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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Christina T. Holt, MD, MSc¹, Joseph Brenner, MA², Vivian Chavez, DrPH³, James Kettler, PhD⁴, David Lamitie⁵, Susan Levine, PhD⁶, Hong Mautz, MA⁵, Lois McCloskey, DrPH⁷, Megan Pierson⁵, Leo Saldanha⁸, Roshni Sampath⁵, Ellen R. Shaffer, PhD MPH², Manasi Tirodkar, PhD⁹, and Joan T. Tiffany⁵. (1) Department of Family Medicine, Maine Medical Center, 272 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101, 207 662 7371, tinaholt@gmail.com, (2) CPATH, 98 Seal Rock Drive, San Francisco, CA 94121, (3) Health Education, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco, CA 94132, (4) International Honors Program, Boston University School of Public Health, 232 Bay State Road, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02215, (5) International Honors Program, Boston University International Programs, 232 Bay State Road, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, (6) Medical Anthropology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosh, Cape Town, South Africa, (7) Department of Maternal and Child Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, T528W, Boston, MA 02118, (8) Environment Support Group, S-3, Rajashree Apartments, 18/57, 1st Main, SRK Gardens, Bannerghatta Road, Jayanagar, Bangalore, India, (9) Northwestern University, Health Services Research, Chicago, IL 60208

Grappling with the health challenges inherent in global economies and multicultural communities requires a public health workforce with an international and interdisciplinary perspective. Increasingly, undergraduates are expressing interest in global public health; many expect their college curriculum to include field experiences and opportunities for study abroad. In light of these developments, the International Honors Program (IHP), a Boston University affiliate, launched the "Health and Community” program in January 2006. This semester-long comparative education program immerses North American students from top-tier universities in the study of health in four countries: United States, India, China and South Africa. The curriculum integrates field and course work in medical anthropology, the political economy of health, public health theory and practice, and field research methods. The program emphasizes inquiry-based and small group learning, the combination of local expertise and academic preparation, and the value of multiple perspectives. A faculty team travels with the students to teach core courses and facilitate thematic learning, and local coordinators develop country-specific content, field excursions and student homestays. Our session will present the philosophy, teaching methods, curriculum, and challenges of the “Health and Community" program in its first year. We will assess the value of the program for launching undergraduates into interdisciplinary graduate study and careers in public health and medicine. We believe that such a rich hands-on study abroad program is an ideal vehicle for nurturing a public health workforce capable of critical, interdisciplinary thinking and global perspectives.

Learning Objectives: