Preventive Medicine & Public Health

Started in 2008, the purpose of the Preventive Medicine and Public Health Program) is to create new linkages among local public health department Medical Directors, MSU, and the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) to improve the delivery of public health services. In addition, we have started efforts with MSU community teaching sites to create educational experiences in public health for medical students and residents to bridge the gap between public health and clinical medicine.

In 2010, we continued to provide staff support to the Michigan Association of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Physicians (MAPPP), the professional society for local health department medical directors as well as other physicians practicing within public health settings. MAPPP meets monthly via conference call to share best practices, identify topics of shared concern, and interact with state and national public health experts. We also help to plan and facilitate the group’s semi-annual in-person meetings and manage the MAPPP listserv and website. In 2010, we assisted the MAPPP membership as they revised their bylaws and held elections for new leadership.
In 2010, the program also received funding from the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging to develop promotional and educational materials on evidence-based, chronic disease management and physical activity programs. The goal is to have materials that can be used with physicians and other health care providers and will lead to increased provider referrals to such programs in communities around Michigan. Products developed through this project include presentations, newsletter articles, and program and resource lists for multiple communities. The project continues into 2011, with all products available to MAPPP members and other Department partners at the end of the project.

In addition, the Program is engaged in numerous public health projects and collaborations. These include the Michigan Primary Care Consortium, Michigan Public Health Week Partnership, Michigan Asthma Advisory Committee, Michigan Arthritis Collaborative Partnership, and the Michigan Premier Public Health Conference Planning Committee. The Program also worked closely with MSU Extension leaders in 2010 to identify areas of common interest and to develop a survey to better understand how local Extension agents, local public health professionals, and local physicians interact to serve a community.

In 2010, the Program continued its efforts to establish sustainable funding for its activities and to develop and strengthen partnerships with local health departments, MDCH, and other state and community organizations engaged in public health services. The PMPHD plans to work more with current students and identify effective strategies for educating them on how they can work with local health departments to best serve their patients.