Training Experiences

Residents will be exposed to the complex nature of the fields of public health and preventive medicine. Residents will participate in field trips, conferences and selected meetings conducted by public health physicians and other health professionals. Learning opportunities abound at OHSU and in Portland’s diverse public health community. They include but are not limited to:

1. Oregon Health & Science University Hospital and Clinics, Office of the Medical Director
2. Oregon Department of Human Services: Communicable Disease, Environmental Health, Maternal Child Health, and Chronic Disease sections
3. Local county health departments (both urban and rural)
4. Community primary care clinics
5. Kaiser Permanente, Center for Health Research
6. Oregon Department of Corrections, Health Services Division
7. CareOregon (managed care Medicaid providers for Oregon)
8. Portland Veterans Administration Medical Center
9. Oregon Medical Association

All residents attend regularly scheduled academic sessions. The format includes didactic course work, presentations of projects, Journal Club (in which residents present articles for discussion by all residents and department staff), MMWR review, resident lead discussions, guest speaker presentations and field trips. Attendance at professional meetings is encouraged; frequency will depend on resident interest and yearly department budget. The chief resident assists in curriculum planning, didactic scheduling, and representing the department at university and community functions.

Each resident is required to conduct or assist in a residency "senior project" of his or her choice. This may include an epidemiologic study, community health project, or finding(s) from a health services research endeavor. Ideally, the project will culminate in a manuscript publication in a peer-reviewed journal and/or a presentation at a national professional meeting. Graduating residents will present their findings to the department at Grand Rounds each June. Residents also assist the department in teaching medical and/or master’s level students in scheduled classes.

Residents who do not possess an MPH or equivalent degree must submit a separate and distinct application to the Epidemiology & Biostatistics track or the Health Management & Policy track of the Oregon MPH program (a separate application is required for the MPH track of interest) and be accepted prior to beginning the practicum training.

Each resident is required to conduct or assist in a residency project of his or her choice, including epidemiologic studies, community health projects, or health services research. Ideally, such a project will culminate in a manuscript publication in a peer-review journal and/or a presentation at a national professional meeting.