School of Hygiene and Public Health Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, May 16, 2000 / 3 p.m. / 836th Meeting

Members Absent: Drs. William Brody, James Anthony, Ellen MacKenzie, and Jonathan Samet.

Guests: Drs. Miriam Alexander, Sharon Krag, and Noel Rose; and Ms Diane Glover.

Meeting Convened: Provost Knapp convened the meeting at 3:00 p.m.

Approval of the Minutes: Minutes of the 835th meeting on April 25, 2000 were approved.

Remarks by the Dean

Dean Sommer noted that a retreat of the department chairs will be held the following day, and the Health Advisory Board will meet in New York City.

Remarks by the Provost

Provost Knapp reported that Dr. Sandra Newman was appointed permanent director of the Institute or Policy Studies and was recently appointed professor in the Institute. The Institute plans to increase collaborations with other parts of the University, including the School of Hygiene and Public Health. Dr. Knapp thanked Dr. Steinwachs for serving on the search committee for the director of the Institute.

Frederick Puddester has been appointed to the position of chief budget officer of the University. Mr. Puddester was Secretary of the Maryland Department of Budget and Management, and served in Governor Glendenning's cabinet.

President Brody has been visiting the Bologna Center for their anniversary celebration. The Bologna Center is an extension of the Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. Dr. Knapp commented that the University is continuing to increase its overseas presence in such places as Berlin and Singapore, but must select its positions strategically. An advisory council for international university-wide activities will be formed.

Faculty are encouraged to attend JHU commencement ceremonies on May 25, where Dr. Brody will be the speaker.

Report of the Faculty Senate

Dr. Yager reported that the most recent Senate meeting included discussions of: changes to the Senate constitution regarding faculty titles and Senate representation by retired faculty; election of representatives for the 2000-01 academic year; and solicitation of questions for Mr. Hansen for a subsequent faculty meeting about components of Facilities and Administrative charges and faculty time and effort reports. Dr. Ensminger commented that the Senate is considering how to improve and increase communication among the faculty about School-wide issues, e.g., sending to all faculty by e-mail minutes of Senate meetings.

Other items

Proposed changes to PPM on Conflict of Interest - for vote

Ms. Helm joined the Advisory Board. She noted that the Committee of the Whole had already reviewed and made minor changes to the proposed PPM on Conflict of Interest, and that a final version of the faculty reporting form has been agreed upon. She proposed that annual reporting by faculty be undertaken now with updates every January and reminded the Advisory Board that such reporting is required by federal mandate. Department chairs will provide the forms to their faculty and will identify where concerns may exist to the Conflict of Interest Committee. Reporting forms of department chairs will be forwarded directly to Ms. Helm or Dr. Krag.

After further discussion, the proposed PPM was approved by the Advisory Board.

Master of Public Health Self Study

Dr. Alexander joined the Advisory Board. She briefly reviewed the process engaged in by the MPH Academic Subcommittee to prepare the Self Study, when the Subcommittee formed task forces to examine various areas of the MPH program. Dr. Alexander commented that the "bible" of the Program is the MPH manual, which provides a conceptual framework for the program for both students and advisors. The MPH program is different from MPH programs at other schools of public health in that it is School-wide rather than departmentally-based, and built on a problem-solving paradigm rather than on a series of courses. Many of the courses, in particular the problem solving and goals analysis courses, followed by the integrating experience, fit into the paradigm. Dr. Alexander noted that approximately half of the MPH program is core course requirements which can be met through several options. Students fill out the remainder of the program with additional choices so that each curriculum is individualized and student centered, capped by the integrating experience. Many students also participate in one of the 3 MPH societies that provide extracurricular activities related to their area of interest.

Dr. Alexander commented that the MPH program is governed by the MPH PPM and by 3 School-wide committees. The MPH degree can be obtained on a full-time basis in Baltimore, on a part-time basis in Baltimore or in the Washington, D.C. area, or via the internet. Approximately half of the part-time MPH students are in the Washington, D.C. area and half are in the Baltimore area. The advising system was revised 3 years ago so that 25 advisors representing areas of interest of MPH students act as program resources, and can also refer students to faculty mentors in specialty areas. Dr. Knapp then thanked Dr. Alexander for her concise presentation.

In response to a question, Dr. Alexander noted that the program encounters tension between its broad-based nature and the more defined departmental experience. Dr. Lawrence commented that while the iMPH program is developing several tracks to provide depth for its students along several professional paths, the program plans to retain its interdepartmental nature. Dr. Sommer predicted that the School's current MPH program is well-positioned as ASPH considers the direction and content of an MPH degree, which is most likely toward competency-based professional education.

Dr. Lawrence reported that the iMPH program intends to have 60-70 on-line courses, plus an additional 25% of credits which must be earned in face-to-face courses. He urged that institutes and other on-site courses be scheduled to accommodate the needs of iMPH students, and that faculty and their departments consider the pedagogic rationale for offering some courses on site and others on-line. Dr. Alexander commented that a "cohort" of iMPH students is created by having a group of students begin their studies together in Baltimore for several weeks. The students then can quickly move into one of the tracks even though the number of students in each track may be small. Dr. Sommer commented that the School's leading role in internet-based public health courses leave us well-positioned as ASPH and APHA think through credentialing the public health work force. Dr. Lawrence reported that the School may have it's largest entering MPH class ever this summer.

Dr. Knapp proposed that the MPH program examine MPH programs at other schools of public health by way of comparison as part of the self study and review process. Dr. Zeger noted that one quarter of MPH graduates go into or return to academic medicine careers, and asked that the Graduate Training Program in Clinical Investigation and MPH program investigate areas of mutual interest, for example a Clinical Investigation track in the MPH program. After further discussion, Dr. Knapp thanked Dr. Alexander for her presentation.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Robin Fox

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