The SPH welcomes another large, diverse, and highly qualified MPH student cohort in 2011

This is the second year in which the incoming Master of Public Health (MPH) students in the School of Public Health at the University of Saskatchewan will take part in a two-week intensive orientation course in Foundations of Public Health. The course took place from August 22 – September 2 and was designed with the overarching goal of building solid foundations for Public Health core competencies: Public Health Sciences, Assessment and Analysis, Policy and Program Planning, Implementation and Evaluation, Partnerships, Collaboration and Advocacy, Diversity and Inclusiveness, and Communication and Leadership.

"The Foundations of Public Health course is a brilliant idea. While taking this very intensive course, I couldn't have guessed how useful it would be in the rest of the term. I would like to thank the School of Public Health for giving me a broad perspective on Public Health and enriching my experience by inviting such diverse speakers. The Faculty and the eminent guest speakers provided a taste of the variety of exciting courses on offer, which surely helped me decide the path of my MPH experience. I would highly recommend prospective students to the MPH program to not miss this experience here at the U of S."

Accomplished faculty from the SPH presented to the MPH class, such as:

• Robert Buckingham, Executive Director and Professor of Epidemiology
• Allen Backman, Assistant Executive Director and Associate Professor in Healthcare Management/Administration
• John Moraros, MPH Director and Assistant Professor in Epidemiology
• Janice MacKinnon, Professor, Healthcare Management/Administration
• Rein Lepnurm, Professor, Healthcare Management/Administration
• Marwa Farag, Assistant Professor, Healthcare Management/Administration
• Lalita Bharadwaj, Associate Professor in Environmental Health

In addition, many distinguished guest speakers from all walks of life were in attendance to address the incoming students. They included:

• Paul Hackett, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography & Researcher Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU)
• Ulrich Teucher, Associate Professor / Program for Culture and Human Development / Department of Psychology ; Co-Director QRC Qualitative Research Centre / College of Arts & Sciences  
• Haizhen Mou, Assistant Professor, Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan
• Hassan Vatanpararst, Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition and School of Public Health
• James Irvine, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine
• Gary Teare, Director of Quality Measurement and Analysis , Saskatchewan Health Quality Council
• Stephen Whitehead, MPH Practicum Director and Medical Heath Officer, Saskatoon Health Region
• Lilian Thorpe, Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine
• Jerrold Klein, Attorney, New York , USA
• O’lynda Lovas, Manager Primary Prevention, Saskatchewan Heart and Stroke Foundation
• Diane Martz, Director Research Ethics Office, University of Saskatchewan
• Brad Wuetherick, Program Director, Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching Effectiveness, University of Saskatchewan
• Mark Lemstra, Director of the Department of Research, Evaluation and Epidemiology, STC Health and Family Services
• Anne Neufeld, Director Planning, Policy and Performance, Saskatoon Health Region
• Ted Tulchinsky, Associate Professor in the Braun School of Public Health, Israel

“The Foundations course was an intense two weeks, and a considerable amount of studying, yet it provided an accurate example of what is expected from us, and the amount of work we need to put in as MPH students. The topics covered in Foundation were very interesting, and did help set the tone for the program. The various speakers all provided expertise in their field, and many gave inspiration to pursue careers in Public Health. The Biostatistics component was a good review, and definitely helped going into the Biostatistics course.

In addition, the two week Foundation course provided the opportunity to get to know my colleagues, and develop friendships that I hope will last beyond this program. After spending seven hours a day with your peers, and then studying together, you really get the chance to bond over common interests and challenges brought up in the Foundations course.”

The MPH student cohort also got better acquainted with our local community public health related agencies by paying a visit to the Saskatoon Community Service Village. Agencies located in the Village are: Saskatoon Council on Aging, Catholic Service Village, Family Service Saskatoon, Folkfest, Global Gathering Place, Hope Cancer Help Centre, Parenting Education Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Crisis intervention Service, Saskatoon Sexual Assault and Information Centre, Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan, United Way of Saskatoon & Area, Volunteer Saskatoon and YWCA Saskatoon). This year’s Foundations course ended with an informal and celebratory social event/luncheon get-together between the incoming first year students, faculty, staff and many second year MPH students.

"The School of Public Health is continuing its tradition of assisting its students achieve their educational goals and career aspirations in Public Health.  To help our first year MPH students hone their undergraduate Biostatistics skills, this year, for the first time since the course's creation, a formal Biostatistics review component was incorporated into the intensive two-week Foundations course.   I was given the privilege to meet and work with this new group of MPH students as the instructor of this Biostatistics review component.  I demonstrated how "clicker technology" can be used to further their engagement in a course and how the technology can be used to assess a student's content knowledge while simultaneously building confidence in his/her own knowledge and reducing his/her exam anxiety. I look forward to working with these highly qualified students throughout the academic year and continuing the pattern of successes established in the Foundations course."

 

"This late August of 2011, I was delighted to welcome another large, diverse, energetic and international cohort of incoming students into our Masters of Public Health (MPH) program and the School of Public Health (SPH) at the University of Saskatchewan. This was a particularly dynamic group, very conscientious in their studies, and quite professional in their demeanour. The students were highly engaged throughout the Foundations in Public Health class and eager to learn and succeed.  When appropriate, they asked thoughtful questions and made meaningful contributions to class discussions. Despite the heavy load, they adjusted almost immediately, begun to demonstrate mastery of the material covered and showed steady improvement. This is a very talented group of MPH students filled with promise and dedication to the discipline. I and the rest of the faculty, staff and administrators within the SPH, look forward to the opportunity to engage, challenge and inspire them to reach their full potential as students and young professionals in the exciting and growing field of Public Health."