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NPHP Initiatives Update
August 2002. Mark Dunham, NHM’s Acting President,
and Claudia Menashe, Project Director of the NPHP traveled
to South Bend, Indiana, in August to attend the National
Association of Health Education Centers (NAHEC) annual meeting.
David Midland, Executive Director of NAHEC, invited the NHM
staff to give a presentation to NAHEC’s Board of Directors
about the NHM and the NPHP. Midland commented that “as
NAHEC grows in membership and mission, it is vitally important
for the association to be affiliated with national projects
such as the NPHP and the NHM.” The Board presentation
provided the group with an overview of the NHM’s history,
mission, and major components, and served as an opportunity
to talk about the NPHP and invite NAHEC to join the Partnership
as a Steering Committee Member. Menashe went on to attend
the three-day NAHEC meeting, which included a tour of Health
Works! Kid’s Museum, a local South Bend Health Education
Center, interesting sessions, networking opportunities, and
a real Indiana Hoe Down complete with square dancing. In
addition, one of the meeting’s highlights was the keynote
address given by Lloyd Kolbe, PhD, Director, CDC’s
Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH). Kolbe, a
longstanding supporter of the NHM, presented statistics showing
that schools reach 53 million children every school day for
13 of the most influential years of life. With that in mind,
he went on to propose a powerful collaboration among CDC
DASH, NAHEC, NHM, and CDC’s Global Health Odyssey as
a possible strategy for improving health education and targeting
young people during those important school years.
August 2002. In a display of solidarity, AAM
and ASTC joined APHA and the NHM in becoming Conveners of
the NPHP. Both
AAM and ASTC were enthusiastic to sign on to the leadership
of this historic Partnership, expressing how well the mission
of the NPHP fits in to the strategic direction of their respective
associations. Mark Dunham, Acting NHM President, and Claudia
Menashe, NPHP Project Director, met individually with the
leaders of AAM and ASTC to discuss each group’s involvement.
Kim Igoe, Vice President for Policy and Programs at AAM,
commented that “museums have always been the cornerstones
of their community because they cultivate curiosity and are
trusted by the public. Joining together this aspect of civic
engagement with public health programming can be of great
value to society.” Upon agreeing to become an NPHP
Convener, Bonnie VanDorn, Executive Director of ASTC, said
that the NPHP “provides a unique opportunity for ASTC
and its members to share and expand our expertise in engaging
the public in hands-on learning about crucial public health
issues.” VanDorn also shared the history of some previous
public health exhibitions at museums and science centers
that will be valuable information for the Partners. With
all the Conveners on board, NPHP Convener letterhead was
developed, featuring all of the Conveners’ logos, and
an invitation was sent out to 30 museums, science centers
and public health organizations inviting them to join the
NPHP as Steering Committee Members.
September 2002. Sonbol A. Shahid-Salles, MPH
candidate at The George Washington School of Public Health & Health
Services joined the staff at the NHM as an Intern for the
National Public Health Partnership (NPHP) in September 2002.
Shahid-Salles assists with strategic planning and partnership
development for the NPHP and general project assistance for
the NHM. Her graduate studies are focused in the field of
Global Health Policy, with particular interest in HIV/AIDS
in the developing world. Shahid-Salles comes to the Museum
from the University of Georgia with a BS in Biology/Pre-Medicine
and a BA in Spanish. While pursuing her undergraduate studies
she worked as a research assistant at the University of Georgia
in a Cellular Biology lab from May 2000-August 2002. Prior
to that she spent the summer of 1999 at the University of
Copenhagen, Denmark conducting Immunology research. When
speaking about her current internship with the NHM, Shahid-Salles
said, “being part of such a dynamic team working on
the National Public Health Partnership along with the development
of the National Health Museum has been an invaluable experience
that has enhanced my graduate studies tremendously.”
Sonbol A. Shahid-Salles,
NPHP Intern, in front of NHM’s exhibit booth
at the Public Health Expo during APHA’s annual
meeting in Philadelphia. |
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October 2002. In an exciting move to expand
the NPHP membership, the NPHP Conveners invited 30 leaders
from museum, science
centers and public health organizations to become Steering
Committee Members in the Partnership and to attend the Partnership’s
inaugural meeting in Philadelphia during the APHA annual
meeting. As Steering Committee Members, invited groups were
asked to participate in at least one of two full convenings
of the Partnership, share non-financial resources, facilitate
marketing and outreach opportunities to publicize the NPHP,
help create and distribute NPHP materials to constituents
and members, and sign a Memorandum of Understanding along
with all NPHP Partners.
Steering Committee Members were chosen based on their contributions
to and involvement with public health education through either
their membership organization or their museum or science
center institution. A group of diverse organizations and
institutions with varied membership and visitorship were
invited to participate. Mark Dunham, NHM Acting President,
told the NPHP Conveners that “it’s quite striking
that we’ve had almost near unanimous agreement from
the museums and science centers and public health organizations
invited to become Steering Committee Members of the NPHP.
This level of interest and participation clearly demonstrates
the need and enthusiasm for this Partnership.” For
a complete list of NPHP Partners, please see the Partnership
Corner section of the NPHP website.
October 2002. The NHM hosted its second discussion
about the NPHP with museum and science center leaders during
ASTC’s
annual meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina in October 2002.
The first discussion had taken place during AAM’s annual
meeting in May. Lynn Dierking, PhD, from the Institute for
Learning Innovation, moderated the successful discussion.
With 22 museum leaders in attendance, including representatives
of The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, the Maryland Science
Center, Boston’s Museum of Science, and The Health
Museum of Cleveland, participants discussed their experiences
with public health programming and shared their feedback
on the proposed goals and outcomes of the NPHP. Dr. David
Ucko, former museum director and current President of Museums+more,
LLC, commented "I was impressed that leaders from so
many museums and science centers participated. That level
of involvement showed a real interest in the Partnership's
potential and a desire to shape its outcomes.” Meeting
participants were eager to share their thinking and recommendations
about how to make the NPHP a successful ongoing partnership
and asked to be kept abreast of next steps.
David Ellis, PhD, Boston’s
Museum of Science, Steve Baumann, Liberty Science
Center, Martin Weiss, PhD, New York Hall of Science,
and Bonnie VanDorn, ASTC’s Executive
Director prepare
recommendations about the future of the NPHP
during the ASTC meeting. 2nd caption to read:
Museum and Science Center leaders participate
in a discussion about the NPHP during the ASTC
meeting. |
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Museum and Science Center
Directors participate in active discussion about
the NPHP during the ASTC meeting. |
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October 2002. Mohammad Akhter, MD, MPH, Executive
Director of the APHA, invited the NPHP Conveners to APHA
headquarters
in Washington, DC, to discuss their roles in the National
Pubic Health Partnership (NPHP) and to plan the Partnership’s
inaugural meeting. Dr. Richard Levinson, APHA’s Associate
Executive Director, and Kelly M. O’Brien, APHA’s
Associate Executive Director of Public Affairs, joined Akhter
in enthusiastically welcoming Mark Dunham, NHM Acting President,
Fitzhugh Mullan, MD, Vice Chairman of the NHM Board, Claudia
Menashe, NPHP Project Director, other NHM staff and consultants,
along with Bonnie VanDorn, ASTC Executive Director, and Kim
Igoe, AAM Vice President of Policy and Programs.
On behalf of the NHM, Mullan shared his
enthusiasm for the NPHP. “At the National Health Museum we are very excited
about the many ways in which this Partnership could develop – shared
exhibits and programs and collective activities on a national
level. Bringing together two core American cultural communities,
the museums and public health, is too good an idea not to
happen. This has been a long time in coming.” The meeting
provided the first opportunity for the NPHP public health
and museum leadership to sit down and discuss their common
interest in and enthusiasm for the potential of the NPHP.
In sharing why he was so excited about this initiative Levinson
said, “besides the obvious benefit to the profession
of public health, I have a personal interest in seeing this
succeed. It was my early visits to Chicago’s Museum
of Science and Industry as a young person that got me engaged
in a career in health.” Igoe added, “testimonials
like Dr. Levinson’s really bring the importance of
this initiative home.”
Together, the group reviewed the NPHP work to date and discussed
the exciting opportunities that lay ahead. Input was provided
about the inaugural meeting agenda and objectives for this
important meeting.
Mohammad Akhter, MD,
MPH, Executive Director, APHA and Fitzhugh Mullan,
MD, Vice Chairman, NHM Board of Trustees. |
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NPHP Conveners met to
plan the NPHP Inaugural meeting at APHA headquarters
in Washington, DC. |
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November 2002. After an engaging meeting where
ideas about the NPHP were shared and generated between Elaine
Auld, Executive
Director for Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE),
and Claudia Menashe, NPHP Project Director, Auld offered
to bring together SOPHE’s leaders during their annual
meeting in Philadelphia to discuss the NHM and SOPHE’s
involvement in the NPHP. "The Partnership will stimulate
an exciting new synergy between two previously 'independent'
sectors. Given the diversity of health issues, audiences
and challenges in this 21st century, now is the time for
our public health and science center communities to collaborate
in making a difference in the public's health," said
Auld who went on to organize the session. The subsequent
luncheon meeting provided an opportunity for SOPHE leaders
to learn first hand about the plans for the NHM and the NPHP.
Lynn Dierking, PhD, of the Institute for Learning Innovation,
moderated the discussion and also shared her expertise about
the impact informal or “free choice” learning
in museums and science centers can have when public health
is the subject. With several SOPHE leaders in attendance,
participants shared their ideas about how to establish linkages
that could provide models for the Partnership, as well as
strategies in public health education that they have found
effective. Participants were enthusiastic and thoughtful
about the possibilities for the Partnership and the NHM,
and SOPHE’s Board of Director’s overwhelmingly
voted in favor of becoming a Steering Committee Member in
the NPHP.
November 2002. The NHM held an exhibitor
workshop entitled: “Experience What’s Next…The
NHM Launches the National Public Health Partnership”
during APHA’s annual meeting in Philadelphia. The workshop’s
aim was to discuss the role museums and science centers can
play in public health education, as well as to solicit input
about the NPHP. Lynn Dierking, PhD, of the Institute for Learning
Innovation moderated the discussion and shared her expertise
with the group about the informal learning that goes on in
museums and science centers. Participants enthusiastically
shared their ideas about Partnership development and discussed
the various ways in which diverse organizations could play
an important role and share resources. Anne Lubenow, Health
Communications Specialist at the National Cancer Institute
(NCI), told the group that "NCI has done exhibits about
how to interpret and understand cancer research and that the
NPHP provides the perfect opportunity for the NCI to share
their work with other institutions that might find it useful
and have access to a wide variety of audiences." Mark
Dunham, NHM’s Acting President, commented that “Anne’s
comments touch on what the NPHP hopes to accomplish –
to create a forum where diverse professions can share resources
and expertise to accomplish an economy of scale and wide distribution.”
The workshop began with the presentation
of a video about the NHM [to see video
click here], which provided a context for the ensuing
discussion.
Anne Lubenow, Health Communications
Specialist, National Cancer Institute and David
Ramsey, MPH,
CHES, Associate Director, Health Promotion at Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention participate
in the NHM exhibitor's workshop at APHA's annual
meeting. |
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November 2002. To better educate museum and
science center leaders about the fundamentals of public health,
the NPHP
held a “Public Health 101” luncheon session for
the Partnership’s Museum and Science Center Steering
Committee Members during APHA’s annual meeting in Philadelphia.
Several museum and science center leaders expressed a real
interest in getting a basic 101 education about public health
during the NPHP discussion that was held at the Association
of Science-Technology Center’s annual meeting in October.
In response to that need, the NHM organized the session,
which was conducted by Nancy Persily, MPH, Assistant Provost,
University at Albany, SUNY and Associate Dean, School of
Public Health. Persily’s presentation covered basic
public health concepts, such as population based public health
practice, great public health achievements, and current issues
in public health and associated case studies, including bioterrorism
and violence prevention [for
a copy of Persily’s presentation,
click here]. The presentation was followed by a thoughtful
discussion where the challenge of balancing museums and science
centers roles’ as information disseminators and educators
with the advocacy and behavioral change roles often adopted
by public health organizations was debated. Randy Ray, Executive
Director of the John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical
Science, commented that "Nancy’s presentation
skillfully outlined the definitions and historical success
stories of public health, along with applicable case studies
that framed how museum and science centers can integrate
current public health issues and messages into exhibits and
programming."
After the luncheon, which was held prior to the NPHP Inaugural
Meeting, many of the NPHP Museum and Science Center Steering
Committee Members visited APHA’s Public Health Expo
and had the opportunity to peruse exhibits at more than 600
public health booths. APHA generously provided free one-day
passes to the APHA meeting for the museum and science center
NPHP Steering Committee Members.
David Rabkin, PhD, Boston’s
Museum of Science, Steve Baumann, Liberty Science
Center, Kim Igoe, AAM, Randy Ray, John P. McGovern
Museum of Health & Medical
Science, Dave Ucko, PhD, Museums+More LLC, Lynn
Dierking, PhD, Institute for Learning Innovation,
look on during the "Public Health 101.” |
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Judy Bonderman, JD, MPH,
NHM Consultant, Claudia Menashe, Project Director,
NPHP, and Richard Stucky, PhD, Denver Museum of
Nature and Science, at the "Public
Health 101” luncheon. |
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November 2002. In an inspiring show of unity,
more than 30 leaders from the museum and science center and
public
health communities assembled for the inaugural convening
of the NPHP, which took place during APHA’s annual
meeting in Philadelphia. Mohammad Akhter, MD, MPH, APHA’s
Executive Director, hosted the convening. As a Convener of
the Partnership, Akhter commented that “APHA recognizes
the essential role that museums and science centers can play
in advancing public health education across the nation. We
have tremendous hope for this initiative, and our Executive
Board is very excited about APHA’s involvement.” Akhter
was joined by APHA’s incoming Executive Director, Georges
Benjamin, MD, FACP, at the NPHP meeting. The two-hour meeting
included formal presentations followed by a facilitated group
discussion that yielded numerous recommendations about the
direction that the Partnership should take. Representatives
from the museum and science center community shared examples
of previous public health collaboratives and successful public
health exhibits and programs. Meanwhile, members of the public
health community talked about the importance of fusing the
evidence-based findings of public health with the creative
communication strategies found in museums and science centers.
Many interesting ideas were generated during the discussion
and the findings and recommendations are currently being
synthesized and will soon be available for review and comment
by the Partners.
NPHP Conveners and Steering
Committee Members participate in the NPHP's Inaugural
meeting. |
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NPHP Conveners and Steering
Committee Members participate in the NPHP's
Inaugural meeting. |
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David Combs, PhD, California
Science Center, Wit Ostrenko, Museum of Science
and Industry, and Steve Baumann, Liberty Science
Center, at the NPHP Inaugural meeting. |
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November 2002. Following the NPHP Inaugural
Convening, all NPHP Partners jointly celebrated at the NPHP
Reception that
was also attended by approximately 300 APHA meeting attendees.
A brief program was moderated by Fitzhugh Mullan, MD, Vice
Chairman of the NHM Board, who presented an overview about
the NPHP and thanked the overflowing reception hall for their
support of the Partnership and the NHM. Mullan then initiated
the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between
the NPHP Conveners, to demonstrate the Conveners’ commitment
to work together to advance the mission of the NPHP. In addition
to the NPHP Conveners and Steering Committee
Members, several
members of APHA’s Executive Board attended the reception,
as did senior leaders from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
and a diverse group of public health professionals. After
signing the MOU, APHA Executive Director, Mohammad Akhter,
MD, MPH, told the crowd that “this Partnership is historic
and APHA is thrilled to offer our support towards its success.”
As Conveners of the NPHP,
Mohammad Akhter, MD, MPH, Executive Director, APHA,
and Mark Dunham, Acting President, NHM, sign a
Memorandum of Understanding at the NPHP Reception
held during
APHA's annual meeting. |
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Public Health and Museum
and Science Center Partners gather following the
MOU signing to celebrate the NPHP Inaugural Meeting. |
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