Environmental Public Health Leadership revisited.Editor's note: NEHA strives to provide up-to-date and relevant information on environmental health and to build partnerships in the profession. In pursuit of these goals, we will feature a column from the Environmental Health Services Branch (EHSB) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. (CDC) in every issue of the Journal. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EHSB's objective is to strengthen the role of state, local, and national environmental health programs and professionals to anticipate, identify, and respond to adverse environmental exposures and the consequences of these exposures for human health. The services being developed through EHSB include access to topical, relevant, and scientific information; consultation; and assistance to environmental health specialists, sanitarians, and environmental health professionals and practitioners. EHSB appreciates NEHA's invitation to provide monthly columns for the Journal. EHSB staff will be highlighting a variety of concerns, opportunities, challenges, and successes that we all share in environmental public health. The Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute (EPHLI) was established in 2004 by the Environmental Health Services Branch (EHSB), with the participation of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), the Louisville Metropolitan Health Department, and the National Public Health Leadership Development Network. EPHLI has trained 113 environmental health practitioners from federal, state, and local environmental and public health organizations to envision and develop problem-solving strategies that address emerging environmental health issues (see www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/ephli/fellows_mentors.htm). EPHLI trains future leaders to tackle the looming challenges often faced by environmental public health programs: * public indifference, * ill-prepared workforce, * scarce resources, * fragmented environmental public health service delivery systems, and * poor understanding of the role of environmental health. Institute fellows attend four one-week training sessions in which they * enhance their skills at building teams and forming innovative partnerships, * develop and improve approaches to resolving conflict, and * learn about common organizational archetypes that reveal leverage points for solving problems with the greatest impact. Each fellow is assigned to a team and a team mentor, who together facilitate the development of an action learning environment. Fellows work collaboratively with team members to develop successful problem-solving strategies. The focal point of the fellow's experience is the development of a leadership project that is germane to the fellow, the organization where he or she works, and the practice of environmental public health (see www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/ephli/keywords.htm). The fellows incorporate new tools and problem-solving strategies into their leadership projects as they progress through the institute. Institute applicants can work on either individual or group projects (see www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/ephli/projects.htm). Since 2005, 10 groups have been selected to participate. One team of environmental health practitioners from Oklahoma provided a great example of building collaboration within a state to address the fragmentation of environmental public health services (see www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/ephli/Reports/TeamOklahoma.doc). The five team members built on each individual's experience from different agencies to increase the coordination of environmental public health services delivered in four counties in southeast Oklahoma. The team fostered collaboration among the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, and the Indian Health Services so that the counties served could have a clearer understanding of the role of environmental health services in the region. Most EPHLI fellows focus on individual projects--which have been as diverse as the regions and agencies they represent. Several fellows have developed projects addressing new and emerging threats associated with toxic exposures in housing contaminated by clandestine methamphetamine laboratories (www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/ephli/keywords.htm#Methamphetamine_Lab_Cleanup). Other fellows have provided the leadership to initiate new programs for traditional environmental health services, such as the development of a safe-drinking-water program for private individual water wells (www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/ephli/keywords.htm#Safe_Drinking_Water). Is EPHLI meeting the critical need for new environmental public health leaders? The success of the institute is demonstrated not only by the innovative approaches taken to resolve complex issues or by the perseverance of champions in promoting change. Fellows also have reported substantial growth, both personal and professional, as a result of their participation: * "EPHLI exceeded my expectations in areas I did not anticipate, particularly in the area of personal growth."--Connie Mendel, Louisville Metro Health Department * "Being a part of this leadership institute has been a tremendous catalyst for my personal and professional growth.... The use of self-assessments, particularly the Skillscope 360, was invaluable."--Dawn Marie Prandi, Somerset County Department of Health EPHLI emphasizes the importance of developing creative vision in an organization. The institute has taught fellows how to be advocates for a shared vision that inspires new enthusiasm: * "EPHLI has strengthened my dedication to making a difference in environmental health. EPHLI gave me the chance to gain more context knowledge and help me immediately apply new ideas and concepts to my normal day-to-day tasks."--Jessica Shelly, Cincinnati Public Schools Most important, past fellows reported that the leadership skills learned and practiced at the institute have helped them promote change in their workplace: * "Systems thinking provided an organized framework and methodological structure for my thought processes allowing me to constructively identify workplace systems, the underlying forces that influence those systems, and how to make minor adjustments to the systems to correct problems and improve results."--David Pluymers, Wisconsin Division of Public Health * "EPHLI has taught me how to think differently about solutions and challenges, looking at causality and root problems instead of reaction-based activities and the status quo."--Jefferson Ketchel, Public Health-Seattle and King County EPHLI is enhancing the leadership capabilities of environmental public health service providers to prepare and direct a competent workforce that can perform the 10 essential environmental public health services (see www.phppo.cdc.gov/owpp/docs/library/1994/Public%20Health%20Functions.PDF). New applications, for EPHLI Cohort IV (class of 2008-2009), are being accepted until the end of October 2007. Information about applications is posted at www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/EPHLI. Corresponding Author: Brian Hubbard, Environmental Health Scientist, Environmental Health Services Branch, Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. E-mail: bhub-bard@cdc.gov. Brian Hubbard, M.P.H. RELATED ARTICLE: ACCREDITED EH SCIENCE AND PROTECTION PROGRAMS The following colleges and universities offer accredited environmental health programs for undergraduate and graduate degrees (where indicated). For more information, please contact the schools directly, visit the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC) Web site at www.ehacoffice.org, or contact EHAC at ehacinfo@aehap.org or at (503) 235-6047. Benedict College Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the state capital and largest city of South Carolina. As of 2006, estimates for the population of the city proper is 122,819[1]. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a small portion of the city extends into Lexington County. May Samuel, Ph.D. (803) 705-4675 samuelm@benedict.edu Boise Slate University Boise, Idaho Dale Stephenson, Ph.D. (208) 426-3795 dalestephenson@boisestate.edu Bowling Green State University Bowling Green State University, at Bowling Green, Ohio; coeducational; chartered 1910 as a normal school, opened 1914. It became a college in 1929, a university in 1935. Bowling Green, Ohio Bowling Green is the county seat of Wood CountyGR6 in the U.S. state of Ohio. At the time of the 2000 census, the population of Bowling Green was 29,636. It is part of the Toledo, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. Gary Silverman, D.Env. (419) 372-6062 silverma@bgnet.bgsu.edu California State University Enrollment  at San Bernardino
San Bernardino, California San Bernardino is the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. San Bernardino's estimated population, as of 2006, is 205,010.[1] As of 2006, it was the 18th largest city in California, and the 100ed largest city in the United States. Lal Mian, Ph.D. (909) 880-7409 lmian@csusb.edu California State University at Northridge Northridge, California Tom Hatfield, Ph.D. (818) 677-4708 tom.hatfield@csun.fdu CSU Northridge also has an accredited graduate program. California State University at Fresno Fresno, California Sandra Donohue, Ph.D. (559) 278-4747 sdonohue@csufresno.edu Colorado State University Colorado State University, at Fort Collins; land-grant with state and federal support; chartered 1870, opened 1879 as an agricultural college, assumed present name in 1957. There is a veterinary teaching hospital, an agricultural campus, and a research campus. Fort Collins, Colorado The City of Fort Collins, a home rule municipality situated on the Cache la Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, is the county seat and most populous city in Larimer County, Colorado. John Zimbrick, Ph.D. (970) 491-7038 zimbrick@colostate.edu East Carolina University East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, intensive research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statue and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina Greenville, North Carolina
Greenville, one of the fastest growing cities in North Carolina, is the county seat of Pitt County, and is the principal city of the Greenville, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. Daniel Sprau, Dr.PH (252) 328-4229 spraud@mail.ecu.edu ECU also has an accredited graduate program. East Central University, Oklahoma Ada, Oklahoma Doug Weirick, Ph.D. (580) 310-5548 dweirick@mailclerk.ecok.edu East Tennessee State University East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is an accredited American university, founded October 21911 and located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities. Johnson City, Tennessee Johnson City is a city in Washington County, Tennessee; however a small part of the city is located within Sullivan County, Tennessee, to the northeast and Carter County, Tennessee, to the southeast. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 55,469. Phil Scheuerman, Ph.D. (423) 439-7633 philsche@etsu.edu ETSU also has an accredited graduate program. Eastern Kentucky University Student Life The Eastern Kentucky University Office of Student Life works closely with Registered Student Organizations (RSO's), Greek Life, and Thursday Alternative Getaway (TAG). Richmond, Kentucky D.B. Barnett, Ph.D. (859) 622-2191 Db.barnett@eku.edu Illinois State University ISU is recognized in the prestigious US News rankings as a "National University", that is, a university which grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research. Normal, Illinois Timothy Kelley, Ph.D. (309) 438-5142 trkelle@ilstu.edu Indiana State University Indiana State University, main campus at Terre Haute; coeducational; est. 1865 as a normal school, became Indiana State Teachers College in 1929, gained university status in 1965. There is also a campus at Evansville (opened 1965). Terre Haute, Indiana Terre Haute (IPA: [ˌtɛ·ɹə ˈhoʊt]) is a city in Vigo County, Indiana near the state's western border with Illinois. Eliezer Bermudez, Ph.D., C.F.S.P. (812) 237-3077 ebermudez@isugw.indstate.edu Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) is the urban campus of Indiana University located in Indianapolis, Indiana. IUPUI offers undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees from both Indiana University and Purdue University. Indianapolis, Indiana Ingrid Ritchie, Ph.D. (317) 274-3752 iritchie@iupui.edu Indiana University of Pennsylvania History IUP was founded in 1875 as a normal school by investors in Indiana County. It followed the mold of the French Ecole Normale. When it opened its doors it enrolled just 225 students. Indiana, Pennsylvania Thomas Simmons, Ph.D. (724) 357-4898 tsimmons@iup.edu Lake Superior State University Sault Ste. Marie Sault Sainte Marie — pronounced "Soo Saint Marie" (IPA /su seɪnt məˈɹi/) — is the name of two cities on the Saint Marys River, which forms part of the boundary between the United States and Canada. , MI David Szlag, Ph.D. (906) 635-2160 dszlag@lssu.edu Mississippi Valley State University Mississippi Valley State University is a historically black university located in Itta Bena, Mississippi. The university is commonly referred to as MVSU or simply "The Valley." MVSU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. Itta Bena, Mississippi Itta Bena is a city in Leflore County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 2,208 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Mississippi Valley State University. Geography Itta Bena is located at (33.495968, -90. Moses Omishakin, Ph.D. (662) 254-3391 aomishak@mvsu.edu MVSU also has an accredited graduate program. Missouri Southern State University Missouri Southern State University (formerly Missouri Southern State College), is a public, state university located at 3950 E. Newman Road, Joplin, Missouri. Established in 1937 as Joplin Junior College, Missouri Southern became a four-year college in 1968. Joplin, Missouri Michael Fletcher, M.S. (417) 625-9765 Fletcher-m@mssu.edu New Mexico State University New Mexico State University, at Las Cruces; land-grant and state supported; coeducational; chartered and opened 1889 as a college. It became New Mexico State Univ. of Engineering, Agriculture, and Science in 1958 and adopted its present name in 1960. Las Cruces, New Mexico Las Cruces is a city in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,267. The population was 86,268 as of the 2006 census estimate, making it the second largest city in the state. Stephen Arnold, Ph.D. (505) 646-8194 sarnold@nmsu.edu Old Dominion University “ODU” redirects here. For other uses, see ODU (disambiguation). The university was recently named one of the best colleges in the Southeast by The Princeton Review. Norfolk, Virginia James English, M.S. (757) 683-3589 jenglish@odu.edu Old Dominion University also has an accredited graduate program. Ohio University Athens, Ohio Michele Morrone, Ph.D. (740) 594-9549 morrone@ohio.edu Richard Stockton College Pomona, New Jersey Pomona is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Galloway Township, in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 4,019. It is home to the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. Ron Caplan, Ph.D. (609) 652-4395 Ron.Caplan@stockton.edu Salisbury University Salisbury, Maryland Elichia Venso, Ph.D. (410) 543-6499 eavenso@salisbury.edu Spelman College Atlanta, Georgia Victor Ibeanusi, Ph.D. (404) 270-5866 vibeanus@spelman.edu Texas Southern University Houston, Texas Judith Mazique, J.D., M.P.H. (713) 313-4335 Mazique_jx@tsu.edu University of Findlay The University of Findlay is a private university located in the City of Findlay in northwest Ohio. It was affiliated with the Churches of God, General Conference, and was founded in 1882 by the City of Findlay and the Churches of God, General Conference. Findlay, Ohio William Carter, Ph.D. (419) 434-6919 carter@findlay.edu Graduate program only. University of Georgia Organization The President of the University of Georgia (as of 2007, Michael F. Adams) is the head administrator and is appointed and overseen by the Georgia Board of Regents. , Athens Athens, Georgia Marsha Black, Ph.D. (706) 542-0998 mblack@uga.edu University of Illinois at Springfield The University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) is a small, liberal arts university and the third campus of the University of Illinois. UIS was established in 1969 as Sangamon State University Springfield, Illinois Sharron LaFollette, Ph.D. (217) 206-7894 lafollette.sharron@uis.edu Graduate program only. University of Washington Seattle, Washington Chuck Treser, M.P.H. (206) 616-2097 ctreser@u.washington.edu University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (also known as UW-Eau Claire or UWEC) is a public university in west-central Wisconsin, United States. It offers Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Eau Claire, Wisconsin Eau Claire is a city located in west-central Wisconsin. The population was 61,704 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Eau Claire CountyGR6, although a small portion of the city lies in neighboring Chippewa County. Crispin Pierce, Ph.D. (715) 836-5589 piercech@uwec.edu UW-EC also has an accredited graduate program. Western Carolina University Cullowhee, North Carolina Burton Ogle. Ph.D. (828) 227-3517 bogle@email.wcu.edu Wright State University Dayton, Ohio G. Allen Burton, Ph.D. (937) 775-2201 Allen.burton@wright.edu |
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