choose an organization, meet someone who works there, and assist her or him with a public health-related project that is relevant to infectious prevention.

PH 560 Signature Assignment: Applied Practice Experience An important part of your MPH program is an “applied practice experience” in which you gain hands-on experience with a real-world healthcare organization while applying what you have learned. In this class, you will apply your learning by building a relationship with a healthcare organization of your choice. You will choose an organization, meet someone who works there, and assist her or him with a public health-related project that is relevant to PH 560. The Signature Assignment will be submitted in portions throughout the course: Week 2 Discussion: Choosing an Organization Week 4 Signature Assignment Part I: PowerPoint presentation draft Week 7 Signature Assignment Part II: Video presentation Week 2 Discussion: Choosing an Organization

 List three (3) different organizations you would like to do your project on. Why did you choose them?

 Review the organizations’ websites and try to make contact with someone at the organization. What projects are they currently working on that are related to public health, epidemiology, disease outbreaks, or healthcare-acquired infections?

 Respond to at least two (2) of your classmates’ or your instructor’s posts. Comment on the organizations they chose. Which organizations do you think are the best options and why?

EXAMPLE ORGANIZATIONS AND PROJECTS

Organizations Projects

Community hospital’s Infection Prevention department

Analyze their hand hygiene data

Develop a hand hygiene educational presentation or poster

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Vaccine Preventable Disease Division

Perform an analysis of the Disneyland measles outbreak that occurred in 2014–2015

Volunteer to assist with data collection or other aspect of a current outbreak

A local dialysis clinic Develop a protocol or educational program on safe practices that reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections

A local nursing home Work with the nursing or housekeeping director on improving housekeeping practices by updating their cleaning and disinfection policy

A cruise line’s health/medical division Develop an educational presentation or poster for cruise ship staff on multidrug resistant organisms and how they are transmitted

Week 4 Signature Assignment Part I: PowerPoint Presentation Outline

1. Think back to the Week 2 Discussions. Which organization do you think fits best with the area you would like to study in this class?

2. Contact someone at that organization this week and discuss this course and your MPH program. Learn how you can help them with a public health problem relevant to this course.

3. Choose 5 of the 22 MPH foundational competencies (see page 4) that are relevant to your work with this organization.

4. Create and submit a draft PowerPoint presentation that outlines the organization you have chosen and the project you want to do with them. Your presentation must include the following:

o Title slide (1 slide)

o Introduction to the chosen organization (1-2 slides) Your final presentation will need to provide the location, size, mission statement, and typical projects/programs of the organization you chose.

o Information on your contact at the chosen organization (2-4 slides) Your final presentation will need to provide his or her initials, title, role, and responsibilities, as well as a description and discussion of your meetings/conversations with your contact.

o Information on the project proposed for the organization (3-5 slides) Your final presentation will need to provide a detailed description of the project.

o The five (5) foundational competencies you have chosen (5 slides) Your final presentation will need to explain how the chosen foundational competencies are related to the chosen project.

o A slide in which you list any references you use in APA format (1 slide)

The draft presentation does not need to be complete, but the outline must indicate all required areas.

Week 7 Signature Assignment Part II: Video Presentation

1. Using Kaltura, submit a 5- to 7-minute video in which you present and explain your complete PowerPoint presentation. See “Getting Started with Kaltura” in the menu of Blackboard course for an introduction to using the Kaltura tool.

2. Describe the organization you chose and the project you conducted in detail:

o Title slide (1 slide)

o Introduction to the chosen organization (1-2 slides) The location, size, mission statement, and typical projects/programs of the organization you chose.

o Your contact at the chosen organization (2-4 slides) Provide his or her initials, title, role, and responsibilities, as well as a description and discussion of your meetings/conversations with your contact.

o Detailed information on the project completed for the organization (3-5 slides)

o The five (5) foundational competencies you have chosen (5 slides) Explain how the chosen foundational competencies are related to your project.

o A slide in which you list any references you use in APA format (1 slide)

Tips for an effective presentation and video:

o Rehearse; you improve every time you practice. o Make eye contact with your audience (your webcam). o Vary your tone of voice as appropriate, speak loudly, and pace yourself well. o Limit the text on each PowerPoint slide to 6–7 bullets. o Provide visual aids such as illustrations, charts, or photographs in your PowerPoint

presentation. o Don’t read your PowerPoint presentation to your audience; use an extemporaneous speaking

style.

MPH FOUNDATIONAL COMPETENCIES

MPH program curriculums are built based on 22 competencies in 8 core areas. They are informed by the traditional public health core knowledge areas—biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, health services administration, and environmental health sciences—as well as cross-cutting and emerging public health areas.

These competencies and core areas are driven by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). MPH graduates are expected to meet these competencies on completion of their degree. It is worthwhile for MPH students to be familiar with the MPH foundational competencies and review them throughout their studies to assure they stay on track with their learning. For more information on CEPH, visit the website (https://ceph.org/).

Evidence-Based Approaches to Public Health

1. Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice. 2. Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context. 3. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming, and software, as

appropriate. 4. Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy, or practice.

Public Health and Healthcare Systems

5. Compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and international settings.

6. Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities, and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community, and societal levels.

Planning and Management to Promote Health

7. Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect the health of communities. 8. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs. 9. Design a population-based policy, program, project, or intervention. 10. Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management. 11. Select methods to evaluate public health programs.

Policy in Public Health

12. Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence. 13. Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes. 14. Advocate for political, social, or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations. 15. Evaluate policies for their effects on public health and health equity.

Leadership

16. Apply principles of leadership, governance, and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration, and guiding decision-making.

17. Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.

Communication

18. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors. 19. Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation. 20. Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.

Inter-professional Practice

21. Perform effectively on interprofessional teams.

Systems Thinking

22. Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue.