Earlier this month, the UNC Charlotte Department of Public Health Sciences hosted a series of interactive events in celebration of National Public Health Week. Aligning with national activities led by the American Public Health Association, University faculty and students, along with public health leaders and the greater Charlotte community, came together for discussions on the health of the region and beyond.
Joseph Telfair, president of the American Public Health Association (APHA), delivered a pair of talks. In an evening event that drew more than 150 to UNC Charlotte Center City, Telfair focused on the collaborative strength of public health.
“Critical to assuring effective, actionable efforts to achieve reduction in health inequities, and thus reduction in factors that negatively affect social determinants of quality of life … health entities must function as members of larger, diverse coalition of entities from other sectors,” he said.
In a separate discussion with public health students, Telfair encouraged the future practitioners to improve the lives of those whom they encounter during their career, pointing to APHA as a powerful voice for change in addressing health inequities.
“Recognize the world is complex, many are challenged by these complexities, so find your niche, be willing to make mistakes, learn from and use them to address the complexities which will allow you to become more focused and grow and as a professional – learning is a lifelong process,” he said.
UNC Charlotte also recognized National Public Health Week with the following events:
“The Legacy of Public Health in Our Region” was an art exhibit in Atkins Library that explored local public health practice and organization from 1900 to 1970.
“Public Health ‘This is Art’” displayed pieces from UNC Charlotte art and architecture students that portrayed public health themes. “This event was about presenting public health through different ways of hearing and seeing public health themes,” said Alex Acorn, president of the UNC Charlotte Graduate Public Health Association. “Instead of hearing it in the classroom, we were able to learn and see it in a different way, through art pieces.”
Academy for Population Health Innovation Second Annual Nexus highlighted APHI projects and provided insight into the partnership between the College of Health and Human Services and the Mecklenburg County Health Department.
Community Health: Charlotte’s Experiences and Beyond was a panel presentation that featured leaders from Novant Health, Atrium Health and Premier Inc.
“Events like these offer our faculty, staff and students a valuable opportunity to step out of our classrooms and research projects to exchange ideas with regional and national leaders,” said Melinda Forthofer, chair of the UNC Charlotte Department of Public Health Sciences. “For our community partners, these events represent linkages to the work we do and our national public health networks.”