CHF's Public Health Academy with the CDC Foundation
Written by Abigail Pepper, Policy Associate, Coalition for Health Funding
The Coalition for Health Funding and the CDC Foundation joined forces with the CDC to host the inaugural Public Health Academy on June 7. This collaboration brought together Congressional staff, CDC leadership, and CHF members for an afternoon of learning, discussion, and Disease Detective camp!
During the event, attendees heard from influential figures shaping the landscape of public health. A Ted Talk by Dr. Julia Petras about a real life disease investigation left many of us interested in a career change to epidemiology and Dr. Nirav Shah, Principal Deputy Director of the CDC, shared insights into the agency’s pivotal work and led a panel discussion with Dr. Judy Monroe, President and CEO of the CDC Foundation; Dr. Les Dauphin, Director of the National Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce; Paula Nickelson, Acting Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services; and Dr. Phil Huang, Director and Health Authority at Dallas County Health and Human Services.
Who would have thought that Disease Camp could be so fun? The games kicked off with a lively Kahoot trivia session, putting participants’ knowledge of the CDC and infectious disease history to the test. But the highlight of the evening was the engaging “Disease Investigation.” Attendees were handed small cups containing a clear liquid, commencing a journey through various stations set up around the room. Stations such as the post office, dog park, salon, pharmacy, and grocery store provided real-world locations for participants to travel. At each station, attendees would add a few drops of mystery liquid from that station’s dropper into their cup, accompanied by a corresponding sticker.
As the investigation progressed, attendees accumulated five stickers on their cups, representing the different locations they visited. The suspense mounted as everyone received an activation solution from CDC staff. The liquid in the cups changed color, turning either yellow or pink. A pink cup indicated infection! The challenge then became sorting participants into infected and uninfected groups and determining where the infection originated. The verdict? The pharmacy! Now that’s a twist! This immersive activity showcased the intricacies of disease transmission and the importance of effective investigation techniques while providing Congressional staff a fun way to understand the real-world work that goes into tracking outbreaks.
For more information on Disease Detectives, check out CDC’s resources here.
This event was a great opportunity to connect Hill staff and CHF members with CDC leadership in a fun way that fostered a better understanding of public health for policymakers. We look forward to continuing these types of collaborations in the future!