Research & Service

Thomas Farley (left) and Guthrie S. Birkhead

On Friday, January 22, Linda P. Fried, MD, MPH, Dean of the Mailman School of Public Health; and Guthrie S. Birkhead, MD, MPH, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Public Health, New York State Department of Health; co-hosted New York State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, MD, and 23 deans and other leaders of Schools and Programs of Public Health in New York at a conference to address ways to support state-wide public health projects.

Discussions focused on prevention and tracking projects, opportunities for students to support community-based initiatives, and evidence-based advocacy programs to promote the health of the public on a federal level. The meetings were intended to stimulate an ongoing working group to coordinate the efforts of public health schools and programs with New York State public health agencies and officials.

Commissioner Daines elaborated on several initiatives taking place on the county level to track health statistics and promote healthy communities. In particular, New York's Prevention Agenda toward the Healthiest State has established 10 public health priorities for the State, and asks local health departments and hospitals to join with community-based organizations to identify local priorities and develop plans to address them.

In addition, Project Match, led by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, is producing health-ranking reports for every county in the United States and will release this data by mid-February.  Thomas Farley, MD, Commissioner of Health, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene introduced the Take Care New York Campaign, an innovative initiative addressing the leading causes of preventable disease and death in New York City.

Role of Education and Research

Turning to the role of the public health schools and programs, participants discussed how thought leaders and students can support state and federal public health departments in their work. They identified ways in which students can work in the field and provide assistance to local health departments on projects ranging from the H1N1 virus to community-based efforts related to obesity.

The participants also addressed the role of academics and thought leaders and ways they can best promote federal initiatives to benefit the health of the public.

Attendees

In addition to Dean Fried, Commissioner Daines, and Deputy Commissioner Birkhead, those in attendance included:

• Robert W. Amler, MD, New York Medical College
• Amy Ansehl, New York Medical College
• Donna Bacchi, MD, MPH, Syracuse University/ SUNY Upstate Med. University
• Joan Facelle, MD, MPH, Commissioner, Rockland County Health Department
• Thomas Farley, MD, MPH, Commissioner of Health, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• Ross A. Frommer, Deputy Vice President, Office of Government and Community Affairs
• Raymond L. Goldsteen, DrPH, Stony Brook University- SUNY
• Sally Guttmacher, PhD, New York University
• Pascal James Imperato, MD, MPH, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• Audrey Jacobson, MD, MPH, MA, Touro College School of Health Sciences
• Susan Klitzman, DrPH, MPH, CPH, Hunter College- CUNY
• Lynn T. Kozlowski, PhD, University at Buffalo- SUNY
• Jane Levitt, PhD, Lehman College- CUNY
• Diane Mathis, Deputy Director, Public Affairs Group, New York State Department of Health
• Michael Medvesky, Deputy Director, Office of Public Health Practice, New York State Department of Health
• Dale L. Morse, MD, MS, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Science, New York State; Department of Health
• Philip C. Nasca, PhD, University at Albany- SUNY
• James O’Brien, NY Medical College
• Marie Ostoyich, RN, MS, CDE, Public Health Director, Greene County Public Health Nursing Service
• Sylvia Pirani, MPH, MS, Director, Office of Public Health Practice, New York State Department of Health
• Emily Senay, MD, MPH, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
• Cynthia Sommers, Director, Take Care New York, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• Linda Wagner, Executive Director, New York State Association of County Health Officials.