Work of NRAHD
Joint Practice-Based Research Projects
New River Health District and VT Population Health Sciences/Center for Public Health Practice and Research partner on several practice based research projects on a variety of topics. MPH students are involved in most joint research projects.
NRHD and the Center collaborate on a variety of projects. The Center has conducted evaluations for NRHD health education projects such as obesity prevention, tobacco use and control, healthy eating/active living and chronic disease self-management. NRHD and PHS have also collaborated on creating health department marketing strategies, cost- effectiveness analyses of several outbreaks, GIS disease mapping, and Women Infant and Children (WIC) related research projects.
college students doing homeworks in park
Public Health Education and Training
Many students in the MPH program conduct their public health practicum at the health department, gaining valuable on the ground job experience working with public health experts. At least 23 students have conducted their practicum at NRHD since 2013.
In addition, staff members from NRHD regularly lecture in the MPH program classes.
Businesspeople Talking
Workforce Development
CPHPR, through the AHD, offers a variety of workforce development opportunities throughout the region.
CPHPR in conjunction with NRHD offers training opportunities for regional public health professionals. The types of training opportunities offered are based on The Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice’s 2014 Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals. The core competencies and topical areas of knowledge include: analytic/assessment, policy development/ program planning, communication, cultural competency, community dimensions of practice, public health sciences, financial planning and management, and leadership and systems thinking skills. Specific training opportunities offered in correspondence with each competency were selected after surveying the needs capacity of regional public health professionals. Trainings are held at Virginia Tech and throughout the region and will be offered in person and/or online as needed.