core competencies

Apply the public health core functions of assessment, policy development and assurance: This competency was met through assignments, projects and lectures in Fundamentals of Health Policy & Management (HPAM 610).

Apply theories, concepts, models and methods to the design of public health research, policy and practice: This competency was met through assignments, projects and lectures in multiple courses including Community Health Interventions (CHSS 621), Community Organizing and Development for Public Health (CHSS 622), Qualitative Research Methods (PUBH 650) and Research and Evaluation for Community Health (CHSS 623). 

Adhere to ethical and social justice principles and standards: Many classes covered this specific competency though Health Equity and Social Justice (CHSS 660) was the primary course.

Interpret and analyze public health literature and apply evidence-based research: This competency was was met through assignments, projects and lectures in Research and Evaluation for Public Health (CHSS 623) and Qualitative Research Methods (PUBH 650). An example of my own research design and implementation can be found in the following presentation: Asthma Management and Education (Presentation)

Apply basic statistical and informatics techniques: This competency was met through assignments, projects and lectures in Fundamentals of Biostatistics (BIOS 610) and Research and Evaluation for Public Health (CHSS 623). In addition, I assembled among other things the epidemiological profile and data visualization for a community profile paper in Community Health Assessment (CHSS 620): Brownsville Community Profile

Communicate public health information through oral, written, digital and visual presentation: Throughout the program I prepared many PowerPoint presentations, wrote papers, created an online data dashboard as part of my capstone, and created one community map to display different homeless shelters by type in Brownsville, Brooklyn. That map can be found here: Brownsville Housing Needs Map

Explain how social, behavioral, biomedical and environmental determinants affect population health: This competency was covered through assignments and projects in multiple courses including Fundamentals of Social & Behavioral Health (CHSS 610) Fundamentals of Environmental Health (EOHS 610) where I completed a presentation on environmental asthma presented primarily in data visualization: Environmental Asthma in Data

Design and evaluate interventions to prevent or control public health problems: This competency was met through assignments, projects and lectures in multiple courses including Community Health Interventions (CHSS 621), Community Organizing and Development for Public Health (CHSS 622), and Research and Evaluation for Community Health (CHSS 623).

Collect, analyze and interpret public health data: This competency was met through assignments, projects and lectures in multiple courses including Health Equity and Social Justice (CHSS 660). In that class, the following following example was prepared: a field study, analysis evaluation and series of intervention suggestions for the community of Mott Haven: Social Determinants of Health – Mott Haven

Engage and collaborate with diverse groups: This competency was met through assignments, projects and lectures in multiple courses, primarily Community Organizing and Development for Public Health (CHSS 622), and Health Equity and Social Justice (CHSS 660).

Describe the legal foundations of the U.S. public health system and its interrelationships with other systems including health care, education and environmental protection: This competency was met through assignments, projects and lectures in Fundamentals of Health Policy & Management (HPAM 610) as well as in some parts of Health Equity and Social Justice (CHSS 660). An example assignment involving a US and international perspective can be found here.

Apply a framework for the planning, implementation and evaluation of public health programs, policies and interventions: This competency was covered in a number of courses including Community Health Interventions (CHSS 621), Research and Evaluation for Public Health (CHSS 623) and primarily in Health Program Planning & Funding (CHSS 624). In this course, as part of a group, I composed a grant proposal for the implementation of a program to introduce long-acting reversible contraception to school-based health centers in Schenectady, NY: The LARC Training Initiative for New York State SBHCs Grant Proposal

Explain the context of public and private health-care systems in which health care and public health policy are made and healthcare is delivered: This competency was met through assignments, projects and lectures in Fundamentals of Health Policy & Management (HPAM 610).

concentration-specific competencies

Apply social and behavioral theory and evidence to assess, plan, implement and evaluate community health programs, policies and interventions that promote health equality and reduce inequities: The course series of Community Health Interventions (CHSS 621), Community Health Assessment (CHSS 620) and Research & Evaluation for Community Health covered this competency in the most detail. An example of a project from the latter course that demonstrates this competency can be found here: Teens Eating for Energy and Nutrition at School

Demonstrate team building, negotiation, and conflict management skills in community health interventions: This competency was met through assignments, projects and lectures in multiple courses, though primarily in Community Organizing and Development for Health (CHSS 622).

Use qualitative and quantitative research methods to generate insight into community health issues: This competency was covered in greatest detail in Research and Evaluation for Community Health (CHSS 623) and Qualitative Research Methods (PUBH 650). In the latter class, I prepared an original research project that met this competency’s parameters: Asthma Management and Education (Paper)

Apply ethical, socially just, and culturally competent principles and strategies to community organizing, community health assessment, program planning, implementation and evaluation: This competency was covered through projects, assignments and class meetings in a number of courses, specifically Fundamentals of Social & Behavioral Health (CHSS 610), Health Program Planning & Funding (CHSS 624), Community Health Assessment (CHSS 620), Community Organizing and Development for Health (CHSS 621), Health Equity and Social Justice (CHSS 660) and Community Health Interventions (CHSS 621).

Engage communities to propose solutions to health inequities that recognize the role of power and stratification systems: This competency was covered in great depth in Health Equity and Social Justice (CHSS 660). An example of my specific editorial on inequity in wages for the disabled can be found here: Subminimum Wage and the Disabled