Online Program

287683
Multi-campus and multi-disciplinary student coalition: A unique opportunity for learning and service


Monday, November 4, 2013

Kuan-Lung Daniel Chen, MPH, CPH, Department of Public Health Research, Hepatitis B Foundation, Doylestown, PA
C. a. Cohen, MPH, DrPH(c), Department of Public Health Research, Hepatitis B Foundation, Doylestown, PA
Ho-hin Choy, MD(c), Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Pandora Chua, MD(c), School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Amelia Kermis, MPH(c), School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Raymond Lum, MPhil, MS, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Background: Hep B United Philadelphia is a local coalition and campaign directed by the Hepatitis B Foundation to improve hepatitis B outcomes in Philadelphia through raising awareness, increasing community-based activities and developing care infrastructure. Graduate students in the health sciences are in a unique position to offer skills and services while seeking mentorship and practice opportunities. With this in mind, a sub-coalition was formed to encourage strategic collaborations among students from various programs and universities.

Method: The student sub-coalition follows the Multilevel Approach To Community Health (MATCH) model to achieve its goals: To accomplish the overall coalition goals while providing students with learning opportunities in multi-disciplinary teams and community-based settings. The students plan and volunteer at community screenings, organize public awareness events, and hold on-campus talks to educate peers. While developing activities, students seek out additional learning opportunities such as grant writing and community organizing. Their successes are evaluated through grant evaluation reporting and poster sessions at conferences.

Results: Since November, 2011, the students have successfully planned seven community-based hepatitis B screenings; organized and participated in awareness flash mob and dragon boat race. They also recruited additional student groups into the sub-coalition. Their successes have been presented at student conferences and highlighted in local and academic news outlets.

Discussion/Conclusion: Philadelphia provides a unique landscape with multiple medical schools and higher education institutions within close proximity. The student sub-coalition creates opportunities for students to collaborate with like-minded colleagues across various universities, experience community based health programming, and serving the underserved.

Learning Areas:

Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Program planning
Provision of health care to the public
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Formulate plans for starting student coalitions in the participants’ own geographical region. Describe the value, benefits, and challenges of multi-university and multi-discipline student coalitions.

Keyword(s): Coalition, Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the manager for both the overall Hep B United Philadelphia coalition and the student sub-coalition. I provide on-going support for the student sub-coalition meetings, communication, community events, and other collaborative activities. I am also the link between the student sub-coalition and the Asian and Pacific Islander communities in Philadelphia.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.