choose an organization, meet someone who works there, and assist her or him with a public health-related project that is relevant to infectious prevention.

PH 560 Signature Assignment: Applied Practice Experience

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An important part of your MPH program is an “applied practice experience” in which you gain hands-on
experience with a real-world healthcare organization while applying what you have learned.

In this class, you will apply your learning by building a relationship with a healthcare organization of your
choice. You will choose an organization, meet someone who works there, and assist her or him with a public
health-related project that is relevant to PH 560. The Signature Assignment will be submitted in portions
throughout the course:

Week 2 Discussion: Choosing an Organization
Week 4 Signature Assignment Part I: PowerPoint presentation draft
Week 7 Signature Assignment Part II: Video presentation

Week 2 Discussion: Choosing an Organization

 List three (3) different organizations you would like to do your project on. Why did you choose them?

 Review the organizations’ websites and try to make contact with someone at the organization. What
projects are they currently working on that are related to public health, epidemiology, disease
outbreaks, or healthcare-acquired infections?

 Respond to at least two (2) of your classmates’ or your instructor’s posts. Comment on the
organizations they chose. Which organizations do you think are the best options and why?

EXAMPLE ORGANIZATIONS AND PROJECTS

Organizations Projects

Community hospital’s Infection Prevention
department

Analyze their hand hygiene data

Develop a hand hygiene educational presentation or
poster

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health,
Vaccine Preventable Disease Division

Perform an analysis of the Disneyland measles outbreak
that occurred in 2014–2015

Volunteer to assist with data collection or other aspect
of a current outbreak

A local dialysis clinic
Develop a protocol or educational program on safe
practices that reduce central line-associated
bloodstream infections

A local nursing home
Work with the nursing or housekeeping director on
improving housekeeping practices by updating their
cleaning and disinfection policy

A cruise line’s health/medical division
Develop an educational presentation or poster for cruise
ship staff on multidrug resistant organisms and how they
are transmitted

Week 4 Signature Assignment Part I: PowerPoint Presentation Outline

1. Think back to the Week 2 Discussions. Which organization do you think fits best with the area you
would like to study in this class?

2. Contact someone at that organization this week and discuss this course and your MPH program. Learn
how you can help them with a public health problem relevant to this course.

3. Choose 5 of the 22 MPH foundational competencies (see page 4) that are relevant to your work with
this organization.

4. Create and submit a draft PowerPoint presentation that outlines the organization you have chosen and
the project you want to do with them. Your presentation must include the following:

o Title slide (1 slide)

o Introduction to the chosen organization (1-2 slides)
Your final presentation will need to provide the location, size, mission statement, and typical
projects/programs of the organization you chose.

o Information on your contact at the chosen organization (2-4 slides)
Your final presentation will need to provide his or her initials, title, role, and responsibilities, as
well as a description and discussion of your meetings/conversations with your contact.

o Information on the project proposed for the organization (3-5 slides)
Your final presentation will need to provide a detailed description of the project.

o The five (5) foundational competencies you have chosen (5 slides)
Your final presentation will need to explain how the chosen foundational competencies are
related to the chosen project.

o A slide in which you list any references you use in APA format (1 slide)

The draft presentation does not need to be complete, but the outline must indicate all required areas.

Week 7 Signature Assignment Part II: Video Presentation

1. Using Kaltura, submit a 5- to 7-minute video in which you present and explain your complete
PowerPoint presentation. See “Getting Started with Kaltura” in the menu of Blackboard course for an
introduction to using the Kaltura tool.

2. Describe the organization you chose and the project you conducted in detail:

o Title slide (1 slide)

o Introduction to the chosen organization (1-2 slides)
The location, size, mission statement, and typical projects/programs of the organization you
chose.

o Your contact at the chosen organization (2-4 slides)
Provide his or her initials, title, role, and responsibilities, as well as a description and discussion
of your meetings/conversations with your contact.

o Detailed information on the project completed for the organization (3-5 slides)

o The five (5) foundational competencies you have chosen (5 slides)
Explain how the chosen foundational competencies are related to your project.

o A slide in which you list any references you use in APA format (1 slide)

Tips for an effective presentation and video:

o Rehearse; you improve every time you practice.
o Make eye contact with your audience (your webcam).
o Vary your tone of voice as appropriate, speak loudly, and pace yourself well.
o Limit the text on each PowerPoint slide to 6–7 bullets.
o Provide visual aids such as illustrations, charts, or photographs in your PowerPoint

presentation.
o Don’t read your PowerPoint presentation to your audience; use an extemporaneous speaking

style.

MPH FOUNDATIONAL COMPETENCIES

MPH program curriculums are built based on 22 competencies in 8 core areas. They are informed by the
traditional public health core knowledge areas—biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences,
health services administration, and environmental health sciences—as well as cross-cutting and emerging
public health areas.

These competencies and core areas are driven by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). MPH
graduates are expected to meet these competencies on completion of their degree. It is worthwhile for
MPH students to be familiar with the MPH foundational competencies and review them throughout their
studies to assure they stay on track with their learning. For more information on CEPH, visit the website
(https://ceph.org/).

Evidence-Based Approaches to Public Health

1. Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.
2. Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.
3. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming, and software, as

appropriate.
4. Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy, or practice.

Public Health and Healthcare Systems

5. Compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and
international settings.

6. Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities, and racism undermine health and create challenges to
achieving health equity at organizational, community, and societal levels.

Planning and Management to Promote Health

7. Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect the health of communities.
8. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
9. Design a population-based policy, program, project, or intervention.
10. Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
11. Select methods to evaluate public health programs.

Policy in Public Health

12. Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
13. Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
14. Advocate for political, social, or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
15. Evaluate policies for their effects on public health and health equity.

Leadership

16. Apply principles of leadership, governance, and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering
collaboration, and guiding decision-making.

17. Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.

Communication

18. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
19. Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
20. Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.

Inter-professional Practice

21. Perform effectively on interprofessional teams.

Systems Thinking

22. Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue.