Graduate Certificate Program in Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response 
"The Program gave me the opportunity to do an internship at Allegheny County Health Department where I was able to network with local public health employees and actually see how public health is done at the county level." - Leah Lamonte, MS, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
Graduate Certificate Program's 5 Year Celebration Report
Program Overview
In 2001, then Dean Bernard Goldstein convened a Graduate School of Public Health committee to explore how the school could respond to the growing threats evident in the September 11 and anthrax attacks. With that impetus Graduate Certificate Program in Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response was launched in 2003.
The certificate program is coordinated by the University of Pittsburgh Center for Public Health Preparedness with an academic home in the Departments of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences and Environmental and Occupational Health.
The Certificate Program provides students and professionals with a practical academic foundation in order to strengthen the public health workforce and infrastructure. Students may be full-time, part-time, or non-degree status - and preparedness and response professionals are encouraged to participate.
Relevant content areas of study prepare students and professionals for leadership roles in public health preparedness and response:
- Surveillance and Epidemiology
- Risk Communication
- Psychosocial effects of disasters and emergencies
- Disaster Management, including NIMS, ICS, and other federal methodologies
- Public Health Law
- Environmental Health and Safety
- Program Planning
- Evaluation of outcomes, exercises, and drills
Career Opportunities
Public Health Employment Connection
through the Emory Rollins School of Public Health
PublicHealthJobs.net
through the Association of Schools of Public Health
Natural Hazards Center's Disaster Research e-newsletter
with job postings frequently listed at the end
The Program gives graduates the advantage in the job market. Graduates have moved on to become a(n):
- Director, EMS and Critical Care Transport - University Hospitals Case Medical Center
- Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer (EIS) - CDC
- Senior Assistant Counsel - Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- Bioterrorism Coordinator - Virginia Department of Health
- Associate Medical Director - STATMedEvac UPMC, Presbyterian
- Prevention Specialist - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Emergency Preparedness Coordinator - Pennsylvania Department of Health
- Biostatistician - University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
- Vector Control Specialist - Allegheny County Health Department
- Public Health Program Coordinator - Mascoma Valley Health Initiative
Applying
- Non-degree students must apply to GSPH. Admission of non-degree students is based on completion of a bachelor’s degree, job experience, and career plans.
- Students already enrolled in GSPH may apply to the Certificate program by submitting a letter of request to the GSPH Office
of Student Affairs.
The letter should include:- Student’s name,
- Term applying for,
- Department,
- And the statement below:
“This is an official request for my application to be considered for admittance to the Graduate Certificate Program in Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response.”
- The Office of Student Affairs will forward a copy of the student’s academic records to the Certificate Program Administrator. When the records are received, the Administrator will contact the student to schedule an interview with the Program Director. Students enrolled in any graduate program in the university may apply directly to the program.
All applicants may apply at any time. Requirements for admission to GSPH and application forms are available at: www.publichealth.pitt.edu
View Credits and Course Description
Certificate Program Contacts
Sam Stebbins, MD, MPH
Program Director
Donna Murr
Program Administrator
412-624-3155
