Abstract
The graduate certificate in Population Health at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette was implemented with improving access to all populations in mind. In the United States, as well as globally, the lack of quality healthcare, to the most vulnerable populations is becoming a rising concern. This has become more evident as the Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the lack of access and quality of healthcare services provided by all levels. The program was implemented to educate healthcare professionals on population health data, management, and help solve healthcare problems by implementing quality-driven initiatives based on proven theories and practices. The purpose of the program is two-fold: to educate students on population health and to prepare those professionals to step into the important roles needed in public health, population health, and healthcare governance. The project is on-going, the certificate program is taught once a year and will attempt to track students on their educational and professional journey into a role in population health, public health and/or healthcare governance. Data will be collected via email; students will be contacted to complete graduate/exit interviews. Students will be informed of the project at the beginning of each course in the certificate program. The implications of research are clear. The Covid-19 pandemic made it very obvious that minority individuals, those in low-socioeconomic groups, and populations in rural areas do not have the same access or quality healthcare services. Public health professionals can make a positive change in how all populations receive and access healthcare.
Presenters
Rachel EllisonAssociate Professor, Health Sciences, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Public Health, Health Policy, Population Health, Higher Education, Health Access
