4158.0 - Bridging Campus and Community: Integrating Real-World Practice into MPH Education

Program: Academic and Practice Linkages in Public Health Caucus

Session: Academic-Practice Linkages in Public Health Caucus Poster Session 4

Author: Susan Nappi

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Abstract

Introduction

Fostering real-world partnerships for improving the health of the public is not often supported by academic culture.¹ The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) issued its Framing the Future 2030 (FTF 2030) call to action to improve how academe prepares MPH learners to become more effective partners. Two exemplars are showcased that co-create curricula for supporting communities in reaching their public health goals.

Two Examples of Practice-Academic Impact:

(1) The School of Public Health at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev uses a holistic approach to teach community vulnerabilities and resilience. The school demonstrates the impact of a curriculum on enhancing community engagement for improving public health outcomes with initial results suggesting that MPH students and communities co-engaging with this curriculum show improved proficiency in using World Health Organization tools in real-life scenarios.

(2) The Yale School of Public Health anchors its local and global partnerships in community-led co-design that guides students through carefully structured experiences. A comprehensive orientation session prepares students for meaningful community interactions in New Haven, resulting in consistent partner and student satisfaction, with 100% of community partners requesting renewed participation and all students reporting enhanced community engagement skills.

Conclusions

MPH curricula that is co-designed with community partners provide a strong foundation for equipping students to tackle both global and local public health challenges for improving community health.

¹Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. (2024). Fostering community partnerships for a healthier world: A call to action and framework.