Public Health Media Fellowship

The Fairbanks School of Public Health Media Fellowship provides journalists across the state of Indiana with a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of public health and health administration issues affecting Hoosiers.

The focus of this fellowship is on state and local issues, with attention on the policy, data, leadership and cost of care issues that influence health. The goal of this fellowship is to examine the complex economic, policy and social issues that determine the health of communities.

The fellowship will consist of 10 hours of instruction, over five sessions. Sessions will occur over five Fridays in December 2022 and January 2023. Participants who attend all sessions will receive a fellowship certificate.

A virtual option will be available after the live sessions have completed. 

Public Health System Challenges – December 9, 9-11am

This session will cover the most significant challenges facing public health in Indiana including how public health is funded and home rule. Additionally, this session will cover areas not traditionally associated with public health that affect the health of communities.

Presenter
Paul Halverson, DrPH, Founding Dean and Professor, Fairbanks School of Public Health

Panelists
Virginia Caine, MD, Director, Marion County Public Health Department
Robert Einertz, MD, Health Officer, St. Joseph County
Richard Feldman, MD, Family Medicine, Franciscan Health
Stephen Jay, MD, Professor Emeritus, Fairbanks School of Public Health
Judy Monroe, MD, President and CEO, CDC Foundation

Cost of Care – December 16, 9-11am

Rising health care costs are of concern to Indiana consumers, employers, policymakers, health care providers, and other health care stakeholders, especially because of poor health outcomes in the state. Several recent analyses have elevated the discussion about the prices of hospital care in our state. However, many factors contribute to overall health care costs beyond price. Any policy interventions, based upon a limited understanding of the larger context, unnecessarily risks positioning stakeholders against each other without addressing the overall problem.

Presenter
Nir Menachemi, PhD, Executive Associate Dean and Chief Operating Officer, Professor, and Fairbanks Endowed Chair, Fairbanks School of Public Health

Legislation – January 13, 9-11am

Learn how the process works for public health legislation and what is expected to happen in the next session. This session will also provide examples of how policy may not appear to be public health related, but has significant consequences to the public’s health.

Presenter
Heather Harris, JD, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg

Panelists
Virginia Caine, MD, Director, Marion County Public Health Department
Tory Castor, JD, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, IU Health 
Luke Kenley, JD, former State Senator, Co-Chair Governor's Public Health Commission

Moderator
Anne Hathaway, President & CEO, Hathaway Strategies

Infectious Diseases – January 20, 9-11am

An overview of infectious diseases – what they are and how they have the potential for global impact. Learn how and why infectious diseases emerge and spread among different populations, and what public health interventions can stop the spread of potentially deadly diseases.

Presenters
Shandy Dearth, MPH, Director of the Center for Public Health Practice, Fairbanks School of Public Health
Thomas Duszynski, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, Epidemiology Education Director and MPH Program Director

Health Data – January 27, 9-11am

Who has the most up-to-date data? Where do you find data regarding health? How do you find timely data? What are local resources available for data?