EVMS celebrates National Public Health Week
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EVMS is joining with institutions, groups and individuals across the country to celebrate National Public Health Week April 1-7. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Protecting, Connecting and Thriving: We Are All Public Health.”
Each day of National Public Health Week focuses on a particular public health topic and asks community members to consider how they can make a difference in those areas. The daily themes for 2024 are Civic Engagement (Monday), Healthy Neighborhoods (Tuesday), Climate Change (Wednesday), New Tools and Innovations (Thursday), Reproductive and Sexual Health (Friday), Emergency Preparedness (Saturday) and the Future of Public Health (Sunday).
The EVMS Public Health Student Association will host an informational table about sexual health and wellness on Thursday, April 4, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Beazley Foundation Rotunda. A sunset yoga course for beginners will be held on Friday, April 5, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on TowneBank Lawn (interested participants should email RobertAl_ES@evms.edu to reserve a space).
At EVMS, the Master of Public Health (MPH) program is focused on educating and training public health professionals through excellence in competency-based education, scholarship and service learning focused primarily on Hampton Roads and the surrounding regions. These activities also support the Hampton Roads public health workforce development. Watch a video highlighting the program.
”Public health is crucial because it focuses on preventing disease, promoting well-being, and improving the overall health of communities — underscored notably during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Brian Martin, PhD, MBA, Professor, Director of the Master of Public Health Program and Senior Associate Dean for Administration in the School of Health Professions. “By addressing underlying factors that influence health, such as social determinants, public health initiatives aim to create healthier populations, reduce healthcare disparities and enhance quality of life for everyone. The need for trained public health professionals could not be greater, and our MPH graduates add their expertise and passion to those efforts.”
Students in EVMS’ MPH program receive general training in the core areas of public health and then go into track-specific training in their second year. For many of the students, public health is more than a course of study — it's a calling.
“Public health professions play an indispensable role in safeguarding community well-being through prevention, education and advocacy for all,” says Class President Alayna Roberts, MPH Class of 2024. “I was drawn to this field by its interdisciplinary nature and the opportunity to make a tangible difference in people's well-being. I believe that by raising awareness and advocating for evidence-based policies, we can create lasting positive change in public health outcomes for years to come.”
President Joe Biden released a presidential proclamation on National Public Health Week on March 29.
“Public health professionals have always played an essential role in the life of our Nation — working to boost immunizations, improve safety standards for food and transportation, protect clean air and water and more,” President Biden shares in the proclamation. “We owe them for carrying us through tough times and making our country healthier and more prosperous long-term.”
Find out more about National Public Health Week 2024.
Learn more about EVMS’ Master of Public Health program.