On March 27, 2024, under the leadership Dr. Ruby L. Perry, dean of the college, and Public Health Department Head Dr. Torhonda Lee, the ϲͼ College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Graduate Public Health hosted an inaugural Rural Public Health Travel Experience. This public health initiative, which focused on rural healthcare access and policy, was developed in partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health under the leadership of Dean: Paul C. Irwin, Assistant Dean: Jessica Chambliss, Program Manager: Meena Nabavi.
The events for the day and topics of discussion throughout the day centered on the theme of “Rural Health Care Access and Policy.” Public Health students from UAB and from ϲͼ explored significant sites in the Tuskegee area together and then attended a panel discussion where they had the opportunity to hear from leaders in the Macon County/Tuskegee Community on the current state of health care in the area. “This was such a wonderful learning experience for both groups of students. We hope that this is just the first of many collaborations between the two public health programs.”
Community engagement and pracrice experience embedded in the MPH curriculum are intended to proivide students with learning opportunities outside of classroom. Travel to various communities gives students the opportunity to experiene the diversity of the state of Alabama. Students immerse themsleves in community to learn how local history and context shape can current and futrure opportunities for health.
Our studnets interact with students and faculty fromt other institution and local leaders to exmaine health disparities and inequities in a local context. In this way students cultivate an appreciation for diversity of thought and cultures which is necessary for ethical leadership.
To learn more visit (website for TU DGPH) and (). ϲͼ and UAB Public Health Program are two of the only three accredited Public Health programs/school in the State of Alabama. The three schools with Accredited public health programs are: