Barry University Begins Master of Public Health Offered in Orlando

The Barry University Division of Medicine is excited to announce that the professional Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is now being conducted at the Barry University East campus in Orlando for health professionals seeking a career in the fast-paced and highly challenging world of public health.

The first cohort of students in Orlando includes a physician whose specialty is occupational medicine, chiropractors, doctorate students, practicing health care professionals, and a current Barry University faculty member expanding her knowledge in health care. The program began September 5, 2007, and meets on alternate Friday nights and Saturdays. Though the MPH degree has been offered at the Miami Shores campus since 2004, it is now being broadcast via satellite to the Orlando campus, and on occasion from the Orlando campus back to Miami Shores. According to Tim Patton, director of the Barry University MPH program, “This is a delivery system that works well with interaction and participation among students at both sites. It’s amazing that as the lectures proceed, students become less aware and ultimately unfazed by the distance that separates them.”

The weekend format and the use of technology that allows students to participate in lectures, have class notes and archived video streamed lectures to view available via the internet, keep working professional students involved and allows them to accomplish their educational goals. Patton states “this group of students find the subject matter of public health so exciting, and the design of the program so accommodating, that our only complaint seems to be the number of acquaintances they have that wish they were in the program as well.”

According to Barry MPH student in Orlando, Dr. Ken Michaels, medical director for Orlando Regional Healthcare, Occupational Health, who also serves as the occupational health primary provider for Walt Disney World, and medical director for East Orlando Lockheed Martin Corporation, "The Barry MPH program is perfect for my needs as a full-time health professional and will provide me with new opportunities to pursue in the future, as public health takes on increasing importance in the world."

The MPH degree, one of the fastest growing graduate degrees, is appropriate for someone who wants to enter public health, or is already in public health hoping to advance. It is also appropriate for health care professionals; physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and others who hope to gain a new perspective on health, as well as provide flexibility in their professional career paths.

The Master of Public Health at Barry University is a 36 to 40 credit hour graduate degree program that can be completed in 20 months. It covers the five core areas of public health; epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health sciences, health service administration, and social and behavioral sciences and concludes with a course in public health issues and a master’s project. For students who do not have a background in public health or health care delivery, field experience is provided.

For additional information on the professional MPH, contact Richard T. Patton at the Barry University Division of Medicine, 305-899-3257 or e-mail rpatton@mail.barry.edu. Details about the program are online at www..barry.edu/publichealth.

Barry University is a comprehensive international Catholic University located primarily in Miami Shores, Florida. Barry University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelors, masters, specialist, and doctoral degrees.