Harris will discuss the state of Alabama's public health, its infrastructure and strategic plan, the COVID-19 response and vaccine efforts moving forward. CME/CEU credits will be provided.
Gisella Ward, MPH, a fourth-year student at the USA College of Medicine and president of the Public Health Interest Group, said she reached out to Harris in February about presenting a lecture.
"He responded with complete enthusiasm," she said. However, once the pandemic hit the United States, Harris's busy schedule necessitated delaying his presentation.
"Seeing firsthand how necessary an efficient and sustainable public health infrastructure is to controlling the current pandemic," Ward said, "we reached out to him again this academic year and continued the conversation."
Ward said she hopes students come away from the lecture with an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the public health system at the local and national level. Ideally, she said, students will feel educated and empowered to join public health efforts to help reduce and ultimately stop the spread of the virus.
"Public and population health are integral parts of the care that we provide as medical professionals. They shape how we care for our patients, the resources available to our communities, and so much more," Ward said. "We as the next generation of physicians have to stay informed so that we can better influence public policy and healthcare administration while addressing health disparities, social determinants of health and even the health efficacy of our patients."
Register for the presentation at https://usahealthsystem.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJElf-uoqzstE9ISYtYjFV7NLQit3swUmkgs.
If you are interested in mentoring or speaking to the Public Health Interest Group, email phig_usacom@southalabama.edu. Students can join PHIG on Facebook: "USACOM Public Health Interest Group." The group can also be found on Twitter and Instagram @phig_usacom.
