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Master of Public Health

Fellowship in Applied Public Health

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Expand your knowledge from patients to populations

The Fellowship in Applied Public Health (FAPH) is a post-residency training program for physicians. In this program, which is jointly sponsored by the University at Albany and the New York State Department of Health, you will learn to assess critical health problems and develop, implement and evaluate policies and programs that address the need for health promotion, disease prevention and access to quality health care.

As a doctoral-level medical professional, the FAPH prepares you for public health leadership roles in state and local government through a rigorous two-year program combining academic theory and practical public health experience. The fellowship combines the MPH degree with a full year of on-site practicum rotations in public health practice settings.

FAPH builds on our successful 20+ year experience through the New York State Preventive Medicine Residency Program, which transitioned to FAPH in 2016.

Program of Study

Acquire a strong background in the academic and practical skills necessary to work effectively in public health. Earn your MPH during the academic portion of the program, learning from our faculty experts— including faculty who hold primary appointments at the New York State Department of Health. 

During the practicum year of the program, you will be assigned to sections of the NYS Department of Health and the Albany County Health Department, where you’ll apply the public health principles covered in your MPH coursework. You will also conduct at least one investigation or analysis during the practicum, resulting in a publishable report or professional presentation.

Group of professionals reviewing notes

Typical Program Sequence

YEAR 1

Fall Semester Year 1:

  • Principles & Methods of Epidemiology I
  • Principles of Statistical Inference I 
  • Professional Practice in Public Health 
  • Advanced Topics in Population Medicine

 

Two of the remaining MPH core courses:

  • Health Care Organization, Financing and Delivery
  • Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health 
  • Introduction to Environmental Health 

 

Winter Session Year 1:

  • Begin pre-practicum rotation / internship at NYSDOH host sites

 

Spring Semester Year 1:

  • Remaining MPH core courses
  • Additional quantitative/ analytical course
  • 3 elective courses 
  • Complete pre-practicum rotation/internship at NYSDOH host sites
  • Advanced Topics in Population Medicine
YEAR 2

Summer Session:

  • Begin full-time practicum rotations at approved host sites
  • Present at the Department of Health

 

Fall Semester Year 2: 

  • Continue full-time practicum rotations at approved host sites
  • Advanced Topics in Population Medicine 

 

Winter Session Year 2:

  • Continue full-time practicum rotations at approved host sites

 

Spring Semester Year 2: 

  • Continue full-time practicum rotations at approved host sites
  • Advanced Topics in Population Medicine
  • Present at the School of Public Health Poster Day
  • Present at the Department of Health

 

See the Graduate Bulletin for details.

For more information, contact Irina Khmelnitsky at ikhmelnitsky@albany.edu or Dr. Rachel de Long at rdelong@albany.edu.

Additional Opportunities

As a fellow, you will participate in weekly seminars featuring guest speakers from the Department of Health and other public and private agencies. These seminars will cover key public health issues. Our Monthly Journal Club series will give you experience with rigorous methodological analysis of published research. As a core component of the fellowship, you will develop and implement an individualized professional development plan, in consultation with your program advisor.

Group of people attending a seminar
Pay and Benefits

Content

The program offers full-time salary competitive with other residency and fellowship programs. Tuition and fees for the MPH are fully covered. You will be eligible for health and retirement benefits offered to SUNY employees.

Faculty Mentors

Content

Examples of projects completed by previous residents and fellows include:

  • Designing and implementing an evaluation of a public health education initiative to increase BMI screening and follow-up by pediatric health care providers in New York State.
  • Compiling and analyzing county data and developing a report for a local Health Department’s Community Health Assessment.
  • Researching and developing a proposal for federal grant funding to address disparities in HPV vaccinations.
  • Helping to develop guidance for hospitals on referral of eligible Medicaid patients from emergency departments to Health Homes.
  • Conducting a literature review and provider survey to identify best practices and developing recommendations for stroke/TIA patient care transitions.

“FAPH not only gave me an excellent fund of knowledge in epidemiology, statistics, environmental health, and social and behavioral health, but it also provided me practical experiences with mentors at various offices in the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). These experiences are what facilitated my understanding of the complex structure of NYSDOH and taught me how to apply what I learned at the school to help inform decisions affecting the current and future health of New Yorkers. I have a strong interest in understanding health policies and my experience has solidified my desire to help make positive changes by using evidence-based knowledge and keeping the social determinants of health at the forefront. I am excited to begin my new position as a Medical Director in the Office of Health Insurance Programs of the NYSDOH. This new career path would not have been made possible without this fellowship and the mentorship I received.”

- Priscilla Paiva, MD, MPH (2019)

“Despite my emphasis on preventive pediatric medicine and social determinants in my practice, I continued to see challenges in the lives of my patients and families that could not be adequately solved in the doctor’s office through clinical interventions alone. The Fellowship in Applied Public Health provided me with the opportunity to expand my public health knowledge and skillset to better address the complex health issues facing my patients and our greater community. In my current role as Medical Director for the Center for Environmental Health at the NYSDOH, I enjoy the opportunity to continue pursuing my passions by linking the health care and public health communities in addressing a variety of important environmental health topics. These include ensuring safe drinking water, eliminating lead and other toxic exposures, preventing injuries and violence, improving the home and outdoor environments to prevent health-related conditions such as asthma, and addressing the health effects of climate change.”

- Kristen Navarette, MD MPH (2018)

"I applied to the Fellowship in Applied Public Health in order to gain tools and experience that would allow me to expand my role as a family medicine physician to better address health disparities. As a resident at Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, NY (completed June 2019), I worked in both a community hospital and at a Federal Qualified Health Center, treating primarily an underserved immigrant population. As I became more aware of the benefits and limitations of our health care system on patients and healthcare workers, I felt that I needed to develop a strong background in public health in order to effectively support positive change. In my fellowship, I plan to work with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to develop programs that can address some of the factors that lead to poor health outcomes in LGBT patients. Additionally, I’ll be contributing to efforts to understand the health effects of Harmful Algal Blooms."  
 
- Ariela Zamcheck, DO, DABFM
  Fellow, Fellowship in Applied Public Health

Fellowship Learning Objectives


Learning objectives that fellows are expected to attain through their Master of Public Health course of study and through further professional field training required by the Fellowship in Applied Public Health.

Fellowship in Applied Public Health
  • Demonstrate how publicly available population health data systems – including public health surveillance systems and national surveys - can be used to assess, monitor, and evaluate population health and public health policies and programs
     
  • Synthesize, evaluate, and apply evidence from multiple sources and perspectives to support public health decision-making related to current public health issues
     
  • Evaluate the roles and responsibilities of governmental and non-governmental organizations in providing programs and services to address specific public health issues and improve public health
     
  • Critically evaluate one’s own level of knowledge and competency as a public health physician, and develop and implement a professional development plan to enhance proficiency in selected competencies
     
  • Identify leadership roles and career paths for public health physicians, and evaluate alignment of such opportunities with one’s own professional development goals and activities.

Admission Requirements

Deadlines

Priority will be given to applications received by Nov 1. After that date, applications will be considered on a rolling basis if space remains available in the program.

Eligibility Requirements
  • Must hold an MD or DO. Another advanced health professional degree may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Physicians must be board certified or board eligible in a medical specialty recognized by the ABS. Other professionals must have the equivalent credentials in their own specialty as applicable.
  • Must be eligible for an unrestricted New York State license in current profession. Details on license eligibility
Admissions Documents

All application materials should be submitted directly to faph@albany.edu.

Application form

CV/Resume

Personal statement
Describe your interest in public health, your past experience in public health and your career goals. (maximum of two pages)

Three letters of recommendation

  • Must be sent directly from the source and not from the applicant
  • One must be from your program director if you are a current resident or fellow
  • If you are currently employed, one letter has to be from your supervisor

Medical school transcript

Graduate school transcript

Undergraduate transcript

Copy of current New York State medical license (or evidence of pending license application)

Proof of New York State medical license eligibility