The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #52646

Edward F. Miller, MPHA Executive Committee, c/o American Lung Association of Maine, 122 State St., Augusta, ME 04330, 207-622-6394, EMiller@MaineLung.org and Kathleen E Perkins, MPA, Domestic Division, Medical Care Development, Inc., 11 Parkwood Drive, Augusta, ME 04330.

The Maine Public Health Association (MPHA) received a challenge grant to increase physician: (1) understanding of public health in clinical care; (2) self-identification with the public health community; (3) support for public health programs and funding; and (4) membership in MPHA and APHA. The poster will describe challenge grant activities, results, and lessons learned. Activities included: (a) surveying physician perceptions of their role in public health, public health priorities, and interest in MPHA; (b) developing a special membership solicitation mailed to 1,000 physicians; (c) staffing exhibits at medical association meetings; and (d) sponsoring a panel on the role of physicians in public health at the MPHA Annual Meeting. Lessons Learned included: (i) physicians value the state or the national association, but not both, secondary to their interest in national policy or local networking; (ii) many physicians are supportive of the state public health association but seek clearly defined tasks or opportunities to participate in the organization; (iii) increasing physician recognition of their role in public health can be enhanced through the creation of regional public health physician positions; and (iv) the majority of physicians who became members of MPHA were recruited through practice-level organizations that were contacted personally by challenge grant personnel and did not result from the mass mailing of printed materials to individuals. The project doubled the number of physician members of MPHA and resulted in a sponsored session on public health issues at the Maine Medical Association’s Annual Meeting. The project had no effect on APHA membership.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Identify the motivations of physicians who decide to join the Maine Public Health Association and or the American Public Health Association;
• 2. Understand the messages and communication methods that are most likely to increase physician membership;
• 3. Describe the application of marketing techniques to physician membership decisions and behavior.

Keywords: Challenges and Opportunities, Collaboration

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.