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Magda Peck, Sc.D., talks about the MPH program. |
“We pride ourselves on being student-focused and public health practice-oriented. This program is about building the professional public health workforce in Nebraska and the region,” said Magda Peck, Sc.D., director of the MPH program. “Our results, to this point, have been fantastic, and we’re only going to get better.”
On Jan. 8, more than 50 people gathered at the MPH Progam’s offices located at the UNMC/UNO Collaborating Center for Public Health and Community Service (Annex XI) in midtown Omaha to discuss the program’s recent progress and direction for the future. Those in attendance for the annual “Nebraska Public Health Academy Gathering” included MPH students and faculty, university officials and community public health partners.
Dr. Peck and Valdeen Nelsen, coordinator of the MPH program, listed the top 10 things that those in attendance should know about the program. Among those items was the upcoming challenge of national accreditation, which is anticipated for the program within a year. The Council of Education for Public Health site visit is scheduled for Feb. 23-24, and the program should learn its national status in May.
“Becoming a nationally accredited graduate program is key to our university’s growing initiatives in public health education and research,” Dr. Peck said. “With all of your continued help, we will strengthen this unique academic partnership for excellence in public health education.”
Since its kick off in January 2001, the UNMC/UNO MPH program has admitted 77 students, with 59 students having enrolled and eight deferring enrollment until fall 2004. Three students already have graduated and nearly a dozen more are on track to graduate from this fast growing program in 2004.
The MPH program’s mission is to prepare students from varied backgrounds in Nebraska and the surrounding region to work as competent and committed public health professionals locally, regionally and nationally. This preparation focuses on the core public health functions of:
- assessment of community health status and available resources;
- policy development and program implementation to support and encourage better health; and
- assurance that needed services are available, with particular emphasis in rural and metropolitan concerns, cultural competence and underserved populations.