Page 40 - February 2017

H EALTHCARE E DUCATION

Cover Story: Nova Introduces

New Bachelor of Science

With a Major in Public Health

Continued from page 1
they grew up in the backdrop of gram is unique in that the curriculum
September 11th, Hurricane Katrina, and satisfies all of the pre-medical prerequi-
a myriad of other local and global disas- sites alongside a strong foundation of
ters,” says Messer. “This exposure to nat- health sciences, epidemiology, biostatis-
ural and man-made disasters, coupled tics, public policy, environmental health,
with additional macro-level changes and community health.
such as an aging population, increase in The academic rigor, emphasis on sci-
chronic diseases, and transformations in ence, and core public health foundation
the health care system, have reinforced of NSU’s BSPH will fully prepare students
the demands of creating a competently- for a career in public health and/or med-
trained public health workforce, as well icine. The instructional delivery method
as providing a core public health founda- of the BSPH is an onsite, day-time model,
tion for future physicians.” with opportunities to participate in glob-
Public health’s interprofessional nature al medical outreach initiatives and com-
is ideally suited for an undergraduate munity-based public health field place- force leadership, problem-solving, and nationally and internationally, for osteo-
degree as a precursor to medical school ments. critical thinking in real-world settings.” pathic medical students, post-graduate
as it provides students an opportunity to “BSPH students will have the opportu- The BSPH course of study was devel- trainees, physicians, and other profes-
apply core public health concepts to clin- nity to travel internationally alongside oped to expand each student’s breadth of sionals. Through its interprofessional
ical practice, research, and program NSU medical school faculty and students understanding public health through programs, the College prepares compe-
development. to actively address public health needs in opportunities to engage in tangible pub- tent and compassionate life-long learn-
The BSPH aims to contribute to the developing countries as well as in under- lic health issues. The first three years of ers; supports research, scholarly activity,
projected need, according to the served areas,” adds Messer. the BSPH curriculum include traditional and community service; and advocates
Association of Schools and Programs in “Community-based public health liberal arts courses, medical school pre- for the health and welfare of diverse pop-
Public Health, of an additional 250,000 practicum placements will strengthen requisites, and core public health courses ulations, including the medically under-
public health professionals in the work- students’ understanding of domestic developed specifically for the BSPH pro- served.”
force. The accelerated option represents public health as students engage in gram. All students will complete the The BSPH program is led by the
the first academic program in the nation developing, implementing and evaluat- required general education courses, the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s
to offer a seven-year Bachelor of Science ing actual public health programs. These traditional pre-medical prerequisite, and esteemed faculty members with an inte-
in Public Health/Doctor of Osteopathic local and global service-learning experi- carefully selected core public health grated approach to instruction and
Medicine degree. This accelerated pro- ences offer critical opportunities to rein-
courses. Through this innovative and opportunities for interprofessional
robust curriculum, all students will meet engagement.
the minimum 120 credits required to Dr. Elaine Wallace, Dean of the College
earn the Bachelor of Science in Public of Osteopathic Medicine, says, “BSPH
Health, and the required minimum 30 graduates will be in a position to pursue
credits that constitute NSU’s General successful careers in the federal, private,
Education Program. and non-profit sectors. In addition they
The schedule is structured so that stu- will have the skillset to meet a variety of
dents take a minimum of one public workforce training needs. BSPH students
health course each semester, which opti- pursuing the accelerated BSPH-DO
mizes a sense of inclusion in the public option will be comprehensively trained
health program from the onset and rein- osteopathic physicians as well as other
forces ongoing mentorship, support, and academicians, possessing the necessary
guidance from COM faculty. The fourth knowledge, skills, and attitudes to pre-
year of the program is comprised exclu- pare them for the contemporary systems,
sively of courses in the public health performance and population-based para-
concentration, with coursework ranging digm of healthcare delivery.”
in focus from community health to pub- NSU has started actively recruiting for
lic health informatics so as to fully pre- the fall 2017 academic semester. High-
pare the student for a myriad of career achieving secondary school students,
choices in public health. who desire to pursue an undergraduate
“Students pursuing the accelerated degree in Public Health and/or those who
BSPH-DO option will pursue a concur- are interested in an osteopathic medical
rent course of study in their 4th year education with a firm foundation in pub-
comprised of courses in the medical con- lic health and the biomedical sciences,
centration that fulfill the requirements are perfect candidates for this new pro-
for the BSPH degree alongside the first gram.
year DO curriculum,” says Messer.
Importantly, the proposed BSPH aligns Additional information regarding this
with the mission of the College of innovative new program can be obtained by
Osteopathic Medicine, “The mission of contacting NSU’s Public Health program
the College of Osteopathic Medicine is to office at (954) 262-1664.
provide learner-centered education, both

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40 February 2017 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News