CAM students' areas of public health interest

OBJECTIVE: To determine which areas of public health are most interesting to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) university students in order to develop future activities in a newly formed public health club. METHODS: The club was initiated in fall 2011. Interested students were asked to complete a short survey of areas of interest to help guide the club's activities. The topic areas were based on APHA sections. On-campus flyers, email, and Facebook were used to promote club activities. RESULTS: Thirty-seven students representing four different academic programs completed the survey during the fall trimester. Topics of interest most frequently selected by students included “food and nutrition,” “chiropractic health care,” and “maternal and child health care.” In fall 2011, the public health club's initial outreach included a food drive and a volunteer opportunity at a CROP walk for hunger. The club also held a movie screening on health care around the world and hosted three speakers. Future activities will continue to focus on areas of interest. CONCLUSION: The formation of a public health club at a CAM institution helped engage students in public health activities. Such community involvement may help to foster integrative collaboration between CAM students and other health care and public health professionals. Critically looking at the first year of the club's activities and successes will help guide the future of this club, as well as assist in development of public health clubs at other CAM institutions.