The College of Public Health Rural Health Education Network (RHEN) held its third annual Weeklong Undergraduate Public Health Workshop in May.
Twenty-two students, the largest group to date, were from Wayne State College, Creighton University, the University of Nebraska-Kearney, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
This year’s focus was Critical Component Elements established by the Association of Schools of Public Health. Evaluations showed that the students gained statistically significant increases in knowledge across all undergraduate public health domains introduced in the workshop. Students also indicated an increased interest in pursuing a career in public health as a result of their participation in the program.
Guided by public health graduate students, program participants gained essential research methods and writing skills and engaged in group research projects. The undergraduate students presented their group projects in the form of a scientific poster presentation session. In addition, students had the opportunity to learn directly from practitioners about rural public health practice through site visits at the Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department and the Indian Health Service Winnebago Hospital.
“We had an enthusiastic and curious cohort of students again this year,” said Sonja Russell, RHEN administrative program coordinator.
RHEN Director Patrik Johansson, M.D., said: “The growth in the number of students who participated in the workshop this year may be indicative of the increased emphasis on population health at undergraduate institutions.”
The number of program participants has increased in the past three years from 17 in 2013 to 22 in 2015.