Read about the PHAST trip to the Gulf Coast in Findings

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PHAST provides field experiences in public health practice for students.

PHAST actively assists local and state health departments in meeting the demands of certain public health events, disasters and investigations. For example, PHAST students:

• Worked with Washtenaw County Public Health Department on an emergency preparedness drill focused on running a flu clinic and administering vaccines.
• Assisted University Health Service with administering a survey at home football games to assess effectiveness of a social marketing campaign related to safe alcohol use.
• Worked with the Barry-Eaton District Health Department and the Michigan Department of Community Health on a food borne outbreak investigation.

In addition to local deployments, PHAST members may be eligible for a week-long field experience. PHAST has deployed out of Michigan every year since 2006. A few highlights:

• 2012: 18 students participated in projects in South Texas
• 2008: 30 students worked at the Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in China. Read more in Findings Fall 2008.
• 2006: 40 PHAST students assisted with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in Biloxi, MS, Bogalusa, LA, Baton Rouge, LA, and New Orleans, LA. Read their blog.

Other Extended Deployments

• 2012: After tornadoes struck Kentucky, 2 PHAST members deployed to Kentucky to help assess disaster preparedness and response. At the end of the academic year, 5 students also went to Mississippi to help with a community-based research project.
• 2011: 6 students went to Biloxi, Mississippi to assist a local community-based organization with focus groups and interviews.

HEALTH DEPARTMENTS:
To request the help of PHAST students, complete a PHAST Deployment Application and email to phast@umich.edu or call (734) 763-9234 and have the information requested on this form ready to provide to the PHAST Coordinator.

Deployment requests during UM fall and winter semesters (September through April) tend to get the best response from students. PHAST may be unable to respond to requests during the summer months.

PHAST 2013 Spring Break Deployments to Texas and Grenada. Read their blogs.

South Texas March 3-9, 2013 Blog

Grenada March 3-9, 2013 Blog

CHINA 2008 PHAST Trip:
PHAST students were deployed to Tianjin, China in February 2008. Read more in Findings Fall 2008.

PHAST RESPONSE:
PHAST students volunteered in the Gulf Coast to assist in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts during Spring Break 2006 and 2007. Read the 2006 blog.