The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillManagement Academy for Public Health
Gillings School of Global Public HealthFlagler Business School

Changes to the Management Academy for Public Health

June 17, 2009

The MAPH program is entering its 11th year, and we are anticipating seven teams from North Carolina and three teams from outside of the state (the South Heartland Health District, Nebraska and Arlington Public Health Division and Chesapeake Health District, Virginia). The three teams represent health departments that have completed the MAPP (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships) process and applied for scholarships for the opportunity to develop a business plan related to their MAPP assessment.

Due to these tight economic times, we have altered the Management Academy to continue to provide a high quality program at a lower cost.

  1. Instead of three on-site retreats, the cohort will attend two (August 3-6, 2009, and April 19-21, 2010). Due to this change, the use of distance learning activities will become a more prominent and required part of the course. We will encourage all team members to take part consistently in these distance learning opportunities.
  1. The first on-site retreat has been reduced from four nights/five days to three nights/four days to reduce the monetary cost for lodging. The curriculum has been streamlined to accommodate this new schedule.  Some faculty have had their course time reduced and others are required to teach in a distance format using cameras and internet connections. 
  1. Seven teams of public health professionals from across North Carolina applied for the 2009-2010 cohort. We encouraged the four North Carolina teams that originally had six participants to reduce the number to five, so that all seven teams that applied would be able to attend. 
    The seven teams from North Carolina are:
    • Cleveland County 
    • Dare County
    • Davidson County
    • Henderson County
    • New Hanover County
    • Orange County
    • Southern Piedmont Partnership for Public Health
  2. Course readings are now provided electronically as PDF website links that each MAPH participant can access and print on their own.  Previously, the course readings were printed, copied, bound in a booklet and Fed Exed to all participants.  The website has also been altered to make the information more accessible and easier to locate for the participants.

Another change involves improving the lines of communication and reducing confusion about revenue generation and the sustainability requirement. To address this issue, conference calls with each county health director (and/or the team members) and the Kenan-Flagler Business School Advisers have been completed two-three months prior to the first on-site retreat. 

MAPH, as a part of the North Carolina Institute for Public Health, is proud to have an opportunity to serve the state of North Carolina and to lead the nation in its public health efforts.