AIC's New Public Health Program to Address Local, National, and Global Health Problems

Springfield, MA, July 04, 2013 --(PR.com)-- In an effort to address continuing and emerging health challenges, American International College has established a new undergraduate major in Public Health.

Cesarina Thompson, dean of the AIC School of Health Sciences, said the program which begins in the fall, builds on the School’s other successful health programs of Nursing, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy. "The new Public Health major will prepare graduates to work in a variety of settings and engage in a wide range of health promotion, health protection, and disease prevention activities."

Even though the U.S. spends far more on medical care than any other nation, Thompson said, We rank well below many of its global counterparts and competitors on a number of health outcomes including, overall life expectancy and the incidence of preventable diseases and injuries."

According to a recent Institute of Medicine report, "a fundamental but often overlooked driver of the imbalance between spending and outcomes is the nation’s inadequate investment in strategies that promote health and prevent disease and injury population-wide." The passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has placed renewed focus on health promotion and disease prevention and the need for more professionals who are able to develop policies, conduct research, and implement strategies to improve the nation’s health outcomes.

"Although health care professions such as nursing, OT, and PT address health promotion and prevention concerns, given our current healthcare system, these professionals typically care for patients at the time of an illness or injury," Thompson said. "Public health practice on the other hand focuses primarily on helping people to maintain and improve their health. What is unique about our new public health program is that it will be housed within the School of Health Sciences. Students and faculty will have the opportunity to work and learn together, maximizing on the expertise that each brings to health care, and collaborating to educate well prepared professionals for our new health care system."

Thompson said at the completion of the program, it is expected that graduates will have the necessary knowledge of methods to assess population-wide health concerns and understanding related to the U.S. and other selected healthcare and healthcare delivery systems. Students will also learn structures for and approaches to developing health policies and health policy analysis.

Other areas of study will include, population health perspectives and the needs of vulnerable populations, social and behavioral theories applicable to health behavior and how these theories may be applied to address a variety of public health issues, and principles of epidemiology necessary to understand health and illness.

AIC Provost Todd G. Fritch, said the the new program is a continuation of the college's commitment to the health sciences. "Offering a public health major is a natural area of growth for the institution," he said. "Public Health is a significant field of growth for career opportunities."

Recent statewide data indicates that employment of workers engaged in “health education” across various settings (e.g. hospitals, ambulatory care services, social assistance agencies, local government agencies, nursing and residential care facilities) is expected to increase by 51% through 2020.

"This program would strengthen the mission of the college by expanding opportunities for students to transform their lives and achieve personal and professional fulfillment through rewarding careers as health professionals," Fritch said. "The program’s focus on addressing local, national, and global health problems would further enhance the College’s mission to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities in the global environment."

To bring awareness to the issue of public health, AIC established the Desmond Tutu Public Health Lecture Series in 2010. Archbishop Desmond Tutu served as the series’ inaugural speaker and its namesake.

Dr. Peter Bittel, chairman of the AIC Board of Trustees, is one of the series’ originators and a strong advocate for its mission. "The function of the lecture series is to bring attention to issues of public health in the college community," said Dr. Bittel. He noted that, according to a recent study, Hampden County has the highest incidence of public health issues in the commonwealth, underscoring the need for local public awareness campaigns.