Doctor of Public Health Applied Practice Experience Manual :

Section 1. Introduction

Welcome to the applied practice component of Walden University’s (Walden; the university) Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program. The DrPH program resides in the College of Health Sciences & Public Policy. This manual describes the structure and timing of the classroom-based and on-site applied practice experience, and the policies students must follow to be successful. For more information about the public health programs, students should refer to the Walden University Doctor of Public Health Applied Practice Experience website: https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/doctor-public-health/applied-practice

This manual is intended to provide Walden DrPH students with information they need related to applied practice experience policies and procedures. The manual is also intended to serve as a reference for applied practice experience preceptors and other applied practice experience personnel.

This manual refers to the Walden University Catalog and the Walden University Student Handbook for specific information on university policies and courses. These resources can be accessed at catalog.WaldenU.edu.

All students are required to read this manual in detail and adhere to the policies included within. All students must confirm that they have read and understand all the policies in this manual when applying for an applied practice experience. Failure to comply with the policies within this manual is considered a violation of Walden’s Code of Conduct and Professional Competence Policy and may result in formal sanctions, including, but not limited to, award of a failing course grade, Code of Conduct inquiry, and dismissal from the university. See the student handbook for details.

Nothing in this document creates a contract to provide any particular service or benefit.

Note: Walden reserves the right to make program changes as needed to help ensure the highest quality program.

The DrPH program at Walden is designed to promote Walden’s vision, mission, and ongoing commitment to social change as well as the College of Health Sciences & Public Policy mission and vision. These guiding principles serve as a framework for the program curriculum and outcomes and are included here as a reference.

Vision

Walden University envisions a distinctively different 21st-century learning community where knowledge is judged worthy to the degree that it can be applied by its graduates to the immediate solutions of critical societal challenges, thereby advancing the greater global good.

Mission

Walden University provides a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar- practitioners so that they can effect positive social change.

Social Change

Walden University defines positive social change as a deliberate process of creating and applying ideas, strategies, and actions to promote the worth, dignity, and development of individuals, communities, organizations, institutions, cultures, and societies. Positive social change results in the improvement of human and social conditions.

College of Health Sciences and Public Policy Mission and Vision

Mission

The College of Health Sciences and Public Policy supports and develops a diverse group of scholar-practitioner professionals empowered to address the social determinants of health and positively impact social change.

Vision

The College of Health Sciences and Public Policy endeavors to improve equity and create healthy communities worldwide.

Vision

Healthy and equitable communities supported by a diverse public health workforce.

Mission

Assure broad access to quality online public health education to prepare a diverse public health workforce that, through practice, service, and research, creates positive social change leading to healthy and equitable communities.

Goals

Instructional Goal

1. Provide broad access to a quality online graduate public health education, especially to nontraditional students and to and those representing underserved populations.
2. Produce competent professionals who create positive social change that contributes to decreasing health inequities and improving the health and well- being of diverse communities.

Professional Development

3. Provide opportunities for professional development of students, alumni, faculty, and the public health workforce.

Research Goal

4. Engage in research/scholarly activities that advance public health knowledge, decrease health inequities, and improve the health and well-being of diverse communities.

Service Goal

5. Engage in service activities that decrease health inequities and improve the health and well-being of diverse communities.

Core Values

The MPH/DrPH program core values include broad access to graduate public health education, student- centeredness, quality, integrity, diversity, equity, and inclusion. These values guide the work of program leadership and faculty.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the DrPH program, students will be able to:

1. 1. Critically evaluate the interdisciplinary role of stakeholders in the application and evaluation of population-based public health strategies.
   2. Evaluate approaches to inform and influence public health interventions and strategies.
   3. Apply research methods in the investigation of public health problems.
   4. Critically evaluate evidence-based research, theories, and models used in public health.
   5. Apply systems-thinking skills and strategies for the promotion of public health policy and advocacy.
   6. Apply evidence-based research and practices to promote positive social change.
   7. Examine the application of economic theories in relation to public health systems across diverse community settings.
   8. Apply community health assessment techniques to identify, prioritize, and formulate solutions to community public health problems.
   9. Apply ethical principles in public health practice.

Competencies

The competencies that DrPH students are expected to demonstrate by the end of the program are shown in Table 1.

DrPH Foundation Competencies

Data and Analysis

1. Explain qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, and policy analysis research and evaluation methods to address health issues at multiple (individual, group, organization, community, and population) levels
2. Design a qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, policy analysis, or evaluation project to address a public health issue.
3. Explain the use and limitations of surveillance systems and national surveys in assessing, monitoring, and evaluating policies and programs and to address a population’s health.

Leadership, Management and Governance 

4. Propose strategies for health improvement and elimination of health inequities by organizing stakeholders, including researchers, practitioners, community leaders, and other partners
5. Communicate public health science to diverse stakeholders, including individuals at all levels of health literacy, for purposes of influencing behavior and policies
6. Integrate knowledge, approaches, methods, values, and potential contributions from multiple professions, sectors, and systems in addressing public health problems
7. Create a strategic plan
8. Facilitate shared decision making through negotiation and consensus-building methods
9. Create organizational change strategies
10. Propose strategies to promote inclusion and equity within public health programs, policies, and systems
11. Assess one’s own strengths and weaknesses in leadership capacities, including cultural proficiency
12. Propose human, fiscal, and other resources to achieve a strategic goal
13. Cultivate new resources and revenue streams to achieve a strategic goal

Policy and Programs

14. Design a system-level intervention to address a public health issue
15. Integrate knowledge of cultural values and practices in the design of public health policies and programs
16. Integrate scientific information, legal and regulatory approaches, ethical frameworks, and varied stakeholder interests in policy development and analysis
17. Propose interprofessional and/or intersectoral team approaches to improving public health

Education and Workforce Development

18. Assess an audience’s knowledge and learning needs
19. Deliver training or educational experiences that promote learning in academic, organizational, or community settings
20. Use best practice modalities in pedagogical practices

Concentration Competencies

1. Analyze strengths and limitations of applying theories or models to public health issues
2. Propose a public health policy that influences positive social change within a community
3. Analyze ethical issues in the design and conduct of public health research
4. Propose public health policy recommendations based on the evaluation of graphic information systems mapping data
5. Assess the applicability of a systems approach for different evaluation purposes

Key Terms

Affiliation Agreement

The field site Affiliation Agreement is the legal contract between the field site and Walden University. Accreditation standards and university policy require that a signed Affiliation Agreement be in place before students start their practicum.

Learning Agreement

The Learning Agreement defines the expectations for students undertaking applied practice experience in public health. This document outlines the details of the applied practice experience and should be completed jointly by students and preceptors.

Applied Practice Experience

An applied practice experience is a distinctly defined supervised experience in which students develop advanced practice skills and integrate professional knowledge. Students are required to complete an applied practice experience course (PUBH 8990: DrPH Applied Practice Experience) and a specified number of hours of supervised experience. DrPH students must complete PUBH 8990 and a minimum of 80 hours of supervised experience. The applied practice experience requirement must be successfully completed prior to graduation.

Applied Practice Experience Site

An applied practice experience site is a governmental, nongovernmental, nonprofit, industrial or for-profit setting, or other appropriate setting, in which students obtain supervised, applied practice experiences consistent with their education and training. Applied practice experience sites enter into an Affiliation Agreement with Walden, stating they will provide appropriate support and supervision for students during the applied practice experience.

Precepting

Precepting encompasses a tutorial and mentoring form of instruction by which an applied practice experience preceptor monitors student activity in the applied practice experience and facilitates learning and skill-development experiences. Preceptor’s guide and provide feedback on students’ applied practice experience work.

Walden’s faculty and staff members are committed to working collaboratively with students and preceptors to support the successful completion of applied practice experiences.

Field Experience Coordinator

The Public Health Office of Field Experience includes a field experience coordinator whose role is to assist public health students in identifying qualified applied practice experience sites and preceptors, facilitate the applied practice experience application and approval process, and ensure students are registered for their applied practice experience course. The field experience coordinator serves as a conduit between faculty, students, and others throughout the process.

Walden’s field experience coordinator assists with this process and, in the rare instances, when necessary, conducts outreach to

potential sites and preceptors on students’ behalf.

The field experience coordinator is available to students via email, phone, and personal phone appointment. Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Field Experience early in their program for guidance and personal assistance.

Associate Dean, Applied Practice & Continuing Education

The associate dean, applied practice & continuing education is a Walden administrator who oversees the field experience coordinator, applied practice experience course instruction and development, and monitoring of the on-site student experience. Administrative duties include assessing preceptors and applied practice experience sites for appropriateness, approving applied practice experience applications and Learning Agreements, and overseeing appropriate placement of students. The Associate Dean also participates in university- and school-based residencies, continuing education, and committees.

Applied Practice Experience Faculty Member

Walden faculty members teach the applied practice experience courses. Applied practice experience faculty members collaborate with students and inform the associate dean, applied practice & continuing education about any difficulties that arise during the applied practice experience.

Within a month after the initiation of the applied practice experience, applied practice experience faculty members coordinate a conference call with students and preceptors, which is intended to ensure that the applied practice experience goals are being addressed, that both student and preceptor understand the key points of the applied practice experience, that an opportunity for questions is provided, and that any problems are identified and resolved.

Preceptor

Preceptors are qualified individuals employed at the applied practice experience placement settings who are responsible for guiding an applied practice experience. Preceptors must

• have a terminal degree or hold an advanced degree (Master of Public Health [MPH] preferred) plus at least 5 years of related experience; and
• currently work in a field consistent with the student goals for the applied practice experience.

It is expected that preceptors will be accessible to students and provide guidance and feedback to promote growth of knowledge, skills, and competencies consistent with Walden’s training goals as well as with preferred practices in the profession. Preceptors are to provide mentoring and guidance appropriate to student roles in applied practice experience sites, including ongoing feedback about student progress in meeting applied practice experience goals.

Program Coordinator

Program coordinators are Walden faculty members whose primary role is to manage and continuously improve a degree program. Program coordinators support students throughout the DrPH program, including during the applied practice experience.

Associate Dean, MPH & DrPH programs

The associate dean, MPH & DrPH programs is a Walden administrator whose primary role is to provide academic leadership to the DrPH and MPH programs. The associate dean, MPH & DrPH programs oversees activities related to program and curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation. The associate dean, MPH & DrPH programs resolves any student and faculty member issues that arise throughout the program.

Students at Walden are considered to be adult learners who are capable of seeking educational opportunities to meet their personal and professional goals. Walden expects students to collaborate with faculty members and be self-directed to meet educational requirements. Students work with faculty members and preceptors to ensure they obtain a well-rounded educational experience.

Students With Disabilities

Walden University will not discriminate on the basis of disability and is committed to providing all qualified students with disabilities equal access to its programs, services, and activities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

In postsecondary education, it is the students’ responsibility to self-identify disability status and register with Walden's Student Wellness and Disability Services prior to requesting accommodations. To register, students should submit documentation of disability along with Walden’s Accommodation Request Form to disability@mail.waldenu.edu.

The process and form are available from the Office of Student Disability Services. Students with disabilities requesting accommodations to access field experiences, such as an applied practice experience and/or internship, should register with the Office of Student Disability Services prior to registering for those field experiences and clarify their specific accommodation needs. In most cases, field experience sites have their own systems for ensuring equal access for employees/interns with disabilities.

Student Wellness and Disability Services will help address any gaps in those systems.

Walden’s DrPH associate dean, MPH & DrPH programs, associate dean, applied practice & continuing education and continuing education, DrPH program coordinator, field experience coordinator, and applied practice experience course faculty members are committed to working collaboratively with students and preceptors to support the successful completion of applied practice experience experiences.