Category: Public Health Activities

  • Health Fair in Culebra

    Health Fair in Culebra

    On September 6, the Culebra community witnessed an enriching Health Fair organized by Officer José Negrón of the Puerto Rico Police. This event, which stood out for its focus on education and prevention, had the enthusiastic participation of 20 second-year students and faculty of the master’s degree in public health in the specialties of Environmental, General and Epidemiology. The fair impacted approximately 190 people. 

    The Public Health Program team presented an interactive educational table focused on handwashing; a highly relevant topic identified from the needs of the community. The students not only created informative educational materials, but also designed an interactive table that allowed participants to learn in a practical and participatory way about the importance of hand hygiene. 

    In addition, prevention kits were distributed among attendees, which included essential resources to promote healthy practices. The educational materials provided addressed critical topics such as Dengue prevention, obesity and mental health, offering valuable information for the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. 

    One of the standout opportunities for participants was the chance to collaborate with the Island Corps group in conducting a community needs assessment. This collaboration will identify key areas for future interventions and improve understanding of the health needs of Culebra residents. 

    The Health Fair not only fulfilled its objective of educating and preventing, but also strengthened the bond between future health professionals and the community, demonstrating the commitment and passion of the Public Health Program to improve community well-being. 

  • Fomentando un futuro saludable: Explorando las opciones académicas en Salud Pública de PHSU

    Fomentando un futuro saludable: Explorando las opciones académicas en Salud Pública de PHSU

    En un mundo cada vez con más retos y desafiante, la importancia de la salud pública nunca ha sido más evidente. Desde la prevención de enfermedades hasta la promoción de estilos de vida saludables, los profesionales de la salud pública desempeñan un papel vital en la mejora de la salud y el bienestar de las comunidades en todo el mundo. En este contexto, el Programa de Salud Pública de Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) representa una opción educativa de vanguardia que prepara a futuros líderes en el campo de la salud pública. 

    Desde sus inicios en 2002, el Programa de Salud Pública de PHSU ha estado comprometido con la excelencia académica y la formación de profesionales altamente capacitados. Ofreciendo grados de Maestría en Salud Pública (MPH) con énfasis en diferentes áreas como General, Epidemiología, Salud Ambiental y Salud Internacional, así como un programa doctoral en Epidemiología que conduce al grado de Doctor en Salud Pública con especialidad en Epidemiología (DrPH), PHSU ha sido pionero en la formación de expertos en salud pública preparados para abordar los desafíos actuales y emergentes en el campo. 

    La acreditación de excelencia académica es otorgada por el Consejo de Educación para la Salud Pública (CEPH) en abril de 2013, y su posterior reacreditación en marzo de 2019 por un período de siete años (máximo tiempo de acreditación) , evidencian el compromiso de PHSU con la excelencia académica y la calidad en la formación de sus estudiantes. Esta acreditación no solo valida la calidad del programa, sino que también asegura que los graduados de PHSU estén preparados para enfrentar los rigores y demandas del campo de la salud pública en el ámbito nacional e internacional. 

    La misión del Programa de Salud Pública de PHSU es educar a los profesionales y practicantes de la salud pública en los conocimientos, habilidades, actitudes y comportamientos necesarios para proporcionar servicios de salud pública de alta calidad y promover y proteger la salud de diversas poblaciones en el mundo globalizado. A través de un plan de estudios innovador, vanguardista y dinámico, el programa se esfuerza por preparar profesionales éticamente competentes, practicantes de la salud pública e investigadores que sean líderes en la mejora de la salud de las comunidades y poblaciones, tanto a nivel local como mundial. 

    El Doctorado en Salud Pública en Epidemiología (DrPH) y la Maestría en Salud Pública (MPH) ofrecidos por PHSU son programas diseñados para abordar las necesidades actuales y emergentes en el campo de la salud pública. El DrPH se centra en desarrollar expertos con conocimientos, habilidades y capacidades en el desarrollo de metodologías epidemiológicas aplicadas a las necesidades de salud, mientras que el MPH proporciona una formación multidisciplinaria a través de la educación, la investigación y el servicio comunitario para desarrollar las habilidades necesarias en la protección de la salud y la prevención de enfermedades en individuos y comunidades. 

    Además, la Maestría en Salud Pública – Salud Internacional, completamente en línea, es un programa único en Puerto Rico que prepara a profesionales de la salud con la capacidad de tomar decisiones basadas en regulaciones y estándares internacionales en tiempos de crisis sanitaria. Este programa está diseñado para abordar los desafíos globales de la salud y equipa a los estudiantes con las habilidades necesarias para trabajar en un entorno internacional cada vez más interconectado. 

    El Programa de Salud Pública de PHSU ofrece una plataforma educativa sólida y dinámica para aquellos que desean seguir una carrera en salud pública. Con una variedad de programas diseñados para satisfacer las necesidades de los estudiantes y las demandas del campo, PHSU se destaca como una opción líder para aquellos que buscan marcar la diferencia en la salud y el bienestar de las comunidades a nivel local, nacional e internacional. Por eso somos una universidad de clase mundial. 

  • Hurricane Maria Experiences in Villalba

    Hurricane Maria Experiences in Villalba

    Apeaderos, Villalba

    On November 3, 2017, the public health intervention teams headed back to Villalba, PR.  Since our first visit, the community expressed the need of psychological and clinical help. This time the Wellness and psychological teams joined us in this journey.  After we arrived at the Emergency Management Center at Villalba the teams split into two groups. One of the teams went to Apeaderos and the other team to Cubones.

    In this review, we will talk about our experience in Apeaderos.  The Municipality of Villalba provided us with transportation to the site, it was a difficult road with various landslides.  As soon as the team arrived at the communal center, we started the setup of the clinic.  Medical doctors, nurses, social workers and psychology residents came with us this time.  As soon as the community saw us arrived, they started coming to the center, but there were people that were difficult to reach. The public health team along with the community leader went house by house providing public health preventive measures and inviting them to join us at the communal center.  As we started walking through the community, we were amazed of the many hidden houses that where not visible from the road.  People received us with a lot of hospitality and gratitude. During our walks and with the help of the community leader we identified a couple of persons that were going to have difficulty reaching the clinic. One of those visits was to a small house, nearby the river, to reach the house we had to go down a hill, with a dirt road full of rocks.  In that house, we met Don Pablo, a man with very limited eyesight, as we spoke to him, we knew it was going to be very difficult for him to get to the clinic.  We told him that we were going to visit him back in the afternoon.  We went back to the communal center and provided the intervention to the people in the clinic.  After the teams finished with all participants, the teams went to visit a few families with people in need of care and we went back to visit Don Pablo. He was ready for us when we got back, he was very excited to talk to us.  Dr. Rodriguez, the rest of team Wellness and psychology also went to visit him.  This integration of Programs from PHSU provided this community with all components of health. Each participant received medicines, food, first need articles and the empowerment to help prevent further diseases and to spread their knowledge in their community.

     

    By: Luisa Morales, DrPH

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  • Public Health Week 2019

    Public Health Week 2019

    Through April 1st to April 5th, the PHP celebrated Public Health Week with the theme Creating The Healthiest Nation: For Science, For Actions, For Health.  Educational interventions on high schools in the south of Puerto Rico and in the Ponce Health Sciences University were carried out in order to promote the prevention of cancer amongst young people and adolescents in Puerto Rico. During the week, the PHP had three guest speakers: Dr. Anna Di Marico, Colonel Florencio Polanco De Jesús, and Dr. Johnny Rullán.  The Public Health Week ended with a clinical health fair and community service, which included vaccinations, mammography, an HIV test, a high blood pressure test and glucose test, Zumba class, and an educational conference about “Differences between bioequivalent and generic medicines” and “Highway Safety”.

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  • First Public Health Emblem Ceremony 2019

    First Public Health Emblem Ceremony 2019

    On May 29th, the PHP celebrated its first Emblem Ceremony.  During the ceremony, MPH and DrPH alumni received our program’s emblem which symbolizes the completion of their educational requirements.  The emblem of the PHP is the whistle and it was chosen because:

    “The sound of the whistle represents alertness.  The health professional is always alert to the need or problem that affects the population”

     

    Meaning of the color

       MPH graduates: The color silver means dynamism and speed.  Health professionals must act before, during and after an event with dynamism and promptness.

     

          DrPH graduates: The color gold means does not lose its value and has remains over time as a symbol of the Epidemiologist’s actions and interventions endure over time.

     

     

  • Job Fair and Careers – Current Students and Alumni’s 2018

    Job Fair and Careers – Current Students and Alumni’s 2018

    On May 15 2019, the PHP Career & Program Promotion Service Office celebrated its second Job Fair and Careers.  During the activity we had the presence of five (5) agencies and the participation of 26 students of the Public Health Program.

     

    Job Fair 2018

    It was held on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. We have the assistance of 97 students, alumni’s and visitors.