Center for Public Health Practice
The Center for Public Health Practice (CPHP) provides the link between GSPH and the professional public health workforce in order to strengthen both areas. CPHP is a catalyst for engaged scholarship in public health through applied research, practice-based teaching, and professional service.
The center facilitates communication between GSPH and the Allegheny County Health Department. In monthly meetings, the GSPH/Allegheny County Health Department Steering Committee explores avenues of cooperation and resources in order to develop the public health workforce in Allegheny County.
The Pennsylvania Preparedness Leadership Institute is the flagship program of the Center for Public Health Practice. The first and only of its kind in the nation, the institute trains leaders in Pennsylvania’s regional counterterrorism task forces. CPHP also includes the Center for Public Health Preparedness, the Pennsylvania & Ohio Public Health Training Center, the Pittsburgh Influenza Prevention Project, and the Public Health Preparedness Law Program.
CPHP also administers a capstone course to provide a practice component to the MPH curriculum. Now required for all students, the capstone course explores cutting-edge topics in public health. Included in the course is the roundtable case series; three open forums that explore the field; policy, politics, and economics; and the practice aspects of each topic.
HIV/AIDS Initiatives
The Pennsylvania Prevention Project (PPP) uses scientifically-based interventions to decrease HIV infection, morbidity, and mortality associated with HIV and AIDS. PPP serves as facilitator of the HIV prevention community planning process in Pennsylvania by providing technical assistance to the Pennsylvania Department of Health and to community-based agencies in HIV prevention planning. Prevention interventions and evaluations have included promotion of state-wide HIV counseling and testing, outreach to minority women and injection drug users, and young adult roundtables.
The Pennsylvania/MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center provides custom-designed training and technical assistance to support, motivate, and educate physicians, nurses, physician assistants, dental professionals, pharmacists, advanced practice nurses, and members of the clinical team to provide quality HIV care. Pennsylvania/MidAtlantic AETC serves Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.