Several general areas were identified by the survey respondents as high priority for workforce development training (please see Table 2.8 and Table 3 of this report).
6. Grant writing In addition, suggestions made during informal conversations with other public health practitioners including practicum site supervisors, agencies involved in the
2.8. Please indicate whether you would like more training in the following areas
Yes (%)
Developing a statistical database 66.7
Conducting statistical analyses 62.5
Making spreadsheets 62.5
Creating visual aids for presentations 50.0
Entering data into a database 45.8
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Table 3. Needs for Public health Workforce Training/Education: Content Areas of Reported Highest Need/Priority (n=24)
Content area High need (%)* Moderate
need (%)
Discuss the limitations of research findings (e.g., limitations of data sources, importance of observations & interrelationships)
50.0 37.5
Participate in the development of a programmatic budget 50.0 12.5 Use methods & instruments for collecting valid & reliable quantitative &
qualitative data
45.8 41.7
Explain the expected outcomes of policy options 45.8 33.3 Describe the public health laws & regulations governing public health
programs
45.8 37.5
Demonstrate the use of public health informatics practices & procedures
45.8 41.7
Describe the scientific evidence related to a public health issue, concern, or intervention
45.8 45.8
Retrieve scientific evidence from a variety of text & electronic sources 45.8 41.7 Describe local, state, and federal public health care systems 45.8 41.7 Identify strategies for budget priorities based on federal, state, and
local financial contributions
45.8 16.7
Identify internal & external problems that may affect the delivery of Essential Public Health Services
45.8 37.5
Describe the impact of changes in the public health system & larger social, political, and economic environment on organizational practices
45.8 37.5
Describe the organizational structures, functions, and authorities of local, state, and federal public health agencies
41.5 41.7
145 Appendix 3
Examples of the Interdisciplinary Teaching, Research, and Service Activities of Current Core and Secondary Faculty in the MPH Program.
Dr. Rodrigo Armijos, Associate Professor; Core Faculty
Faculty Associate, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program
Committee member (outside) on multiple theses and dissertations for Departments of Biology, Microbiology, Engineering, and Chemistry students
Member of the UTEP air pollution training grant from the Envionmental Protection Agency (Buen Ambiente, Buena Salud: Educational Strategies for Addressing Air Quality on the
Border)
Interdisciplinary research grants on air pollution and CV health and asthma with faculty colleagues from the UTEP Departments of Geology, Civil Engineering, Center for
Environmental Resource Management, School of Nursing, Computer Sciences, Regional Geospatial Service Center, College of Pharmacy University of New Mexico, and others in the School of Medicine and other academic units at the Universidad Central del Ecuador and the Universidad Regional Autonoma de los Andes in Ecuador, Ecuadorian Ministry of Public Health, and the City of Quito Environmental Health District.
Dr. Oralia Loza, Assistant Professor; Core Faculty
Faculty, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program
Mentor & Researcher, UTEP Vulnerability Issues in Drug Abuse (VIDA) Program, a collaborative program with the UTEP Departments of Psychology and Linguistics. Dr. Sharon (Thompson) Davis, Associate Professor; Core Faculty
Faculty Associate, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program
Adjunct Associate Professor in the Division of El Paso Regional Campus at the University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston
Hispanic Health Disparities Research Center – Co-Director Community Outreach and
Dissemination Core - represents the UTEP School of Nursing, the University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, UTEP Departments of Public Health Sciences, Psychology, and Biology
Committee member (external) on multiple theses and dissertations for the UTEP Department of Psychology
Collaborating with the UTEP School of Nursing, Hispanic Health Disparities Research Center, and the Texas Tech Paul L. Foster School of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine and Department of Surgery to develop a proposal to deliver alcohol screening and brief intervention to patients on the trauma service via community health workers.
Dr. Joe Tomaka, Associate Professor Core Faculty
Adjunct Appointment, University of Texas at Houston School of Public Health Faculty Associate, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program
Co-Investigator, along with W. Shane Walker, Ivonne Santiago, John Walton, Rebecca Palacios in a project dealing with Point of Use (POU) water treatment systems for improving sustainability and environmental justice in Colonias of the Paso del Norte region involving the University of Texas at El Paso: Departments of Civil Engineering and Public Health Sciences, and New Mexico State University’s Department of Health Science.
Internal Review Board, Texas Tech University’s Paul R. Foster School of Medicine for protection of human subjects research
Principal Investigator, Paula Ford (deceased) National Institutes of Health Interdisciplinary Research grant on geographic multi-level influences of neighborhood and school
146
collaborating with UTEP Department of Environmental Sciences, UTEP Department of Engineering, UTEP Department of Mathematics, and El Paso Independent School District. Publications, College of Health Sciences Department of Physical Therapy
Publications, College of Health Sciences Department of Speech & Language Pathology
Dr. MM Weigel, Professor & MPH Program Director; Core Faculty
Faculty Associate, Environmental Science and Engineering Interdisciplinary PhD Program Faculty Associate, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program
Interdisciplinary research grants on air pollution and health outcomes (cardiovascular disease, asthma, congenital anomalies) with faculty colleagues from the Departments of Geology, Civil Engineering, Center for Environmental resource Management at UTEP. Others include the School of Medicine-Dept. of Pediatrics and other academic units at the Universidad Central del Ecuador and Universidad Regional Autonoma de los Andes in Ecuador, Ecuadorian Ministry of Public Health, and the City of Quito Environmental Health District and the Universidad
Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez.
Dr. Maria Duarte-Gardea, Professor & Department Chairperson; Secondary Faculty
Faculty Associate, Environmental Science and Engineering Interdisciplinary PhD Program Faculty Associate, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program
Principal Investigator, Funded through the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities. The interdisciplinary research project is titled, Are Community Health Workers
(Promotoras) able to Promote Lifestyle and Environment Changes to Reduce CVD Risk in Texas?” Partnerships established to conduct the community based participatory research
project include: University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health – El Paso Regional Campus, El Paso Community College, Centro San Vicente, City of El Paso Parks and Recreation, YWCA El Paso del Norte Region, and The University of Texas at El Paso.
Dr. Gabriel Ibarra-Mejia, Lecturer; Secondary Faculty
Occupational health specialist works with engineers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and other health professions
Performs a variety of consultant activities in occupational health and medicine Ms. Adriana Rascon, MPH Practicum Coordinator; Secondary Faculty
University of Texas at El Paso Employee Wellness Ambassador Dr. Christina Sobin, Associate Professor; Secondary Faculty
Joint Appointment in the Departments of Public Health Sciences and Psychology Committee member (external) on theses and dissertations for Department of Biology