Recent public health graduates and students from across Texas are spending their summer helping public health departments across the state prepare for national accreditation.

[Photo: Dean Richard S. Kurz]

Joining with representatives from the University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health are participants from Texas A&M University’s School of Rural Public Health.

As part of an accreditation readiness project led since 2011 by principal investigator (PI) Dr. Richard S. Kurz, dean of the University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, the project represents voluntary accreditation efforts of state and local public health departments toward a national, cooperative Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program called “Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure for Improved Health Outcomes.”

The goal is to help the American public health infrastructure become better prepared for the challenges facing today’s society, from chronic disease, infections and illness, to bioterrorism, food safety, environmental issues, and other man-made threats.

Students and new graduates are working this summer with Andrews County Health Department; Milam County Health Department; Waco/McLennan County Public Health District; Williamson County and Cities Health District; Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services; and Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District.

Representing the University of North Texas Health Science Center are Ms. LaPorcha Carter (MPH ’14) and Ms. Ronke Adewale (MPH ’15).

Representing Texas A&M are Ms. Andrometa Cooper, Ms. Lauren Rosenbluth, Mr. George Tanaruno, and Mr. Ankit Sanghavi.