The School of Public Health and the College of Applied Health Sciences
at the University of Illinois at Chicago are partners in what we believe
will be an exciting online program specializing in the study of public health
informatics. This is the new interdisciplinary field emphasizing the application
of information science and technology to public health practice, research
and teaching.
Concerns about bioterrorism and emerging infectious diseases have fueled
an increase in the demand for surveillance systems supported by state and
local health information infrastructures. At the same time, health care
reform, influenced by managed care organizations' emphasis on disease prevention,
health promotion and cost savings, has contributed to the need for population-based
health information. The forces of globalization have also contributed to
the demand for information systems capable of detecting and tracking diseases
such as Ebola, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and others. The effectiveness of
these systems depends on the availability of reliable, timely, accurate
and comparable information.
The major constraint to realizing the full potential of information technology
lies in the development and diffusion of informatics knowledge to public
health professionals. At present, only 0.6% of the public health workforce
in the nation has any formal training in informatics. According to Dr. John
Lumpkin, the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, information
is the most important product of a public health agency. The nation lacks
enough professionals who understand both public health and information management.
In recognition of this fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and the National Library of Medicine have been collaborating with state
and local health agencies over the past decade to promote the development
of a public health workforce capable of integrating public health with information
technology. This effort has resulted in the creation of the interdisciplinary
field of public health informatics.
Currently, only two schools of public health offer MPH programs with specialization
in public health informatics. The program at the University of Illinois
places emphasis on the management of information resources and is offered
completely online. It draws from a variety of disciplines, including traditional
public health courses, information systems, organizations and systems management,
and information and communication technology. Courses are taught by experienced
faculty from the School of Public Health and the School of Biomedical and
Health Information Sciences. Students have access to resources at the university's
Center for Advancement in Distance Education, instructional technology laboratory,
and the Library of Health Sciences.
Our aim is to produce a new generation of public health professionals capable
of playing leadership roles in the development, implementation, and evaluation
of information technology projects and surveillance systems in such diverse
areas as traditional public health agencies, managed care organizations,
non-governmental organizations and international health agencies.
One of the only real drawbacks to the exciting potential that online education
brings is that we will not be able to meet personally with each of you who
will enroll in the program. We want to assure you that even though communication
between us will be carried out via the Internet and telephone, we consider
you fully part of our student body and are dedicated to bringing you the
very best educational experience in this exciting new field.
Sylvia Furner
Interim Dean, School of Public Health
Charlotte A. Tate
Dean, College of Applied Health Sciences
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