Projects & Products
By the end of the APEx, students have completed professional-quality practice-based products for the site, agency, or organization that hosts their APEx, as well as the academic department. As part of this requirement, students submit at least two products for review by their faculty advisor.
Examples of Products Commonly Requested by Host Agencies
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SERVICE PROVISION
Coordinate, plan, implement services for program and/or community partners. Documentation can include summary report, memos, and photos (with explanatory description).
EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM
Design educational interventions including modules/sections/sessions, learning objectives, tasks, and additional resources.
EDUCATIONAL TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS
Create workshops or trainings including detailed curriculum design, outcomes, learning objectives, activities, and resources or information.
PROGRAM EVALUATION
Design and/or implement program evaluation including objectives, methods (data collection/analysis), schedule, budget, reporting, dissemination.
HEALTH EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
Develop communications or campaign including analysis of target audience and potential barriers, goals, objectives, messages, dissemination approaches (videos, podcasts, website) and evaluation strategies.
LITERATURE REVIEWS
Prepare a literature review organized chronologically, thematically, or methodologically, and include a conclusion or recommendations.
PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT
Develop funding proposal including purpose, background, proposed solutions, scope of work, roles, budget, goals, and schedule/timeline.
SURVEILLANCE TOOLS
Design and/or implement tools for surveying and surveillance of population based public health issues.
RESEARCH STRATEGIES AND INSTRUMENT DEVELOPMENT
Design research models/strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of health research; develop/pretest tools and instruments.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Contribute to the collection and analysis of research data.
RESEARCH REPORT
Prepare a formative or summative report including a table of contents, headings/subheadings, citations/references.
HEALTH SYSTEMS ASSESSMENT
Assess and identify strategies to enhance quality of care, access, and availability of services.
Faculty advisors assess students’ practice-based products to ensure that a minimum of three foundational and two departmental competencies have been strengthened through the APEx.
Examples of Past Agency APEx Project
National Center for Disaster Prevention
Social Media for Disaster Prevention
Project Activiites
Assist project manager and instructional designer to use social media to promote NCDP work and projects.
- Compose marketing and promotional materials and branded items.
- Research competitor marketing and communications.
- Assist with event materials and preparation.
Deliverable(s)
- Completed promotional materials including brochures, flyers, and email blasts.
- Analysis of market competition.
- Strategic marketing plan.
Student Requirements
- Strong writing and oral communication skills.
- Knowledge of communication and marketing strategies. Experience using social media tools.
- Some knowledge of public health or disaster preparedness.
Community-Based Nutrition Program
Nutrition Needs Assessment
Project Activities
Design and implement a community-based participatory research project to understand dietary and exercise habits, nutritional awareness, and perception of barriers to providing or consuming healthy food.
Deliverable(s)
- Report analyzing the structural accessibility of healthy food, diet, and exercise habits of a sample of residents and businesses.
- Propose hypotheses on the sources of diet-related illness.
Student Requirements
- Strong communication skills and ability to engage with a diverse population.
- Epidemiology and/or collecting empirical and secondary source information.
- Excellent written communication skills.
- Experience in survey design and interview techniques.
Community Health Center
Preventing Lead poisoning
Project Activities
- Implement a knowledge, attitude and behavior questionnaire (supplemented by in-depth interviews) on factory based lead exposure.
- Develop and implement training program for factory owners and employees on lead poisoning prevention.
Deliverable(s)
- A report of the results of the interventions to be submitted to the Health Committee of the institution.
- Education curriculum about the prevention of lead poisoning.
Student Requirements
- Advanced Spanish (oral and written).
- Basic knowledge of lead poisoning prevention programs.
- Community education and data analysis skills.
- Ability to work as part of a team and with the community.
Cancer Institute Dominican Republic (IHOP)
Cancer Patients in Need of Palliative Care
Project Activities
- Conduct a review of the recent literature defining “palliative care” programs in Latin America.
- Review existing services and gaps in program elements identify needs in designing a new palliative care service including educational, training, assistance, etc.).
- Identify structural and functional characteristics of the unit and provide a program plan.
- Develop a communication strategy and materials for patients and staff.
Deliverable(s)
- Final Report and presentation.
- Patient brochures providing resources and information on available services.
Student Requirements
- Able to work well on a team.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
- Intermediate knowledge of Spanish.
- Knowledge of program planning and research
- Interest in cancer patients and palliative care.
Public Hospital
Assessment of High-Risk Patients’ Follow-Up Services
Project Activities
- Application of qualitative methods to explore barriers to effective post-discharge continuity of care for high risk/under-insured patients.
- Propose strategies to improve continuity of care services.
- Home and Health Units visits to assess and implement recommendations.
Deliverable(s)
Assessment report with specific recommendations to improve home care for discharged high-risk patients.
Student Requirements
- Qualitative data collection and analysis skills.
- Some familiarity with chronic disease epi (cardio-cerebral-vascular, respiratory neoplastic and metabolic).
- Some knowledge or experience in patient safety and quality service improvement programs.
Detailed information about APEx project descriptions and required skills can be found in the Student Resource Guide.