Asia-Pacific Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases

PROGRAMS

Asia-Pacific Center for Public Health and Population Research
Dr. Jay Maddock, Director

The Asia-Pacific Center for Public Health and Population Studies is a multidisciplinary academic and research center established in the Asia-Pacific Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases to advance graduate studies, sciences, and research in public health. This center capitalizes on the ubiquitous nature of public health across the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus and as such will serve to facilitate for all colleges, departments and programs the requirements in public health studies. Collaborating faculty come from the John A. Burns School of Medicine, College of Agriculture, the East-West Center, College of Nursing, College of Social Work, College of Social Sciences, Cancer Research Center, Population Studies Program and other campus units as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the State of Hawaii Department of Health and the six jurisdictional community colleges of the US Affiliated Pacific Islands. Its mission is to increase the University's capacity to carry out the highest quality public health research and instructional programs in Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region. The Center accomplishes this by conducting, stimulating, and coordinating public health activities on the Manoa campus, and by promoting collaboration between the University and other organizations concerned with public health. The general objectives of the Center are:

Conduct and promote interdisciplinary public health research in Hawai'i and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Promote excellence in education and research in Hawai'i and throughout the Asia-Pacific region for individuals and affiliated academic centers engaged in the study and research of public health and population studies.
Engage in public health education, training, workforce development, and service partnerships with national and international governmental, non-governmental agencies and organizations, corporations, and non-profit public and private entities in Hawai'i and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Specific benefits of this Center include : accelerating the Council on Education in Public Health accreditation process; accelerating the expansion towards an autonomous School of Public Health; increasing the visibility and presence of public health on campus and in the community; increasing the ability to attract world-class faculty and students; and increasing interdisciplinary research opportunities.

The above objectives can be further divided into the following function-related goals:

Research

Bring together faculty with public health research interests from across the university campus to foster new collaborations for research with interdisciplinary teams.
Engage in basic and applied research efforts through its own staff, institute staff, and in collaboration with faculty from other academic units and non-University research organizations in Hawaii, the mainland, and the Asia-Pacific region.
Host an interdisciplinary seminar series for discussion and generation of region-specific public health and population-based research ideas and activities.
Create and manage a publication series featuring reports of faculty and student research findings.
Link community agencies and organizations with qualified faculty, staff, and students who could assist them with research and evaluation efforts.
Offer consultation on grant proposal development, research design, and research funding opportunities to UH faculty and students interested in conducting public health and population-based research.

Education and Training

Link students to nationally accredited MPH and MS programs and graduate certificates for students affiliated with the Institute.
Develop and offer doctoral degree programs to increase research capacity and capabilities in Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region
Develop and support distance education for the Asia-Pacific Region
Provide student placements/practicum in the Asia-Pacific region

Service

Partner with the Hawaii Department of Health and with non-governmental health agencies to improve public health services and enhance the skills of the existing public health workforce in Hawaii.
Partner with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and other relevant entities to improve public health services and enhance the skills of the public health workforce in Asia and the Pacific.
Enhance public health program exchange across the Asia-Pacific region.
Provide community and professional continuing education by facilitating direct and distance learning lectures and by participating in conferences and other educational events.
Engage in appropriate direct community services that relate to and enhance research, education, and training functions.