Abstract

Implementation of an Egyptian Visiting Junior Faculty Fulbright Program to Increase Public Health Capacity in Egypt

Sean Buehler, BSPH1, Aurora Le, MPH, CPH, ASP2, Carrie Docherty, PhD3, Ayman El-Mohandes, MD PHD4, Ashish Joshi, PhD, MBBS, MPH5 and Shawn Gibbs, PhD, MBA, CIH6
(1)Indiana University School of Public Health - Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, (2)Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, (3)Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, (4)CUNY SPH, New York, NY, (5)City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, NY, (6)Indiana University School of Public Health, Bloomington, IN

APHA 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 4 - Nov. 8)

Background: Established to foster academic exchange, the Fulbright Junior Faculty Development Program—sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education—has become a useful tool for developing public health practice, knowledge, and research collaborations between the U.S. and foreign entities. Schools of Public Health at Indiana University (IUB) and City University of New York (CUNY) co-hosted a cohort of visiting faculty from Egypt in the Summers of 2016 and 2017. Selection criteria for participants included holding a faculty position, and the potential to become future public health leaders in Egypt. The program curriculum contained various teaching and research workshops as well as panel discussions, and cultural exchanges. Methods: Participants in the cohorts completed a post-program assessment that surveyed their growth from the program, and recorded their ongoing collaborations. Another survey was administered a year later to gauge collaborative efforts and their contributions to the Egyptian public health system. Results: Post-program, participants reported an increase in public health knowledge and comfortability with various aspects of program planning and research development. Ongoing collaborations have assured sustained development of public health partnership between the two nations. Conclusion: The implementation of a Fulbright Junior Faculty Development Program, Egypt cohort at IUB and CUNY has led to an increase in public health knowledge and program implementation in the cohort participants. This knowledge could then be applied to increase the Public Health capacity of Egypt. Similar programs at other institutions could prove beneficial in increasing global public health capacity.

Administration, management, leadership Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice Diversity and culture Public health or related education