Academic Service Learning in Public Health

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Campus where you would like to present

Ellensburg

Event Website

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source

Start Date

16-5-2021

End Date

22-5-2021

Keywords

Public Health, COVID-19, Contact Tracing, Academic Service Learning

Abstract

The PUBH 489 course allows students to engage in community and/or campus based academic service learning related to public health. In Winter quarter 2021, CWU students were trained and certified in case investigation and contact tracing (CICT) for the COVID-19 pandemic. In conjunction with the Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD), the CWU CICT team has been working to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in the community. The CICT team has been heavily involved in ensuring that COVID-19 positive students, and those identified as being close contacts, are following all recommendations for isolation or quarantine periods, respectively. As a student involved in the CICT team, I have been investigating positive cases to pinpoint infectious period timelines, determine isolation, and identify close contacts. Contacts are then notified and given instructions for quarantining, whether on-or-off-campus. Once cases and contacts have been investigated, each receives a daily call regarding general health and well-being, development of symptoms, and to determine if they are in need of any support or assistance from the University. This experience has allowed me to prioritize the well-being of my student community. I have been able to take the public health knowledge and skills I have learned throughout my education at CWU and apply that to something that is making a difference and giving me experience that I can utilize post-graduation.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Amie Wojtyna

Department/Program

Health Sciences

Additional Mentoring Department

https://cwu.studentopportunitycenter.com/academic-service-learning-in-public-health/

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May 16th, 12:00 PM May 22nd, 12:00 PM

Academic Service Learning in Public Health

Ellensburg

The PUBH 489 course allows students to engage in community and/or campus based academic service learning related to public health. In Winter quarter 2021, CWU students were trained and certified in case investigation and contact tracing (CICT) for the COVID-19 pandemic. In conjunction with the Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD), the CWU CICT team has been working to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in the community. The CICT team has been heavily involved in ensuring that COVID-19 positive students, and those identified as being close contacts, are following all recommendations for isolation or quarantine periods, respectively. As a student involved in the CICT team, I have been investigating positive cases to pinpoint infectious period timelines, determine isolation, and identify close contacts. Contacts are then notified and given instructions for quarantining, whether on-or-off-campus. Once cases and contacts have been investigated, each receives a daily call regarding general health and well-being, development of symptoms, and to determine if they are in need of any support or assistance from the University. This experience has allowed me to prioritize the well-being of my student community. I have been able to take the public health knowledge and skills I have learned throughout my education at CWU and apply that to something that is making a difference and giving me experience that I can utilize post-graduation.

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2021/CEPS/64