Office of Public Health Practice

Newsletter

Practice Plunge - Fall 2010 - registration closed

 

The Practice Plunge is an opportunity for incoming SPH students to step outside the classroom and into public health practice. Students participating in the Practice Plunge will visit a local public department and participate in a public health project with a community-based organization.  This event is open to incoming SPH students and second year Biostatistics students. Transportation and lunch is provided.

You will have the opportunity to:

1. Meet leaders in local public health
2. Learn about public health issues within a city or county
3. Learn about programs and solutions used to address public health issues
4. Roll up your sleeves to work on a community health project

Ypsilanti/Washtenaw County (Fall 2009)
Students traveled to Ypsilanti spent the morning at the Washtenaw County Public Health Department (WCPHD). WCPHD is one of 45 local health departments in the state of Michigan and its jurisdiction encompasses the city of Ann Arbor.  Its mission is "To assure, in partnership with the community, the conditions necessary for people to live healthy lives through prevention and protection programs."   The Health Department consists of five major divisions: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Family Health Division, Disease Control, Emergency Preparedness, and Environmental Health. In the afternoon, students will work on a community garden project. 

Detroit (Fall 2009)
Students traveled to Detroit spent the morning at the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion (DDHWP).  DDHWP is Michigan's only city health department and the tenth largest health department in the nation. DDHWP's mission is to improve "health and quality of life through the application of best practices in the delivery of public health services." 
The Health Department consists of four major divisions: Community Health Services, Environmental Health Services, Health Information, Policy, Planning and Evaluation, and Special Population Health Services (such as HIV/AIDS, Substance Abuse).

In the afternoon, students worked on a community garden project.

Questions about the event may be sent to PracticePlunge@umich.edu.

Students who participated in the Practice Plunge spent the day experiencing public health practice in either the city of Detroit (above) or Washtenaw County.