The Master of Public Health Program at Morehouse School of Medicine prepares individuals to organize and implement programs to improve the health, quality of life, and well-being of communities through education, research, and service in public health. MSM is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities; increasing the diversity of the health professional and sci
entific workforce; and addressing primary health care needs through programs in education, research, and service, with emphasis on people of color and the underserved urban and rural populations in Georgia and the nation. Program provides the public health theory that supports the social mission of MSM. The mission of the M.P.H. Program is to develop, through graduate education, public health leaders who are fluent in community-focused public health research and practice,particularly in underserved communities. We offer a generalist curriculum focused on community health in underserved populations. Program was established in 1995 to address the increasing shortage of underrepresented minorities in leadership positions in the field of public health. The Program was accredited initially in 1999 by the Council on Education for Public Health making it the first accredited M.P.H. Program at an HBCU. The Program was reaccredited in 2007. Graduates of the program are working at community-based organizations, as well as local, state, national and international agencies. Additionally, many have pursued terminal degrees including M.D., Ph.D., DrPH, J.D., and other advanced degrees (eg. MSM is located within the historic West End community in Atlanta, GA. As such, there are ample opportunities for student engagement within the community through participation in service-related activities and community planned events. Our core courses equip students with foundational knowledge and concepts essential for them to better understand the needs of the populations they serve. Additionally, our Community Health course and required community service hours ensure a strong service-learning component to our M.P.H. Program. Our community service efforts target the Atlanta Promise Neighborhood (APN), an area encompassing a 1.7 mile radius of the AUCC. M.P.H. students provide services to schools, churches, food banks, advocacy groups and other community-based organizations.