Full Slate of Events Planned for National Public Health Week, April 2-8.

National Public Health Week gears up with a variety of events designed to encourage idea sharing among current students — and to showcase the field for potential public-health practitioners of the future.

On Monday, April 2, BUSPH student Kristen Apa will discuss her experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer working on women’s health issues in rural Morocco. Her talk, the latest in the Pathfinders Student Seminar Series, is scheduled for 5-6 p.m. in BUSM R-103. For information, contact ariag@bu.edu

Experience a day in the life of a busy urban public health office on Wednesday, April 4, when students get the opportunity for an in-depth tour of the Cambridge Public Health Department. This event will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., but please note that availability is extremely limited and may be fully booked by mid-week. 

Two panel discussions and a film screening close out the week and highlight the wide spectrum of opportunities and challenges in public health. On Thursday, April 5, a public health forum organized by the Practice Office will feature BUSPH alumna Lillian Shirley, director of Multnomah County Health Department in Oregon. Shirley serves as vice president of the National Association of County and City Health Officials and as vice-chair of the Public Health Foundation Board in Washington, D.C. Prior to moving to Oregon, Shirley was the first executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission. 

Her presentation — “Being Right is Not Enough: Leadership Changes for Public Health Practice” — will cover some of the requirements for being an effective public health leader and change agent. That talk will take place from noon to 1 p.m. in Room L110. For more information, contact sloh@bu.edu.

The week’s official events end with a screening of the film “Babies” and a panel discussion of pertinent topics in international, maternal and child health. Panelists will include: Candice Belanoff, a research assistant professor of community health sciences; Sophie Godley, a clinical assistant professor of community health sciences; Malcolm Bryant, a clinical associate professor of international health; Lois McCloskey, an associate professor of community health sciences; James Wolff, an associate professor of international health; and Karla Damus, a clinical professor of nursing at Northeastern University. 

Not all of the week’s events could be squeezed into the allotted time; beginning on April 9, teams of BUSPH students will visit Boston schools to continue a tradition of fostering awareness of public health themes.