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IHS Signs MoU with
University of Iowa and UI College of Public Health, USA
Institute of Health
Systems has signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of
Iowa, in USA, and its college of public health for educational, training
and research collaboration in the area of public health. This
comprehensive collaboration will facilitate joint educational, training
and research activities, exchange of scholars, faculty and students.
The University of Iowa,
is a comprehensive public university , established in 1847, with about
1700 faculty, 6000 professional and scientific staff and 300000
students, spread over 13 colleges. The UI College of Public Health,
established in 1999, builds on a rich tradition of public health
teaching, research, and service that dates back to 1885 at the
University of Iowa. Over the years, University entities such as the
University Hygienic Laboratory and the Department of Preventive Medicine
and Environmental Health helped to address many of the most pressing
public health needs in Iowa, including the control of communicable
diseases, the safety of water and milk supplies, the health and safety
of farmers and others living in rural areas, surveillance of cancer and
birth defects, and emergency sanitation needs. The College of Public
Health is accredited by the American Council for Education in Public
Health. Today the College is composed of five departments: biostatistics,
community and behavioural health, epidemiology, health management and
policy, and occupational and environmental health. The College of Public
Health provides an educational and research focus to the many public
health efforts taking place at the University.
The MoU was signed at Iowa City, on 13
April, 2005. Dr. Prasanta Mahapatra, President of the IHS, Signed the
MoUs on behalf of the Institute of Health Systems. The memoranda were
signed, on behalf of the University of Iowa, by Prof. David J. Skorton,
President, Prof. William Reisinger, Dean International Programs, and
Prof. James A. Merchant, Dean College of Public Health. The MoU will be
administrated at University of IOWA by Usha Balakrishnan
(Director of Corporate Affairs, UI) and the IHS by
C.K.George (Director IHS).
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(L-R) Usha Balakrishnan
(Director of Corporate Affairs, UI), William Reisinger (Dean,
International Programs, UI), David. J. Skorton (President, UI),
Prasanta Mahapatra (President, IHS), James Merchant (Dean, UI
College of Public Health), Tom Cook (Professor, UI) Paul Greenough
(Professor , UI)
Dr. Mahapatra
visited the University campus for one week from 6 - 13 April,
visited the university facilities, and held wide rangin
discussions with University of Iowa faculty. Two joint research
projects have been identified as a priority to kickstart the
collaboration. These will be in the area of (a) road traffic
injury, and (b) water quality monitoring, consumer empowerment and
its impact on incidence of water borne diseases such as
gastro-enteritis and jaundice. The University of Iowa College of
Public Health and the IHS will co-host a National Conference on
Public Health Capacity Building, in January, 2006. The proposed
conference will take stock of the current status of higher
education in the area of public health and seek to identify
feasible solutions for training of highly skilled public health
professionals in India.
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