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Office of Public Health Practice
The Practice Plunge is an opportunity for incoming SPH students to step outside the classroom and into public health practice. Students participating in the Practice Plunge will visit a local public department and participate in a public health project with a community-based organization. This annual event is open to incoming SPH students and second year Biostatistics students. Transportation and lunch is provided.
You will have the opportunity to:
Ypsilanti/Washtenaw County
Students traveling to Ypsilanti will spend the morning at the Washtenaw County Public Health Department (WCPHD). WCPHD is one of 45 local health departments in the state of Michigan and its jurisdiction encompasses the city of Ann Arbor. Its mission is "To assure, in partnership with the community, the conditions necessary for people to live healthy lives through prevention and protection programs." The Health Department consists of five major divisions: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Family Health Division, Disease Control, Emergency Preparedness, and Environmental Health. Health Officer Ellen J. Clement, MSW, MPH leads the organization and Diana Torres Burgos, MD, MPH is its Medical Director. Both are graduates of UM SPH.
In the afternoon, students will work on a community garden project.
Detroit
Students traveling to Detroit will spend the morning at the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion (DDHWP). DDHWP is Michigan's only city health department and the tenth largest health department in the nation. DDHWP's mission is to improve "health and quality of life through the application of best practices in the delivery of public health services."
The Health Department consists of four major divisions: Community Health Services, Environmental Health Services, Health Information, Policy, Planning and Evaluation, and Special Population Health Services (such as HIV/AIDS, Substance Abuse). Health Officer/Director Phyllis Meadows, PhD, RN leads the organization and James Blessman, MD, MPH serves as Medical Director.
In the afternoon, students will assist a community-based organization in its initiative to create safe clean environments for youth.
Questions about the event may be sent to PracticePlunge@umich.edu.
Students participating in the Practice Plunge will spend the day experiencing public health practice in either the city of Detroit (above) or Washtenaw County.
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