Community-Based Participatory Research and Practice
Environmental Health Risk Assessment
Evaluation of Public Health Programs
Global Health
Health Care Systems Engineering
Health Equity
Health Systems Leadership and Management
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Individuals’ Health and Wellness
Public Health Genetics
Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response
Certificate in Community-Based Participatory Research and Practice
Contact Person
Jessica G. Burke, PhD | 412-624-3610 | jgburke@pitt.edu
The Field of Community-Based Participatory Research and Practice
In the last 10 years, Community-Based Participatory Research and Practice (CBPRP) has emerged as a core discipline in behavioral and social science departments within schools of public health. CBPRP is a collaborative process of research and practice that includes both researchers and community representatives. Communities are generally defined as those that share a unit of identity (e.g. social ties, geographical locations). The CBPRP process involves engaging community members, using local knowledge in the understanding of health problems, and a long-term commitment to partnership. CBPRP is oriented towards holistic interventions informed by social ecology modeling, a widely recognized approach that not only targets knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of individuals, but also includes social factors such as family and friendship ties, community norms, and the structure of community services.
Community-Based Participatory Research and Practice at the University of Pittsburgh
The CBPRP certificate program is designed to provide a comprehensive set of courses that will prepare graduate students for a career in community-based participatory research and practice. As part of the program, student interns will work with local community agencies to collaboratively address identified community public health issues.
Qualifications for Admission
It is anticipated that there will be three groups of students who will enroll in the Certificate Program: 1) currently matriculated Pitt Public Health students; 2) currently matriculated graduate students in other schools of the university (e.g. Social Work and Medicine); and 3) non-degree students holding a baccalaureate degree who qualify for admission into the department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences (BCHS) MPH program. The standards for admission for non-degree students will be equivalent to those for the BCHS MPH degree.
Admissions Decisions
All applicants are reviewed and decisions are made by the CBPRP certificate admissions and advisory committee and the MPH admissions committee.
Program Description
As part of the 15 credit certificate program, students must take three courses and complete a 6 credit internship. Community Development Approaches to Public Health is an introductory course focused on community development as a strategy to improve health and increase community capacity. This approach emphasizes communities as cultural systems rather than as mere aggregates of individuals, and takes a strengths-based and social-ecological approach to identifying and defining communities. The second course, Community-Based Leadership in Public Health, is designed to familiarize students with the basic principles, methodology, and tools for building community leadership. And the final course, Advanced Methods in Community-Based Participatory Research and Practice in Public Health, is organized around themes central to the conceptualization and implementation of community-based participatory research and practice. The goal of this advanced course is to familiarize students with methods for conducting community-based participatory research and practice. As part of the internship, student interns will be matched with a local community agency where they will be expected to work for a minimum of 10 hours a week. The student intern will work with designated agency staff and the certificate program field coordinator to identify community public health needs, and work collaboratively with community members to address identified needs.
For Further Reading
- Minkler, M. and Wallerstein, N. (2003) Community-based participatory research for health. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.
- Israel B., Eng, E., Shulz, A., Parker, E. (2005) Methods in community-based participatory research for health. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.
While any Pitt Public Health student can apply for any of our certificates, this certificate is supported by the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences.
Certificate in Environmental Health Risk Assessment
Contact Person
James Peterson, PhD | 412-624-3572 | jpp16@pitt.edu
The Field of Environmental Health Risk Assessment
Risk assessment, a process developed in 1983 by the National Academy of Sciences, provides the framework for most current studies of environmental health concerns. From determining the potential hazards of brown-fields to deciding between alternate remediation end-states of former nuclear weapons development sites to evaluating the potential harm from toxic occupational environments, the process of risk assessment has become one of the most useful approaches for assessing and addressing environmental public health problems.
Environmental Health Risk Assessment at the University of Pittsburgh
The Environmental Health Risk Assessment Certificate Program in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health provides concentrated graduate education in this well-defined area of environmental health.
Qualifications for Admission
Candidates for the Environmental Health Risk Assessment Certificate program must meet the general admission requirements of the Graduate School of Public Health graduate programs. Candidates must have a baccalaureate degree with a QPA of at least 3.0 with coursework in the basic sciences. GRE scores, with performance level of at least 1,000, combined verbal and quantitative, and at least a 3.5 analytic writing score, must be submitted.
Program Description
A student completing the 15 credits of required coursework in the certificate program will learn the processes and pathways of environmental exposures and how they reach human populations; will comprehend the impact of the environment on human health and how it is manifested both at the organ level and at the cellular level; will learn to integrate this information into the process of risk assessment to determine science-based risk estimates; and will understand the role of environmental law in directing risk assessment activities and applying risk assessment results to the protection of public health.
Career Prospects
By means of highly focused coursework, the objective of the Environmental Health Risk Assessment Certificate program is to impart proficiency in the risk sciences to individuals who desire positions requiring the application of risk assessment strategies or who already have such positions and are seeking to strengthen their professional competency.
While any Pitt Public Health student can apply for any of our certificates, this certificate is supported by the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health.
Certificate in Evaluation of Public Health Programs
Contact Person
Edmund M. Ricci, PhD, MLitt | 412-624-6393 | emricci@pitt.edu
The Field of Evaluation of Public Health Programs
Demand for comprehensive program evaluations is rising in a range of public and private organizations dealing with the health and social welfare needs of populations in the U.S. as well as worldwide. Graduates with a specialization in program evaluation in public health have expanded opportunities for employment in organizations such as health departments and ministries of health, health and hospital systems, educational programs, philanthropic foundations, and consulting firms.
Evaluation of Public Health Programs at the University of Pittsburgh
Students in the program evaluation concentration study under nationally recognized expert faculty and research staff. Students are trained in the application of both quantitative and qualitative methods for evaluation, exposed to the newest cutting-edge strategies, and have the opportunity to participate directly on interdisciplinary evaluation teams of actual community-based projects. The evaluation concentration typically involves taking courses in basic and advanced evaluation methods, qualitative approaches, health survey methods, and the evaluation practicum. A total of 15 graduate credits are required, including a 3 credit applied evaluation internship experience under the supervision of a designated faculty member.
Qualifications for Admission
The program is open to students presently enrolled in the Graduate School of Public Health as well as graduate students in other schools and departments at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition, the certificate program is open to community-based professionals in health, social welfare, and other related fields.
Admissions Decisions
All applicants are reviewed and admissions decisions are made by the evaluation certificate admissions and advisory committee.
Program Description
This certificate program is designed to link the university and community in practical applied evaluation initiatives at the community level. The academic component of the certificate program is designed to provide students with a range of skills and tools to enable them to participate in various types of evaluation projects in the public health arena. The practicum experience provides an opportunity to work on an evaluation project as part of an interdisciplinary team managed by an expert in the field of program evaluation. Examples of practicum experiences include:
- Evaluation of falls prevention interventions in residential programs for elderly
- Assisting in the implementation and evaluation of specialized services for young mothers and their children
- Monitoring and providing evaluation technical assistance to community-based smoking prevention and cessation programs
- Participating on evaluation team for comprehensive child development-early education childcare initiative
- Assisting in the development of methodologies for the evaluation of disaster response efforts
For Further Reading
- Windsor, R.E., Clark, N.A., Boyd, R., Goodman, R. M. Evaluation of Health Promotion, Health Education and Disease Prevention Programs,3rd Edition. McGraw Hill (2003).
- Suchman, E. (1967). Evaluative research: Principles and practice in public service and social action programs. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
- Patton, M. (1997). Utilization-focused evaluation, 3rd Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
- Green L, Lewis F. Measurement and evaluation in health education and health promotion. California, Mayfield, 1986.
- Peter H. Rossi, Howard E. Freeman, and Mark W. Lipsey. Evaluation: A Systematic Approach, Sixth edition. Newbury Park: Sage, 1993.
While any Pitt Public Health student can apply for any of our certificates, this certificate is supported by the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences.
Certificate in Global Health
Contact Persons
Joanne Russell, MPPM | 412-624-1634 | JoanneR@pitt.edu
Alexandra Tambellini | 412-624-6904 | amt88@pitt.edu
The Field of Global Health
Global health refers to health issues that transcend national boundaries. It is a field that, today, faces unprecedented challenges brought on by issues such as shifting immigration patterns, climate change, conflict, and global commerce. The Global Health Certificate prepares students for occupations in public health, health care, and affiliated fields that increasingly demand interdisciplinary and international thinking skills and competence in responding to challenges brought on by this dynamic global environment.
Global Health at the University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh has a history of research discoveries that have improved the health of populations around the globe. This tradition endures through Pitt’s world-class faculty who continue to build upon the legacy of individuals such as Jonas Salk, William Hammond, and Peter Safar, and through Pitt’s outstanding student body who continually embraces the field of global health and truly makes a difference on a worldwide scale.
The Global Health Certificate features specially designed courses and co-curricular activities that prepare students to meet the challenges of today’s complex global health problems. Through the completion of the Global Health Certificate, students are well able to navigate the field the global health and ready to pursue their goals in the discipline.
Qualifications for Admission
This program is open to students who are enrolled in or planning to enroll in the Graduate school of Public Health as well as students in other graduate or professional programs at the University of Pittsburgh. Admission standards for the Global Health Certificate program are equivalent to those for a Master of Public Health degree at Pitt Public Health . See Degree and Certificate Admission Requirements.
Applicants who apply to the certificate program at the same time that they apply to Pitt Public Health should address the following in the personal statement that is submitted through SOPHAS: 1) reason for their interest in global health; 2) previous experience (if any); and 3) how the certificate might contribute to their career goals. Students who are already admitted to the Pitt Public Health should send a letter of request to Karrie Lukin, Pitt Public Health Admissions Manager, Office of Student Affairs. The letter should include the student’s name, department, degree program, and the following statement: “This is an official request for my application to be considered for admittance to the Global Health Certificate.” In addition, the letter should include a brief personal statement addressing the three points outlined above.
Admissions Decisions
Admissions decisions are made by the program director and are based on the criteria articulated in the previous section.
Program Description
The 15 credit certificate program is designed to augment the student’s degree program and emphasizes an integrative problem-solving approach to global health. Students develop competence in their discipline through their degree program curriculum. The certificate provides a global perspective to the degree through focused course work and field study.
Students enrolled in the certificate will complete four core courses. Concepts and Methods in Global Health (PUBHLT 2025, 2 credits), Global Health Seminar (PUBHLT 2024, 1 credit), Global Health Capstone Course (PUBHLT 2027, 2 credits), and one of six courses in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. Students will also complete a field practicum that is coordinated with the practicum requirement of the degree program; credit hours for the practicum vary by degree program. Students will also complete one methods course and one elective course to be selected from a list of approved courses. In addition, students are able to engage in the various co-curricular opportunities offered throughout the academic year. These co-curriculars consist of events such as symposia, film and video programs, workshops, and lectures. Content covers a range of issues relevant to global health, such as policy analysis, ethics, human rights, epidemiologic trends, and evaluation of global health programs. Click here for the complete list of Global Health Certificate requirements.
Career Prospects
Graduates with a certificate in global health will have expanded career opportunities with a variety of organizations that are dedicated to addressing global health challenges. This certificate adds value to professionals with existing credentials in their respective fields. Global Health Certificate Students gain a deeper understanding of the global implications of public health, learn about various cultures and parts of the world, and have ample opportunity to develop leadership and networking skills – all of which enhance their marketability for employment upon graduation.
Certificate in Health Care Systems Engineering
Contact Persons
Michael K. Lin, PhD | 412-624-2743 | linm@pitt.edu
Jessica L. Dornin | 412-624-3625 | jld115@pitt.edu
The Field of Health Care Systems Engineering
Approaches from engineering disciplines (e.g., systems engineering, industrial engineering, operations research) have been applied to health systems design and health care improvement in the United States over the past century. Recent attention from the Institute of Medicine embraces a vision of a learning health care system, a perspective of the health care system as one that utilizes systematic approaches to plan and deliver high value care consistent with scientific evidence. Several large health care organizations have applied recent developments such as Lean / Toyota Production Systems, and Six Sigma to the design and activities in their facilities
Health Care Systems Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh
Advancements in medical and informational technology, as well as changes in reimbursement models and government policies, create opportunities for improvements to health care system design through enhanced quality and/or reduced costs. Students enrolled in this certificate program will have opportunities for practice-based experiences in collaboration with local providers such as the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the largest health system in western Pennsylvania. The certificate and associated MHA degree prepares students for employment in roles such as health care manager, health systems analyst, health care information technology consultant, and technology implementation specialist. Together, the MHA and certificate provide a foundation for the graduate to assume leadership roles in health care organizations.
Qualifications for Admission
Requirements for admission to the certificate program are identical those for the MS in industrial engineering or the MHA in health policy management. MHA applicants can also apply for the certificate through the online centralized application service, SOPHAS. Students already enrolled in the Graduate School of Public Health may apply by contacting the Office of Student Affairs at stuaff@pitt.edu. Students already enrolled in the Department of Industrial Engineering should contact the graduate program administrator at gradie@pitt.edu. Certificate admission may be initiated at any time after the applicant has been admitted to either the MHA or the MS program.
Admissions Decisions
Admissions decisions are made by the program directors in both the Department of Health Policy & Management and the Department of Industrial Engineering.
Program Description
Offered jointly by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and the Swanson School of Engineering, this program provides students with specific experiences and analytical tools required for effective problem solving relevant to quality improvement and process engineering in the health care industry. Students are equipped to serve as leaders in addressing the challenges health care faces in the 21st century. Engineering students gain knowledge of health care operations, organizational culture, and strategic issues facing the industry. Health care management students will learn engineering principles, models, and tools following a systems approach to analysis, problem-solving, and project implementation.
This certificate is intended for individuals pursuing careers in the management and redesign of the health care industry. Designed for master’s degree students in the Department of Health Policy & Management and the Department of Industrial Engineering, this certificate provides a rigorous and multi-disciplinary education as a complement to the core curriculum of both programs. With a focus on innovation, effectiveness, and efficiency in health care, the certificate nurtures well-educated professionals and leaders.
Certificate in Health Equity
Contact Person
Patricia I. Documet, MD, DrPH | 412-624-1601 | pdocumet@pitt.edu
The Field of Minority Health and Health Disparities
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (US DHHS), in its Healthy People 2020 initiative, has said that “[a] health disparity is a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social or economic disadvantage. Health disparities adversely affect groups of people who have experienced greater social or economic obstacles to health based on their racial or ethnic group, religion, socioeconomic status, gender, mental health, cognitive, sensory, or physical disability, sexual orientation, geography, or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion.” Closely linked to the definition of health disparity is the concept of equity, which encompasses fairness and justice. The US DHHS says that “health equity entails special efforts to improve the health of those who have experienced social or economic disadvantage.” Further, the US DHHS emphasizes addressing not only health care, but also the social and economic conditions that have an impact on health. “Equity” means that all people can attain their full health potential. Language barriers, targeted marketing, stereotypical medical models, and uninformed policies are just a few of the factors that perpetuate health disparities. All groups included in the above definition have suffered from pervasive socioeconomic disadvantage and/or discrimination. These social conditions result in premature illness and death as well as lack of access to quality health care among these groups. Future policy-makers and health professionals need the ability to view the composite picture of minority health and health disparities with a critical eye that detects all contributors to health disparities as well as the skills to correct these inequities.
The Field of Minority Health and Health Disparities at the University of Pittsburgh
The Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences and the Center for Health Equity have created this innovative certificate to address the systemic root causes of health disparities, focusing specifically on racial and ethnic health disparities. The certificate trains students to assess the complexity of these problems among groups as diverse as African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Alaskan Natives. This certificate provides students with an academic foundation for eliminating racial and ethnic disparities through conducting community based interventions, mobilizing communities where disparities exist, advocating for healthy public policy and for culturally tailoring interventions that are appropriate to each specific population.
Qualifications for Admission
This certificate will be appealing to three distinct groups of students: current Pitt Public Health students, students in schools of the health sciences and other graduate programs at the University, and public health and human service professionals with degrees in other fields and public health and human service professionals with degrees in other fields who may take the certificate for academic credit. All students, except those who are already in Pitt Public Health, need to apply through SOPHAS. The admission requirements for all applicants are the same as those for admission to an MPH in BCHS.
Admissions Decisions
Applications are reviewed by the Minority Health and Health Disparities Admissions Committee.
Program Description
The overall goals of this certificate program are:
- to develop professionals with an understanding of the root causes of health disparities
- to increase cultural competence of public health and other professionals
- to equip public health professionals with appropriate methods of research and intervention in minority health and health disparities
- to provide an interdisciplinary vehicle through which students can pursue and strengthen their individual career interests relevant to health disparities and minority health.
The 15 credit certificate requires the following courses: BCHS 2524 Overview of Minority Health and Health Disparities, BCHS 2529 Community Development Approaches to Public Health, BCHS 2526 Health Disparities Research: Methods and Interventions, BCHS 2528 Integrative Seminar in Minority Health and Health Disparities.
The faculty members associated with this certificate are Patricia Documet, MD, DrPH certificate director; Angela Ford, PhD, director of the Center for Health Equity, Abi Fapohunda, DrPH and Christina Wilds, PhD. Collectively, they have vast experience in research and practice with racial and ethnic minorities and other populations facing health disparities.
Career Prospects
This certificate is valuable to professionals with existing credentials in their respective fields. Additionally, increasing numbers of health and human service organizations, local, state and federal agencies are creating offices of health equity, offices of minority health, and other institutional components dedicated to the elimination of health disparities. Students earning this certificate may serve as experts in minority populations in national organizations or as senior staff in community-based organizations.
Sample Field Work
- Working on health equity and policy issues at the level of the state health department
- Working as a program officer in a health related foundation or other philanthropic organization
- Working with mass media to create targeted programming for minority communities
For Further Reading
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Secretary’s Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020.
- Research in BCHS for grants and faculty research
- The minority health archives
While any Pitt Public Health student or applicant can apply for any of our certificates, this certificate is supported by the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences. Back to top
Certificate in Health Systems Leadership and Management
Contact Persons
Michael K. Lin, PhD | 412-624-2743 | linm@pitt.edu
Jessica L. Dornin | 412-624-3625 | jld115@pitt.edu
The Field of Health Systems Leadership and Management
The quality and the performance of the U.S. health care field has been criticized by health policy experts as inefficient; lacking important mechanisms to guarantee high quality care while constraining the growth in health care costs. Although the causes of these problems are debatable, one of the widely-accepted solutions is to develop leaders who can transform their local health care organization into an efficient, integrated delivery system that rewards providers and payers for attaining desired outcomes. More importantly, leaders in health care include not only those individuals in administrative positions, but also those who provide care and monitor the quality of services.
Health Systems Leadership and Management at the University of Pittsburgh
Individuals who are on a career path to become a leader of a health care organization will benefit from having focused training that enhances their competencies in the domains of transformation, execution, and interpersonal skills. Students enrolled in this certificate program will complete foundational coursework in health care finance, health policy analysis, quality assessment, and the strategic management of health care organizations. As an integrative experience, each certificate student will engage in an applied research project with a team of faculty who will support the student during the conceptualization, design, analysis, and interpretation of results. The certificate prepares students for employment in roles such as medical director, quality officer, and department chief.
Qualifications for Admission
All applicants, except those already enrolled in Pitt Public Health, need to apply through SOPHAS. In addition, the certificate applicant will submit a brief statement addressing: interest in health systems leadership and management; previous experience; areas of interest; and the relation of the certificate to career goals.
The admission requirements for applicants are based on completion of at least an advanced health care provider degree (e.g., MD, RN, PharmD, PT, OT), job experience and career plans.
Admissions Decisions
Applications are reviewed by the Department of Health Policy & Management’s admissions committee. Admissions decisions are made by the program director in the department.
Program Description
This graduate certificate will provide rigorous training for health care clinicians and providers looking to enhance their careers and improve health care delivery through strengthened leadership and management skills. The certificate was initially designed for physicians in the School of Medicine, but is open to all health care clinicians and providers.
The proposed curriculum of 15-16 total credits will consist of:
• Leadership Theory and Practice
• Strategic Management
• Financial Management
• Health Policy
• Quality and Patient Safety
• One applied project
Certificate in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Individuals’ Health and Wellness
Contact Persons
Nina Markovic, PhD | 412-648-8447 | ninam@pitt.edu
Ron Stall, PhD | 412-624-7933 | RStall@pitt.edu
Anthony Silvestre, PhD | 412-624-5080 | tonys@pitt.edu
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Individuals' Health and Wellness
LGBT health and wellness focuses on a public health perspective on social, cultural, and individual factors that influence the health and well-being of LGBT communities. There are conceptual and practical skills necessary to identify, analyze, and address health issues of the LGBT communities.
These skills include the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs to improve health levels among LGBT populations as well as the conduct of intervention research, epidemiological research, and policy analysis to enhance the health and well-being of individuals related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity/presentation. Additionally, the LGBT community reflects the diversity of the general population, including racial/ethnic, disability, rural, aging, and socio-economic minorities. These minority communities have been identified as target populations for improving health disparities by U.S. public health officials. Examining and addressing LGBT disparity issues provides benefits to the larger community of public health professionals dedicated to improving health disparities and may help to disentangle the impact of multiple minority statuses.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Individuals' Health and Wellness at the University of Pittsburgh
This 15-credit certificate program offers students an opportunity to learn from and work with leading faculty and researchers in the field of LGBT health.
Members of the Center LGBT Health Research provide multidisciplinary and collaborative opportunities within the academic medical center and the local community. Faculty members also work collaboratively with faculty at other universities and leaders in LGBT healthcare across the nation, which can provide additional research and learning opportunities for students.
The certificate program is designed for post-baccalaureate and graduate students who have an interest in LGBT communities and are seeking to develop skills necessary to effectively address health issues of the LGBT communities. Core course work topics include historical development of LGBT health focus area, a systems overview of conditions of greater prevalence among LGBT populations, review of theories of personal and community based health interventions, cultural competency skill development related to LGBT health care delivery, and development of critical thinking skills. The certificate program will work closely with the Center for LGBT Health Research to identify appropriate optional practica for students, monitor those practica, and evaluate student performance. The practica may take place within the center itself or with a variety of public and private sector agencies. Students will be required to submit a written thesis or project related to LGBT health and wellness and to present their work to peers and members of the Center for LGBT Health Research.
Students enrolled in degree programs within the Graduate School of Public Health will be subject to requirements for comprehensive examinations and master’s essay through their respective department.
Qualifications for Admission
Post-baccalaureate or graduate students may apply for the program, including currently matriculated students, non-degree post-baccalaureate students who may take the certificate for academic credit (for example, public health professionals with degrees in other fields), and students from other graduate programs at the University. For graduate students taking the program for academic credit, the program will have admission standards equivalent to those for a master’s degree at the Graduate School of Public Health. Matriculated students must meet all departmental and school wide requirements for admission. Non-degree post-baccalaureate students must meet the school’s requirements for admission for non-degree students.
Admissions Decisions
Applications meeting school admissions criteria are reviewed by the faculty throughout the year. If the committee recommends admission and the assistant dean approves, the applicant receives an official letter of the offer of admission. Applicants denied admission receive a letter from the program directors with suggestions to improve qualifications should they choose to reapply at a later time.
Career Prospects
The need for trained professionals in this area is great; graduates will be well prepared to assume positions in LGBT health-related programs, or develop LGBT programs within current programs.
This program is relevant to a broad array of public health professionals, including those who lead LGBT agencies, provide health care services to the LGBT community, or conduct research related to LGBT populations.
For Further Reading
- Unequal Opportunity: Health Disparities Affecting Gay and Bisexual Men in the United States. Richard J. Wolitski (Ed.), Ron Stall (Ed.), Ronald O. Valdiserri (Ed.) Oxford University Press, USA; 2007.
- Institute of Medicine report on Lesbian Health: Current Assessment and Directions for the Future
- The Handbook of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Public Health: A Practitioner's Guide to Service. Michael D. Shankle, Ed. Hawthorne Press, Inc. Binghamton, NY. 2005.
While any Pitt Public Health student can apply for any of our certificates, this certificate is supported by the Departments of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases and Microbiology.
Additional Information
View additional information about the LGBT certificate on the Center for LGBT Health Research web site. Additional information regarding the application process can be found on Pitt Public Health's admissions website.
Certificate in Public Health Genetics
Contact Persons
Elizabeth A. Gettig, MS, CGC | 412-624-3066 | bgettig@pitt.edu
Candace M. Kammerer, PhD | 412-624-7265 | cmk3@pitt.edu
The Field of Public Health Genetics
Advances in genetics are occurring at a pace that challenges our collective ability to respond to the many social, legal, ethical, and public health policy implications generated by this revolution of knowledge. Consequently, there is a compelling need to prepare future public health professionals in the biology, technology, applications, responsibilities, and issues of genetics information, which will play an increasing role in our understanding of health and disease. All areas of public health can be improved and expanded by examining the role of genetics in public health issues.
Public Health Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh
The purpose of the Certificate in Public Health Genetics is to provide graduates with a basic grounding in public health genetics that will enable them to function as public health professionals at the cutting edge of this important new area. Students enrolled in this certificate program are trained to incorporate knowledge of how genes, together with the environment and behavior, influence health and apply this insight into their area of practice or research.
Qualifications for Admission
There are two distinct groups of students that will be interested in enrolling in the certificate program: currently matriculated Graduate School of Public Health students and non-degree students who may take the program to enhance their career opportunities (public health professionals with or without MPH degrees). Some students from other areas of the university may also be interested in this certificate.
The standards for admission are essentially equivalent to those for the MPH, i.e. an adequate background in mathematics, biology, and social science to successfully complete the required coursework for the certificate. In addition, applicants must demonstrate prior public health experience in the form of academic work or appropriate job experience.
Admissions Decisions
Admissions decisions for the certificate program will be made by the Human Genetics MPH admissions committee.
Program Description
The objectives of the Public Health Genetics Certificate are:
- To provide opportunities for professional-level interdisciplinary training in genetics, risk assessment, and communication for public health students and professionals in the non-profit, public, and private sectors as well as graduate students from other departments and schools
- To provide a conduit for high quality students to enter the Graduate School of Public Health The curriculum will consist of 15 credits, of which at least 12 must be traditional classroom courses.
The remaining 3 credits can be seminar, project, or practicum work, as described below.
All students must take the course Public Health Genetics. Students must take at least two of the following four courses: Human Population Genetics, Introduction to Human Biochemical and Molecular Genetics, Molecular Genetics of Human Inherited Disease, and Chromosomes and Human Diseases. A maximum of 3 credits may come from the following courses: Clinical Genetics Case Conference, Human Genetics Journal Club, and Special Studies in Human Genetics-Practicum.
Additional courses permitted for the certificate include all other human genetics courses in addition to the epidemiology course, Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory and the Behavioral and Community Health Sciences course, Risk Communication. Other courses must be approved by the director of graduate studies for the Department of Human Genetics. In addition, all students receiving the certificate must do one presentation at the Human Genetics Journal Club, regardless of whether they register for the journal club course for credit. Students enrolled in human genetics degree programs other than the MPH in Public Health Genetics may receive the certificate, with the stipulation that the certificate curriculum must include at least 6 credits of public health-related coursework that is not part of the coursework for their degree.
While any Pitt Public Health student can apply for any of our certificates, this certificate is supported by the Department of Human Genetics.
Certificate in Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response
http://www.cphp.pitt.edu/certificate.html
Contact Persons
Maggie Potter, JD | 412-383-1967| mapotter@pitt.edu
This program is not accepting applications for the 2013-2014 academic year.
The Field of Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response
Local public health authorities have the primary responsibility for the health of the population after a disaster. It is important for public health professionals to improve their ability to collaborate with local first responders, emergency operations centers, and other providers to ensure an adequate response. This field emphasizes, in addition to collaboration, improvement in the public health infrastructure to monitor the environment, assess the needs of especially vulnerable populations, provide surveillance and injury prevention programs, and allocate public health resources in times of community emergency.
Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response at the University of Pittsburgh
This certificate seeks to improve the preparedness of local health units by training public health students and professionals to participate and collaborate, as well as play leadership roles in emergency planning, disaster response (including bioterrorism), and recovery efforts. The curriculum responds to national calls for an improved public health infrastructure by addressing three priority areas identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Preparedness planning
- Risk communication
- Improved competency of the public health workforce to deliver services in the event of a bioterrorist attack or other public health threat
Qualifications for Admission
Students already enrolled in the Graduate School of Public Health may apply to the certificate program by submitting a letter or e-mail of request to Karrie Lukin in the Office of Student Affairs. The letter or e-mail should include the student’s name, term applying for, department, and the statement “This is an official request for my application to be considered for admittance to the Graduate Certificate Program in Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response.” The Office of Student Affairs will forward a copy of the student’s academic records to the certificate program administrator. When the records are received, the administrator will contact the student to schedule an interview with the program director. Students matriculated in any graduate program in the university may apply directly to the certificate program. Non-degree students must apply to the Graduate School of Public Health. Admission of non-degree students is based on completion of a bachelor’s degree, job experience, and career plans.
Admissions Decisions
Admission decisions are made by the program director following a personal interview and are based on qualifications.
Program Description
The Certificate in Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response was launched in fall 2003. This innovative, interdisciplinary certificate program was created to provide students and professionals with a practical academic foundation in order to further strengthen the public health workforce and infrastructure. Students must complete 15 credits (10 required credits and five elective credits). Required courses include Risk Communication, Environmental Preparedness, Issues in Bioterrorism, Introduction to Public Health Emergency Response, and Evaluation of Health Programs.
Career Prospects
Career opportunities in disaster preparedness and emergency response have grown dramatically since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The face of today’s public health workforce includes positions such as:
- Emergency management analyst
- Domestic preparedness coordinator
- Community disaster educator
- Emergency preparedness health planner
- Public health preparedness coordinator
- Emergency preparedness director
- Bioterrorism/chemical epidemiologist
Sample Field Experiences
- Development of emergency operations plans for local health department programs
- Public education for the American Red Cross
- Assistant at local emergency operations center
Sample Final Projects
“Survey of vulnerable populations”
“Issues in agro-terrorism”
While any Pitt Public Health student can apply for any of our certificates, this certificate is supported by the Departments of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences and Environmental and Occupational Health.