PPO I - Public Health Project Gary Chu, OD, MPH
Office number: 617-236-6313
Pager Number 617-430-9424
The premise of this project stemmed from the belief that public health is experienced when people see the impact of health beyond a patient encounter. In your education, we provide you with skills and knowledge to care for a patient but many times we fail to give you the complete picture of the complex health system that exists in this country and this world. It is my hope that this project, via group discussions and communication with health care providers, patients, and community leaders; you will be able to begin to appreciate how you can impact the health of the public that is around you.
Goals
1. To understand the role of optometry in public health.
2. To realize the impact of the New England Eye Institute (NEEI) system on the visual and health status of the communities in Boston.
3. To learn to work in a group environment with a common purpose.
4. To be able to produce an end product that is concise and informative (poster).
Project
· Design a project that has an impact on the ocular health of a particular age group &/or community served by the NEEI system.
· Define the problem by presenting the epidemiological data and the need for reform.
· Present a solution to the problem that will have potential impact.
· Field test your group’s idea via interviews, surveys or other methods.
· As an alternative, students may be recruited to join existing OD II projects. Additional information will be given in the following weeks.
Logistics
· Each group will meet with Dr. Chu or another faculty member (assigned by Dr. Chu), to review the proposal, to provide a reality check and to identify resources.
· The end product is a poster that will be graded by the faculty of this course.
· The poster will be presented at an exhibit where the entire school is invited. A panel, chosen by Dr. Chu, will judge the posters.
· The groups that place first, second, and third will be awarded a stipend to attend the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) meeting in December, 2004. The first place team will be able to send a minimum of three people, the second place team a minimum of 2 people, etc. In order to claim this prize, the 3 winning groups must submit an abstract of their project to the AAO meeting and continue their project the following year.
· Each group will have 4 to 6 students.
Resources
· The Library, Cindy Hutchison and Ed Sperr, will provide each group with knowledge of internal and external resources (articles, books, internet resources, etc.).
· Marek Jacisin, Educational Media Coordinator, will conduct seminars (for one person in each group) on scientific poster design.
Grading
1. Identification of the problem
· State the Healthy People 2010 vision objective which will be the focus of your project.
· Demonstration of public health principles
· Demonstration of an appreciation of NEEI system 30 points
2. Creativity and feasibility of the project (solution)
· Demonstration of impact to a group or community 40 points
3. Layout and esthetics of poster; meeting deadlines
· Clarity of presentation, answers to questions 20 points
4. Individual participation (grade given by peers) 10 points
Deadlines and Important Dates
Fri Oct 17, 2003 Sign up for seminars from the Library
Fri Dec 5, 2003 Submit names of group members and proposal of your
project to Dr. Chu in class.
Mon Jan 12, 2004 Meetings with Dr. Chu or advisor will begin
Mon May 10, 2004 Posters are due for printing with Marek in the Library by 8 am
Fri May 21, 2004 Exhibit Day
Recommended Articles and Websites to Read
1. Healthy People 2010 Vision Objectives
http://www.healthyvision2010.org
2. National Eye Institute Strategy on Reducing Health Disparities FY 2000-2004, http://www.nei.nih.gov/resources/strategicplans/disparities.htm#health
3. Vision Problems in the U.S.: Prevalence of Adult Vision Impairment and Age Related Eye Diseases in America, National Eye Institute and Prevent Blindness of America, 2002. http://www.nei.nih.gov/eyedata/pdf/VPUS.pdf
4. Statistics on Vision Impairment: a Resource Manual, Lighthouse International, 2002. http://www.lighthouse.org/researchstats.pdf
5. Statistics on Children with Vision Impairments, Lighthouse International, 2000. http://www.lighthouse.org/edstats_2000.pdf
6. Social Determinants of Health, Washington State Department of Health, 1996. http://www.doh.wa.gov/Publicat/96_HWS/sdhhp5.pdf
PPO I Public Health Project
Group Members and Proposal Submission Form
Names of Group Members:
1. ______Mailbox Number: ______
2. ______Mailbox Number: ______
3. ______Mailbox Number: ______
4. ______Mailbox Number: ______
5. ______Mailbox Number: ______
6. ______Mailbox Number: ______
What is the public health problem that will be addressed by your group?
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What is your proposed solution to this problem?
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