assignment in a mandatory introductory course for MPH students for the purposes of 1) practice-based professional skill development and 2) introduction to key public health topics and concerns. During the discussion and in course evaluations, students speak to the value and impact of the assignment during their participation, both as panelists and audience members. Other public health programs may want to consider this assignment in classes designed to develop practice-based public health skills and educate students about specific areas of interest.