An Academic–Practice Partnership at the University of Washington School of Public Health: The Student Epidemic Action Leaders (SEAL) Team

Abstract

established the Student Epidemic Action Leaders (SEAL) team to provide public health students with experience in field epidemiology in state and local public health communicable disease divisions. The University of Washington Department of Epidemiology developed the SEAL team in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Health to offer public health graduate students opportunities to contribute to the real-time needs of public health agencies during a communicable disease event and/or preparedness event. The SEAL team combines classroom and field-based training in public health practice and applied epidemiology. During the first 2 years of the SEAL team (2016-2018), 34 SEALs were placed at 4 agencies contributing more than 1300 hours of assistance on 24 public health projects.

Navigating the Storm of COVID-19 Literature Through Academic-Practice Partnership in Washington State: The COVID-19 Literature Situation Report

“…Anticipating further literature increases and additional response duties for WA DOH epidemiologists, the WA DOH contracted with the University of Washington (UW) Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness and the UW Strategic Analysis, Research and Training Center to support the Lit Rep going forward. The WA DOH and UW Schools of Medicine and Public Health have a history of successful academic-practice partnership,4 providing a strong foundation for collaboration on the Lit Rep.…”

Improving Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Detection and Response Using Peer Networks—The Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence

“…In particular, engaging students in student interview teams has proven to be a mutually beneficial model, providing practice-based learning opportunities to students, who may become long-term public health workers, while also providing capacity to public health agencies. 27 IFS CoEs offer multiple models for student outbreak and interview teams, including on-demand teams for surge capacity during investigations and/or permanent teams that conduct routine enteric disease interviews. Although student interview teams have been developed to support foodborne disease surveillance in many states, IFS CoE teams have 2 distinct features: (1) the existing integration between academia and health departments in IFS CoEs facilitates student recruitment, training, and coordination without additional contractual arrangements, which can be a barrier 28 ; and (2) some IFS CoE student teams have the ability to provide surge capacity to other states or local health departments.…”

“…Many of these students have gone on to work in governmental public health agencies. In particular, engaging students in student interview teams has proven to be a mutually beneficial model, providing practice-based learning opportunities to students, who may become long-term public health workers, while also providing capacity to public health agencies 27. IFS CoEs offer multiple models for student outbreak and interview teams, including on-demand teams for surge capacity during investigations and/or permanent teams that conduct routine enteric disease interviews.…”

Academic practice partnerships: A review of a statewide population health nursing leadership initiative

“…Academic practice partnerships in population-focused settings prepare students to become members of the population health workforce (Simckes et al, 2018). Students receive unique educational experiences to expand their understanding of the health care system, gain skills in managing chronic conditions, and improve their ability to translate EBP knowledge to population-focused environments (McClure et al, 2017).…”