By Julene Thompson
The Department of Health Science is accepting applications for its second year of a two-year Master of Public Health Degree with an emphasis in global health promotion.
'It''s widely recognized that society needs more trained public health professionals,' said Brad Neiger, Master of Public Health Director.
'The science and art of preventing disease from a global perspective is in the forefront today,' Neiger said.
The department was able to add the program because of new faculty with expertise in the area of public health that have come to BYU in the last five years, He said.
'The focus of the program is to assess health needs in an area and then make programs to address those needs,' Neiger said. 'We develop solutions then evaluate the success of those solutions.'
The program''s intent is to prevent epidemics, Neiger said. When you look at the functions of public health they are consistent with that of bio-terrorism.
Graduates will help subdue infectious diseases such as the West Nile virus, HIV, hantavirus, and tuberculosis.
They are also be needed to accomplish the goals released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in their document Healthy People 2010, explained Rosemary Thackary, assistant professor in the College of Health and Human Performance.
Healthy People 2010 consist of almost 500 objectives to be accomplished by the year 2010.
According to the document, one of the two overall goals is to eliminate health disparities due to differences in gender, race, income, education, geographical location and sexual orientation, according to the document.
'If you look at health care, there are a lot of disparities,' Thakary said. 'For example diabetes: people of Native American descent are more likely to develop diabetes than people who are Caucasian.'
Public health professionals would make programs to monitor glucose intake for Native Americans, she said.
Most public health graduates work for public health agencies. Neiger said.
They work with people who are poverty stricken or who are at high risk for disease and don''t have the means to treat their problems, he said.
There are state, county, and city health departments, federal agencies and a range of community centers that require public health professionals.
Examples include rape crisis centers, hospitals, the American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control.
On a national level professionals work for the World Health Organizations.
The focal point of need on a global level is in developing countries like Africa, parts of South East Asia, and The Russian federation. Neiger said
The department is looking for applicants who are committed to a career in public health, Neiger said.
'We''re looking for a variety of backgrounds ideally our applicants have public health experience,' he said. 'Experience in another country is also real plus.'
Applicants are expected to write a 1000 word statement of intent and are interviewed.
Applications for the 2003 academic year are due Feb. 1. through the Office of Graduate Studies. For more information visit http://mph.byu.edu.