Public Health Program

Welcome

Dear PHP Faculty, Current Students, Staff, Alumni and Friends,

Our Public Health Program (PHP) began offering a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a General Track emphasis in 2002.  In 2007, the Public Health Program (PHP) added MPH tracks in Epidemiology and Environmental Health and a Doctoral program in Epidemiology, leading to a DrPH degree. In April 2013, the Council on Education for Public Health accredited the PHP. The US Department of Education recognizes the CEPH as an independent agency that accredits schools of public health and public health programs.

I am pleased to announce you that in March 2019 the CEPH Board of Councilors reaccredited the Public Health Program for a seven-year term! The CEPH reaccreditation is a result of your hard work and support. This is an exciting time for our program, and it is important to inform faculty, students, alumni, and community members about news, events, workforce development, and continuing education in the PHP.  I hope that you will value this and future editions of this Newsletter.

Your support is invaluable in continuing the outstanding work of the PHP.

Sincerely,

Vivian S Green PhD, MS, LND
Associate Dean of Public Health Program
Ponce Health Sciences University

Accreditation info

Public Health Program

The mission of Public Health Program at PHSU is to provide the highest quality education, research and population-based services.  This will be accomplished through an innovative, dynamic, responsive public health curriculum while preparing ethical competent professional public health practitioners and researchers to be able to excel in promoting and protecting health in the community and in a diverse, globalized society.

The vision of Public Health Program commits and aspires to be a leader in preparing public health professionals, by excellence in academia and by building and expanding public health knowledge and competency, to improve the health of communities and populations locally and across the world.

The Public Health Oath:

I solemnly swear to do everything in my reach to safeguard human and environmental health, through prevention, protection, promotion, and educational efforts. I accept the responsibility to use my talents, training, and professional experience to infuse public trust in all my efforts in public health. It is my personal compromise to serve the community with integrity and pride.

Doctor of Public Health in Epidemiology

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Master in Public Health

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The purpose of the Doctor of Public Health in Epidemiology (DrPH) is to educate professionals with knowledge, skills and abilities in the development of epidemiological methodology applied to health needs including the identification of risk factors, clinical research, programs assessment, prevention, protection and treatment of diseases. These professionals will contribute to the enhancement of the public health through analyses and reformulation of laws that impact health on the local, state and federal levels.

The MPH Program is established in response to the needs of our society. It provides a multidisciplinary program through education, research and community service to develop the skills of a public health professional necessary for the protection of health and prevention of disease of the individuals and communities. Students will be well prepared to improve the challenges of our health care such as improving the access of people suffering contagious diseases and work to reduce environmental hazards such as violence, drug use and abuse, accidents, etc.

We are CEPH Accredited, See why it matters

Accredited by the Council on education for Public Health (CEPH)

Dr. Yashira Marie Sánchez Colón, Assistant Professor

Earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey in 2006, and she earned both a Master’s Degree in Environmental Analysis and a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from Universidad del Turabo, Puerto Rico, in 2012 and 2015, respectively.  Dr. Sánchez-Colón offers the courses of Water Quality Measurements, Environmental Toxicology and Environmental Laboratory.  Prior to this position, she was Chemistry Instructor at Universidad del Turabo, University of Puerto Rico at Cayey and Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.  She is member of the Puerto Rico College of Chemists and the American Chemical Society.  Dr. Sánchez-Colón’s interests include the monitoring of aquatic ecosystems, especially nutrient concentrations and eutrophication in freshwater wetlands and issues related to both the Clean Water Act and Drinking Water Act.  The prevention and assessment of health effects from environmental exposures are focal areas of Dr. Sánchez’ ongoing research interests

Dr. Yashira Marie Sánchez Colón, Assistant Professor

Dr. Adalberto Bosque, Assistant Professor

Received his PhD in Environmental Science and an MBA from the Turabo University, Puerto Rico and, a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.  He has 27 years of experience in the environmental field, working with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He has ample experience in all areas of project and program management including: planning, budgeting, scheduling, personnel administration, reporting, economic evaluations, contract administration, interagency relations, team work and, community involvement activities. Dr. Bosque is a Registered Environmental Manager (REM), a Certified Environmental Auditor (CEA) and, a Certified Environmental and Safety Compliance Officer (CESCO) from the National Registry of Environmental Professionals.  He brings this extensive practical environmental health experience to his classroom teaching and mentoring of Dr.PH students interested in environmental health epidemiology.

Dr. Adalberto Bosque, Assistant Professor

Dr. Mayra Roubert, Professor

Has a MS and a Dr.PH in Environmental Health from the School of Public Health at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus. During her academic training she obtained expertise primarily in water quality and non-hazardous waste management. She has experience as a bio-molecular and environmental laboratory technician. Beginning in 1995 she has taught environmental sciences at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico at the bachelor and graduate degree levels. At PHSU PHP she teaches courses such as: Environmental Problems, Water Quality, Solid Wastes, Microbiology, Environmental Health, Environmental Laboratory Practices, and Industrial Hygiene, among others. Dr. Roubert, has been practicing in the environmental field for about 21 years. Her environmental laboratory expertise combined with her position as the environmental health office director at the Albergue Olímpico of Puerto Rico has been instrumental as a non-academic experience in applied public health. During her five years as director of the environmental health office at the Albergue Olímpico, she supervised the following areas: green areas, irrigation, private drinking-water system, wastewater treatment plant, aviary, occupational health concerns, food safety, and swimming pool water quality compliance, among others. Additionally, Dr. Roubert oversaw the development and submission of environmental documents to state regulatory agencies as the Environmental Quality Board, Puerto Rico Department of Health and Department of Natural Resources Since 2002, she has been mentoring MPH and Dr.PH students interested in the field of environmental health research.  During the 2007 dengue outbreak in Puerto Rico, she coordinated the University Epi Aid Teams, an educational collaboration with the Puerto Rico Department of Health in promoting preventive and vector control practices to the general community.

Dr. Mayra Roubert, Professor

Dr. Jessica Irizarry, Assistant Professor

Began working as Assistant Professor in the Public Health Program of the PHSU in 2015, where she has given courses on Biostatistics for Epidemiologists at the doctoral level and the courses on Communication in Health and Methodology of Research at master’s level. She is also the Coordinator of MPH’s General Track. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Sciences with a specialization in Biology from the University of PR, Mayagüez Campus, a Masters of Sciences with specialization in Epidemiology from the University of PR, Medical Sciences Campus, and a PhD in Public Health specializing in Epidemiology from Walden’s University. Her main research interests include the epidemiology and surveillance of chronic diseases, and the social determinants of health and health disparities. Starting in 2009, she has been working with the Puerto Rico Department of Health as an epidemiologist and evaluator on different projects and programs. She currently serves as director of the Division of Prevention and Control of Chronic Diseases of the Department of Health. She has lectured at local, national and international conferences. It is affiliated with the Alliance for the Control of Chronic Diseases in Puerto Rico, the American Public Health Association, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, the Network of the Americas for Chronic Disease Surveillance and the National Education Program on Diabetes.

Dr. Jessica Irizarry, Assistant Professor

Dr. Ruby Serrano, Assistant Professor

has a Dr.PH in Public Health (Environmental Health) and an MSc degree in Epidemiology, both from the University of Puerto Rico. Dr. Serrano has worked, researched and published on the topic of chronic conditions in Puerto Rico, using the Puerto Rico Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) which she directs. Dr. Serrano has been coordinator of Surveillance at the Renal Council of Puerto Rico. Dr. Serrano is an active member of the American Public Health Association and the Council of State and Territories Epidemiologists. She was professor at the Metropolitan University teaching and designing courses in environmental health.  At PHSU, she teaches doctoral level biostatistics courses and mentors Dr.PH dissertation students.

Dr. Ruby Serrano, Assistant Professor

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