Virginia Tech Academic Public Health Corps: Bridging the gap between education and public health practice

In an innovative partnership between the New River Health District and Virginia Tech's Population Health Sciences, the Academic Public Health Corps (APHC) allows students to harness the spirit of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) while gaining hands-on experience as public health practitioners. 

Established as an extension of the academic health department relationship formed in 2015, the APHC pairs students with short-term health department projects that accommodate their schedules and align with their talents and interests.

A partnership for practical experience

Tiffany D. Norman, business manager at the New River Health District, highlighted the mutual benefits of the initiative. 

"For the health department, our goal is to engage future public health professionals, help them learn about the practical applications of this type of work, and augment our workforce," she said. "The students, in turn, gain valuable experience and the opportunity to apply their skills in real-world settings."

The APHC has enabled the health district to tackle multiple "wish list" projects, such as creating a calendar of public health-related observances, designing logos and promotional materials, and providing translation services. 

“Many of the projects have involved researching and applying health education principles to the materials created,” Gary Coggins, environmental health manager at the New River Health District. “They get to utilize a variety of workplace skills including communication; working to deadlines; incorporating feedback from others regarding their work; setting meetings; leading meetings; and managing a project in a public health workplace.”

Student experiences and contributions

Sophie Wenzel, associate director of the Center for Public Health Practice and Research and academic health department director, plays a critical role in matching student skills with project needs. The district maintains an ongoing list of desired projects, including skills needed. She reviews these opportunities, assesses the skills of APHC members, and works to align them accordingly.

“An academic health department is similar to a relationship between a medical school and a teaching hospital, but for public health students,” Wenzel said. “As part of our academic health department, we designed the APHC in a way for students to get experience in an approachable way and without having to dedicate a 180-hour practicum to it.”

“It's nice to have control over the time commitment, but still being able to give back to the community,” said Elizabeth Fox, a student member of the APHC enrolled in the accelerated Master of Public Health program. Fox updated flyers and brochures and created social media templates for the health district, using her communications and design experience to make the materials more modern and approachable. 

“I enjoyed getting to apply what I'm learning, and it makes me feel more passionate about the work I'm doing,” Fox said. “Once I finished that first project, I emailed Dr. Wenzel and was like: All right, what's next?” 
 
Like Fox, other students felt a sense of accomplishment and impact after completing projects.

"I love being in the Academic Public Health Corps because it has allowed me to work with my community, which I am very passionate about," said Hanna Howell. “It also has allowed me to be creative and work on skills I wouldn’t have otherwise gotten to work on.”

Samar Elsaadawy expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations. “I was delighted to work on the project ‘Best Beginnings for NRV Babies.’ This initiative not only encourages new mothers to learn about safe sleep but also addresses health disparities by providing free tools to ensure a safe sleep environment,” Elsaadawy said.

“I have enjoyed learning about various public health observances and creating media content to promote and create awareness for public health topics,” said Harper Knick. “I am grateful for this opportunity to expand my knowledge and help the New River Health District.”

Last fall semester, 14 student members volunteered for 52 hours on APHC projects. So far this spring, students have completed 53 hours with the APHC.

Future directions and impact

The health district sees the role of student volunteers evolving as they learn how to maximize this partnership. "With each completed project, we are inspired to identify others," Norman stated, expressing optimism about the future of the APHC.

“The collaboration has been inspiring for us - not only insofar as the projects we can accomplish but as we see the future of public health in action,” added Coggins.

The success of the APHC serves as a testament to the power of collaboration between academic institutions and public health departments. It enhances the health department's capacity and prepares the next generation of public health professionals with the skills and experience they need to succeed in their careers.