The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #39483

Carol L. Roddy, JD and Thomas A. Bruce, MD. UAMS College of Public Health, 4301 W. Markham, Slot 820, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199, 501 526-6613, roddycaroll@uams.edu

A small health policy organization called the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement has had a huge impact. This group had the vision to use the entirety of the state�s Tobacco Settlement funds to improve the health status of Arkansans. A new school of public health was included in a package of proposals that was submitted to the legislature for funding. Organized as a professional school of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), the new College of Public Health has begun the numerous tasks associated with start-up of graduate education. In its first year the College has: � Received approval from the University Board of Trustees and the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to initiate two academic programs, a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Public Health, and a Master of Public Health degree. � Recruited over 100 �virtual� faculty members from UAMS, the Arkansas Department of Health, and several institutions of higher learning throughout the state. � Conducted a nationwide search to hire the Founding Dean. � Started design for a new six-story building to house the College. � Enrolled the inaugural class in January 2002, nearly half of which is from racial and ethnic minorities. � Received outside funding for research exceeding $3 million. � Established two community partnerships (one rural, one urban) to demonstrate public health in action where students can observe and learn the principles of community-based public health and community-based participatory research.

Although budget shortfalls plague the state, the outlook for the College looks nonetheless promising, in large part because of the College�s potential for positive health impact throughout Arkansas and in the lower Mississippi Delta.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the learner will be able to

• Describe the process used to gain grass-roots support for preventive health programs in a small, rural state.
• Identify an organizational structure that was successful as a precursor to a school of public health.
• Discuss the various tasks involved in the start-up of a new public health college.
• Recognize and articulate some of the pitfalls when an organization is closely associated with a highly politicized issue.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.