The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #52723

Ruth Rhodes, MPH, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 559 Bevill Biomedical Research Building, 845 19th St., South, Birmingham, AL 35294-2170, 205-934-2511, tonirhodes@hotmail.com

The Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) estimates more than 16,000 students are currently enrolled in the 32 accredited schools of public health across the nation; this estimate does not include the many institutions that offer programs in public health. In contrast, there were, at the beginning of this project in 2001, only 4,000 student members of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and approximately 200 student members of the Public Health Student Caucus (PHSC). Realizing schools with public health degree programs are a largely untapped membership resource, PHSC proposed to increase student membership in both APHA and PHSC with a project that builds upon past efforts to recruit and retain campus liaisons. Student campus liaisons helped facilitate recruitment on behalf of APHA and PHSC at different universities across the nation. The liaisons coordinated at least one student-focused membership campaign at their university during the academic year. Recruitment materials were developed including student-oriented brochures, fliers, and newsletters. Other materials were also disseminated to students by campus liaisons throughout the year. PHSC’s liaison work in tandem with APHA’s recruitment efforts increased APHA student membership to approximately 6,000 by January 2002. Recruitment by liaisons also helps identify future public health leaders who can more actively participate in APHA and PHSC. Efforts continue to be made to establish at least one liaison at each of the schools of public health and public health-related degree programs in order to ensure our field’s vitality by engaging future public health leaders.

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