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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Stephen S. Morse, PhD, Center for Public Health Preparedness, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168 street, New York, NY 10032, 212-305-8054, ssm20@columbia.edu, Kristine Gebbie, DrPH, RN, School of Nursing, Columbia University, Center for Health Policy, 630 West 168 Street, GB 250, New York City, NY 10032, and Kristine Qureshi, RN, MSN, CEN, Center for Public Health Preparedness, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032.
The core mission of the Columbia University Center for Public Health Preparedness is to serve as a resource for public health preparedness. This resource exists for not only the public health workforce, but for public health partnering with the general community as well. Immediately after the World Trade Center and anthrax events in NYC, the community had a pressing need for accurate risk assessment and public health related information. The Center focused considerable effort to fulfill this need.
During a four month period after the events of 9/11, the Center participated in or helped organize a number of community forums to provide accurate risk assessment and translate technical information to the general public, local political leaders and clinicians. Activities included: 25 presentations to community and professional organizations, sharing of existing training programs with other jurisdictions outside of NYC, discussions with local political leaders and 112 media interviews by Center leadership. Care had to be taken to assure that the most accurate, up to date information was provided. Ongoing consultation and collaboration with the NYC-DOH assisted in this endeavor.
Meeting this need served to inform the public and other groups regarding the role of public health and existing mechanisms in place for protection of the public. Working with the media also emerged as an important method to fulfill this pressing need.
A follow up survey is being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and utility of these presentations and identify ways to improve public health partnering with the community.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Partnerships, Community Collaboration
Related Web page: www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/dept/sph/CPHP/index.html
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.