President's Message
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Now in its 7th year, the Association of Accredited Public Health Program (AAPHP) remains the only organization dedicated solely to Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accredited ‘public health programs’. We continue to focus on providing services to our member programs using a model that emphasizes participation and affordability. We also continue to advocate for the discipline of public health more generally, especially as it relates to building excellence within the public health workforce.
Our membership continues to grow as we work to provide the type of support consistent with our vision of achieving a healthier public through exemplary accredited public health programs. We remain committed to keeping AAPHP accessible to all programs by keeping our membership fees highly affordable while working to enhance our benefits to member programs. I have been working with my talented Executive Board to enhance the value of being an AAPHP Member. Our website now features: 1) a search feature for students interested in applying to graduate programs in public health, with links for interested applicants to begin the graduate school application process; 2) a ‘members only login page’ that provides access to resources found to be invaluable to obtaining and/or maintaining CEPH accreditation both at the graduate and undergraduate levels; 3) a Blog, with social media interface with our Facebook group page that provides current events in public health as well as funding opportunities; 4) a Twitter interface (@AAPHPtweets) briefly announcing important events and funding opportunities; and 5) continued scholarship support for students who are engaged in community-participatory research in public health. Our Executive Board is planning the first AAPHP Biennial Conference to be held at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta on June 7th-9th, 2017. This conference will be dedicated to providing invaluable content in the training of public health workforce. As we plan this event, special sessions will be dedicated to undergraduate and graduate student research. Invited speakers, along with symposia, verbal and poster presentations (peer-reviewed) will be provided. Our biennial conference will be affordable with reduced registration fees for members of our organization. Our conference will be student friendly with the opportunity for students (and faculty) to stay in the residential housing (i.e., single and double occupancy dorm rooms/suites) as a way of keeping conference attendance affordable. Of course, local hotels will also be available for this 2 ½ day conference. Finally, I remain most impressed as I learn more about the exceptional performances of the students and faculty of accredited public health programs in the US and around the world. I offer my very best compliment and well-wishes to the faculty, students and staff who are having a greater impact on the public’s health and wellness more than ever before. It is an honor to walk briskly along-side you in this endeavor in keeping the public healthy. Steven Godin, Ph.D., MPH, PHI Certificate President Association of Accredited Public Health Programs |
Dr. Steven Godin
President, AAPHP |
