PUBLIC HEALTHImpacting Social Change in the Field of

2

PUBLIC HEALTH mdash DEFINED amp EXPLOREDLack of proper nutrition and food security access to mental health services water pollution infectious diseases obesity the national opioid crisis mdash we as individuals as communities and as a society are vulnerable to the many challenges our world is facing today

As the health needs of our communities change evolve and increase so will the demand for dedicated efficient and focused researchers health administrators and policy makers For this reason West Virginia Universityrsquos public health professionals in the School of Public Health are working to provide solutions to some of the most critical questions our society faces today

With this resource we aim to shed light on some of the national and West Virginia-specific public health needs the history of the public health landscape the importance of WVUrsquos R1 status and a variety of other topics all related to preparing the future public health leaders of tomorrow

3

HISTORY OF PUBLIC HEALTHWhat is the history of public health And how has it evolved

Public health as a movement as a discipline is rooted in antiquity From the beginnings of human civilizations itrsquos been recognized that the health of individuals and cultures were affected by various factors like polluted water lack of proper human waste disposal and certain indulgent behaviors such as unsafe sexual relations and drinking excessive alcohol

As science and an understanding of health continued to increase so did the need for societyrsquos inclusion of public health practices mdash which brings us to the era of modern public health

In the United States the first public health organization based on a state health department and local boards of health was founded in New York City in 1866 And in the twentieth century the overall orientation of public health shifted from disease prevention to overall health promotion Public health once again became a task of promoting a healthy society In the twentieth century this goal was to be achieved through scientific analysis of disease medical treatment of individuals and education on healthy habits

In 1923 American public health leader Charles-Edward A Winslow defined public health as ldquothe science and art of preventing disease prolonging life and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts for the sanitation of the environment the control of community infections the education of the individual in principles of personal hygiene the organization of medical and nursing service for the early diagnosis and preventive treatment of disease and the development of the social machinery which will ensure to every individual in the community a standard of living adequate for the maintenance of healthrdquo

Winslowrsquos early definition provided the basis for the World Health Organizationrsquos definition of health ldquoA state of complete physical mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmityrdquo

2

PUBLIC HEALTH mdash DEFINED amp EXPLOREDLack of proper nutrition and food security access to mental health services water pollution infectious diseases obesity the national opioid crisis mdash we as individuals as communities and as a society are vulnerable to the many challenges our world is facing today

As the health needs of our communities change evolve and increase so will the demand for dedicated efficient and focused researchers health administrators and policy makers For this reason West Virginia Universityrsquos public health professionals in the School of Public Health are working to provide solutions to some of the most critical questions our society faces today

With this resource we aim to shed light on some of the national and West Virginia-specific public health needs the history of the public health landscape the importance of WVUrsquos R1 status and a variety of other topics all related to preparing the future public health leaders of tomorrow

3

HISTORY OF PUBLIC HEALTHWhat is the history of public health And how has it evolved

Public health as a movement as a discipline is rooted in antiquity From the beginnings of human civilizations itrsquos been recognized that the health of individuals and cultures were affected by various factors like polluted water lack of proper human waste disposal and certain indulgent behaviors such as unsafe sexual relations and drinking excessive alcohol

As science and an understanding of health continued to increase so did the need for societyrsquos inclusion of public health practices mdash which brings us to the era of modern public health

In the United States the first public health organization based on a state health department and local boards of health was founded in New York City in 1866 And in the twentieth century the overall orientation of public health shifted from disease prevention to overall health promotion Public health once again became a task of promoting a healthy society In the twentieth century this goal was to be achieved through scientific analysis of disease medical treatment of individuals and education on healthy habits

In 1923 American public health leader Charles-Edward A Winslow defined public health as ldquothe science and art of preventing disease prolonging life and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts for the sanitation of the environment the control of community infections the education of the individual in principles of personal hygiene the organization of medical and nursing service for the early diagnosis and preventive treatment of disease and the development of the social machinery which will ensure to every individual in the community a standard of living adequate for the maintenance of healthrdquo

Winslowrsquos early definition provided the basis for the World Health Organizationrsquos definition of health ldquoA state of complete physical mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmityrdquo

3

HISTORY OF PUBLIC HEALTHWhat is the history of public health And how has it evolved

Public health as a movement as a discipline is rooted in antiquity From the beginnings of human civilizations itrsquos been recognized that the health of individuals and cultures were affected by various factors like polluted water lack of proper human waste disposal and certain indulgent behaviors such as unsafe sexual relations and drinking excessive alcohol

As science and an understanding of health continued to increase so did the need for societyrsquos inclusion of public health practices mdash which brings us to the era of modern public health

In the United States the first public health organization based on a state health department and local boards of health was founded in New York City in 1866 And in the twentieth century the overall orientation of public health shifted from disease prevention to overall health promotion Public health once again became a task of promoting a healthy society In the twentieth century this goal was to be achieved through scientific analysis of disease medical treatment of individuals and education on healthy habits

In 1923 American public health leader Charles-Edward A Winslow defined public health as ldquothe science and art of preventing disease prolonging life and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts for the sanitation of the environment the control of community infections the education of the individual in principles of personal hygiene the organization of medical and nursing service for the early diagnosis and preventive treatment of disease and the development of the social machinery which will ensure to every individual in the community a standard of living adequate for the maintenance of healthrdquo

Winslowrsquos early definition provided the basis for the World Health Organizationrsquos definition of health ldquoA state of complete physical mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmityrdquo

4

MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONSAs a future leader in the field of public health itrsquos crucial that you familiarize yourself with the major public health organizations who are impacting the public health landscape The more familiar you are with these organizations the more informed yoursquoll be of the current and emerging public health trends

Here are 10 well-known and well-respected public health organizations according to the Advocates for Public Health Education

World Health Organization (WHO) WHO directs and coordinates health activities within the system of the United Nations

National Institutes of Health (NIH) NIH is the nationrsquos top medical research organization and it makes many important discoveries that boost health and save peoplersquos lives

US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Provides needed health care services underserved and needy populations within the United States

Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Organization of member statesterritories that represent public health epidemiologists

National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) A national professional society of environmental health practitioners Started originally in the state of California

American Public Health Organization (APHO) The oldest and most diverse public health professionals organization in the world

Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) This dynamic organization works to boost the strength of laboratories that work in the interest of the public health both in the US and around the world

The Public Health Foundation (PHF) Dedicated to creating communities of good health through the use of training research and technical support

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) This agency is part of the US Department of Health and Human services and takes public health actions as needed

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) A health agency that has over a century of experience is boosting the health and living conditions of the countries in the Americas

5

Public health is a versatile career field and for this reason public health professionals are able to take positions in a variety of work environments including

WORK ENVIRONMENTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH

Because the field of public health has career opportunities suited to a variety of interests skills and environments working in public health is a great option for professionals hoping to make a career change or for recent college graduates looking to change their field of study in order to pursue a mission-driven career thatrsquos focused on transforming the lives of others

bull Traditional Public Health Organizationsbull Traditional Service-Focused Organizationsbull Federal Health Agenciesbull State Health Agenciesbull Local Health Agenciesbull Consulting Firmsbull Consumer Advocacy Organizationsbull Hospitalsbull Research Corporationsbull Private Businesses

6

OCCUPATIONAL TITLES amp SALARY RANGESThe field of public health is an evidence-based discipline that is focused on providing real-world solutions to complex health issues As an aspiring public health professional yoursquore passionate about engaging with data and research in order to identify and provide solutions for our communitiesrsquo public health needs In order to address these needs an advanced degree in public health is often needed Completing a graduate degree in public health can help you enact change in society while also providing you with a lucrative career

The below careers are among the highest paying public health jobs

Average salary of $68910 per year

Health and Safety Engineer Average salary of $86720 per year

rdquoHealth and Safety Engineers work primarily in scientific and technical services but are also employed in construction and with the government The job of a Health and Safety Engineer is to design systems that prevent people from getting sick or injured Health and Safety Engineers must have keen critical thinking observational and problem solving skills along with creativity to solve sometimes complex multi-faceted problemsrdquo

Epidemiologist Average salary of $70820 per year

ldquoEpidemiologists work to reduce negative health outcomes by recognizing and researching the causes of disease and injury among populations Developing and directing studies along with analyzing data are the main functions of an Epidemiologist Communicating findings to the public and policy makers is one of the most important duties of an Epidemiologistrdquo

BiostatisticianAverage salary of $81950 per year

ldquoBiostatisticians design experiments questionnaires and surveys to collect data on people and health They will not only collect the data but will analyze it and create reports explaining their findings Statisticians can work in many fields but most are employed in government healthcare or research and developmentrdquo

Environmental Scientist Average salary of $68910 per year

ldquoUsing their knowledge of natural sciences Environmental Scientists protect both envi-ronmental and human health Environmental Scientists do this through data collection plan development and sharing information with the government business or the public The majority are employed by state and local gov-ernment but many also work as consultants Most of their time will be spent in a laboratory or office with some field work collecting data and monitoring conditionsrdquo

7

WEST VIRGINIArsquoS PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDSOpioid Epidemic

According to the Centers for Disease Control drug overdoses killed more than 72000 people in the United States in 2018 mdash a new record driven largely by the opioid epidemic While the opioid epidemic is a national issue West Virginia is a state where more people have overdosed on opioids and died than in any other state in the nation

In 2018 an article by The Washington Post focused on Williamson West Virginia mdash a tiny town of fewer than 3200 residents mdash and reported that this town was flooded with nearly 21 million pain pills over the past decade nearly 6500 pain pills per person In another article from 2017 the Post shed light on the fact that the opioid deaths in West Virginia have overwhelmed a state program providing burial assistance suggesting that ldquodrugs are killing so many people in West Virginia that the state canrsquot keep up with the funeralsrdquo

Itrsquos clear that the state of West Virginia is in crisis when it comes to its public health needs mdash especially when examining the opioid epidemic Thus not only is WVU the flagship University for the state with the highest overdose death rate itrsquos also the University that had been pioneering several efforts in the area of substance abuse For instance an assistant professor at WVU was recently awarded a $1 million grant from the National Institute of Justice in support of her work to develop artificial intelligence techniques to combat the opioid epidemic and opioid trafficking

Similarly Sara Warfield a third-year PhD student in the School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology is using her graduate assistantship at the Injury Control Research Center to research the distribution and determinants of the current opioid crisis whether itrsquos around overdoses treatment or prevention programs

8

Accessible Nutrition and Food Security

According to feedingamericaorg in the state of West Virginia nearly 267280 people are struggling with hunger and 75970 of them are children This same source asserts the notion that people facing hunger in WV will need an estimated $126636000 more per year in order to meet their food security needs

Lauri Andress an assistant professor in WVUrsquos School of Public Health examines how ease of access to different nutritious foods particularly fresh produce impacts our communityrsquos well-being specifically focusing on seniors in the community

Andress focuses on what she calls ldquoupstream leversrdquo such as infrastructure investments economic development and employment opportunities that affect efforts ldquodownstreamrdquo when it comes to how communities in rural regions acquire nutritious food Andress asserts that creating more of these ldquoupstream leversrdquo would help prevent the spread of life-threatening conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure by providing communities with better quality food and overall nutrition

WEST VIRGINIArsquoS PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS

ldquo

ldquo

The opioid crisis is the most challenging and damaging public health problem of my lifetime The health human social and economic costs are incalculable We must tackle this challenge by bringing all our people together and systems to bear and reconnect with each other with open minds and open hearts My charge will be connecting people and resources for the benefit of all

ndash Dr Michael Brumage Assistant Dean of Public HealthPractice and Service in WVUrsquos School of Public Health

9

ldquo

ldquo In my research I assume we have enough people working downstream--trying ot teach people how to eat looking at their bodies their health or disease state But what we donrsquot have is enough people making the connection between context and policies and how that contributes to what we as health practioners do downstream

ndash Lauri Adress Assistant Professorin WVUrsquos School of Public Health

Similarly Rachel Wattick a doctoral student specializing in social and behavioral sciences at WVUrsquos School of Public Health is using her graduate research assistantship to explore the association between a range of vegetarian diets and diabetes outcomes West Virginia University is also working toward becoming the worldrsquos first Blue Zones Certified university The Blue Zones Project is an initiative designed to help community members live longer healthier lives and alleviate their chronic diseases

Professionals like these help to guide organizations and institutions in the delivery and management of healthy food distribution using research studies to convert statistics into impactful policy that will improve the well-being of West Virginians at large

WEST VIRGINIArsquoS PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS mdashCONTINUED

10

WVUrsquoS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTHThe West Virginia University School of Public Health is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health The only accredited public health program in the state WVU is home to undergraduate and graduate programs in various public health disciplines at the BS MPH MS and PhD levels

WVUrsquos School of Public Health strives to prepare graduates to make individuals and communities happier healthier and safer by preparing new generations of health leaders Within the School of Public Health there are five departments that offer experienced-based graduate studies and opportunities to work with expert faculty and industry partners

Department of Biostatistics Biostatistics is the science of developing and applying statistical methods needed to tackle research problems in a variety of fields ndash especially public health and medicine Once primarily focused on data analysis the study of biostatistics has seen tremendous growth with the increasing importance of computational methods to facilitate data acquisition modeling and predictionbull MPH in Biostatisticsbull Master of Science in Biostatisticsbull Applied Biostatistics Certificate

Department of Epidemiology Epidemiology is the basic science of public health It began with studying outbreaks of infectious disease but now encompasses the study of chronic disease ndash such as diabetes and cancer ndash as well as injury and violencebull MPH in Epidemiologybull PhD in Public Health Sciences - Epidemiology

Department of Health Policy Management and Leadership The goal of Health Policy is to educate future health leaders in policy and management and to perform impactful research in public health policy and healthcare administration Professionals in this field guide organizations and institutions in the delivery and management of healthcarebull MPH in Health Policy

11

Learn from the ExpertsThe WVU School of Public Health provides students with quality instruction from highly trained faculty who are engaged in research and service projects addressing major public health issues in the Mountain State and beyond Their work covers a wide range of topics affecting population health offering students the chance to explore different areas of interest

WVU students have ample opportunities to get involved in meaningful projects and have hands-on field experiences guided by expert faculty and public health professionals

Faculty specialty areas include

Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences Occupational and Environmental Health touches everyone everywhere In both developed and developing nations issues of environmental pollution arise from indoor air quality concerns water quality outdoor air and waste products as well as workplace exposures Occupational and Environmental Health professionals keep populations safe and healthy both at home and at workbull MPH in Occupational and Environmental Health Sciencesbull PhD in Public Health Sciences - Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences

Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences Health disparities are shaped by behavioral and sociocultural factors The study of Social and Behavioral Sciences in public health focuses on psychosocial behavioral community and societal influences on health and the development of interventions that eliminate barriers to health and healthcare accessbull MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciencesbull Master of Science in School Health Educationbull PhD in Public Health Sciences - Social and Behavioral Sciences

WVUrsquoS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH mdash CONTINUED

bull Diabetes self-managementbull Occupational injuries and assaultsbull Racial disparitiesbull Health effects of hydraulic frackingbull Mindfulness

bull Childhood obesitybull Tobacco disparitiesbull Self-injury mortalitybull Substance abuse

12

LEADING THE WAY IN RESEARCHWest Virginia University is one of the 115 institutions in the US classified as R1 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Higher Education WVUrsquos research classification is described as fitting into the ldquohighest research activityrdquo classification for doctoral universities

R1 institutions are engaged at the frontiers of knowledge discovery across the spectrum from the Creative Arts and Humanities to the Social Sciences to the Applied and Basic Sciences These are the best research universities in the US and where the majority of academic research is conducted Much of the research at R1 universities is funded by federal or private sources

Students at Carnegie R1 institutions whether they are studying at the undergraduate or graduate level have the opportunity to engage in research at the forefront of their discipline Students at R1 universities also work with faculty who remain active in the discovery of knowledge and who bring the latest findings from their research and that of their colleagues into the classroom

Students who graduate with a degree from an R1 institution have the most current understanding of the state of the art in their major field of study In other words R1 classified schools are up-to-date with the most recent findings and trends impacting that area

RESEARCH TOPICS

230+FACULTY RESEARCHERS

30+

Explore the Research GuideThis guide is designed to showcase the various research-based graduate programs offered at West Virginia University to explain the importance of WVU as an R1 status institution and to highlight the importance of an education at a university that has a strong commitment to high-research activity

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE

13

LEADING THE WAY IN RESEARCH mdash CONTINUED

bull Injury Control Research Center The WVU Injury Control ResearchCenter utilizes innovative cross-disciplinary research collaborationsand dissemination of evidence-based practices to reduce the burdenof injury and improve injury control programs and policies

bull WV Prevention Research Center The West Virginia PreventionResearch Center conducts and translates community-partneredresearch that results in tangible public health strategies and productsto improve patient and population health and reduce chronic diseasehealth disparities

bull Health Research Center The Health Research Center provides anenvironment and infrastructure for faculty with varied interests andexpertise to collaborate and develop projects that promote the overallquality of life for West Virginians

bull Office of Health Services Research The WVU Office of HealthServices Research providers quality of care improvement healthanalytics evaluation practice-based research and applied researchsupport and coaching to health systems and community-basedorganizations to help address priority health conditions and concerns

bull Occupational Medicine Occupational Medicine provides the fullspectrum of occupational and environmental medicine care withservices ranging from physical exams to health screens to hearingconservation

bull Osher Lifelong Learning Institute The Osher Lifelong LearningInstitute at WVU provides educational programs and opportunities foradults ages 50 and over

bull Public Health Training Center The Public Health Training Centerprovides skill-based training and continuing education opportunitiestargeted to the needs of the public health workforce and health careproviders

WVU has a variety of Research Centers and Training Services

14

JOINING THE WVU COMMUNITYItrsquos exciting that yoursquore seriously considering becoming a public health professional and starting by pursuing a graduate degree in Public Health at West Virginia University Wersquore proud to offer experienced-based graduate studies and opportuni-ties to work with expert faculty and industry partners We invite you to visit our website for more information on how you can get your application started today

Financing Graduate SchoolDue to the generosity of the many donors to the Schools of Public Health the below scholarships and award opportunities have been made available to our students

Note To apply for a scholarship fill out the SPH Scholarships Application form To be considered for an SPH scholarship students must also file a FAFSA form by March 1 of the preceding academic year

Deanrsquos ScholarshipDeanrsquos Ambassador ProgramAvashia ScholarshipWilliam M Murray Public Health Education ScholarshipRobert W Gunn Book ScholarshipThe R Dean and Charlene Hartley Community Engagement ProgramPublic Health Scholarships (WVU Financial Aid)Graduate Student Travel Award

Students are also eligible to apply for financial aid through the WVU Office of Financial Aid Financial aid is typically issued in the form of loans The School of Public Health has a limited number of scholarships graduate assistantships available and student worker opportunities Students can contact their department chairs for more information

The Summit Ahead is a weekly blog that helps make the journey from considering graduate school to enrolling in a graduate program easier by publishing content that will be helpful to you as you discern if when and where to pursue your next degree

SUBCRIBE TO THE BLOG

15

CONNECT WITH USWest Virginia Universityrsquos Admissions professionals hope that this guide has been helpful in informing you of the various academic options here at WVU

Herersquos a bit more information on West Virginia University as an institution West Virginia University is located in beautiful Morgantown WV a community noted for its central location near Pittsburgh Washington DC Cleveland and New York City Founded in 1867 as a land-grant institution WVU promises to ldquohellip deliver high-quality education excel in discovery and innovation model a culture of diversity and inclusion promote health and vitality and build pathways for the exchange of knowledge and opportunity between the state the nation and the worldrdquo

The stimulating graduate community of scholar-teachers and passionate learners at WVU creates an environment that welcomes your desire to grow to learn and to add to the growing body of knowledge in your field As a WVU graduate learner you engage in internationally recognized academic programs

If you want more information about graduate admission requirements financial aid or to learn more about the graduate application process visit WVUrsquos Office of Graduate Admissions amp Recruitment website

Contact InformationWest Virginia UniversitySchool of Public Health64 Medical Center Drive

PO Box 9190 Morgantown WV 26506-9190

Phone 304-293-2502 l Fax 304-293-6685

APPLY NOW

REQUEST MORE INFORMATION

EXPLORE PROGRAMS