News Release


Michigan Public Health Training Center announces spring courses.

March 19, 2004 press release from the MIchigan Public Health Training Center and the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

ANN ARBOR, MICH.—The Michigan Public Health Training Center (MPHTC) is offering face-to-face and mentored, online continuing education courses this spring. Several courses have been offered previously in other locations; two new courses are now available. These courses represent a partnership learning approach through collaborative training of employees of state and local health departments, community-based organizations, health delivery systems and health plans, and those studying public health.

All courses offer continuing education credits for a variety of health professionals, and a MPHTC certificate for successful completion, identifying core competencies relevant to population-based health practice. The registration fee is $135 per course per person, unless otherwise noted. Limited scholarship support is available.

The following on-site courses will meet for three (3) half-day sessions (8:30 a.m. to noon) on the dates specified:

• Conducting Useful Program Evaluations – in Grand Rapids, taught by Paul Freddolino, PhD, a professor at Michigan State University's (MSU) School of Social Work, and coordinator of the Distance Education Program at MSU. This course will be held on April 21, May 5 and May 19, 2004 in Grand Rapids. For more information: https://www.sph.umich.edu/iscr/mphtc/courses/one-course.cfm?id=59

• Survey Design and Implementation – in Flint, taught by Joseph W. Brown, PhD, clinical associate professor of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and research investigator at the University of Michigan Population Studies Center. This course will be held on April 27, May 11 and May 25, 2004 in Flint. For more information: https://www.sph.umich.edu/iscr/mphtc/courses/one-course.cfm?id=61

• Budgeting and Accounting – in Grand Rapids, taught by Jack Wheeler, PhD, professor of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health. This course will be held on May 12, May 26 and June 9, 2004 in Grand Rapids. For more information: https://www.sph.umich.edu/iscr/mphtc/courses/one-course.cfm?id=58

• The Art and Technique of Effective Communication – (NEW) in Detroit, taught by Kami Silk, PhD, and Ella Greene-Moton. Dr. Silk is an assistant professor at Michigan State University; Ms. Greene-Moton is assistant director of the Health Awareness Center at the Flint Odyssey House and serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Michigan, Flint. This course will be held on May 20, June 10 and June 17, 2004 in Detroit. For more information: https://www.sph.umich.edu/iscr/mphtc/courses/one-course.cfm?id=67

A one-day workshop, Addressing Environmental Contaminants and their Effects on Human Health (NEW), taught by Victor Roth, MD, MPH, Brian Hughes, PhD, MPH, and Rebecca Head, PhD, MS, will be offered in the following three locations (please click on the link for additional information): Fee $45.

Grand Rapids (May 21): https://www.sph.umich.edu/iscr/mphtc/courses/one-course.cfm?id=73
Detroit (June 2): https://www.sph.umich.edu/iscr/mphtc/courses/one-course.cfm?id=74
Saginaw (July 21): https://www.sph.umich.edu/iscr/mphtc/courses/one-course.cfm?id=75

Online mentored courses offered by the MPHTC provide guided instruction from distinguished faculty for the duration of the six-week course and incorporate video and PowerPoint presentations, online discussions with the instructor and classmates, readings, and supplementary exercises to offer a learning experience comparable to traditional face-to-face courses.

• Budgeting and Accounting, taught by Jack Wheeler, PhD, a professor of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health. This course will be held May 5 through June 15, 2004 online. For more information and updates: https://www.sph.umich.edu/iscr/mphtc/courses/one-online-course.cfm?id=56

• Beyond Numbers: Qualitative Research Methods, Application and Analysis, taught by Rebecca Malouin, PhD, an epidemiologist in the Epidemiology Services Division at the Michigan Department of Community Health. This course will be held May 17 through June 28, 2004 online. For more information: https://www.sph.umich.edu/iscr/mphtc/courses/one-online-course.cfm?id=66

To register: https://www.sph.umich.edu/iscr/mphtc/courses/. For more information: e-mail us at mphtc@umich.edu or call us at (734) 615-9439.

In less than two years, MPHTC has provided course-based training to more than 600 members of Michigan's workforce representing 39 local health departments, 34 community-based organizations, 11 health systems, and organizations serving the Native American, African American, Arab, Catholic, Jewish, and Latino populations.

"Michigan public health professionals are truly fortunate to have the Michigan Public Health Training Center in our midst," says Richard J. Thoune, director of the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department. "Existing skills of our staff will surely be enhanced and new and important ones will be added as we move forward to address the myriad public health issues facing us in our complex world today. I look forward to the further development of the Center's capabilities in distance learning courses and workshops to the more remote and rural areas of our state."

"I have always believed that only very brainy people understood data and statistics," remarks Gwen Imes, public health consultant at the Michigan Department of Community Health. "As such, I was initially reluctant to take the data course. However, I am thrilled I took the course because the instructor ensured that every student, regardless of their exposure to data, was able to understand the concepts presented. I have already begun using my newly acquired skills."

The courses offered by the MPHTC have been made possible through funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Bureau of Health Professions.

The MPHTC received a five-year grant from HRSA to develop a state-wide training center, and the Michigan Department of Community Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has provided additional funding. The MPHTC strives to improve the competence of the current and future public health workforce to improve the public's health.

Contact: Jeanette Kunnath
Phone: 734-615-9439
E-mail: kunnathj@umich.edu

© 2004 The Regents of the University of Michigan
Updated March 19, 2004