From more than 80 areas of study, University of Evansville students now have a new major to choose: public health. UE’s Board of Trustees approved the public health program, which will begin in Fall 2012, during its meeting on February 17-18.
UE’s Bachelor of Science in public health will train students in multidisciplinary approaches to public health practices. Students will learn about a range of issues that impact population health, global health, environmental health, disease prevention, health communication and informatics, healthcare systems, and health behavior.
Payal Patel-Dovlatabadi, assistant professor of public health, will serve as director of the public health program. She joined the University of Evansville faculty in 2011 to teach public health courses in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science, where the public health program will be housed.
Patel-Dovlatabadi holds a DrPH in public health management, an MPH in health care organization and policy, an MBA in health care management, and a BS in psychology, all from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her research interests include health policy, lifestyle factors and chronic disease prevention, mental health, and disaster preparedness on both the national and international levels.
“From disaster relief to air quality to disease prevention, public health professionals ensure a healthy, safe, and productive society,†said Patel-Dovlatabadi. “Furthermore, the Association of Schools of Public Health estimates that 250,000 more public health workers will be needed by 2020. To replenish the workforce and avert a serious shortage of qualified workers, schools of public health will have to train three times the current number of graduates over the next 11 years.â€
“I’m proud that the University of Evansville has recognized this critical need and stepped up to meet the challenge of preparing graduates for careers in the dynamic field of public health,†she added.
Graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health who wish to enter the job market will find opportunities for employment by state and local health departments, hospital systems, government agencies, health insurance companies, wellness centers, and consulting firms, to name a few.
The program will also prepare students who wish to pursue graduate education. Students across the country who completed an undergraduate degree in public health have successfully pursued advanced degrees in fields including public health, health services administration, physical therapy, law, medicine, and business administration.
