STUDENT SUCCESS

STUDENTS PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN PANDEMIC RESPONSE.

RESPONDING TO EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS

MPH students, required to complete 720 hours of hands-on learning for their degree program, were transitioned to coronavirus-related tasks at their internship sites, gaining significant experience on emergency response. Other students, such as those in NYSDOH’s Wadsworth Center, also contributed to research and response activities.

Students volunteered on top of their academic programs and work obligations, assisting as contact tracers, data analysts

and public health educators for

vulnerable populations. They aided health departments with important activites such as wellness calls to COVID-19 positive individuals and tracked new case intakes, as well. Of note, students assisted locally at the Albany County Department of Health and the Rensselaer County Department of Health, gaining important insight into hands-on public health work in our local Capital Region communities.

Volunteer opportunities were organized by the School’s Division for Public Health Practice and directed by Janine Jurkowski, professor and Associate Dean for Public Health Practice.

Many students noted that the pandemic reaffirmed their strong desire to help others through public health work, where they can help to create lasting change in populations and communities.

REIMAGINING PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES

While coronavirus took center stage in 2020, public health practitioners and students could not ignore the numerous other public health issues requiring attention. With rolled up sleeves, our School reimagined how to address public health issues while ensuring new safety protocols were met. Students completing internships were tasked with redesigning and altering public health programming to deliver services through virtual or reduced-capacity options, showcasing the creative and innovative minds of the next public health leaders.